ISSUE 5.1 [March 4, 2025]
Local representative bodies, Maslikhats, are supposed to serve as a check on local executive branches (Akimats), yet what we often observe is the reverse. Among the explanations are the absence of a clear legal separation of powers, indications of informal ties reinforcing executive dominance, and low citizen participation in holding local deputies accountable. Against this backdrop, how much progress has the Kazakhstani government truly made?
Local representative bodies, Maslikhats, are supposed to serve as a check on local executive branches (Akimats), yet what we often observe is the reverse. Among the explanations are the absence of a clear legal separation of powers, indications of informal ties reinforcing executive dominance, and low citizen participation in holding local deputies accountable. Against this backdrop, how much progress has the Kazakhstani government truly made?