The Week in Kazakhstan: Who Are You?

In a long-form interview published on January 5, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that despite strong macroeconomic indicators and positive assessments from international institutions, Kazakhstan faces systemic internal imbalances. Namely, citizens’ incomes are being eroded by inflation and obligations, while businesses are hampered by expensive loans.

Tokayev also criticized the luxurious lifestyle of businesspeople and said that it is disapproved of by society. He urged business leaders...