Dozens of women rallied on June 3 in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, in front of the presidential palace. They urged the government to fulfill its promises to provide improved social benefits and decent housing for single mothers and families with many children.

The protest took place six days prior to the snap presidential election scheduled for June 9. Protests against poor living conditions have been held across the country since early February, reflecting the general discontent with quality of life standards and government policies. Despite the Kazakh economy recovering in 2017 and growing at the pace of 4.1% in 2018, ordinary Kazakhs say they have not felt the benefits of this recovery. Although former long-ruling president Nursultan Nazarbayev has announced a drawdown from the country’s rainy day fund for $3.6bn for improving social benefits and private sector salaries, positive effects of this initiative are yet to be felt by the population.

The protesters demanded that Prime Minister Asqar Mamin, Interim President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev and Nazarbayev, who continues to preside over the ruling Nur-Otan party, come out and speak to them. Tokayev is expected to easily win the snap election—his victory is seen as a foregone conclusion in a nation with little to no existing opposition forces able to mount a challenge. Nazarbayev tolerated little dissent during his three decades at the helm. Opposition forces were dissipated.

A similar rally was held last time in Nur-Sultan on May 16, when the Kazakh authorities promised the protesters that all of their grievances would be addressed by June 1. Despite these populist pledges, not all concerns appear to have been dealt with.

Nazarbayev officially resigned in March, but continues to hold power in the country from behind the scenes.