Violent turmoil overtook Kazakhstan at the beginning of the year as massive riots broke out in the economic capital, Almaty, and in other large cities. Peaceful protests over the rise of fuel prices evolved into a revolt against the autocratic regime and as a result on January 5th, President Tokayev dismissed his government, declared a state of emergency and after an appeal for support to Moscow, Russian troops intervened.
Former Kazakh president Noursoultan Nazarbayev had hand selected Tokayev as his successor and it's well know that the former had retianed power behind the scenes until now,...