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Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020

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Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 November 2020 in Central Asia is remembered for the run-up to the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan; high-level official meetings of the SCO and CIS; several protests; appreciating exchange rates and rising food prices; and the tenuous epidemiological situation in the region. The analytical platform CABAR.asia presents a brief overview of the major events in the region over the past month. Follow us on Telegram Kazakhstan General epidemiological situation Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry says that the number of coronavirus cases in November nearly quadrupled compared to last month. According to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym Zhomart-Tokayev, several regions of the country had been hiding the real extent of the coronavirus outbreak. The media also report a staggering death toll. On November 16, the country’s Health Minister stressed increase in maternal mortality over the last three months. Moreover, there has been coronavirus contagion among school-aged children. As of November 30, Kazakhstan reports a total number of 132,348 coronavirus cases and 1,990 deaths. Kazakh Health Ministry has detached pneumonia data from tallying COVID-19 numbers since August 1, 2020. As of November 30, the country reports a total of 42,147 cases of pneumonia and 443 deaths. Tightening quarantine measures The epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan has been rather tenuous over this month. Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Apart from East Kazakhstan and North Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Kostanay, and Akmola regions were assigned red labeling. The cities of Nursultan and Almaty, along with the West Kazakhstan region are in the yellow zone. Territories are assigned to red and yellow quarantine zones if they score high in the COVID-19 risk assessment level. Kazakhstan has been tightening up quarantine measures in the above-listed regions and cities since November 9. Authorities have installed sanitary checkpoints in Akmola, Kostanay, Pavlodar, and North Kazakhstan regions. The country also cut a number of its international and domestic flights and ordered some businesses to close. At least 80 percent of public and private organizations have shifted to home-based working. Tighter quarantine measures in the East Kazakhstan region have been extended until December 8. Similar restrictions, particularly prohibition on holding large public events, have been introduced in the West Kazakhstan Region and the city of Nursultan on November 20. Working hours of entertainment facilities and public transport have been slashed. “Blame game” Ex-Minister of Health Yelzhan Birtanov had been detained on October 31 in Nur-Sultan. The former official is persecuted as part of an investigation into an alleged multimillion-dollar embezzlement scam. Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Yelzhan Birtanov. Photo: Turar Kazangapov On November 5, social media users Kazakhstan had launched a campaign in support of the former minister re-sharing the “I / We are Yelzhan Birtanov” poster. They have also started an online petition, where they cited Birtanov’s high professionalism. In an open letter published in defense of Birtanov, authors argue that even the world’s most developed countries could be accused of being unprepared for the ongoing effects of the pandemic. On September 15, the former Health Minister of neighboring Kyrgyzstan had also been detained on similar charges. Kosmosbek Cholponbaev, as in the case of Yelzhan Birtanov, had been criticized by the authorities prior to his arrest for unsatisfactory performance amidst the pandemic. “The authorities hoped that Cholponbaev’s arrest would entail a de-escalation of the social and political situation in the country that became tense when the country faced a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, namely at a time when the government failed to provide timely medical care to citizens,” the media say. Upcoming parliamentary elections On November 5, Kazakhstan announced that six political parties are able to contest the Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 upcoming parliamentary elections in the country. On November 27, the All-National Social Democratic Party (OSDP) decided to boycott the elections. They believe the authorities intended to use the participation of the opposition OSDP party to legitimize the elections. The party members also claimed that “the ruling elite has prepped the election results before they even take place”. The statements of the OSDP representatives look very plausible, but here’s the thing: On November 17, opposition figure Mukhtar Ablyazov issued a statement calling on his supporters to vote for the OSDP. The statement says that the OSDP, although positions itself as opposition, is somehow a pro-government party whose goal is to make elections appear “democratic”. Ablyazov asserted that no opposition party was officially registered to contest the elections. Ablyazov says that the only way out is to induce international observers to recognize the elections as illegal. He suggested balancing the main pro-government party Nur Otan, which can only be attained by giving a large number of electorate votes for the OSDP party. Ablyazov alleged that creating competition to the ruling party will force election officials to rig the elections in a way that will help Nur Otan win. In turn, international observers, having recorded violations, will challenge the legality of the electoral process. This, therefore, suggests that, in view of the numerous followers of Ablyazov, the Kazakh authorities decided to withdraw the OSDP from the election race. Among other things, on November 24, Dariga Nazarbayeva, daughter of the first president of Kazakhstan and concurrently chairman of the Senate, was nominated as a candidate from the Nur Otan party. It is important to note though that in early November, the British newspaper The Times revealed that Dariga Nazarbayeva owns the central London residence, Sherlock Holmes’ fictional address on Baker Street. Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street. Photo: Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire / TASS Elections to the lower house of the parliament of Kazakhstan are to be held on January 10, 2021. Kyrgyzstan Epidemiological situation The onset of winter and negative temperature this month has aggravated a tenuous epidemiological situation in Kyrgyzstan. The country reported over 400 new coronavirus cases each day over this month. There was also an increase in the monthly coronavirus death toll. Whilst the country reported 80 deaths in October, the death toll passed 126 in November. As of November 30, Kyrgyzstan reports a total of 72, 807 coronavirus cases and 1,271 deaths since the onset of the pandemic. 2,833 patients are hospital-treated. Kyrgyzstan Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 includes community-acquired pneumonia cases in official COVID-19 data. Lifting quarantine rules On November 11, Kyrgyz authorities permitted the reopening of schools in nearly all parts of the country. This is not the case for schools in Bishkek and Osh as they continue with remote learning due to the difficult epidemiological situation in the cities. On December 1, authorities also permitted the reopening of cinemas and catering services in the capital. Yet, on November 26, the government barred state agencies from holding New Year’s celebrations. Protests Protests continue in Kyrgyz capital: several groups took to the streets of Bishkek over this month. Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, medical institutions, and state agencies were among demonstrators. Other protesting groups included supporters of political prisoners, civic activists, and patients with various diseases. Borrowers demand loan forgiveness. Photo: Sputnik / Erkin Sadykov Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 For the most part, protesters were outraged that the country’s authorities fail to meet the needs of citizens. Changes in political leadership On November 14, the acting president and concurrently Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov announced his resignation. Shortly after the resignation, Japarov announced he will run for the presidency in the early presidential elections on January 10, 2021. Sadyr Japarov resigned as the acting president of Kyrgyzstan to contest the presidential elections in January 2021. The first vice prime minister Artyom Novikov had been assigned acting prime minister of the country. Under the current constitution of the country, presidential duties were handed to the parliament’s speaker. It bears mentioning that Talant Mamytov is a close associate of Sadyr Japarov. Draft constitution On November 17, MPs published for public review a draft constitution that prompted widespread criticism from both the general public and policymakers. Three peaceful marches have taken place on the streets of Bishkek with hundreds protesting the proposed changes to the constitution. Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Month in Review: Central Asia in November 2020 Hundreds took to the streets of Bishkek on November 22 to protest draft changes to the Constitution. Photo: Ayday Erkebaeva / Mediazona, twitter.kg/tilekkg Section 3 of the new edition says that from now on the president will exercise executive powers, forming and overseeing the government, as well as introducing bills in parliament.
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