Almaty, Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan on Wednesday signalled that it could reverse a controversial change in time zone, a rare concession to public anger in the tightly controlled Central Asian nation.
Kazakhstan in March moved to five hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), forcing most regions of the vast nation -- which spans 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) east to west -- to turn their clocks back one hour.
The move prompted uproar from citizens who said it disrupted their biological rhythm and frustration has not subsided.
Under the new system, sunsets can occur up to two-and-a-half hours later in western cities compared to those on the eastern border near China.
Now ruling party politicians have urged a review. "The change of time zone is one of the most talked about issues in society," said parliament chairman Yerlan Koshanov.
The head of the the president's Amanat party in parliament Elnur Beisenbaev acknowledged the "outcry in public opinion."
Both said they favoured a return to the old system of two time zones and that it was necessary to understand how the change "affects the health and well-being of our citizens."
Kazakhstan's leaders pitched the time change as moving the country closer to Europe, Turkiye and the European part of Russia, while also helping to save energy resources.
The possible u-turn would come as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev tries to adopt a more liberal agenda following anti-government protests that saw 238 people killed in January 2022.
Earlier this year he allowed citizens to sign petitions calling for policy changes, including on the time zone.
But demonstrations remain limited and are often banned, including several against the time zone change that were planned for this month
