An embarrassing 1999 television interview with Kazakhstan's presidential hopeful Gani Kasymov has surfaced on YouTube.
As longtime observers of Kazakh politics will recall, the garrulous Party of Patriots leader also made a run for presidential office back then, throwing his hat into the ring at the very last moment, just as he has done this time around.
Sporting camouflage fatigues, then-Customs Committee chief Kasymov immediately cuts a peculiar and awkward figure as the exchange on KTK talk show Portret Nedeli (“Portrait of the Week”) opens.
And it's all downhill from there.
After a cordial opener on Kasymov's plans for reform, the interviewer takes a stronger line: "Tell us, you support the idea of carrying out of psychiatric tests on presidential candidates. In your last interview with Karavan newspaper, you said and I quote, ‘All the people will be behind me.’ It seems to me that you might be a megalomaniac."
In a contained response, Kasymov keeps his arms steadfastly crossed and replies testily: "If you have just invited me just so you can insult me, I will get up and leave."
Without missing a beat, the presenter plows on with a few more vaguely respectful questions, although Kasymov is clearly still fuming throughout.
Toward the end of the exchange (at 05:35), the interviewer lets rip with this cracker: "Gani Yesengeldinovich, where has all the money suddenly appeared to finance your campaign? As far as is known, your salary isn't particularly big and the expense of a presidential campaign isn't small. It's true they do say that anybody who isn't lazy and works at customs can earn bribes. Maybe that's your only source of campaign financing?"
Kasymov looks like he can't quite believe his ears, but prattles on about the respectability of the customs service and the transparency of the election process.
Not quite happy with his efforts thus far, the interviewer takes yet another swipe at Kasymov: "Gani Yesengeldinovich, look here, first you didn't want to take part in the election contest and you supported the president, and then unexpectedly you decided you would run after all. One usually sees this kind of inconsistency among heavy drinkers. What is your stand on drinking? Does your head hurt in the morning, are you bothered by hangovers?"
The resulting outburst (at 06:38), complemented by Kasymov's line: "I sense that you need applause and flowers," can only be done justice by watching the video.
There is a postscript to this interview. By apparent popular demand, Kasymov returned to the program some weeks later, and on that occasion he demonstrated his bravery by crushing a champagne glass in his bare hand, causing himself a light and frankly unnecessary injury in the process.
And the government says Kazakhstan has four worthy presidential candidates.
Watch the video here.
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