Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
YOU HAVE NO doubt seen the many articles on The Journal and across the internet about the violent unrest in Kazakhstan - but you might not know that much about why it’s happening.
After all, unfortunately for the country, a lot of Irish people will recall how it was the home of the character Borat, who first appeared on film in 2006. The character, the creation of Sacha Baron Cohen, was not the ideal mascot for the country (the film was banned there), but still is the first thing that pops into many people’s heads when Kazakhstan is named.
But of course, there is a lot more to the country – it has a fascinating history, and its geography is also extremely interesting (it’s about the size of mainland Europe but with a small population). But what led to the recent unrest there, and why was there an internet blackout when the unrest broke out?
To get the full story, we spoke to Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at DCU. He not only knows a huge amount about the country, he also has lived there. So he is perfectly placed to explain the story of Kazakhstan and the recent unrest in this episode.
Here’s more on Kazakhstan:
https://soundcloud.com/the-explainer-podcast/what-led-to-the-violent-unrest-in-kazakhstan/s-z1YMOi1jrBE?si=98d42465d40b41dca2a9b7ec73f2fc03&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
This episode was put together by presenters Gráinne Ní Aodha and Michelle Hennessy, and producers Aoife Barry and Nicky Ryan.
Paul Murphy TD initiated this. https://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article7477
There has been a rapid and strong response to the circulation of this Kazakhstan solidarity statement. Very close to 200 signatures in almost 40 countries were collected in the space of just two days, with many prominent individuals and organisations.
We, socialists, trade unionists, human rights activists, anti-war activists and organisations have watched the uprising in Kazakhstan since 2 January with a sense of deep solidarity for the working people. The striking oil workers, miners and protesters have faced incredible repression. The full force of the police and army have been unleashed against them, instructed to ‘shoot to kill without warning’. Over 160 protesters have been killed so far and more than 8,000 have been arrested.
We reject the propaganda of the dictatorship that this uprising is a product of “Islamic radicals” or the intervention of US imperialism. There is no evidence of that whatsoever. It is the usual resort of an unpopular regime – to blame ‘outside’ agitators.
have your say