NUR-SULTAN -- Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has attended a public event in Kazakhstan for the first time since he and his clan lost political power and influence following deadly anti-government protests in January that left at least 230 people, including 19 law enforcement officers, dead.
The website of Kazakhstan’s first president said on April 19 that Nazarbaev attended an exhibition of artwork by talented Kazakh youths held at the First President's Museum in Nur-Sultan.
Nazarbaev, 81, resigned as president in 2019, picking longtime ally Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev as his successor. But he retained sweeping powers as the head of the Security Council, enjoying almost limitless powers as elbasy -- the leader of the nation. Meanwhile, many of his relatives continued to hold important posts in the government, security agencies, and profitable energy groups.
In January, protests that started over a fuel-price hike spread across Kazakhstan because of discontent over the cronyism that had long plagued the country. Toqaev subsequently stripped Nazarbaev of the Security Council role, taking it over himself.
Just days after the protests, Nazarbaev's two sons-in-law, Qairat Sharipbaev and Dimash Dosanov, were pushed out of top jobs at two major state companies, QazaqGaz and KazTransOil, respectively.
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Video: A Closer Look At What's Driving The Protests
Sharipbaev is widely known to be married to Nazarbaev’s eldest daughter, Darigha. Dosanov is the husband of Nazarbaev's youngest daughter, Aliya.
The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Atameken, announced the resignation of its chairman, Timur Kulibaev, who is also Nazarbaev's son-in-law.
In late February, Darigha Nazarbaeva said that she was giving up her parliamentary seat.
Nazarbaev was seen in Turkey on March 8 when he attended a diplomatic forum in Antalya. At the time, Nazarbaev's once powerful nephew Qairat Satybaldy and his wife were arrested on corruption charges.
Days later, Kazakh oligarch Qairat Boranbaev, whose daughter used to be married to Nazarbaev's late grandson, was also arrested for alleged corruption.
Toqaev has said publicly that he wanted Nazarbaev's associates to share their wealth with the public by making regular donations to a new charity foundation.