Ukraine has already had enough. Kazakhstan refused to consider the Crimean events an annexation

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev does not believe that the Russian Federation poses a threat to his country.

According to a PolitNavigator correspondent, he said this in an interview with DW, answering the question whether the government of Kazakhstan was frightened by the events in Ukraine, in particular the “annexation of Crimea,” as the journalist described Crimea’s secession from Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation following a referendum .

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“Firstly, we do not call what happened in Crimea annexation. We believe that what happened happened. Annexation is too heavy a word when applied to Crimea. Secondly, there was no fear, no fright, as you say, since we, as I already said, have absolutely trusting, good neighborly relations with the Russian Federation. Initially, we believed in the wisdom and integrity of the Russian leadership,” said the Kazakh president.

He noted that some “so-called partners” frightened Kazakhstan with this development of events. The Kazakh leader also said that his country “took an observer position” in this matter.

In addition, he claims that negotiations to resolve the conflict in Donbass were an initiative of the former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

“True, he then suggested Astana. But due to logistics and distance from Europe, it was decided to hold these negotiations in Minsk. President Putin and Chancellor Merkel played a big role here. And today the Minsk agreements are the only legal document that can ultimately lead to a settlement of the so-called Ukrainian conflict,” Tokayev emphasized.

This statement did not go unnoticed by political experts.

“Gradually, Russia’s position is becoming acceptable, and in another 5 years it will become an alternative. And in another 5 years – it will be dominant. Ukraine (if it survives by that time) will openly annoy everyone around us with its anti-Russian claims and demand for unconditional support. Kiev will be treated like an annoying beggar who grabs passers-by and demands to get into the situation,” political strategist Semyon Uralov assessed Tokayev’s statement in his blog.

But Kiev propagandist Vitaly Portnikov believes that the words of the leader of Kazakhstan are addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose support could help Tokayev be re-elected for the next term.

“If the predatory Kazakh clans see that the president has the support of Moscow, they may support him in his confrontation with the family of the “father of the nation.” And therefore, Tokayev must demonstrate much greater loyalty to the Kremlin than the loyalty that Nazarbayev demonstrated. Tokayev knows Putin's sore spots well. The fact that Russia has remained isolated both on the issue of Crimea and on the issue of recognition of the independence of Georgian autonomies simply infuriates the Russian president.

Therefore, Crimea is exactly the hook that the Kremlin “goldfish” should catch. Well, then her task is to fulfill Tokayev’s wishes and help him get rid of Nazarbayev’s tutelage. At the same time, no recognition of Crimea as Russian will happen in this case. If Tokayev suddenly becomes a full-fledged president of Kazakhstan, he will immediately forget his words about annexation and return to Nazarbayev’s formula: what happened, happened,” writes Portnikov.