Tokaev Explains Why Unrest Erupted in Kazakhstan at the Beginning of January

The unrest that occurred in Kazakhstan at the beginning of January was caused by the unacceptable gap that has formed between the rich and the poor. This was stated by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with representatives of the Kazakh business community.

"The gap between the rich and the poor has reached unacceptable levels. Against the backdrop of corruption, which you are well aware of, such income polarization acted as a spark near a barrel of gunpowder, which was exploited by terrorists and militants, along with the conspirators behind them," said Tokayev.

He added that the incidents revealed all the issues that had accumulated over the years. "Today, we face a strategic challenge of transforming the entire social order. We need real reforms that correspond to the interests and expectations of our citizens," Tokayev added.