No comment: Why Did Toqayev Not Take Part in Joint Briefing with Scholz?

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's first-ever visit to Kazakhstan had a peculiar moment. Foreign journalists expected Scholz and President Toqayev to hold a joint press conference following the talks. But they did not, Orda.kz reports.

Political observer Anatoly Ivanov-Weisskopf, who participated in covering Scholz's visit and was familiar with its program, said communication with journalists was indeed planned initially. Toqayev and Scholz were supposed to answer questions together after the German Chancellor met with Maqsut Narikbayev University students. Only Scholz spoke to the press, though. Qasym-Jomart Toqayev opted out.

Kazakhstani journalists, with the possible exception of Kazinform employees, were not invited. The press conference was not even on the timetable they received. Olaf Scholz had two briefings in Astana, while Qasym-Jomart Toqayev had none.

According to Anatoly Ivanov-Weiskopf, about forty German media representatives arrived to cover the Chancellor's visit to Astana. They were primarily interested in the Kazakh President's statement about Russia being militarily unbeatable.

Most German journalists had already prepared questions for Toqayev, and these questions were mostly related to Ukraine. Scholz's lone appearance disappointed but did not surprise them. According to the general opinion of foreign journalists, the President of Kazakhstan behaved in the spirit of post-Soviet leaders, who traditionally prefer not to comment on their public statements. At the same time, a joint press approach was not announced in Uzbekistan, which Scholz visited before his trip to Astana.

Qasym-Jomart Tokayev's statement on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict may not have been spontaneous. Diplomats try to anticipate what questions they will be asked. Considering that Scholz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before he visited Central Asia and proposed his peace plan, he was expected to raise this matter in Kazakhstan.

The absence of a joint press conference did not please German journalists, who did not pass up the opportunity to comment on the “authoritarian style of governance” and the lack of freedom of the press in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the Kazakh media overlooked this topic; they were unaware of what was happening. This is yet another moment demonstrating the authorities’ toughening stance towards journalists.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny

DISCLAIMER: This is a translated piece. The text has been modified, the content is the same. For accuracy, please refer to the original piece in Russian, published on 18/09/24.