Kazakh Oppositionists Enter Sixth Day Of Hunger Strike

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev addressomg a rally of supporters on the day following the December 4 vote (epa)

DANGEROUS TO BE IN THE OPPOSITION: On December 8, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a discussion of the December 4 presidential election in Kazkhstan. RFE/RL Kazakh Service Director MERHAT SHARIPZHAN and RFE/RL Central Asia Analyst DANIEL KIMMAGE participated in the discussion.

Sharipzhan highlighted the difficulties faced by opposition candidates -- including the untimely deaths of prominent opposition leaders -- and argued that they effectively chilled the political environment in the country. He also noted that the government repeatedly confiscated opposition newspapers during the campaign. However, he noted that Kazakhstan's relatively strong economy boosted Nazarbaev's popularity. Kimmage discussed Nazarbaev's pledge to proceed with democratization only after the economy is put in order, describing the political system in Kazakhstan as a form of "managed democracy."

Listen to the complete panel discussion (about 90 minutes):
Real Audio    Windows Media

RFE/RL's complete coverage and background of Kazakhstan's presidential election on December 4, 2005.