Tokayev claims he knows who was picked to replace him in 2022
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he knows the individual to whom conspirators planned to transfer the presidency during the violent unrest of January 2022.
Tokayev disclosed this in an interview with Russian journalist and historian Leonid Mlechin, author of the newly published book «President Tokayev: The Art of Changing the World.»
January events – attempted coup
According to Tokayev, the January 2022 turmoil constituted a genuine coup attempt. He pointed to the seniority of those accused as evidence, noting that defendants include the former chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB), the former defense minister and the former interior minister.
Notably, Tokayev assumed the presidency in 2019 after Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev transferred his powers, retaining significant influence as head of the country’s Security Council.
«The former chairman of the KNB admitted that his goal was to overthrow the sitting president and ensure the transfer of power to another person,» Tokayev said. «I know who they are talking about, but the investigation into this case is not yet complete.»
Investigation still ongoing
Tokayev emphasized that the case involves highly sensitive matters and said he is cautious about revealing further details.
«I do not want society to suffer because of this, or for these painful issues to distract us from our current lives and from building a new Kazakhstan,» he said. «I am confident the time will come when the full picture will be clear to Kazakhstanis.»
Mlechin’s work on Kazakhstan
Mlechin’s latest book is not his first focused on Kazakhstan or on Tokayev’s leadership. In 2023, he published a documentary-style book examining the January 2022 events in detail.
In that earlier work, Mlechin reconstructs the unrest as a planned conspiracy involving high-ranking security officials and characterizes it as an attempted coup. He also analyzes Tokayev’s role in preserving state authority and stabilizing the country during the crisis.
January 2022 unrest
The January 2022 unrest began as protests over rising liquefied natural gas prices but quickly escalated into widespread riots and armed clashes. Authorities later classified the violence as an attempted coup. During the chaos, some security forces abandoned their posts, contributing to a breakdown in order. According to official figures, 238 people were killed in the events.
