Analyzing Government Response: the Case of Kazakhstan after the January Protests in 2022

The paper investigates the narratives employed by the government of Kazakhstan during the January 2022 protests using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis. Through an examination of textual data from Tokayev and government officials, the study aims to identify patterns of delegitimization of protesters and legitimization of government actions. The analysis reveals a narrative emphasizing legality, security, and national unity, often justifying government crackdowns on protests as necessary for maintaining public order and combating external threats. Despite initial acknowledgments of the right to peaceful assembly, the government's discourse shifted towards labeling protesters as "terrorists" and advocating for a "shoot to kill" policy as protests escalated. Post-intervention, themes of resilience and progress were promoted, masking deeper commitments to control over democratic principles.