The Kazakhstan authorities will do everything possible so that a tragedy like the January riots would not happen again. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said this on Friday in Almaty at the opening ceremony of a memorial to the victims of the events at the beginning of the year.
"It was a time of challenges for our people. The foundations of statehood were under threat. Moreover, it was a question of whether we would be able to preserve our state. But thanks to the unity and solidarity of our people, we were able to resolutely resist all challenges, showing unwavering determination and strength," his press service quotes the head of state as saying.
Tokayev recalled that the authorities then succeeded in suppressing the actions of conspirators who were trying to sow discord in society. "Peaceful rallies held in several cities of the country turned into mass riots and pogroms. Almaty, the cradle of independence, was particularly hard hit by bandits. They attacked law enforcement agencies and looted weapons storage facilities. Innocent citizens died as a result of their actions. Of course, the destroyed buildings can be rebuilt. But, unfortunately, the lives that have been taken cannot be restored. So we must do everything possible to make sure that such a tragedy will never happen again. Our common civic duty is to protect the peace and tranquility of the country and the unity of the people. Only in peace and harmony can we reach our goal," he said.
The president also assured that large-scale reforms aimed at further democratization of the political system, demonopolization of the national economy and improvement of its competitiveness will be continued in Kazakhstan. "Since the beginning of the year, a huge amount of work has been done in a short time. In a nationwide referendum, we adopted an updated constitution. Now we are facing challenges. Our country has embarked on a path of modernization and renewal. Of course, this is only the beginning. This path will not be an easy one. We all understand this. Our main goal is clear and obvious - this is the construction of a fair Kazakhstan and a society of equal opportunities for all. I am sure that together we will succeed," Tokayev said.
At the same time, the leader of the republic emphasized that one must by no means glorify bandits, radicals, and terrorists. According to him, the real heroes are factory workers and farmers, doctors and nurses, teachers and educators, scientists and cultural workers, entrepreneurs and athletes.
"We realized that stability is the key to well-being and prosperity. We saw that if you don't keep the peace in the country, you can lose everything in an instant. We have learned that we have to be constantly on guard for our independence and statehood. We have learned that the values of harmony and unity are paramount. So we will always remember the tragic January and its innocent victims. Only when we are united can we overcome any challenges and threats. As president, I will make every effort to preserve the integrity of the state and the well-being of the people," Tokayev concluded.