The Governor's family, one visit at a time

TALAS — Since her husband took office in 2011, Anara Toktarova's Irad Day reception for the Children's Fund, held on the evening of the parade, has been the one occasion in the year when Talas could count on seeing the whole Toktarov family in one room. This year guests saw all of them, but never at the same time.

Ruslan Toktarov arrived shortly after six, stayed for about forty minutes and left before the speeches. Alikhan Toktarov arrived after eight, by a side door, and stayed until the end. Bekzat Toktarov was at his mother's side for most of the evening, as he is at most of the fund's events. Zara Toktarova, who returned from abroad last July, greeted guests at the door for an hour and then withdrew. The Governor, who has not appeared in public since July, was not there, and nobody expected him to be.

Several guests, none of whom wished to be named, said the arrangement was not new. Since the summer, they said, the Governor's children have called on their mother separately, on different days of the week. Ruslan and Alikhan Toktarov have not been photographed together since last July.

Mrs. Toktarova made a short speech about the widows and orphans the fund supports and thanked "all my family, who are with me today". A spokeswoman for the fund said the timetable of the evening had been "arranged around everyone's duties". The Department of Public Information said it did not comment on private family matters.