The Nations in Transit 2006, a study released by
Freedom House on June 13, rates national and local governance, media and judicial
independence, electoral process, civil society, and corruption. Overall, Kazakhstan scored
6.36 out of a possible 7.00 where 7.00 indicates a total collapse of democratic
procedures.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s grip on power in the oil rich country is so tight that
the report suggests his political position "appears unassailable." Having
secured an implausible majority of 91 percent in the December 2005 presidential election,
Nazarbayev controls a political and economic system open to loyalists but "closed to
independent financial and political interests or social groups that propose alternative
ideologies."
"Powerful financial groups and members of the presidential family
fully control the parliament and top political offices and continue to intimidate, buy
off, co-opt, and even accuse as criminals their business and political opponents, critics,
and independent media," the report adds.
Kazakhstan experienced a deterioration of conditions in three spheres – civil society,
independent media and national democratic governance – according to the Freedom House
rankings. The ratings in the remaining four categories were unchanged from the 2005
survey. Kazakhstan’s national democratic governance rating in 2006 stood at 6.75 out of
7. The best ranking that Kazakhstan could manage was 5.75 in the civil society category.
President Nazarbayev has held office since 1989 and procured another seven-year term last
year. In 1995 he oversaw the adoption of a new constitution, which gave sweeping
responsibilities to the presidency. His skillful consolidation of power has been
facilitated by tremendous economic growth, driven by the development of Kazakhstan’s
considerable energy reserves. A veneer of political "stability" has been
cultivated, but the country remains steadfastly autocratic and deeply corrupt, according
to the study. The country’s corruption ranking stood at 6.50, the report stated.
"While Kazakhstan has established a stable and effective
governance structure, the Nazarbayev administration continues to block political
participation by groups that advocate reforms and exaggerates the potential threat posed
by political, ethnic, or religious extremists," the study warns.
Kazakhstan is expected to become one of the top 10 oil exporters by 2012. Continuing
prosperity is likely to strengthen Nazarbayev’s authoritarian-minded political system,
given that "oil and mineral resources are under the firm control of members of the
regime, including friends and associates who hold many of the formal government
posts."
Control of the media by pro-government entities and the careful manipulation of NGOs have
stifled political debate. The country’s media ranking was 6.75, according to the report.
The study adds that the main opposition parties, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK) and
Ak Zhol, have been in disarray "owing to an administrative and legal clampdown on
their activities and finances."
The other so-called ‘opposition’ parties in Kazakhstan are bankrolled by forces with
strong ties to the president including Asar, led by his eldest daughter, Dariga
Nazarbayeva.
The judiciary’s record of dealing with civil and criminal cases has improved, but the
handling of cases related to civil liberties remains poor. The Freedom House study’s
ranking in the judicial framework and independence category stood at 6.25. The study
forecasts that Nazarbayev will use his term in office to engineer a constitutional
amendment to lift the two-term and age limits set for the president.
eurasianet.org , 19 June 2006 |
