KZBlog

Interesting article about the required Kazakh language exam for candidates to the Presidency from RFE/RL: Kazakh Language Exams Test Grammar, Loyalty.

I thought this bit was particularly problematic:

The examiners say the test is strictly about language, not politics. But even the first person to pass this year’s test — Musaghali Duambekov, who frequently expresses his “full support” and loyalty to Nazarbaev’s government — said the administers’ main concern did not appear to be fluency in Kazakh.

“If we look at the exams in terms of their implementation, [I think that they don’t assess] a man’s knowledge of Kazakh language itself,” he said. “For instance, I had a question on history.”

Duambekov, who leads the little-known For a Green Planet movement, passed despite making what examiners admitted were five minor stylistic mistakes. Why this was allowed is unclear. It’s worth noting, perhaps, that Duambekov describes himself as an academic and not an opposition candidate.

Especially as it comes from someone who already passed the test and someone who claims not to be in opposition to the President.

In terms of objectivity, you also have to wonder which professor would be brave enough to tell Nursultan Nazarbayev that he had made too many mistakes in Kazakh to run for President? Or even Senator Gani Kassymov, who recently declared his candidacy for President?

Last, but not least, an acquaintance of mine raised a good point recently: to be president of Kazakhstan, you must also know the Russian language surely. So why is there no Russian language test for candidates?