Inequality is driving protest against Kazakhstan’s authoritarian government | Peter Leonard

The illusion of a successful, free-market economy is shattered - and now Tokayev's violent crackdown bodes ill for dissenters

Almaty, the commercial capital of Kazakhstan, is the kind of mirage that oil-rich nations so often produce. It has all the trappings of comfort and consumer excess: swanky shopping malls, luxury car dealerships, high-end hotels.

This is the image of prosperity that the country's rulers enjoy projecting to the world. For decades, Kazakhs have been encouraged to take out expensive loans to experience their share in the dream: to buy flats, cars and even holidays they can barely afford.

Peter Leonard is Central Asia editor at the news and analysis website Eurasianet