Kazakhstan is expected to pass Amendments to its constitution after the referendum on Sunday, according to opinion polls.
a government The Telegram channel said three opinion polls showed constitutionality changes passing with over 74% of electors in support.
The drive for “New Kazakhstan” in waking up of The violence came from the man who former President Nursultan Nazarbayev has chosen his successor in 2019, Kasim-Jomart Tokayev.
Tokayev, 69, describes the surprise referendum as a shift from “super- presidential rule that will strengthen parliament.
But the absence of special Privileges for 81-year- Old Nazarbayev is the most eye-catching -catching Change in the constitution.
Before the January crisis, Tokayev was widely seen as a ruler in the shadow of Nazarbayev and superRich relatives.
Even after step down As president, Nazarbayev retained the constitutional title of Elbasy or Leader of nation” – role that gave him power over Regardless of policy making of his official position.
The new Constitution abolished with This situation.
Another modification bans relatives of President of the contract government Attitudes – clear nod to sway of Nazarbayev family And the in-Regulations , who Lost powerful attitudes in The aftermath of violence.
“routine procedure”
in greater cityAlmaty, polling stations witnessed a slow farce of electors in Clear, breezy summer conditions.
Ayan, 18-year-Old student vote for The first time, he welcomed former dismissal of the president from basic Law.
“he have place in our history Textbooks, but all citizens should be equal in on the constitution,” he said, after he made vote At his alma mater, where a small group of Activists protested for Version of political prisoners and against The vote.
In the capital, Nur-Sultan, named after Nazarbayev, a 46-year-old businessman named Bulat told AFP he had not intended to vote.
“It is a formality to consolidate the position of The current Leadership. The result It will be the same.”
It is almost certain that the constitution pass And there was no visible “no” sign campaign.
vote in Almaty and Nur-Sultan concluded at 8 pm local time (2 pm GMT) and an hour later in the West of vast country, with a government- Predict the voter opinion poll after the vote on Sunday night.
New Year’s Crisis in Kazakhstan remains It’s not understandable , with Internet shutdown for days at peak of turbulence which helps further obfuscate the events.
Protests broke out in West oil producer over New Year’s fuel price Hiking, but Almaty – 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away – was the epicenter of Armed clashes, looting and burning.
Nur-Sultan, which was called Astana before 2019, has largely remained the same.
Leadership struggle
Tokayev blamed the violence on Terrorists are trying to catch them power He issued ‘Shoot for -kill”Order of the Kazakh forces.
but the arrest on charges of treason of Nazarbayev’s ally who hold a position national The head of security at the time raised speculation that the leadership struggle was in the heart of violence.
After stabilization was restored Tokayev criticized Nazarbayev for Allowing inequality to worsen, giving credit for the case of his mentor-building Achievements.
Both former And the current bosses allies of neighboring Russia, and arrival of More than 2000 detachments of Peacekeepers from a Moscow-led security bloc consolidated Tokayev’s hold over the situation in January.
The Kremlin claimed that the intervention requested by Tokayev does not extend to any political settlement, which is an “internal affair.” of Kazakhstan”.
Nazarbayev made a little public Appearances since the crisis but his cast vote in Capital Sunday after the expression support for Tokayev and changes.
In an interview published Monday, he said that his relatives should Being “responsible” if they commit crimes but entitled to a fair trial – an apparent reference to Kairat Satipaldi’s nephew, a businessman currently in detention on embezzlement charges.
