Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan
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Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan Қазақстанның демократиялық таңдауы | |
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| Abbreviation | QDT[1] (Kazakh) DVK[2] (Russian) |
| Leader | Mukhtar Ablyazov |
| Founded |
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| Headquarters | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Ideology | Liberalism Populism Civic nationalism Decentralization Parliamentarism Liberal democracy E-democracy Civil libertarianism Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Colors | Blue |
| Website | |
| sites | |
Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (
History
Origin (1998–2001)
From 1998 to 1999,
In early 2000, Ablyazov and Galymzhan Zhakiyanov decided to create a movement that would advocate for reforms and seek to take power by democratic and legal methods. Originally, the movement had no plans in overthrowing the government.
Foundation (2001–2002)
The Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan was founded as a result of a split within the ruling elite that erupted into a full-scale crisis in November 2001. What the roots of the crisis were is not clear, yet it appears that conflicts of interest between a group of reformist bureaucrats, including the akim of the Pavlodar region, Zhakiyanov; the deputy premier, Oraz Jandosov; a fugitive banker, Ablyazov; and President Nazarbayev's son-in-law, Rakhat Aliyev, prompted Ablyazov to declare the establishment of a pro-business, pro-reform movement called Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan. Founders of the movement included deputy defense minister Zhannat Yertlesova, deputy finance minister Kairat Kelimbetov, leading businessmen, Nurzhan Subkhanberdin as head of the Kazkommertz bank, and Bulat Abilov.
Response by authorities
The prime minister of Kazakhstan,
On 4 January 2002, a criminal case was opened against Zhakiyanov on charges of authorial abuse. A criminal case on the charges of financial fraud and political abuse was held against Ablyazov where on 27 March 2002, he was arrested. International observers from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the European Parliament and the US Department of State noted that the trial in the Ablyazov case took place with multiple procedural violations, insufficient evidence and inconsistent witness statements, which indicated the political nature of a criminal prosecution.
While serving in prison, Ablyazov was repeatedly beaten and subjected to psychological pressure. On 13 May 2003, President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree to pardon Ablyazov and to release him from further serving his sentence in prison. The president's decision was facilitated by wide publicity that Ablyazov's case received among the international community and the resolution of the European Parliament in his support. Ablyazov, after his release, publicly stated that he ceased his cooperation with the movement and to be engaged in politics, but he secretly continued to support the movement.
Decline and disbandment (2002–2005)
QDT became split in the spring of 2002, as a group of moderate members, including
The QDT was disbanded in February 2005 before the presidential elections. But the party-led coalition of opposition forces,
Reestablishment (2017–present)
On 20 April 2017, Ablyazov announced the recreation of the QDT movement.
References
- ^ "Саяси тұғырнама". www.ablyazov.org.
- ^ "Политическая платформа". www.ablyazov.org (in Russian).
- ^ "Fugitive Tycoon's Political Movement Found 'Extremist' In Kazakhstan". RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty.
- ^ "Мухтар Аблязов: Все диктаторские режимы будут стремительно падать – Хартия'97 :: Новости Беларуси – Белорусские новости – Новости Белоруссии – Республика Беларусь – Минск". charter97.org.
- ^ Barbara Junisbai, Azamat Junisbai, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan: A Case Study in Economic Liberalization, Intraelite Cleavage, and Political Opposition, Demokratizatsiya, Summer 2005.
- ^ Cengiz Surucu, 4 Aralık 2005 Kazakistan Başkanlık Seçimleri Üzerine Gözlemler, OAKA, vol: 1, No: 1, 2006, pp. 153–158
- ^ "Аблязов объявил о создании нового "Демвыбора Казахстана"". Радио Азаттык. 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Ablyazov's Balloons: Kazakh Opposition Co-opts the Color Blue". The Diplomat.
- ^ "Number Of Kazakhs Detained In Postpresidential Election Protests Nears 4,000". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 18 June 2019.
- ^ "Mass Arrests Cast Doubt on Rights Reform in Kazakhstan | Human Rights Watch". www.hrw.org. 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Kazakhstan unrest: Dozens killed in crackdown". BBC News. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
External links
Media related to Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan at Wikimedia Commons