Foreign affairs commentators are optimistic a combustible situation in Kazakhstan has stabilised. Over the past couple of weeks Al Jazeera reports Kazakh security forces detained almost 10,000 people over the unrest, which descended into violence - at least 164 civilians are dead, including children, as well as 16 police.
In an attempt to calm the unrest, the government was dismissed by president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and a state of emergency was declared - but the protest escalated into calls for a change in leadership. Earlier this week it was announced troops would start to leave Kazakhstan after Presidentt Tokayev nominated a new prime minister.
But where does this leave oil-rich Kazakhstan, a key geopolitical area between Europe and Asia? Rouben Azizian is the director of Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies - he was a visiting professor at the Kazakhstan State University for eight years between 2006 and 2014.
People hold placards depicting Russian president Vladimir Putin signed "Killer" and another one reading "Russia, go out from Kazakhstan!" during an action dubbed #SayNOtoPutin in Kyiv. Photo: AFP or licensors
