A post-protest moment to demolish the Nazarbayev personality cult has generated considerable exuberance, but there are those who remain skeptical it will translate into real change.
An unknown number of people were killed in the Shymkent unrest, which appears to have followed a pattern seen in Almaty: Provocateurs instigate violent clashes and police respond with deadly force.
The former president's long-awaited message arrives as a growing list of relatives and close allies are being purged from important positions in government and business.