DISINFO: Kazakh rebellion was instigated during Orthodox Christmas hoping Russia would be slow to react
SUMMARY
The situation [around Russia] becomes more and more complicated. The countries neighbouring Russia face revolts and sharp social conflicts, which break out with more or less overt US interference. While the dangerous situation in Belarus had barely been resolved, Kazakhstan faced a sharp revolt due to social dissatisfaction. Its outbreak coincided with the Orthodox Christmas in Russia, while Putin and the Russian Army were on vacation. The instigators of the Kazakh rebellion thought that it would take a long time for Russia to react.
The American hawks are terribly worried about the fact that Russia is a strong state capable of quick reaction to the crises on its borders. The US is implementing the revised Truman doctrine against Russia with increasing intensity.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation claim alleging that the January 2022 anti-government protests in Kazakhstan are part of a US policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia.
The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The trigger and immediate cause of the protests in Kazakhstan was the government's lifting of price controls on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that took place in early January in the Western region of Manghystau and unrest soon spread to the capital.
As the Guardian reports, the official story from the Kremlin began with explanations that the protests were a military coup organised by foreign terrorists. Later the notion of a "colour revolution" is added. However, the narrative is not based on facts and contains many gaps and inconsistencies.
There are however more deep-rooted causes for the protests in a country that suffers from a lack of democracy, corruption and economic difficulties despite being rich in economic resources. For example, Kazakhstan ranks 128 out of 167 countries in the 2020 Democracy Index and also ranks 94 out of 180 countries in the 2020 Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
See also the statement by the EU High Representative here.
Read also related cases: US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, Protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution or EU and the US aim to generate a new wave of anti-government protests in Belarus.