Putin's meeting with Nazarbayev: insights from a former Kremlin employee and others on the significance of their discussions.

“Nazarbayev wants to symbolically remind Kazakhstan of how much better things used to be than they are now. For Russia, the meaning of this meeting lies in showing that we remember, we appreciate, we support, and we will not allow any offense,” believes Zhuravlyov.

Meanwhile, the head of the Central Asia and Kazakhstan department at the CIS countries Institute, Andrey Grozin, connects the meeting between Nazarbayev and Putin with the visits of the latter and other high-ranking Russian officials to Kazakhstan:

“Most likely, the meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo is a continuation of the process of indirect, non-public diplomacy of Russia, which we have been observing since Mishustin's visit to Astana with a large delegation of Russian business leaders. Then came Vladimir Vladimirovich's visit, followed by Matviyenko.”

A former employee of the Russian embassy in Kazakhstan, historian Alexander Afanasev, believes that this is a signal... to Kazakh nationalists.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich does nothing without a purpose. His meeting with Nazarbayev is an emphasized signal to Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev-friendly side. At the same time, it serves as a signal to nationalists, like those from the Elder Zhuz, to draw conclusions given the current turmoil and the fate of Ukraine. This is a strong move,” he states.

In turn, Majilis deputy Samat Nurtaza reminded on his Facebook that the previous meeting between Putin and Nazarbayev occurred three years ago, and less than a month later, the events of January 2022 took place.

“Such meetings provoke some internal anxiety. The memory immediately recalls the St. Petersburg meeting from December 2021, after which the January events occurred. I am convinced that everyone should focus on their immediate work and align with the position they hold at the moment,” writes Nurtaza.

He expresses bewilderment at the fact that the former president of Kazakhstan meets with Putin at all, noting the difficulty in recalling similar visits from other former leaders:

“Or maybe it’s just a habit? A long-standing habit from Soviet times, when one had to fly to the Kremlin for approval? After all, Nursultan Abishevich is a product of the Soviet nomenclature, whether we like it or not... If he were flying just as a tourist, no one would say a word. But here he goes straight from the airport to Novo-Ogaryovo, to GDP. It feels unsettling. Honestly, I don’t want any upheavals or unrest…”

The meeting with Putin marked Nursultan Nazarbayev's first public appearance in two months. Prior to this, he last appeared publicly during the voting at the referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant.