ASTANA, November 20 – RIA Novosti. Kazakh political scientist Gaziz Abishev considers it unlikely that large-scale protests will be held on the day of early presidential elections in the republic on Sunday.

On the day of the presidential elections in 2019, several hundred people went to unsanctioned rallies in Alma-Ata, as well as in the capital of the republic. Police detained about 700 protesters, of whom about 550 were held responsible. Three police officers injured by the demonstrators were taken to hospitals.

“It is difficult to predict 100% whether there will be protests, but I think the probability is lower than in 2019. We need to understand that perhaps the authorities were not ready (in 2019 – in press) exactly for what happened at that time, Abishev told RIA Novosti.

According to him, after the January events, “the state found its direction.” “The necessary screws have been tightened in the security and law enforcement apparatus: what needs to be “lubricated” and what needs to be “tightened”. new chaotic speeches, the state has taken preventive measures, political, economic, administrative measures, including law enforcement. I think the state apparatus is ready, and perhaps even more than necessary. I think and there is not enough energy for such mass protests in society,” noted the expert.

But the agency’s interlocutor is confident that this does not mean that there is no potential for protest in the country. “Because the global inflation, which also affects us and leads to the rapid impoverishment of the population on the basis of a ‘toothless’ government, of course disturbs people and this momentum is accumulating. But it can be reduced after the elections. With decisive steps or with some obvious results” – finished Abishev.

Mass protests began in Kazakhstan in the first days of 2022 – residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the west of the country opposed the doubling of liquefied gas prices. Then the protests spread to other cities, including the former capital and largest city of the republic, Alma-Ata: looting began there, militants attacked state institutions, took weapons. In response, the authorities declared a state of emergency across the country until January 19 and carried out a counter-terrorism operation. According to the latest data from the country’s Attorney General’s Office, 238 people died as a result of the riots, including 19 security guards.