Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Zulfiya Suleimenova, discussed Kazakhstan’s plans for sustainable water resources management with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the UN Headquarters in New York on March 24. The Secretary-General commended Kazakhstan’s efforts, emphasizing the active position taken by the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s finest team of 38 people took part in the 10th International Abilympics competition of professional skills for people with disabilities in the French city of Metz on March 23-25, reported Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in Strasbourg’s press service. Kazakhstan’s team represented educational institutions from nearly all regions of the country. It includes professionals…

ASTANA – The recently enacted law that tightens punishment for torture is an extension of Kazakhstan’s ongoing legal reforms directed to combat the deliberate targeting of civilians and torture, said Kazakhstan’s Human Rights Commissioner Artur Lastayev in an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on March 22 ahead of the Right to Truth Day.  This day…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s March 19 parliamentary election offered increased choice for voters, though some limits on the exercise of fundamental freedoms and participation remain, said international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly during the presentation of their preliminary…

ASTANA – Respect for the rule of law, transparent voting procedures, and accessible and civilian-oriented polling stations are among the few features of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections that define the country’s commitment to the expansion of democracy, said international observers at the press briefing in Astana on March 19. Daniel Robert Kawczynski, a member of the…

ASTANA – Smooth organization and high voter turnout among the young people is how foreign observers describe Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election at a press briefing in Astana on March 19, saying there are no significant violations as of noon. Observers from the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) reported active voter participation, particularly…

ASTANA — State Counselor Erlan Karin and Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko spoke about the major features and changes in the upcoming March 19 parliamentary election and its significance for Kazakhstan’s political development with the foreign reporters in Astana on March 16. With the country undergoing transformative political reforms and electoral cycle, one could not…

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko and the Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Nurlan Abdirov briefed the heads of diplomatic missions on the preparation and conduct of the March 19 parliamentary election to Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakh Parliament, and maslikhats, the local representative bodies, on March 15, days before what could…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 793 observers from 41 foreign states and 12 international organizations, as the CEC wrapped up accreditation on March 13 at 6 p.m. Astana time, reported CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a March 13 CEC meeting in Astana. Out of 793 observers, 473 observers from 17 foreign countries…

ASTANA – The European Union and Kazakhstan are strengthening bilateral cooperation opportunities in trade and investment, transport, energy, agriculture, travel, and education, said Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko at a Central Communications Service briefing on March 10. Vassilenko outlined the ministry’s efforts in boosting investment exchanges and establishing business partnerships in recent years.  The EU…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has so far accredited 165 international observers from 16 countries and four international organizations for the upcoming parliamentary and maslikhats (local representative bodies) election on March 19, said CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a March 7 meeting in Astana. CEC has also received applications for accreditation from 157…

ASTANA – Some of the world’s biggest names in ballet from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom took the stage of Astana Ballet theater in the capital at the Freedom Ballet Gala on March 5.  The concert combined the classical ballet pieces of “Don Quixote” and “Le Corsaire,” the romance of “Giselle” and…

ASTANA – The Japanese Embassy in Kazakhstan showcased the beautiful tradition of decorating and displaying miniature dolls to celebrate the Hinamatsuri girls’ festival on March 3 in Astana. The event also marked the Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday on Feb. 23, who turned 63 this year. Every year Japanese families with young daughters display intricately crafted…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s legendary Gulder (Flowers) dance ensemble gave its first performance in the new composition on March 1, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports’ press service. Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall exploded with energy when young performers and the ensemble’s former members captivated the audience with the ensemble’s lightness and color. It was…

ASTANA – Some of the nation’s talented specialists and leaders from various fields are bringing their devotion to teaching in rural areas on a two-year placement through Teach for Qazaqstan (TFQ) program, said the program’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Gulnara Salmen.  As part of the global Teach for All educational movement that operates in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 111 international observers from 11 countries and three international organizations, CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman said at a meeting in Astana on February 27. As of Feb. 27, CEC also received applications for accreditation from 52 observers, including three from India, two from Moldova, 17 from the…

ASTANA – Eagle hunting has been central to the Kazakh nomadic life for generations, and it remains as popular as ever in Kazakhstan, as the country hosts the 16th Kusbegilik championship among adults in the Atyrau Region on Feb. 24-26, reported the Kazakh Kusbegilik Federation’s press service. Kusbegilik, or sayat, are Kazakh traditional names for…

ASTANA – After 12 consecutive days of digging through rubble to find survivors in Nurdağı town in Türkiye, 15 rescuers from the Karagandy Region Department of Emergency Situations shared their stories of resilience and miraculous survival with the press on Feb. 21, the Kazinform news agency reported. The rescuers’ team raced against time to work…

ASTANA – From humble beginnings as a slave boy to becoming one of the most eminent Mamluk sultans, the extraordinary story of Sultan Beibars is celebrated in Kazakhstan 800 years after his birth as an example of how one man can turn a region filled with ongoing political rivalry and warfare into a prosperous place.…

ASTANA – A new atlas-book with a remarkable collection of 130 European and American maps dated from 1562 to 1879 and the names of the early Kazakh state displays an uninterrupted history of Kazakh nationhood in the 16-19th centuries, said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, the author of the book, doctor of political science and director of the…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 82 international observers from 10 foreign countries and 3 international organizations, announced CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a Feb. 19 CEC meeting in Astana. The Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 62 international observers and received applications from 12 more observers from six states and two international organizations, reported CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a Feb. 13 CEC meeting in Astana.  As of Feb. 13, 62 observers have received accreditation, including 45 observers from the Election Observation Mission…

ASTANA – The United States-based textile artist Janice Arnold took felt as a starting point to explore its symbiotic relation with the culture of the nomads, connecting the cultural with personal effects through her widely varying works with felt. Felt, a highly functional textile art form, has been enmeshed in the Central Asian nomadic lifestyle…

ASTANA – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election observation mission on Feb. 8 following an official invitation from Kazakhstan’s leadership and met with the Kazakh authorities as the country prepares to hold an early parliamentary election on March 19. The mission,…

ASTANA – A new book by Sanat Kushkumbayev, the deputy director at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), offering a political perspective on the country’s domestic and foreign policy, regional cooperation, security in Central Asia, and national identity, was presented at KazISS on Feb. 3 in Astana. Titled “Kazakhstan and Central Asia Between Challenges…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will host the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 8-9 in Astana, launched under the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which aims to tackle global challenges on climate, food scarcity, and energy security, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The forum is expected to serve as a platform for eminent delegates…

ASTANA – Kazakh videographer from Aktau Azamat Sarsenbayev once again captured a beautiful flock of flamingos returning to Lake Karakol in the Mangystau Region earlier than expected this migratory season in January. “Flamingos coming back from warm places in January… This year, they came a little early,” wrote the author of the video on his…

ASTANA – Some of the biggest names in European and Kazakh opera music gathered at the Astana Opera to celebrate the 30th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) in Astana on Feb. 2. Taking place in Kazakhstan’s classical music scene, the concert showcased both local talent, soprano…

ASTANA – A new video by Kazakh Tourism national company featuring Kazakhstan’s best nature sites near Almaty, Astana, and Turkistan offers a glimpse of what awaits the visitors arriving in Kazakhstan through the eyes of two foreign travelers Cederique de Coster from Belgium and Anas Abouqamer from Qatar. Videographer Adilet Rakhmetolla captured Coster and Abouqamer…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan to hold a Central Asian regional conference on the prevention of torture and inhumane treatment as part of the Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) program implemented with the Council of Europe, said Sergey Dikman, head of Human Rights National Implementation Division at the Council of Europe on Jan. 31 in…

ASTANA – The Kurmangazy National Folk Instruments Orchestra launched the 90th celebratory season on Jan. 20 with a concert to mark the 200th anniversary of Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly, the most renowned Kazakh folk composer and dombra player, reported the Regional Communications Service of Almaty. “This year will mark the 200th anniversary of our ancestor Kurmangazy. Beginning…

ASTANA – For those who want to make meaningful use of their screen time immersed in high-quality Kazakh folklore content, the Qonzhyq App offers an extensive collection of modern Kazakh and traditional music, gathers all pieces of Kazakh folklore in one place, and seeks to address the lack of a systematized folklore archive in the…

ASTANA – The leading researchers from the United States and Kazakhstan will collaborate to develop policies to address Kazakhstan’s challenges in climate change and green economy, migration, economic diversification, and foreign policy over the next six months under the auspices of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs program, which was launched on Jan. 26…

ASTANA – From the international tour performance of the Boris Eifman ballet to the premieres of Jiří Kylián’s “Petite Mort” and  Herman Severin Løvenskiold’s “La Sylphide,”  the Astana Opera’s tenth anniversary season lineup could be the theater’s most engaging yet. “This is an anniversary season for the opera house, so we have already held a…

ASTANA – For hundreds of years, the nomadic rhythm of life was defined by mobility and practicality even in the choice of dwelling. The Kazakh yurt, also referred to as kiyiz ui (felt home), is a portable, weather-resistant, eco-friendly house that enabled traditional Kazakh herders to maintain a nomadic lifestyle that had them spending winters…

ASTANA – Leading experts on strategic studies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan discussed the challenges and opportunities the Central Asian states might face in this decade at the Central Asia 2030: Visions of the Future conference in Astana on Jan. 20. Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermukhambet Konuspayev started the session by…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced early elections to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament on March 19, after he dissolved the chamber and terminated the powers of the maslikhats, local administrative bodies, reported Akorda press service. Tokayev proposed holding elections to the Mazhilis and maslikhats in the first half of last year…

ASTANA – The newly registered Respublica party will be advocating for a modern, high-tech national ecosystem and a more inclusive society made possible by the dawn of the era of digitalization and cognitive technologies, according to the party’s platform.  The party was founded by popular Kazakh entrepreneurs and public figures and announced its official registration…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s team continues its winning streak with two gold medals in biathlon and ski jumping, and an undefeated ice hockey team that is set for playoffs at the 2023 FISU (Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire) World University Games, which runs from Jan. 11–22 in Lake Placid, the United States of America. Over 1400…

ASTANA – Uzbekistan will display 17 exhibits reflecting the country’s cultural heritage at the First Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah for three months from Jan. 23 to April 23, reported the Uzbek Foreign Ministry press service. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the biennale intends…

ASTANA – Twenty senators representing 17 regions and three cities of national significance were elected on Jan. 14 to the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC). This year, 55 candidates competed for the 20 open seats in the Senate. The elected…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the need to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, food and water security in a joint effort with other countries at the Voice of Global South virtual summit on Jan. 13, reported Akorda press service. India’s Voice of Global South summit on Jan. 12-13 brought together over…

ASTANA – The new book “Sacred Land of Abai,” written by renowned journalist Alla Belyakina, offers a visual exploration of the Abai Region, a land with rich history and the birthplace of great Kazakh figures, such as the poet Abai Kunanbayev and writer Mukhtar Auezov, reported the region’s press service on Jan. 10.  The book…

ASTANA – Astana Opera will gather an impressive lineup of guest musicians from Japan, Mongolia, Israel, and Estonia at the Vienna Classics Festival, one of the few major cultural events set to go ahead this January in Astana starting from Jan. 13. The program for the classical music festival features the works of the great…

ASTANA – Last year was the 125th anniversary of writer Mukhtar Auezov, one of Kazakhstan’s greatest literary figures, followed by another anniversary this year – the 80 year celebration of his son, Murat Auezov, on Jan. 1, which gave Kazakh society another opportunity to explore the creativity of the former from his son’s perspective. No…

ASTANA – An interplay of musical performance and a tiny bit of puppetry magic is unveiled in the ancient Kazakh traditional orteke art form, which last month was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the hands of a skillful dombra…

ASTANA – The Astana Opera is staging a premiere of “Kalkaman-Mamyr” in a new genre combining elements of opera and ballet, a few days ahead of the New Year celebration on Dec. 28 and 29, reported Astana Opera press service. The opera-ballet is an adaptation of a prominent Kazakh poet Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly’s tale of two…

ASTANA – The launch of a direct flight between Kazakhstan and Croatia is among the key initiatives to enhance the cooperation in tourism between the two countries in the upcoming year, said the State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Croatia, Tonći Glavina in an interview with The Astana Times, as part…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates a century since the birth of Azilkhan Nurshaikhov, a Kazakh writer and journalist on Dec. 15. His writing had a rare depth of vision and attentiveness to the characters around him, probably derived from his experience as a WWII frontline soldier. Nurshaikhov is best known for the novel “Years of Joy…

AKMOLA REGION – As interest in rural or agricultural tourism grows, the Kazakhstan Association of Agro and Rural Tourism (KAART) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a series of training seminars in rural areas to educate farmers about the advantages of sustainable agro and rural tourism.  More than 100 farmers participated in the…

ASTANA – Good news and tidings from the Ambassadors Spouses Association (ASA), the organizers of the 13th Christmas Charity Bazaar, that raised 38.5 million tenge (US$81,500) at the charity event on Dec. 4. All proceeds will go to 35 charities in Kazakhstan. The Christmas bazaar filled the open space of the Radisson Hotel Astana with…

ASTANA – The Astana Ballet theatre presented its last premiere for 2022, “The Snow Queen” – a ballet inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s much-loved fairytale that invited attendees to a winter wonderland on Dec. 3. The ballet begins with what promises to be one’s journey back to their childhood, where the icy queen meets the…

ASTANA – Kazakh national music kui, traditionally played on dombra or kobyz, captivates fans from all over Kazakhstan. The music has become so popular that it prompted the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sport to organize a festival of traditional music Shertpe Kui that took place in Almaty during Dec. 1-3, promoting the music genre…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates 355 years of arguably one of the greatest Kazakh judges and a master of the word, Kazybek bi (bi – noble judge), who used language to unite the Kazakh people under one ruler and settle cross-border, regional and local disputes.  Kazakhstan is home to several of the region’s greatest orators and…

ASTANA – The sixth Togyzkumalak (nine pellets) World Championship started in Aktobe on Nov. 21 showcasing the traditional Kazakh board game also known as the “chess of the steppes” or the “algebra of the shepherds.” Spanning over a week until Nov. 27, the championship gathered 80 professional players from 20 countries, including the United States,…

ASTANA – After two years of social restrictions, coming together has never felt more vital for the Christmas Charity Bazaar, the largest charity event organized by the Ambassadors Spouses Association (ASA) on Dec. 4 at the Radisson Hotel in Astana. The ASA President Lenise Correa Barbosa spoke to The Astana Times about the history of…

ASTANA – Newly re-elected President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the date of the Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, election for Jan. 14, 2023, and approved the rural development plan for the next five years, following the inauguration ceremony on Nov. 26. “Now is not the time to celebrate the election victory, but to…

ASTANA – International observers highlighted a relatively high voter turnout and reported no serious violations that could impact the Nov. 20 election results. Almost all polling stations completed their mission in Kazakhstan at 8 p.m. Astana time.   This year, Kazakhstan’s CEC accredited 641 international observers, including 532 observers from 10 international organizations as well as…

ASTANA – From the fourth largest lake in the world to the youngest desert on earth the new documentary on the Aral Sea named “Mission: Find Aral” will take the viewers on a journey exploring the past, the struggles of the present, and the yearning for a brighter future of the Aral Sea. The Astana…

ASTANA – A monument in Almaty honoring the founding father of the Kazakh alphabet Akhmet Baitursynuly, and an extended 12-volume collection of his works were presented to a broad audience on Nov. 16, as the celebrations of Baitursynuly’s 150th anniversary continue across Kazakhstan. A titanic figure in the educational history of 20th-century Kazakhstan, Baitursynuly is…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) plan to enhance cooperation in trade, digital, energy, and transport, announced Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell during a press conference on Nov. 17…

ASTANA – Imagine being guided through the Altai mountains listening to local tales or learning about early trade and commerce at the site of an ancient city along the Silk Road from local travel experts. Indy Guide, the largest regional booking platform in Central Asia that connects guests with verified local hosts, might make this…

ASTANA – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Nurlan Abdirov presented a report on the preparation and conduct of the Nov. 20 presidential elections in Kazakhstan to the heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations at a briefing on Nov. 15…

ASTANA – Today on Nov. 13, Kazakhstan celebrates 120 years of Gabiden Mustafin, the leading Kazakh writer of the Soviet period who created outstanding stories on many aspects of Soviet life, with a focus on the working class. Through his writing, Mustafin represented a powerful image of the new things that the Soviet government brought…

Editor’s note: As Kazakhstan heads to the presidential elections on Nov. 20, The Astana Times will contribute a series of articles in the format of reviews and interviews providing an outlook into the electoral programs of each of the candidates.   ASTANA – The presidential candidate Karakat Abden has promised to create decent living conditions for…

ASTANA – The second week of the election campaign period gain more visibility as the six candidates Karakat Abden, Nurlan Auesbayev, Zhiguli Dairabayev, Meiram Kazhyken, incumbent Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Saltanat Tursynbekova and their representatives continue meeting with the voters in the regions.  With the election rules giving all six candidates an equal chance to be…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan ranked first in the Central Asian and South Caucasus region and 28th globally in the United Nations (UN) Global E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and its sub-indices, said Vincenzo Aquaro, UN Chief of Digital Government, during the briefing in Astana on Nov. 2. Aquaro said that the survey highlights that Kazakhstan continues to…

ASTANA – An impressive lineup of musicians performed at an Oct. 28 concert of the Otyrar Sazy Kazakh Academic Folklore-Ethnographic orchestra that celebrated the four decades of the orchestra’s work with two hours of auditory and visual delights on stage at the Nazarbayev Center in Astana.    Founded in 1982 by a prominent Kazakh composer and…

ASTANA – Less than a month ahead of the presidential election, the campaign of six registered candidates, including Karakat Abden, Nurlan Auesbayev, Zhiguli Dairabayev, Meiram Kazhyken, incumbent Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Saltanat Tursynbekova, starts to gain traction with candidates traveling across Kazakhstan to introduce their electoral programs.  The campaign period that will last till Nov. 18…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the world celebrated Republic Day on Oct. 25 for the first time since 2009 with festive events that included the raising of the national flag and fireworks across the country and abroad, the display of the flag on the highest skyscraper in Dubai, and a space crew congratulations. The national flag…

ASTANA – In the aftermath of the pandemic and amidst the complex geopolitical backdrop in the region, it was an opportune time to incentivize business representatives around the world to invest and do business in Kazakhstan, including in the promising sectors of agriculture and tourism, said Denis Van den Weghe, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates the 100th anniversary of a Kazakh heroine Manshuk Mametova, who mastered the Maxim machine gun during World War II and fought the Nazis till her last breath. Born in 1922 in Zhaskus village in the West Kazakhstan Region, Mametova was the fifth child in the family. At the age of five,…

ASTANA – A core team of 11 international experts based in Astana and 30 long-term observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will be deployed throughout the country from Oct. 26 to monitor the upcoming presidential elections in Kazakhstan scheduled for Nov. 20,…

ASTANA – Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybay spoke on the first steps being made towards the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged organization that includes the institutionalization of the conference and pursuit of initiatives proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the sixth CICA summit…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Morocco could expand opportunities in trade and explore cooperation in emerging areas such as tourism and renewable energy, said Moroccan Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mohammed Rachid Maaninou in an interview with The Astana Times. As the two countries mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Maaninou shared his insights…

ASTANA – The Mangystau Region in western Kazakhstan with its picturesque valleys and landscapes that look so alien, one would think you were on Mars, attracted over half a million tourists over the last two years, reported the region’s Center for Public Communications (CPC). According to the CPC, in the next three years, the region…

ASTANA – Singapore shares warm and long-standing relations with Kazakhstan, said Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs of Singapore, in an interview with The Astana Times.  Dr. Maliki paid a working visit to Kazakhstan on Oct. 11-14 ahead of 30-year-anniversary of diplomatic…

ASTANA – The sixth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit talks held in the Kazakh capital Astana on Oct. 13 concluded with the adoption of the Astana Statement that launched the process of transformation of CICA and extension of Kazakhstan’s chairpersonship for 2022-2024 with a focus on expanding supply chains…

ASTANA – The sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) started today on Oct. 12 in Astana. This year the summit marks three major events: the 30th anniversary of CICA, the end of Kazakhstan’s two-year chairpersonship in the conference, and the objective to transform the conference into a full-fledged…

ASTANA – The traveling exhibition of the ALZHIR museum and memorial complex of political repression and totalitarianism victims opened at the National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books in Astana on Oct. 10. The exhibition will last till Oct. 28. The Akmola’s Camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland (known as ALZHIR for its…

ASTANA – If you have ever listened to traditional Kazakh songs, chances are you have heard the dombra with its intricate, but delicate tonality that produces magical sounds from the endless Kazakh steppe. Sometimes it soothes by its fragile tunes, sometimes it excites by resembling a herd of wild horses galloping across the wide prairie.…

ASTANA – The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) may offer a new course for promoting security systems for rapidly developing Asian countries, says Bulat Auelbayev, the chief expert at the Almaty branch of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) in an interview with Zakon news agency on Oct. 4.…

ASTANA – The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Special Working Group (SWG) meeting conducted on Sept. 28-29, has made a major advance in preparing draft documents to be adopted at the upcoming sixth CICA Summit on Oct. 12-13 in Astana, reported CICA Secretariat on Twitter. The main document includes a…

ALMATY – The seventh World Petroleum Council (WPC) Youth Forum opens on Sept. 29 in Almaty with the goal of expanding the discussions around energy transition and adoption of sustainable technologies gathering over 700 delegates from 37 countries.   Among the honorary participants of the forum are the heads of the largest Kazakh and foreign oil…

ASTANA – Shymkent has the potential to become a major southern hub, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the meeting with the city’s public on Sept. 27, reported the presidential press service.   The city has attracted over 1.5 trillion tenge ($3.1billion) in investments since it gained the status of a city of national significance in 2018,…

ASTANA – On the 125th anniversary of a great Kazakh literary figure Mukhtar Auezov, whose talent transcended national borders, it is worth exploring his contribution to the Kazakh and world literature. Through Auezov’s works, the reader is able to discover the Kazakh culture, understand the mentality and overcome existing prejudices. Auezov is best known for…

ASTANA – The Central Election Commission (CEC) approved a document that outlines measures to ensure unhindered and barrier-free access to polling stations for citizens with disabilities during their meeting on Sept. 26.  The document ensures that people with disabilities can register to vote and take part in elections with no hindrance. According to the decree,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates 125 years since the birth of renowned Kazakh writer Mukhtar Auezov on Sept. 28 .  Famous for his book, “The Path of Abai,” which tells the story of the prominent poet and thinker Abai and which has transformed the way generations perceive the wisdom of the life of a 20th century…

ASTANA – With rising geopolitical confrontations around the world, the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions that took place in Astana on Sept. 14-15 could not have been more timely. Attended by high-level religious leaders, such as Pope Francis and Grand Imam of al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the congress claimed to be…

ASTANA – An exhibition drawing on the international experience with nuclear testing and armaments, titled Everything You Treasure – For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons, opened in Astana in the Keruen shopping center on Sept. 16. The exhibition, which runs until Sept. 30, depicts over 70 years of nuclear history from the Hiroshima explosion…

NUR-SULTAN – Syrbay Maulenov, one of the few Kazakh poets and writers, whose life was devastated by World War II, was born 100 years ago on Sept. 17. His works derived from his love for his homeland and embraced a wide range of topics from sharp depictions of war to tender praise of homeland scenery…

NUR-SULTAN – Over the past two days the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan once again served as the platform for dozens of religious leaders to engage in dialogue and seek ways to promote peace and tolerance amid rising tensions in the world.  The Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which the country has hosted…

NUR-SULTAN – The first day of the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions started with an organized panel on the role of religious leaders in the spiritual and social development of humankind in the post-pandemic period followed by an award ceremony dedicated to the contribution to interfaith dialogue and concluded with Pope…

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to build a new international security system based on humanistic ideals using world religions as a template as he addressed the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan on Sept. 14. The two-day congress, convened for the first time in 2003, brought some of…

NUR-SULTAN – Bulat Sarsenbayev, chairman of the board of the Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Inter-Civilization Dialogue, briefed foreign media on the main agenda and the contribution that the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions could offer to peacebuilding on Sept. 13, a day ahead of the congress. The…

NUR-SULTAN – Discussions at the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will range from religious education and combating extremism to strengthening the status of women and promoting peace and religious dialogue, said Maulen Ashimbayev, chairperson of the Senate and head of the Secretariat of the Congress  an upper chamber of the Kazakh…

NUR-SULTAN – The Women of Kazakhstan project is the first virtual museum exploring the history and accomplishments of Kazakh women undertaken as part of an effort to broaden the picture of women’s important, yet historically overlooked roles in driving the cultural and historical changes in Kazakhstan. In an exclusive interview with The Astana Times, the…

Editor’s Note: In the run-up to the seventh Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to be held on Sept. 14-15 in Nur-Sultan, The Astana Times has started a series of articles on the diversity of spiritual life in Kazakhstan. The first three articles focused on Kazakhstan’s Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Catholic communities.…

NUR-SULTAN – As the sixth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit draws near, Kairat Sarybay, executive director of CICA shared the details on the preparation for the summit and the results of Kazakhstan’s chairpersonship of CICA from 2020 to 2022 during his meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sept. 7,…

NUR-SULTAN – A group of leading scholars from Central Asia launched an open access peer-reviewed journal titled Ketmen International Journal for Central Asian Voices on Aug. 26 to challenge the existing dominant perspectives on Central Asian studies.  The first special issue of the journal is titled Autoethnography of Spiritual Practices in Central Asia and includes…