Respublika
A Kazakh citizens' organisation formed after the 2019 presidential election protests and associated with demands for political reform and expanded civil liberties.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Respublika is a Kazakh citizens' and activist organisation established on 19 June 2019 in the aftermath of Kazakhstan's presidential election and the protests surrounding the transfer of power from Nursultan Nazarbayev to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The organisation emerged from a network of Kazakh-language bloggers and civic activists, many of whom had previously worked in public administration or the civil service. Its public profile developed during the wider wave of demonstrations and political mobilisation in Kazakhstan between 2018 and 2020. The organisation's stated agenda has centred on political accountability, constitutional rights, election review, and the release of people imprisoned or detained in connection with election protests. At its founding press conference, Respublika representatives called for a reassessment of the 2019 presidential election and opposed legal and administrative restrictions that, in their view, limited citizens' fundamental freedoms. The group also objected to the renaming of Astana as Nur-Sultan in March 2019 and called for the city to regain its previous name. Respublika was led, at least during its early public phase, by Kazakh blogger Bella Orynbetova. In June 2019, the organisation was reported to have approximately 100 members, primarily former civil servants. It presented itself as a civic organisation rather than an established parliamentary party, but it subsequently explored the possibility of converting into a political party. In September 2019, activist Gülim Orazbaeva said that Respublika intended to build a nationwide membership base of approximately 40,000 people as part of that effort. The organisation's relationship with the Kazakh authorities was conditional and critical. When the National Council of Public Confidence was created in July 2019 as part of the authorities' response to post-election discontent, Respublika was not included among the council's 44 members. Orynbetova said that the group had communicated conditions for dialogue, including the priority of the Constitution over other laws and the repeal of provisions that restricted fundamental rights and freedoms. The group's exclusion illustrated the distance between its reform demands and the official channels of consultation available at the time. Respublika also pursued public protest and coordination with other civic organisations. On 9 November 2019, 24 of its activists held an authorised demonstration in a park in Nur-Sultan against the presidential system of government. By early 2020, Orynbetova identified insufficient funding as the principal obstacle to transforming the organisation into a political party. Respublika considered an alliance with the opposition Nationwide Social Democratic Party, also known as JSDP, but declined to participate in the 2021 legislative elections after concluding that it could not obtain sufficient guarantees of representation in national and local legislatures. Instead, it planned to observe the electoral process alongside Erdindik Qanaty and the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan. Available reference material documents Respublika mainly through its activities in 2019 and early 2020. Its later organisational status, membership, financing, electoral activity, and continuing leadership are not established in the supplied sources. The organisation is therefore best understood as a reform-oriented Kazakh civic movement whose early identity combined online activism, election-related protest, constitutional advocacy, and an unsuccessful or unresolved attempt to enter formal party politics.
History
Respublika was created on 19 June 2019 as Kazakhstan experienced continuing political mobilisation after the presidential election held earlier that month. The organisation was formed by Kazakh-language bloggers and civic activists, with reported membership of about 100 people in its early period. Many members were described as former civil servants, giving the group a connection to both online civic networks and people familiar with the functioning of state institutions. Bella Orynbetova was identified as one of its leaders. At its founding press conference, Respublika presented a reform-oriented platform. It called for a review of the 2019 presidential election and the release of protesters who had been imprisoned in connection with demonstrations. The organisation also criticised the 2019 renaming of Astana to Nur-Sultan and called for the former name to be restored. More broadly, its representatives argued that the Constitution should have unconditional priority over other laws, regulations, and administrative acts, and that restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms should be removed. The group's emergence coincided with the government's creation of the National Council of Public Confidence in July 2019. The council was presented as a mechanism for dialogue following election-related unrest, but Respublika was not offered one of its 44 seats. Orynbetova said the organisation had already communicated conditions for dialogue to the authorities. The episode reinforced Respublika's position as an independent civic actor rather than a participant in the official consultative structure. Respublika subsequently considered institutionalising its activities as a political party. On 16 September 2019, the organisation announced an ambition to attract 40,000 people across Kazakhstan's regions. It also maintained a presence in public protest. On 9 November 2019, 24 of its activists held an authorised demonstration in a park in Nur-Sultan opposing the presidential system of government. By early 2020, the proposed party project faced financial constraints. Orynbetova identified a lack of funding as the main barrier to converting Respublika into a political party. The organisation explored a possible political alliance with the opposition Nationwide Social Democratic Party, or JSDP. Because Respublika could not obtain sufficient guarantees that its representatives would enter national and local legislatures through that arrangement, it decided not to contest the 2021 legislative elections. Instead, it planned to observe the electoral process in cooperation with Erdindik Qanaty and the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan. The available material does not establish whether Respublika later completed party registration, continued operating under the same name, or retained its early leadership and membership structure. Its documented history therefore ends with its early-2020 decision to pursue electoral observation rather than direct participation in the 2021 legislative contest.
- 2020
Electoral participation is abandoned
[1]After considering an alliance with JSDP, Respublika decides not to contest the 2021 legislative elections and shifts toward election observation.
- 2019
Respublika is founded
[1]Kazakh-language bloggers and civic activists establish Respublika on 19 June in the aftermath of the presidential election protests.
- 2019
Reform platform is presented
[1]The organisation calls for an election review, release of imprisoned protesters, restoration of Astana's name, constitutional supremacy, and removal of restrictions on civil liberties.
- 2019
Excluded from the National Council of Public Confidence
[1]Respublika is not granted a seat on the 44-member council created by the authorities as a post-election dialogue mechanism.
- 2019
Political party project announced
[1]Respublika announces an effort to build a nationwide membership base of approximately 40,000 people.
- 2019
Authorised protest against the presidential system
[1]Twenty-four activists hold an authorised demonstration in Nur-Sultan on 9 November.
Products and positioning
A civic activist organisation advocating political reform, constitutional supremacy, civil liberties, electoral accountability, and greater public participation in Kazakhstan.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Post-election constitutional and civil-liberties campaign
Kazakhstan
Respublika campaigned for a review of the 2019 presidential election, release of imprisoned election protesters, restoration of Astana's former name, and removal of legal restrictions affecting fundamental freedoms.
Outcome. The demands were not documented as having been fully adopted. The organisation was also excluded from the National Council of Public Confidence.
- 2019Protest against the presidential system
Kazakhstan
Respublika organised an authorised demonstration in a Nur-Sultan park on 9 November, with 24 activists protesting the presidential system of government.
Outcome. The protest proceeded with official permission; no broader political outcome is established in the supplied material.
Brand decisions
2020
Decline to contest the 2021 legislative electionsStrategyBackground
Respublika considered an alliance with the opposition Nationwide Social Democratic Party but could not secure sufficient guarantees of representation in national and local legislatures.
Action taken
The organisation chose not to participate directly in the upcoming legislative elections and planned to observe the process with Erdindik Qanaty and the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan.
Aftermath
The supplied material does not document the later electoral or organisational consequences.
2019
Pursue transformation into a political partyStrategyBackground
Respublika sought to expand beyond a civic organisation after its formation and discussed attracting 40,000 supporters across Kazakhstan's regions.
Action taken
The organisation announced an effort to build a nationwide base and explore formal party development.
Aftermath
By early 2020, insufficient funding was identified as the principal obstacle to the project.
Sources1 sources
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