Kazakhstan - 34.81
130
A mediator between superpowers
Kazakhstan, culturally, politically, geographically, and diplomatically, lies at a crossroads between China and Russia. Kazakhstan is the largest and most politically powerful nation in Central Asia, even though that is not saying much. While Kazakhstan is geographically one of the largest nations on Earth, its population and international influence are not significant. Worth noting is that while Kazakhstan is the highest-scoring country in Central Asia, it struggled with many of the same metrics. Kazakhstan handily outperformed the rest of Central Asia in metrics of economy and health but struggles with many of the same issues as the rest of Central Asia. Kazakhstan is highly authoritarian and repressive, having built a powerful cult of personality around longtime ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan’s bureaucracy is mired with corruption. The fact that Kazakhstan managed such a low score despite passing more categories than it failed reflects the extent of Kazakhstan’s failings in the few categories that it struggles in. Kazakhstan is an absolute dictatorship with virtually zero freedom of expression and a terrible human rights track record. But, on the bright side, the healthcare is good, the economy is strong, and the government is functional.
Human Rights - 22
Kazakhstan has functionally abolished the death penalty; the last execution was carried out in 2003. The death penalty has been abolished for normal crimes. The recently passed Law on Public Assemblies severely limits freedom of assembly. Demonstrations are only allowed in certain areas and even then permits are highly stringent and seldom issued. While the government has recently decriminalized libel freedom of expression remains highly restricted. The government frequently employs articles 274 (dissemination of knowingly false information) and 174 (incitement of social, clan, national, racial, and religious discord) to suppress freedom of expression. The Kazakh government is also known to closely monitor social media and dissenters on social media are regularly prosecuted on charges of incitement or harassment. Whistleblowers and dissenters face frivolous defamation suits filed by government officials. Activist Elena Semionova is currently being sued by eight different prison officials from six different prisons for reporting on torture allegations. Semionova was found guilty in two separate suits despite evidence suggesting that she was tortured. Journalists must verify the accuracy of their publications before they are released, frequently leading to the censorship of sensitive information. The government has the power to shut down any news outlet for any reason and dissenting media outlets have repeatedly been shut down. While the government generally does not restrict the actions of foreign news outlets for publications outside of Kazakhstan, if foreign media wishes to publish in Kazakhstan they are subject to heavy restrictions. Torture is rampant in Kazakh detention centers and despite dozens of reports the government has only conducted two investigations. It is extremely easy for relatives to institutionalize someone, even an adult no longer under their care, and it is very difficult for the institutionalized to have their rights restored. Diagnoses of “retardation” are very easy to obtain and “retarded” people have few rights, meaning that it is easy for families to remove members by declaring them “retarded.” The government retains broad powers to class groups as “extremist,” a label that is often used against Protestant Christians and non-Sunni Muslims. Unregistered or extremist religious groups are forbidden from operating or practicing. Homosexuality is legal. Trans Kazakhs can change their legal gender following a diagnosis, sex reassignment surgery, hormone treatment, and sterilization. Kazakhstan does not guarantee any other rights or protections. Abortion is legal to twelve weeks.
Democracy - 2
Former President Nazarbayev holds special status as “first president.” This status allows him to circumvent term limits. Nazarbayev resigned in 2019 but took up a position as the Chairman of the Security Council. Nazarbayev and the Security Council continue to retain the majority of executive power in the country. Nazarbayev has engineered the Kazakh government in such a way as to build a cult of personality around himself and has stacked virtually every appointed position in the government with lackeys. Both Kazakhstan’s president and prime minister are effective puppets appointed through fraudulent elections. While Kazakhstan’s parliament is directly elected, a number of irregularities were reported. Elections are neither free nor fair. The government has broad powers to disqualify candidates and does so regularly. Large numbers of voters were disqualified in the run-up to elections and ballot box stuffing is rampant. Kazakh elections have effectively been rigged to ensure that Nazarbayev and his circle of accomplices maintain all relevant positions of administrative power in the country. Large numbers of parties are banned from operating altogether. Nazarbayev and his family exert significant sway over politics.
Freedom - 9
Kazakhstan’s new Law on Public Assemblies severely limits freedom of assembly in the country. Demonstrations are only allowed in certain areas and government authorization is required to demonstrate even in these areas. Despite the fact that the government recently decriminalized libel freedom of expression remains highly restricted. Articles 274 and 174 are regularly used to suppress dissent in the country and the government is known to monitor social media and make arrests based on posts. Whistleblowers and dissenters regularly face frivolous lawsuits. The “accuracy” of information published by journalists must be verified by the government prior to publishing, frequently leading to the censorship of information. Further, the government has the power to shut down any news outlet for any reason. While the government does not restrict foreign journalists operating in the country from publishing information abroad, foreign journalists wishing to publish in Kazakhstan must meet a number of highly stringent restrictions. NGOs and trade unionists face regular harassment. Private drug use is not illegal in Kazakhstan but public use is punishable by a fine. The manufacture, distribution, and trafficking of drugs are all punishable by jail time. Shotguns can be owned without a permit in Kazakhstan but four years of documented shotgun ownership and a hunting license is necessary to own a rifle.
Economy - 78
Health - 72
Kazakhstan has a life expectancy of 73 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.93%. 21% of Kazakhs are obese and 2.5% are malnourished. Kazakhstan has a decent universal healthcare system concentrated in the country’s major cities. 92.6% of Kazakhs have access to clean, running water. 25% of adult Kazakhs smoke regularly.
Corruption - 17
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at low levels and courts are subject to political pressure at higher levels. This effectively means that no court in Kazakhstan is completely uncorrupted. Police corruption, especially police harassment of tourists, is rampant. Public services must be bribed into action. Public contracts and licenses are impossible to obtain without corruption. Kazakhstan’s tax administration is significantly less corrupt than other countries in the region but is still subject to extortion and embezzlement. Kazakhstan’s import and export processes are highly cumbersome and bribes are often necessary to transport goods across Kazakhstan’s borders.
Competency - 64
The Kazakh government maintains a very tight grip over the people. While the government’s methods can be criticized, it is generally regarded as highly functional and generally competent. Despite this, corruption remains rampant and in many areas, the healthcare system has not been adequately modernized since the Soviet era.
Future - 60
Despite a minor hit due to COVID, the Kazakh economy has been growing rapidly and the country has made a swift economic recovery since the Soviet era. The government shows no signs of opening up democratically and Nazarbayev continues to exert significant sway over the government.
Actions Abroad - 75
Kazakhstan is a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace and has taken a largely neutral stance on foreign relations. Internationally, Kazakhstan has often acted as a mediator between the United States, China, and Russia. Kazakhstan sells oil at artificially low prices to Russia. Kazakhstan has cooperated with American military campaigns in the region. Kazakhstan is a member of the Belt and Road Initiative. While Kazakhstan recognizes both Israel and Palestine, historically its foreign relations have generally benefitted the former. Kazakhstan is home to around 100,000 ethnic Koreans who were forcibly relocated to the Kazakh SSR during the Soviet era. Kazakhstan has cooperated with South Korean repatriation programs. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan inherited over 1400 nuclear warheads. All nuclear weapons were returned to Russia by 1995 and Kazakhstan is not currently suspected of possessing nuclear weapons.
No Kazakhs live below the international poverty line and 4.3% live below the national poverty line. 4.8% of Kazakhs are unemployed. Kazakhstan has a very low economic disparity. The minimum wage in Kazakhstan is $67 per month. Kazakhstan has a decent universal healthcare system. Kazakh healthcare is of high quality in major cities but in some parts of the country has not been updated since the Soviet era. The country’s best doctors are concentrated in Almaty and Nur-Sultan. The Kazakh economy shrunk 2.6% in 2020 and grew 4% in 2019.