As the trial over former presidential son-in-law, former chief of special services and former mogul ends, the major opposition party “Azat” (recently rebranded from “Nagyz Ak Zhol”) is quick to react to the revealed facts of treason and planned coup. In its statement, the party reminds that its leaders were accusing Aliyev of the same six years ago.

“In fall 2001 Aliyev practically fully controlled the National Security Committee, Presidential Guard, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Financial Police, Customs Agency and was a step away from unconstitutional coup” says the party. Indeed, in 2001 Aliyev had enormous influence both in the state structures (mainly special services), media and in the business sphere. In late 2001, after Aliyev’s resignation from the post of deputy head of KNB, the committee’s new chief conducted an internal investigation and also revealed the facts that have been voiced only now, but it did not result in prosecution then.

The opposition urges to declassify the case materials, reform special services to ensure their transparency and accountability and discharge their former and current heads. But the major demand is revision of the case of abduction and assassination of Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly, key state and political figure, who was co-leader of Nagyz Ak Zhol. His murder was repeatedly linked by observers with the name of Aliyev during the investigation, but he was never interrogated. “Azat” also calls for revision of the case of murder of Zamanbek Nurkadilov, another prominent opposition figure, who was found shot with three bullets in breast and one in head in 2005. The police then concluded that it was a suicide.

In conclusion, the party underscores that Aliyev’s activities have become possible “solely due to autocratic nature of the regime in Kazakhstan”.