Articles by Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – This year marks 38 years since Nauryz was revived in Kazakhstan, the ancient spring festival that had been banned for more than six decades under the Soviet regime. The holiday was celebrated again for the first time in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in 1988, restoring a tradition deeply rooted in the culture…

ALMATY – A joint session of the chambers of Kazakhstan’s Parliament will be held on March 27 at 10 a.m. in Astana, according to an order signed by Mazhilis Speaker Yerlan Koshanov. Today, during a joint session, lawmakers approved in the first reading a draft constitutional law on the special status of the city of…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan has completed the collection of all key expert findings in the investigation of the crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) near Aktau on Dec. 25, 2024, with conclusions now being consolidated by an international commission, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said at a March 20 briefing.  “All…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan marks National Sports Day on March 20 as part of the Nauryznama celebrations, highlighting traditional sports that play a key role in preserving cultural heritage and promoting healthy lifestyles. Across the country, regions host competitions and demonstrations of traditional disciplines, bringing together athletes, enthusiasts and local communities, Kazinform reported.  Preserving heritage through…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan plans to establish a new state body, the Alatau City Authority, to manage the development of the future city of Alatau, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said during a March 20 joint session of Parliament, where lawmakers approved in the first reading a draft constitutional law on the city’s special status. “The…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Tourist Rights Guarantee System, operated by the Turistik Kamkor Corporate Fund, has demonstrated its effectiveness in assisting citizens abroad during recent disruptions in the Middle East, the fund reported. Kazakhstan’s response to recent events highlights the evolution of a coordinated and resilient framework designed to protect its citizens during international crises. From…

ALMATY – Kazakh companies signed export contracts worth $62.6 million with Mongolian partners during a business mission in Ulaanbaatar, marking a further step in expanding trade ties between the two countries, reported the Ministry of Trade and Integration on March 19.  The Kazakh delegation was led by First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Aizhan…

ALMATY – Nearly 24,000 people moved to Kazakhstan for permanent residence in 2025, with the largest inflows coming from China, Uzbekistan and Russia, reported the Kazinform news agency, citing the First Credit Bureau analytical channel.  A total of 23,800 migrants arrived in the country last year. The biggest share came from Uzbekistan (11,800 people), followed…

ALMATY – An international festival Nomadic Art: Global Image of Steppe Culture, celebrating nomadic culture and traditional crafts, brought together artisans from across Kazakhstan in Almaty as part of the Nauryznama decade, offering visitors a rare opportunity to explore ancient techniques and cultural heritage, reported the city administration’s press service.  The festival featured master classes,…

ASTANA – Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yussupov reported an 11% increase in sales volumes to 18,500 tons, citing steady global demand. He shared the update during a March 18 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev focused on reviewing the company’s 2025 performance and setting priorities for Kazakhstan’s uranium sector, the Akorda press service reported. Yussupov also said…

ALMATY – Astana recorded the highest marriage rate in the country as Kazakhstan registered 115,900 marriages in 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics release on March 17.  The overall marriage rate stood at 5.69 per 1,000 people. Astana led with 6.75 per 1,000, followed by the Karagandy Region (6.32) and East Kazakhstan (6.27).…

ALMATY – The Rhenus Group, a Germany-based global logistics provider, has opened a new office in Tbilisi, Georgia, completing its presence across all key markets along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the company announced on March 18. With operations now spanning Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Rhenus has established full coverage of one…

ALMATY — The international tourist train project Jibek Joly (Silk Way) will soon launch a new route connecting Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports. From March 20 to 25, the train will travel along a Silk Road itinerary linking Almaty, Turkistan, Samarkand, Dushanbe, Tashkent and Almaty, allowing travelers to…

ALMATY – A documentary, “My Syrian Story,” premiered in Almaty on March 10, offering a portrait of Kazakh journalist Akmaral Batalova and her years reporting from Syria, where she documented the human realities of a country shaped by war. The film offers a deeply personal narrative following Batalova as she travels across the country scarred…

ALMATY – An international exhibition of green technologies and solutions, the Regional Ecological Summit EXPO 2026 (RES 2026 EXPO), will take place in Astana from April 22 to 24. The event will be held as part of the Central Asia Regional Ecological Summit with the support of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and…

ALMATY — Kazakhstan finished the 14th Winter Paralympic Games in Milan Cortina with two medals, one gold and one bronze, both won by para biathlete and para cross-country skier Yerbol Khamitov, reported the Committee of Sports and Physical Education on March 16.  Khamitov secured a historic gold medal in the 4.5-kilometer pursuit race in para…

ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that March 15 will be celebrated annually as Constitution Day following Kazakhstan’s national referendum on the draft of a new Constitution held on the same day. The announcement came after he reviewed the results of exit polls, the Akorda press service reported. Speaking at the Kazmedia Center, Tokayev also…

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has voted in the national referendum on the draft of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution at polling station No. 51, located in the Palace of Schoolchildren, reported the Akorda on March 15.  After voting, Tokayev held a briefing for representatives of local and foreign media, emphasizing the historic significance of the referendum…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov said 71 polling stations are operating at Kazakh diplomatic missions in 54 countries, allowing 14,380 citizens abroad to participate in the referendum, reported the ministry on March 15.  However, 11 stations in 10 countries, including Iran, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait, Ukraine…

ALMATY – Kazakhstan opened 10,388 polling stations across the country on March 15 for the nationwide referendum on adopting a new Constitution, according to Mukhtar Yerman, a member of the Central Referendum Commission. Polling stations began operating at 7 a.m. Astana time, while 92 stations opened earlier at 6 a.m. In total, 12,461,796 citizens are…

ALMATY – Geopolitical changes and growing passenger demand are increasing the importance of aviation finance mechanisms in Central Asia and the Caucasus, experts said during a roundtable held on March 10 at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). According to research conducted by the AIFC, the aircraft fleet in Central Asia and the Caucasus could…

ALMATY – More than 200 diverse events and activities will take place in Astana to celebrate Nauryz, the main spring holiday marking renewal and the start of a new year. The celebrations will unfold as part of the traditional Nauryznama decade from March 14 to 23, during which each day is dedicated to national values…

ALMATY – The lower chamber of the Parliament of Kazakhstan has ratified an agreement on strategic partnership in the production and transmission of green energy between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan on March 11, reported the Ministry of Energy.  The agreement, signed on Nov. 13, 2024, in Baku, was presented to lawmakers by Energy Minister Yerlan…

ALMATY – KazMunayGas Chairman Askhat Khassenov held a production meeting with employees of North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) during a working visit to the Atyrau Region on March 11.  During the trip, Khassenov visited key production facilities of the Kashagan oil field, including the offshore complex and the Bolashak processing plant, reported the KMG’s press…

ALMATY – The Senate of Kazakhstan, the Parliament’s upper chamber, approved a law ratifying the agreement establishing the Civil Protection Mechanism of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), aimed at strengthening cooperation among member states in responding to natural disasters and emergencies, on March 11.  The draft law was presented during a plenary session by…