Ermukhamet Ertysbayev
Encyclopedia
Ermukhamet Qabidenuly Ertysbayev served as the Minister of Culture, Information, and Sport in the Government of Kazakhstan
until President Nursultan Nazarbayev
split the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sport into a Culture and Information Ministry and a Tourism and Sport Ministry through a presidential decree on 27 March 2006. Nazarbayev appointed Ertysbayev the Minister of Culture and Information and Temirkhan Dosmukhanbetov
the Minister of Tourism.
Ertysbayev has been called Nazarbayev's "wily political adviser."
, one of the most powerful Kazakh politicians and daughter of the President, responded to the conviction by calling on Nurtai Abykayev
, the Speaker of the Senate, to resign. Global Insight
, an international think tank
, linked her criticism of Abykayev to her rivalry with Timur Kulibayev
, the husband of her sister Dinara. Global Insight reports that the move "backfired" and President Nazarbayev had Ertysbayev take control of the Khabar
television channel while coercing his daughter to merge the Asar
party with the Otan
party. Bagila Bukharbayeva of the Associated Press
also drew this conclusion. Ertysbayev said the take over of Khabar would help Kazakhstan improve's "information security."
occurring in Kazakhstan as it did in Kyrgyzstan
. The weakness of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev
led to a "mass spontaneous riot". The political opposition in Kazakhstan will "have to wait for another 10 years" before they can take control of the government because Nazarbayev is popular and will be reelected due to the strength of the economy
. He called Kazakhstan a "very strong state" that if need be, will "quell a mob... with clubs and tear gas."
interviewed Ertysbayev in November 2006, asking him how he felt about British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen
's movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
. Ertysbayev said the film "above all mocks American
manners and rural people and their intellect. Sasha Cohen's 'art' clearly isn't a masterpiece... But in reality there are truly funny parts. And people like to laugh." However, he criticized Cohen's sense of humor as "black, insulting, insolent, and openly stupid... Paradoxically, after the film's release, we have seen a more ardent and avid interest in Kazakhstan."
." Ertysbayev, speaking in favor of legislation that would limit the abilities of "various elite groups" to influence politics through lobbying
, told Interfax that "in the transition period, in the post-Soviet
area, any attempt from the oligarch
s to influence... the president, the Parliament
and the government can result in serious political cataclysms." Critics, such as reporters for Respublika
, said the government's de-monopolization
campaign would give Kazakhstanis a chance "to see how the government will put monopolists and their protectors from the head of state's inner circle in their place."
Government of Kazakhstan
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan oversees a presidential republic. The President of Kazakhstan, currently Nursultan Nazarbayev, is head of state and nominates the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government...
until President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
split the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sport into a Culture and Information Ministry and a Tourism and Sport Ministry through a presidential decree on 27 March 2006. Nazarbayev appointed Ertysbayev the Minister of Culture and Information and Temirkhan Dosmukhanbetov
Temirkhan Dosmukhanbetov
Temirkhan Myngaydaruly Dosmukhanbetov has served as the Minister of Tourism and Sports in the Government of Kazakhstan since Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed him on 27 March 2006....
the Minister of Tourism.
Ertysbayev has been called Nazarbayev's "wily political adviser."
Altynbek Sarsenbayev
A court sentenced Erzhan Utembayev, the head of the Senate administration, to twenty years in prison for his involvement in the assassination of opposition politician Altynbek Sarsenbayev on 11 February 2006. Dariga NazarbayevaDariga Nazarbayeva
Dariga Nursultanqyzy Nazarbayeva is a Kazakh lawmaker and daughter of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev....
, one of the most powerful Kazakh politicians and daughter of the President, responded to the conviction by calling on Nurtai Abykayev
Nurtai Abykayev
Nurtai Abykayevich Abykayev is the current Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan. Previously he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation and before this chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan...
, the Speaker of the Senate, to resign. Global Insight
Global Insight
Global Insight is the world's largest economics organization, serving over 3,800 clients in industry, finance and government worldwide, with revenues of over $95 million and employing more than 600 economists and other staff in 23 offices in 13 countries...
, an international think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, linked her criticism of Abykayev to her rivalry with Timur Kulibayev
Timur Kulibayev
Timur Askarovich Kulibayev is a significant Kazakhstani public figure, and son-in-law of Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kulibayev has held several positions in important state-owned enterprises that manage Kazakhstan's natural resources, and has immense influence over the country's...
, the husband of her sister Dinara. Global Insight reports that the move "backfired" and President Nazarbayev had Ertysbayev take control of the Khabar
Khabar
The Khabar Agency is a major media outlet in Kazakhstan. It was established in 1995, known originally as the National Television News Agency. It is currently one of the largest networks in the country, and broadcasts daily in Russian and Kazakh. Additionally, Khabar runs the satellite channel...
television channel while coercing his daughter to merge the Asar
Asar (Kazakhstan)
Asar was a political party in Kazakhstan.At the last legislative elections, 19 September and 3 October 2004, the party won 11.4 % of the popular vote and 4 out of 77 seats. Following calls from its leader Dariga Nazarbayeva for a united ruling party, and allegations that her father was becoming...
party with the Otan
Fatherland (Kazakhstan)
Fatherland was the largest political party in Kazakhstan, led by Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov with over 700,000 members until December 22. At a subsequent party congress, delegates agreed to incorporate the Civic Party and the Agrarian Party and rename the party to Nur-Otan.Otan was originally...
party. Bagila Bukharbayeva of the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
also drew this conclusion. Ertysbayev said the take over of Khabar would help Kazakhstan improve's "information security."
Tulip Revolution
In March 2005 Ertysbayev called the possibility of a color revolutionColor revolution
Colour revolutions is a term that was widely used by the media to describe related movements that developed in several societies in the CIS and Balkan states during the early 2000s. The term has also been applied to a number of revolutions elsewhere, including in the Middle East...
occurring in Kazakhstan as it did in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
. The weakness of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev
Askar Akayev
Askar Akayevich Akayev served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 1990 until his overthrow in the March 2005 Tulip Revolution....
led to a "mass spontaneous riot". The political opposition in Kazakhstan will "have to wait for another 10 years" before they can take control of the government because Nazarbayev is popular and will be reelected due to the strength of the economy
Economy of Kazakhstan
The economy of Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia. It possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves as well as minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production, as well as developed space...
. He called Kazakhstan a "very strong state" that if need be, will "quell a mob... with clubs and tear gas."
Associated Press: Borat
Reporters for Kazakhstanskaya PravdaKazakhstanskaya Pravda
Kazakhstanskaya Pravda is a newspaper from Kazakhstan. It is published in the Russian language.- External links :***...
interviewed Ertysbayev in November 2006, asking him how he felt about British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
's movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, often referred to simply as Borat, is a 2006 mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and distributed by 20th Century Fox...
. Ertysbayev said the film "above all mocks American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manners and rural people and their intellect. Sasha Cohen's 'art' clearly isn't a masterpiece... But in reality there are truly funny parts. And people like to laugh." However, he criticized Cohen's sense of humor as "black, insulting, insolent, and openly stupid... Paradoxically, after the film's release, we have seen a more ardent and avid interest in Kazakhstan."
Interfax Agency: Nurzhan Subkhanberdin
When Interfax interviewed Ertysbayev in November 2004 he referred to Nurzhan Subkhanberdin, chairman of Kazkommertsbank bank, as a Kazakhstani "KhodorkovskyMikhail Khodorkovsky
Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky is a Russian prisoner, considered by some - such as Amnesty International - to have been imprisoned for political reasons, jailed until 2016 and a former Russian oligarch and businessman...
." Ertysbayev, speaking in favor of legislation that would limit the abilities of "various elite groups" to influence politics through lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
, told Interfax that "in the transition period, in the post-Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
area, any attempt from the oligarch
Oligarch
Oligarch may refer to:* A member of an oligarchy, a form of government* Business oligarch* Russian oligarch...
s to influence... the president, the Parliament
Parliament of Kazakhstan
The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, according to the 1995 Constitution of Kazakhstan. The lower house is the Majilis, with 77 seats, elected to four year terms, 67 in single seat constituencies and 10 by proportional representation...
and the government can result in serious political cataclysms." Critics, such as reporters for Respublika
Respublika
Respublika may refer to:* Respublika Party of Kyrgyzstan* Respublika * Respublika * Respublika * Respublika , an album by the Ukrainians...
, said the government's de-monopolization
Monopolization
The term monopolization refers to an offense under Section 2 of the American Sherman Antitrust Act, passed in 1890. Section 2 states that any person "who shall monopolize . ....
campaign would give Kazakhstanis a chance "to see how the government will put monopolists and their protectors from the head of state's inner circle in their place."
Assandi-Times controversy
Unknown individuals distributed a fake edition of the Assandi-Times on 4 June 2004. The paper, which has become the most read paper in Kazakhstan for its criticism of corruption, instead criticized political rivals of President Nazarbayev in the fake edition. Galina Dyrdina, deputy editor of the Assandi-Times, said, "We confidently state that the publication of the fake Assandi-Times was sanctioned either by the president's administration or by structures close to it." Ertysbayev said Dyrdina's statements about government involvement "did not reflect reality."External links
- Ermukhamet Ertysbayev: 'The contention may prove quite an exciting one.'
- If the election is not fair, I will go out on the street myself
- New permanent Council on Democratization established, Provides platform for direct dialogue of all those willing to get engaged
- Kazakhstan learns to love Borat
- Eurasia Media Forum: Central Asia's Masters of Spin
- Fair elections may fall victim to Kazakh success
- China’s Foreign Energy Asset Acquisitions: From Shopping Spree to Fire Sale?
- OSCE asks Kazakhstan to withdraw media law amendments
- Kazakhstan: Apparent Rift Opens Within Nazarbaev Family
- Kazakh Minister Says `Borat' Film Has Lifted Nation's Profile