ALMATY, MARCH 20 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Betraying a lack of interest in politics, most people in Almaty who spoke to The Conway Bulletin about changes to the Kazakh constitution made earlier this month just shrugged their shoulders.

Some were concerned that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev made the changes to hand more power to parliament without consultation but they were in the minority.

Aigerim, a 25-year-old woman working in service sector, said casually: “I haven’t heard of the constitutional changes. I don’t know, I couldn’t care less. They will decide [do what they want] anyway, they will not ask us.”

There was also a degree of scepticism over how much power parliament will really be given.

Malik, 60, said: “Parliament will not be given decision-making power, it is just formality. Nazarbayev is and will be the only person in power.”

These views were echoed by most people that the Bulletin spoke to, although the issue of land ownership has dominated some discussion groups.

Land is a touchy subject in Kazakhstan. Last year, people protested in several cities across the country against a change to the law that was going to give foreigners improved rights to land ownership in Kazakhstan. The constitutional changes brought in by Mr Nazarbayev hasn’t touched the issue of land rights but that didn’t stop it dominating conversations.

Rabiga, a pensioner, said: “I do care, I have my family living here. I have heard of (the constitutional changes) but don’t know the details. But I heard there was one article on land that is changed from citizen to anybody. I have read about it a lot.”

Most analysts said that Mr Nazarbayev has tinkered with the constitution to try to split power between a number of people in order to avoid any one person dominating Kazakh politics when he leaves. The 76-year-old hasn’t yet unveiled plans for his accession.

ENDS