Nazarbayev – Our Friend the Dictator Kazakhstan`s Difficult Path to Democracy Viktor Khrapunov, Nicki Challinger

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Khrapunov, Viktor, Author.

Contributor:

Challinger, Nicki, Translator.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

dictatorship.

democracy.

collapse.

Local Subjects:

dictatorship.

democracy.

collapse.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (179 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hannover ibidem 2015

Biography/History:

Viktor Khrapunov has been involved in Kazakh politics since 1986. He was mayor of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, from 1997 to 2004, and was forced to leave the country in November 2007. He has lived in exile in Switzerland ever since.

Viktor Khrapunov has been involved in Kazakh politics since 1986. He was mayor of Almaty, Kazakhstan´s largest city, from 1997 to 2004, and was forced to leave the country in November 2007. He has lived in exile in Switzerland ever since.

Summary:

"Like David, I am battling against a Goliath that has almost immeasurable means and powerful allies. I don´t think I can win, I just want to be heard. No dictatorship lasts forever, and if my contribution can sooner or later bring about its downfall, then I will have achieved what I set out to do." The man waging this unequal war is Viktor Khrapunov. He used to be mayor of Almaty, Kazakhstan´s largest city, and the country´s Energy Minister before he was forced into exile. From Switzerland, where he now lives with his family, he brings charges against the rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev, which will soon reach its twenty-fifth year. Nazarbayev, initially welcomed as a young, dynamic president, has become a reckless and unpredictable dictator over the years. From the abusive privatization of the country´s mineral resources and thriving corruption to personal intrigues and the stone-cold elimination of political opponents—Khrapunov´s account of the criminal wheeling and dealing of this self-styled ´ruler of the nation´ tells it how it is. Based on Khrapunov´s insider knowledge from the hallways of global power, his story is also a revelation of Western apathy towards a brutal dictatorial regime. This gripping autobiographical narrative helps the reader understand how Kazakhstan has developed politically from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the modern day, and how it can blossom into a democratic state.

Contents:

Contents; I write to you far from my homeland; A childhood in Kazakhstan; My years of education; In the Ministry of Energy; Developing Almaty; Years of farewell to Kazakhstan; In exile; What does the future of Kazakhstan look like?; Annex A number of reflections on the future of Kazakhstan

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

3-8382-6807-5

Publisher Number:

9783838268071