Kazakh Political Analyst Responds to Russian Expert's War Threats

Statements by Russian political scientist Dmitry Verkhoturov, who claimed that discussing the famine of the 1930s (Golodomor) is dangerous for Kazakhstan "from the point of view of statehood existence," have drawn a sharp response in Kazakhstan. Verkhoturov argued that further discourse on this topic could lead to an armed conflict, potentially more severe than the one in Ukraine.

"This will lead to an armed conflict. Kazakhstan, firstly, is not ready, and secondly, it is simply too weak and small to oppose Russia," Verkhoturov stated. He added a controversial racial comparison: "For us, Ukrainians are very close relatives, practically our own. And yet, yes, they brought us to a situation where we started hitting them. But Kazakhs for Russians are not quite our own. Yes, you can be friends with them and all that, but these are people further away, and as they say, they will be hit more readily and, it seems, more harshly than the same Ukrainians."

Kazakh political analyst Gaziz Abishev has responded to these remarks. He views the famine of the 1930s as a problem for Russia itself—one that should be acknowledged with joint mourning for the victims. Abishev rejects accusations of "Ukrainizing" Kazakhstan, pointing to its membership in organizations like the CSTO and the EAEU.

Abishev focused on what he called the racist undertone of Verkhoturov's words about hitting Kazakhs "more harshly." He emphasized that threatening war against a strategic ally does not align with Russia's own interests.

"The Kazakh state does not necessarily have to respond publicly. After all, Verkhoturov's statements resemble a provocation," Abishev noted. "But they cannot be left unattended either. A note must be made—there is such an expert who is not shy about threatening Kazakhstan with a bloody war."

The analyst also called attention to the need for an official reaction from Russia: "It would be interesting to see the reaction from the Russian side. What assessment will responsible politicians give to Verkhoturov's words? In other words, we need to understand whether he enjoys support and non-resistance or whether his attack is condemned. And what actions will this condemnation lead to if it exists?"

The article also references recent statements by another Russian propagandist, Vladimir Solovyov, about seizing Greenland and conducting a "special military operation" in Central Asia as a logical continuation of Russia's centuries-old imperial policy.