Kazakhstan: Cadres decide everything · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

“Cadres decide everything” – this expression of Josef Stalin is widely quoted by the Kazakhstanis when they discuss new appointments in the government, which usually doesn't feature much new faces, coming down to “reshuffling” of the old “deck”. Megakhuimyak notes [ru]:
[Russia's president] Medvedev replaces governors and creates his own cadres reserve of 1,000 individuals. In Kazakhstan the “bench of reservists” for the governorship is positions is as short as for a dozen of people. The general reserve for higher positions hardly amounts to 50 or even less. Although it is becessary to change people, and do it quickly…
Neruad comments on a substandard HR decision [ru]:
I wonder what was the reaction of the politicians in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Vatican and UN, when [president] Nazarbayev appointed ambassador to these countries and subjects of international law as the director of external intelligence agency.
Alim-atenbek writes about a humanitarian crisis that took place this winter in the industrial town of Stepnogorsk in the northern Kazakhstan – for nearly a week, people there had been cut out of heating, water supply and suffered repeated electricity blackouts [ru]:
It is a pity to read such things about the once prosperous town. Instead of investing in reconstruction of the obsolete infrastructure, we had been building glazing skyscrapers in [the new capital of Kazakhstan] Astana, which are now standing empty. Seemingly, after the funancial crisis, the infrastructure crisis is looming – and, eventually, the political one.
Slavasay is indgnant at arbitrary interpretation of the Olympic regulations by the Kazakhstani authorities. The Asian Games, which were to be held in [the former capital] Almaty in 2011, are being partially moved to Astana. The possibility of reduction of sports program – and even full move of the Games to Astana – is being considered [ru]:
Most likely, the decision has been already made, and the decision is, frankly speaking, is a silly one. It was Almaty who had won the right to host the Games – and the Kazakh authorities’ decision does not only question the adequacy of the government in the eyes of the global sports community, but also hurts the residents of Almaty. Personally I would be very upset and definitely won't go to Astana to see the competitions.
Also posted on neweurasia.