Kazakhstan Minister's Tense Response After Presidential Reprimand

Kazakhstan's Transport Minister Responds to Presidential Reprimand May 23, 2025, saw the release of a video interview with Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, following a reprimand from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The reprimand, announced on May 14th during a Security Council meeting focusing on transport logistics, stemmed from reported shortcomings in the ministry's performance. The video shows Karabayev addressing the situation. When asked about the reprimand, he stated, "A political state official has no right to discuss the head of state's decision." Karabayev attributed the border issues with China, which prompted the presidential reprimand, to a substantial increase in cargo transportation. He noted, "The volume of export cargo from China increased by 83% in the first quarter of this year, amounting to 822,000 tons." This surge in traffic, he explained, placed an additional burden on customs authorities. Despite the reprimand, Karabayev expressed his commitment to addressing the issues and fulfilling the president's instructions. The incident highlights the challenges faced by Kazakhstan's transport sector and the government's efforts to improve efficiency and address border management issues. The increased trade volume with China presents both opportunities and challenges for Kazakhstan's infrastructure and logistics capabilities.