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Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's leader for three decades before his
resignation in 2019, retained sweeping powers until last week,
when his successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took over from
Nazarbayev as security council chairman amid violent unrest.
The 81-year-old former leader has not appeared in public since
the protests erupted on Jan. 4, and Tokayev's critical comments
about him have prompted suggestions the two had fallen out
before Tokayev sidelined his former patron.
On Saturday, the sovereign fund Samruk-Kazyna said in a
statement that Kairat Sharipbayev and Dimash Dossanov had quit
as chief executives of state oil pipeline firm KazTransOil and
natural gas pipeline operator QazaqGaz respectively.
Sharipbayev is married to the former president's eldest daughter
Dariga Nazarbayeva, her son has said on social media. Neither
Sharipbayev nor Dariga Nazarbayeva have commented on their
relationship. Dossanov is the husband of Aliya Nazarbayeva,
Nazarbayev's youngest daughter.
Samruk-Kazyna gave no reasons for their resignations.
Tokayev said this week he wanted Nazarbayev's associates to
share their wealth with the public by making regular donations
to a new charity foundation.
Last week's protests in the oil-rich nation were triggered by a
jump in the price of car fuel in the western Mangistau province.
On Saturday, the authorities said they had detained a deputy
energy minister and several other officials who they believe
were responsible for the "unjustified" price increase.
(Reporting by Tamara Vaal; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by
Ros Russell)
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