Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, leader of the Kazakh democratic opposition set free after four years behind the bars last Sunday, does not intend to return to active politics right away. As far as Zhakiyanov is concerned, both the opposition and the official authorities should take care of development of democracy in the country. Zhakiyanov implied that he himself trusted the authorities to do what was necessary. He said that the authorities had already done a great deal for triumph of democracy in Kazakhstan. Those present at Zhakiyanov's press conference in Alma-Ata got the impression that imprisonment had undermined his determination and willingness to continue the struggle.

Hundreds of Zhakiyanov's followers assembled at Alma-Ata railroad terminal to meet the "martyr for democracy" last Sunday. All leaders of the Movement for Fair Kazakhstan, the principal force of the opposition in the country, were present. Zhakiyanov, however, displayed a marked lack of enthusiasm and the meeting somehow failed to evolve into a mass action of protest against Nursultan Nazarbayev's authoritarianism. Everyone decided that Zhakiyanov was careful not to provide the authorities with the excuse to arrest him on charges of organization of an unsanctioned rally. Indeed, any minor infraction of the Administrative Code, and he will find himself in jail again for the remaining three years of his sentence.

Zhakiyanov's press conference yesterday was something everyone had been waiting for. Nobody expected it to become the worst disappointment for the Kazakh opposition after the dismal failure in the presidential election last year. The building of the Press Club in Alma-Ata was overcrowded. Zhakiyanov was given a standing ovation. For some reason, Zharmakhan Tujakbai, Bulat Abilov, Oraz Zhandosov, and Asylbek Sarsenbai-uly (leaders of the Movement for Fair Kazakhstan) were absent but this nuance was practically unnoticed. Zhakiyanov began with saying how much he appreciated the support he had enjoyed all these years. His speech was constantly interrupted with applause. The opposition leader in the meantime got down to business.

For starters, Zhakiyanov stunned those present by saying that he did not plan to establish a new political party instead of the Kazakhstan's Democratic Choice banned by the authorities. "Establishment of a new party is not what I'd call a pressing issue at this point," he said and advised ex-members of the banned political party to decide for themselves what they would do now. Zhakiyanov announced that he did not intend to abandon politics for business like his former associate Mukhtar Ablyazov and assured those present that his political views and convictions had not changed.

What happened next, however, made those present suspect that they had changed regardless of what Zhakiyanov was saying to the contrary. Despite expectations, Zhakiyanov did not say a single critical word on the subject of the presidential election whose outcome the opposition is trying to challenge in courts even now. On the contrary, he implied that the 91% Nazarbayev had polled could well be the actual result of the voting. Zhakiyanov proceeded to express the hope that the president of Kazakhstan would keep his promises and initiate democratization of Kazakhstan. Zhakiyanov said he had certain reservations concerning Nazarbayev's readiness to embark on the democratic course but added that the authorities' intention to democratize society was apparently a given.

"To tell you the truth, I cannot say I experience any warm feelings with regard to him [President Nazarbayev - Kommersant]," Zhakiyanov said. "What happened did happen after all. At the same time, I would not pin all blame for what happened to me on him alone. I have to give it to him: he did warn me that that's what it would end in..."

There was deathly silence in the conference hall by then. Flabbergasted journalists asked Zhakiyanov about his plans for the future. They wanted to know if, for example, he intended to accept any official position. Zhakiyanov said that official positions were not what he was after. He said he had not made up his mind yet and needed time. One thing is clear in the meantime. That he will retain the position of leader of the Kazakh opposition is unlikely.

© Kommersant, January 18, 2006, p. 10

© Translated by Ferghana.Ru