Vladislav Kosarev: there are no internal reasons for instability in Kazakhstan

The Secretary of the Central Committee of Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan, the deputy of Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the fifth convocation, Committee of the International Affairs, Defence and Safety Vladislav Borisovich Kosarev tells in interview to the Internet portal “The world and we” as the migratory dynamics influences an ethno-religious situation in Kazakhstan, who stands up for an event in Zhanaozen.

- It is known that the emigration of the Russian population from Kazakhstan increased in recent years. If on the eve of disintegration of the USSR, the number of Kazakhs and Russians was approximately identical, so to the beginning of 2011year the Kazakhs made 64 % of the population of the republic, the Russians – about 22,8 %. With what such considerable outflow of the Russian population from Kazakhstan is connected?

The policy of rather different people in Kazakhstan is realized quite regularly. And only separate episodes force people to think of whether to remain in Kazakhstan farther. It is, first of all, the language, some conditions in personnel policy. But as a whole I consider that the domestic policy of Kazakhstan is conducted so that all nationalities which historically live in Kazakhstan remained here and benefited the economy and culture of the country. Kazakhstan joined Russia in 1731. The Russians started to settle on the Kazakh lands even earlier. It is caused by national feature of the Kazakhs – to help the person who has got to a difficult situation. The Kazakh family gave to newcomers from Russia the last half of a flat cake, fenced off a warm part of a yurta to children. This is the most important condition of residence of other people on the Kazakh land. Fortunately this tradition is alive to this day. And any external forces can’t interrupt it or change. Historically the developed Kazakh-Russian community is imperishable and it becomes stronger and dearer to each inhabitant of the Kazakh land in difficult vital conditions.

Therefore I consider that a situation is stable. It answers to words which the President recently told – we had 9 people in a brigade and all of different nationalities. And we didn't notice it at all and worked successfully to carry out the tasks put before us.

The increase of number of the Kazakh population occurs at the expense of birth rate.

It is known that among the Kazakh population, especially in villages, it is much higher than among the Russian. And, besides, the inflow of immigrants during this time made about 1 million people of other countries. They have high birth rate too. Outflow of the Russian-speaking population can occur for several reasons: they sent the children to the Russian cities to study and those don't come back, children well arranged somewhere and they invite the parents because in Russia the retirement age is lower and they have possibility earlier to retire. But, I will emphasize that there are no humiliation or suppression and there are no reasons for moving to Russia because of it.

- There is an opinion that because of such migratory dynamics there is a growth of Islamization of the population of Kazakhstan. Is it so? Are there any visible signs of this process?

Of course, there is Islamization. Islam is the belief, tradition of the people of the Kazakh steppe. Unfortunately, the growth of this religious trend occurs not only in order that conditions for indigenous people were created to practise the religion. Islam finds the place in belief of people who believed before in values of humanity. Now the western ideologists diligently destroy these values and the person isn't capable to keep a place for belief empty in soul and he concedes it to the ideology convenient and accepted for the person. Religious beliefs accrue everywhere. It is promoted by expansion of mosques, churches, Roman Catholic churches, synagogues, Sunday schools. I think that the correctly built internal state ideology is very important in this situation. The ideology of a state policy should be comprehensive, directed on different nationalities, different sectors of society, economy development, culture increase. But thus I can’t say that we have a general belief in Islam. The people having following the traditions, recognize the cult ceremonies, respect the national traditions, it is sometimes makes impression that the number of believers strongly grew.

- It is known that there is a requirement of some intellectuals’ representatives of Kazakhstan about the discrimination termination of the Kazakh language. In particular, they suggest to rename the cities and the villages carrying the Russian names. What do you think of such actions and requirements?

It is and it occurs. I had to see many offers on renaming of various settlements, streets, cities. Usually all this proceeds from any initiator, from the leader who would like to become at the head of an event and to emphasize the belonging to a nationality, the past etc. But as a whole there is no general spirit which would lead to it. Often, there is any one “figure” – it is necessary to immortalize the grandfather or the brother. And the movement begins – the articles are written to newspapers, polls and after that they change the names. For example, Lermontov Street in Kostanay wants to be renamed because there is, allegedly, a resolution on change of the names connected with the Soviet period. But what relation did Lermontov have to the Soviet period?!

Concerning a situation of the Kazakh language. It is not a secret that as the Kazakh language and languages of other republics lost much for the years of the Soviet power. Therefore, today there is an aspiration to return the language distribution on level of centenary prescription, but it is necessary to do it gradually, without sharp movements. Use of the Kazakh language will grow in itself, but the time is necessary for this purpose. Besides, the language can accustom only when other nationalities fight also for its lifting. And when one speaks “yes” and others “no”, so it is not necessary to expect the progress.

The Kazakh language comes back gradually. And if any hotheads appoint to speak the Kazakh language to definite date, so it is an absurdity because the native language will be not mastered even by the Kazakhs to this term. It is necessary to move softly, quietly. It is necessary to do it both at school and in kindergarten, at home and in a family. I not casually called a family as a cell capable to advance the language of native nationality. My supervision obviously confirm that the Russian-speaking people more careful and more warmly support the development of the Kazakh language, they are proud of that their children already speak or at least bring good marks in a subject “Kazakh language” from school. The development goes steadily, but there are also deterrents. It is enough to one of the officials to begin conversation with the Russian in the Kazakh language and to condemn him that he didn't master it. The opponent will feel the hostility and will become silent for long time. Besides, there is one more factor which globally influences the development of the Kazakh language. Language will be mastered by other people when they will know that it is no need to go from Kazakhstan as it is the developing country, it has clear prospects. If the person is arranged, has the apartment, work, children get education, then he will quietly study the Kazakh language. Without forgetting the language, he will know the people language which name is carried by the country. And here, without caring of possibilities for life, simply to demand to study language - these actions won't find support.

- There is an opinion that recent events in Zhanaozen were provoked from the outside, from some western states. And that these events are certain “prevention” because of a firm orientation of the present leadership of Kazakhstan on cooperation with the Customs Union. What is your relation to such point of view?

I acted in the Committees of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and said that events in Zhanaozen aren't characteristic feature of domestic policy of Kazakhstan. There are no such occasions to shoot and exterminate. And today the interesting circumstances come up.

Pay attention that nobody from the victims in Zhanaozen, for example, owners of boutiques to whom they put the property on fire, they didn't put the bill forth to those whom presented as the accused in court. They told, no, these guys aren't guilty. And as appeared, other people, who were delivered, were trained, they had a special plan, they were prepared. I can’t tell in accuracy what were these people guided by. I can’t assume the thought that it is the convinced and strong-willed people. Most likely, their niche of ideological wealth is absolutely empty and such “fighters” are selected from such kind of people. Most likely, this people are employed from among the former fellow citizens. Those who ran away or they were banished from Kazakhstan or pursued for any criminal affairs. They are interested to harm the country. Therefore they also create such situation.

Many believe the entry into the Customs Union as a factor of success of economy and the power. All this disturbs and compels the malignant persons to be ready to do anything to be displaced to the failures predicted by them. But the evil, as a rule, has a return orientation.

- In your opinion, is it the local actions of the left of Kazakhstan, but not the attempt of the scenario start of “colour revolution” which is already fulfilled in many countries of the world?

The answer is quite simple. Tell me please, why the investor, Englishman, the Italian, the Belgian who extract the oil here, to stir up the people against the power? On the contrary, stability is necessary to the investor. And those who wants to stir up the people, doesn't get on with this power. It is the main reason of these events.