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Good Books And Banned Books

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan — There is no better evidence that censorship exists in a country than when a book slated for publication simply cannot get printed there.

Daniyar Moldabekov’s book, Year Of January, is more than 300 pages and packed with on-the-ground reporting both from the days when protests and then deadly clashes engulfed Kazakhstan in January 2022, as well as from the trials and political turning points that followed.

But it might never see the light of day — in Kazakhstan, at least.

“The publishing house paid for the translation of the text into Kazakh, paid for the design of the cover, and even paid me an advance. Everything was going well,” Moldabekov explained in a column for the Respublika independent media website on February 5. “But then the publisher told me that ‘law enforcement agencies’ approached the printing house that was supposed to start printing it.”

The unrest of January 2022 killed at least 238 people, the vast majority of them civilians, and required a detachment of troops from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization to restore order.

It also upended the balance of power between Kazakhstan’s current and former presidents, forcing the retirement from public life of ex-leader Nursultan Nazarbaev, while emboldening his hand-picked successor-turned-rival, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev.

Moldabekov had already received notice, prior to the grim news from the printing house, that authorities were anxious about the text.

Amid strong preorders — the publisher compared the interest to that of Nazarbaev’s recently released autobiography — authorities had asked for a copy of the work, the publisher told Moldabekov, as well as the author’s contact details.

A statue of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev was torn to the ground in the southern town of Taldyqorghan during the 2022 protests.

Kazakhstan claims not to practice censorship.

But this is not the first time a private company suddenly backed away from being associated with something about Bloody January.

In the fall of 2022, for instance, the management of an Almaty cinema that had intended to show two films on the topic as part of an independent film festival turned back would-be viewers, citing “technical difficulties.”

And while critical interpretations of the events face a difficult path to being seen, official and pseudo-official accounts are widely available.

One of them — a book called Tragic January written by the relatively famous Russian publicist and presenter Leonid Mlechin — is easy to find in Almaty bookstores.

Good Leader, Bad Leader

The first clue that Mlechin’s book has the endorsement of Kazakhstan’s current government is its title.

Tragic January, or The January Tragedy, is Toqaev’s preferred name for the events that began with peaceful protests over a New Year spike in the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ended with a security crackdown that reinforced state control at a high human cost.

From the outset, author Leonid Mlechin makes no bones about the fact that his primary audience is Russians rather than Kazakhs.

That phrasing never quite caught on at the grassroots level like the alliterative Qandy Qantar, which is the original Kazakh of Bloody January.

The second clue is that throughout the text Mlechin cites interviews with numerous high-ranking officials, including Toqaev, who declared that he had ordered state forces to shoot-to-kill without warning at the peak of the crisis.

And the final indicator is the fact that large parts of the book are not about the tragedy at all, but about Toqaev, his family background, his diplomatic career, his qualities, and his philosophy on life.

Spoiler: All of it is positive.

From the outset, Mlechin makes no bones about the fact that his primary audience is Russians rather than Kazakhs.

The book begins:

“If you go to neighboring Kazakhstan as a tourist or on a business trip then — as in the past — you will not feel like a foreigner. You can speak in Russian, all the signs on the street are in Russian. In Kazakhstan they understand us perfectly. But how well do we understand Kazakhstan and Kazakhs?”

Tragic January is curious insofar as it claims an informed inside-track knowledge of the titanic power struggle that — depending on whom you believe — either resulted from or precipitated the chaos on the streets during those early days of 2022.

The book’s clear villain is the former chairman of the Committee for National Security, Karim Masimov, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison on treason charges last April.

Nazarbaev and his broader clan are also under the microscope, with the author openly speculating on their potential roles in fomenting the unrest in order to jettison Toqaev from the presidency.

The sourcing for these assertions is a mixed bag.

Sometimes Mlechin quotes hearsay and chatter on social networks, sometimes from current and former officials, sometimes from Toqaev himself.

Yet what becomes clear throughout the work is that there are many questions that he never bothered putting to either Toqaev or the procession of establishment hawks who offered their takes, sometimes in order to implicate figures now outside of the regime.

Aykorkem Meldekhan, who died at the age of 4 during the January events in Almaty

There is no mention, for instance, of 4-year-old Aikorkem Meldekhan who, according to preliminary expertise, died from military fire in Almaty the day after forces under Toqaev’s ultimate command regained control over Kazakhstan’s largest city.

Nor was there any mention of the other innocent people who died during the crisis.

Or of the scale of complaints about torture and mistreatment on the part of protesters and passersby detained during the crisis, only a fraction of which resulted in convictions for police and members of the security services.

‘Time Flies In Three Seconds’

To find out more about those things you would have to read Moldabekov’s book.

Because what Year Of January lacks in privileged access to top-level officialdom, it makes up for in atmosphere, personal touch, and relentless reporting.

In a draft seen by RFE/RL correspondents, Moldabekov describes in intimate detail his experiences on January 4, 2022, in Almaty — the day the government lost control of the city during the largest protest in Kazakhstan’s history.

Moldabekov injured his leg falling in an irrigation ditch during that protest, as demonstrators went toe-to-toe with police in a suffocating cloud of tear gas.

After protesters helped him into a taxi to get home, the cab driver refused a fare.

“What money, brother? This is a beautiful night!” the driver said.

Moldabekov’s interviews with Bloody January participants — many of them recovering from injuries sustained in detention — are extensive, drawing on life stories and motivations in sketching a portrait of Kazakhstan in the process.

Kazakhstan President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev prefers to refer to the events of early 2022 as The January Tragedy.

And, of course, Moldabekov reflects regularly and critically on Toqaev’s public pronouncements, as well as on three decades of Nazarbaev domination that brought Kazakhstan to such a nation-defining point.

Observing that many of the answers about what really happened during the crisis remain buried in top-classified investigations and shuttered trials, Moldabekov argues in his book’s conclusion that “New Kazakhstan, claiming distinction from the old version in terms of democratic credentials, has turned out in practice to be more like Closed Kazakhstan.”

But if authoritarian secrecy and censorship persist, their subjects of interest have undergone a noticeable change.

Prior to January 2022, Nazarbaev was Kazakhstan’s constitutionally enshrined “Elbasy” (Leader of the Nation) and insulting him was a crime with a maximum prison sentence of three years.

Those privileges have been taken away from the octogenarian now, as has the name of the capital city, which reverted back to Astana after three years as “Nur-Sultan,” all done with silent approval from Toqaev.

But none of that beats the symbolism of the statue of the former president in the southern town of Taldyqorghan, which demonstrators tore to the ground to cheers during the 2022 protests.

That moment is now being celebrated again in an artistic exhibition starring a series of “falling Nazarbaev” mini-statues in a government-owned cultural building in Almaty.

“To be in power for 30 years and leave it in three seconds!’ Erbolsyn Meldebek, the artist behind the exhibition, told RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service. ‘Here I show how time can fly in those three seconds.’

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Washington DC 20036

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Announcements

Ring in the New Year on Dubai’s waters: Abra, Taxi & Ferry with Atlantis views

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As Dubai residents and tourists gear up to celebrate New Year, they can ring in 2025 with celebrations in the waters of the emirate.

The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai has announced special offers and exclusive services during the New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2024, on marine transport means including the Dubai Ferry, the Abra, and the Water Taxi.

Passengers can enjoy views of the Burj Khalifa, Bluewaters, Atlantis, Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Towers. Residents can cruise into 2025 aboard the Dubai Ferry, Water Taxi, and Abra, with the backdrop of the Dubai coastline, adorned with hotels, heritage areas and landmarks such as The World Islands.

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Dubai Safari to introduce extended hours for night safaris

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Timings at the Dubai Safari Park will be extended this winter season, allowing visitors to experience the attraction at night. Evening visitors will be able to observe changes in the animals’ behaviour as the night deepens. The park’s lions will roar more, the usually elusive pygmy hippos will be more active and the predatory instincts of carnivores primed for nocturnal hunting will intensify.

The night safari timings of 6pm to 8pm will be applicable for a limited period—from December 13 to January 12. Tickets will be sold on the park’s website starting from December 11.

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The extended hours will include two night safaris led by wildlife guides. Visitors can “expect to catch” a glimpse of the night-time routines of over 90 species, “besides participating in interactive activities involving animals”, the park’s operator said. The safari will host live performances, including an African fire show and a neon display. Visitors will be able to observe and study the animals’ natural adaptations at night, which include enhanced night vision, echolocation, and a heightened sense of smell and hearing.

Ahmad Al Zarouni, director of Public Parks and Recreational Facilities at Dubai Municipality, said, “With the introduction of the unique night safari, we are excited to reveal a new perspective on the world of wildlife after dark. This experience offers a rare opportunity to explore hidden aspects of life in the wild and learn about our constant efforts to enhance animal welfare, by day and by night.”

The extended timings are being offered amid the country’s peak tourist season.

According to the Dubai Safari Park, “well-considered measures” are in place to ensure that the ecosystem and animals’ natural routines remain undisturbed during the night safaris. “Only nocturnally active species will be part of the safari experience, allowing guests to observe them in their most natural state.”

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Dubai to ring in UAE National Day with week-long celebrations

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As the UAE prepares to celebrate its 53rd National Day, residents can look forward to a long weekend, with a 4-day break for most and an extended 5-day holiday for those in Sharjah.

From November 28 to December 3, Dubai will come alive with Eid Al Etihad festivities, featuring shopping deals, acrobatic performances, musical shows, fireworks, and culinary delights.

Culinary Experiences

Dubai’s restaurants and cafes will offer exclusive tasting menus, limited-time promotions, and events celebrating Emirati flavors with global twists. Emirati Eats will showcase a variety of traditional and fusion dishes at leading eateries across the city.

Music and Concerts

The festivities kick off on November 28 with Jalsat Moments at Coca-Cola Arena, featuring a stellar lineup of Arab artists, including Ayed Yousef, Eida Al Menhali, Nabeel Shuail, and Abdulaziz Al-Duwaihi.

On December 2, Dubai Festival City Mall will host a live concert by Aryam and Faisal Al Jasim, while City Walk will showcase a performance by Mohamed Al Shehhi, supported by a 10-member band, from 8 pm to 9 pm.

Fireworks

Spectacular firework displays will light up the city skies at these locations:

December 1, 8 pm: Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR

December 2, 8 pm: Hatta Sign

December 2, 9.10 pm: Dubai Festival City Mall

December 3, 9 pm: Al Seef

Shopping and Family Activities

From November 29 to December 3, shoppers can enjoy discounts on perfumes, jewelry, fashion, footwear, homeware, and apparel across the city. Traditional bands, family-friendly activities, and performances will create vibrant atmospheres at City Centre Mirdif and Ibn Battuta Mall.

Acrobatic Acts and Performances

On December 2, City Walk will host fabric dancers, acrobats, flag bearers, and traditional bands from 4 pm to 6 pm, culminating in the musical finale by Mohamed Al Shehhi.

With over 200 performers and an array of activities, Dubai is set to honor the UAE’s rich heritage and dynamic spirit with a celebration to remember.

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