Is political reform in Kazakhstan long overdue?

Oil-rich Kazakhstan - for years a remote outpost of the Soviet empire - has become a crossroad linking China, Russia and Europe. But while its economy is gearing for change, many people who demand political freedoms and human rights are systematically silenced.

The BBC's Stephen Sackur asks if political reform is on the horizon, in a country whose leader - President Nursultan Nazarbayev - has been in power for 27 years and wins elections with 97% of the vote.

You can see Hardtalk in full on Tuesday 19 June on BBC World News and the BBC News Channel and after on BBCiPlayer (UK only)

  • Subsection
  • Published