Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – As climate change fuels increasingly intense heat waves, staying safe in extreme temperatures has become a growing concern across Kazakhstan. This summer, temperatures have climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in several regions, testing both people’s endurance and public health systems. While modern households rely on air conditioners and fans, Kazakhstan’s nomadic ancestors developed…

ASTANA – This week’s election campaign roundup covers developments from July 27 to Aug. 2, when Kazakhstan’s political parties intensified voter outreach following the first nationally televised debate and held dozens of campaign events nationwide. National televised debate draws public attention One of the week’s key campaign events took place on July 29, when Qazaqstan…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry said a complete shutdown of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is not under consideration, dismissing media reports suggesting the pipeline’s operations could be fully suspended. In a statement issued Aug. 1, the ministry said the CPC temporarily suspended operations on July 31 but continues to receive crude oil from shippers…

ASTANA – What began as a series of independent projects has grown into Kazakhstan’s first inclusive digital ecosystem, combining transportation, accessibility and communication services into a single platform designed by and for people with disabilities. Developed by Pavlodar-based university students Stanislav Kirichenko and Islam Kulenov, Involve aims to simplify everyday life through digital solutions that…

ASTANA – Twenty years after the first Kazakh crude reached China, the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline has evolved from an infrastructure project into one of Eurasia’s most strategically important energy corridors. More than a transportation route, the pipeline has strengthened economic ties between neighboring Kazakhstan and China while providing an alternative export corridor at a time of…

The Astana Times continues its weekly roundup of key developments in campaigning for Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections scheduled for Aug. 23. This edition highlights candidates’ policy proposals.  ASTANA – With campaigning underway for Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections, seven political parties have unveiled programs outlining their priorities for the next parliamentary term. While their agendas overlap on issues…

ASTANA – From soaring modern landmarks to centuries-old sanctuaries carved into rock, Kazakhstan’s mosques reflect the country’s rich spiritual heritage and architectural diversity. While modern mosques attract visitors with their monumental domes and soaring minarets, many of the country’s oldest mosques continue to captivate travelers with their unique construction techniques, legends and historical significance. According…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Austria officially launched the Austrian-Kazakh Connectivity Platform at the Austrian Parliament on July 15 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in transport, logistics, infrastructure, energy and investment, reported the Austrian Press Agency. The platform aims to bring together government agencies, businesses and financial institutions from both countries to develop joint projects and improve…

ASTANA – As fertility rates continue to fall across much of the world, Kazakhstan is among the countries where births are still above the population replacement level. New data, however, indicate that the country is beginning to mirror the broader global demographic slowdown.  According to the United Nations, the global fertility rate has dropped from…

ASTANA – Hidden in the foothills of the Kyrgyz Alatau in the Zhambyl Region, the village of Merke is far more than a stop along the highway connecting Almaty and Taraz. One of Kazakhstan’s oldest settlements, Merke combines the legacy of the Silk Road, sacred archaeological landscapes and dramatic mountain scenery. Kazakhstan’s open-air sacred landscape…

ASTANA – Long before climate change and water scarcity became global concerns, the nomads of the Kazakh steppe built a way of life around mobility, restraint and close observation of the natural world. Their experience offers a striking example of how human societies once lived in balance with nature rather than trying to dominate it.…

ASTANA – Archaeologists in Kazakhstan’s Kostanai Region have uncovered three Neolithic burials in the Auliekol district, a rare discovery that researchers say could rank among the country’s most significant archaeological finds in recent years. The burials, tentatively dated to the seventh to fifth millennia B.C., were found beneath the floors of ancient dwellings belonging to…

ASTANA – An exhibition showcasing nearly 100 rare silk textiles, archaeological artifacts and contemporary design works celebrating China’s centuries-old silk-making traditions opened at the National Museum of Kazakhstan on July 2. Organized jointly by the China National Silk Museum and museums from Huzhou and Turpan, the exhibition traces the development of Chinese silk craftsmanship from…

ASTANA – Bananas are not a crop typically associated with Kazakhstan’s vast steppe, but in the country’s south, a greenhouse complex is proving otherwise. Central Asia’s only banana farm, located in the Turkistan Region near Shymkent, is cultivating tropical fruit on an industrial scale while drawing visitors eager to see how bananas grow far from…

ASTANA – Long before modern courts emerged, disputes on the Kazakh steppe were resolved by biys, a respected judges whose authority stemmed not from official appointment but from public trust, deep knowledge of customary law and a reputation for fairness. Zharilkasyn Zhappasov, a candidate of historical sciences and professor at the International Engineering and Technological…

ASTANA – The ruins of Djend, a medieval city in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region, offer a glimpse into a once-thriving center of trade, politics and Islamic culture that played a significant role in the history of the Golden Horde. Located south of the village of Akkyr in the Zhalagash district near the lower reaches of the…

ASTANA – A young Akhal-Teke filly named Akzhan, born to purebred horses Ganatly and Tabys, has attracted widespread attention in Kazakhstan for her rare isabelline coat and has become an emerging cultural symbol in Astana. Born on March 30, 2025, Akzhan belongs to one of the rarest color varieties of the Akhal-Teke breed, with only…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is marking the 100th anniversary of Yermek Serkebayev on July 4, one of the country’s most celebrated opera singers and a towering figure in national musical culture. A lyrical baritone, educator and People’s Artist, Serkebayev played a defining role in shaping Kazakh opera and vocal performance in the 20th century. His interpretations…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court hosted a scientific and practical conference on June 30 to mark the entry into force of the country’s new Constitution on July 1, bringing together government officials, legal scholars, judges, international experts and academics to discuss its role in shaping the country’s future development. More than 150 representatives from government…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s new Constitution entered into force on July 1 following its approval in a nationwide referendum on March 15. Replacing the 1995 Constitution, it sets out changes to the country’s system of government, the distribution of state powers, constitutional rights and public institutions. The key changes include a unicameral legislature known as the…

ASTANA – Located around 450 kilometers from Astana, Bayanaul National Park remains one of Kazakhstan’s most popular domestic tourism destinations, attracting visitors with its granite mountains, pine forests and clear-water lakes. Lake Zhasybai, the park’s best-known resort area, can be reached in approximately 5.5 to 6 hours by car via the A17 highway through Ekibastuz.…

ASTANA – Archaeologists have uncovered burials from two distinct historical periods within a single ancient mound in Kazakhstan’s Karagandy Region, offering new insights into the region’s ancient cultures, the akimat’s (regional administration) press service reported on June 22. The discovery was made during excavations at the Kulaigyr-1 burial site near the village of Kulaigyr in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and the European Union have completed expert-level negotiations on draft Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yerlan Zhetybayev announced during a press briefing on June 25. The announcement follows President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s June 23 visit to Brussels, where he met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula…

ASTANA – While addressing London Climate Action Week on June 23, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world faces a “Tale of Two Crises” – accelerating climate change and growing energy insecurity driven by continued dependence on fossil fuels. He called for stronger climate action, regional cooperation, investment in clean energy, adaptation measures and…

ASTANA – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) on June 15 released its macroeconomic outlook for 2026-2028, forecasting that Central Asia’s economy will expand by more than 6.5% in 2026 and exceed $600 billion in gross domestic product for the first time. The bank expects continued strong growth across its member states, led by the Kyrgyz…