Kazakhstan Marks 355 Years of Bukhar Zhyrau, Pioneer of Country’s Constitution
ASTANA – Constitution Day on Aug. 30 offers an opportunity to commemorate Bukhar Kalkamanuly, commonly known as Bukhar Zhyrau. He was not only a folk singer and improviser but also a key contributor to Kazakhstan’s first code of laws, Zheti Zhargy (Seven Charters). This year marks the 355th anniversary of his birth. Bukhar Zhyrau also…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 930 Years of Sufi Spiritual Guide Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is commemorating the 930th birthday of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a philosopher, poet and spiritual leader who founded the Sufi school across Central Asia. In the realm of Sufi Islam, Yasawi is both well-known and respected for his work called “Diwan-i Hikmet” (A Book of Wisdom). Written in poetic verses, the work delves…
Kazakh Film is Selected for San Sebastian Film Festival
ASTANA – Kazakh director Askhat Kuchinchirekov’s debut film “Bauryna Salu” (Adoption) has been selected to compete in the New Directors category of the 71st edition of the San Sebastián film festival, set to take place on Sept. 22-30 in Spain. Starring young actor Yersultan Yermanov, Kuchinchirekov’s film was shot in Kuigan and Tuyyk villages in…
Togyzkumalak Enlisted in Fifth World Nomad Games
ASTANA – The traditional Kazakh board game Togyzkumalak (nine pellets) is included in the program of the fifth World Nomad Games to be held in Astana in 2024, reported Vice Minister of Culture and Sports Sarsen Kuranbek at the Central Communications Service briefing. The board game also known as the “chess of the steppes” or…
Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court Advances Human Rights, Says Chairperson
ASTANA – The Constitutional Court has enacted a series of decisions that enshrine fundamental principles established within the Constitution to advance human rights in Kazakhstan, said Elvira Azimova, chairwoman of the Constitutional Court. In an interview with The Astana Times, she outlined the work carried out since the court’s establishment in January. Establishment of the…
Zerendi Lake: Idyllic Escape Into Pine Woods and Unique Butterfly Museum
AKMOLA REGION – A placid lake, welcoming pine woods, picturesque hike areas and the only butterfly museum in Kazakhstan defined a trip to Zerendi village as part of the Baitaq Zher (Vast Earth) project organized by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia in partnership with Chevron in late July. A comfortable 240-kilometer ride on the…
To Forget Is to Repeat: Karlag Museum Chronicles Dark Legacy of Political Repression
KARAGANDY REGION – The museum of memory of victims of political repressions, known as Karlag (Karagandy corrective labor camp) museum, is housed in the original administrative building of one of Joseph Stalin’s largest Gulags (Main camp administration). The museum memorializes the victims of political repressions that took place in the 1930-1950s in Kazakhstan. It is…
From Q-pop to Indie and R&B: Dive into Top Kazakh Contemporary Artists
ASTANA – With music festival season at its peak, it is the perfect time to present Kazakhstan’s top artists. From Q-pop (Qazaq-pop) and R&B to Kazakh rap, soul, indie music and DJs, music lovers all over the world can find their favorite contemporary Kazakh artists for any occasion. Dimash Kudaibergen When the world proclaimed Dimash…
Korgalzhyn Reserve Offers Wildlife Encounters with Flamingos and Saiga Antelopes (Video)
AKMOLA REGION – For birdwatchers and nature-lovers of all ages, the Korgalzhyn state nature reserve allows visitors to get close to a remarkable array of migratory birds and saiga antelopes without disturbing them. A comfortable 160-kilometer drive from Astana took a group of media representatives on tour on July 25 to the vast steppes and…
Karagandy – Heartland of Kazakhstan’s Coal Mining Industry
KARAGANDY – The city of Karagandy, Kazakhstan’s industrial powerhouse renowned for its highest quality coal, is a place with a rich history and diverse attractions to explore for a captivating weekend getaway. Almaty and Astana remain the most popular urban destinations in Kazakhstan, but the city of Karagandy, located within a three-hour drive from the…
Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum to Unlock Trade and Logistics Opportunities
ASTANA – Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum taking place on Aug. 3-5 in Astana is intended to strengthen trade and economic relations, providing opportunities for businesses across numerous sectors, including diversification of trade routes, said Kazakh officials at a press briefing on July 31. Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Tumysh and Vice-Minister of Trade and…
GCC – Central Asian Summit Sets Unprecedented Regional Cooperation Model, Says KazISS Expert
ASTANA – The first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Central Asian countries summit provides a promising model of region-to-region cooperation, which will give a new impetus to partnership, said Sanat Kushkumbayev, deputy director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), in an interview with The Astana Times. The summit, held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)…
UN Officials Commend Kazakhstan’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts and Joint Action Plan
ASTANA – Vladimir Voronkov, Under Secretary-General of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, and Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, commended Kazakhstan’s efforts to counter terrorism in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times on July 14. They addressed the recent updates to the Joint Action Plan (JPoA) for…
Experts Outline Security Challenges, Human Capital Development as Forum Wraps Up
ASTANA – Keynote experts of the inaugural Central Asian Security and Cooperation Forum (CAF) spoke to The Astana Times on security challenges, human capital development and outcomes of the forum, as CAF wrapped up on July 14. Togzhan Kassenova, senior fellow at the International Security, Trade, and Economic Governance (PISCES) Project at the Center for…
Kazakh Choral Artist Fosters Cultural Exchange at World Youth Choir
ASTANA – Ardak Bukharbekov became the first chorist from Kazakhstan to participate in the World Youth Choir (WYC), an international ensemble of the best young choral singers using music to transcend boundaries and spread the message of peace, unity and harmony. An international choir experience has provided a unique opportunity for Bukharbekov to connect with…
Security Challenges Require Global Cooperation, Say Foreign Experts at CAF
ASTANA – International experts highlight the importance of addressing security challenges at a global level on the sidelines of the Central Asian Security and Cooperation Forum (CAF) taking place in Astana on July 13-14. Key discussions focused around security, climate change, and terrorism during the general session on the first day of the forum with…
Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly: Guiding Moral Compass of Kazakh Nation for 165 Years
ASTANA – Kazakhstan commemorates 165 years of Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly, a prominent poet and thinker who sought to uplift the conscience of the 19th-century Kazakh nation by delving into the themes of good and evil, human dignity and morals. A prolific poet, commonly recognized and referred to by his first name, was the nephew of the…
Astana Marks 25 Years, Young City with Rich History and Promising Future
ASTANA – July 6 marks the day when the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan adopted the decree on the transfer of the capital of Kazakhstan, which paved the way for Astana to officially become the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the international presentation of Astana that took place in…
Astana Opera Premiers Modern Take on Rossini’s “L’Italiana in Algeri”
ASTANA – Astana Opera made a crucial addition to its repertoire with the premiere of Gioachino Rossini’s masterpiece “L’Italiana in Algeri” (The Italian Girl in Algiers) with a modern take on a culture-clash comedy on June 29. The two-act opera became the highlight of the Operaliya 2023 International Festival program, which will feature Verdi’s “Aida”…
Empowering Kazakh Documentary Industry: Qara Film Fest Returns with Eight Local Films
ASTANA – Independent documentary film festival QaraFest is returning this year with a captivating selection of 11 international and eight Kazakh films on July 5-9 in Almaty. The festival’s founder, Ulyana Toporovskaya, spoke to The Astana Times about the festival, the peculiarities of non-fiction storytelling, and the prospects and challenges faced by the Kazakh documentary…
Kazakh Healthcare Expert Advocates for New Nutritional Standards for School Meals
ASTANA – Adoption of new nutritional standards for school meals based on Scandinavian example could protect students from chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity, Almaz Sharman, president of the Academy of Preventive Medicine and a member of the American Health Association, told The Astana Times. School meals are a crucial source of nutrition,…
World Bank: Improving Education, Structural Reforms Vital for Kazakhstan’s Growth
ASTANA – Prioritizing education and structural reforms to boost the economy’s potential will be crucial to support Kazakhstan’s economic growth and would help tackle future challenges, said Ivailo Izvorski, the World Bank’s chief economist for the Europe and Central Asia region in an exclusive interview with The Astana Times. “Central Asia has been the best-performing…
Kazakhstan Welcomes Back Ancient Quran of Kenesary, Last Khan of Kazakh Steppe
ASTANA – The Holy Quran belonging to Kenesary Kasymuly, leader of protests against Tsarist expansion and the last khan (ruler) of Kazakhs, was brought back to Kazakhstan after two centuries abroad, announced President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the second National Kurultai meeting on June 17. President Tokayev said the return of this national treasure “is a…
President Tokayev Charts Vision for Volunteering at International Forum
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined his vision for the development of volunteerism in Kazakhstan on the second day of the International Volunteer Forum in Astana on June 21, speaking alongside distinguished experts and representatives of international organizations. President Tokayev said Kazakhstan recognizes the important role volunteers undertake as “patriots of one’s country” and their…
Astana Ballet Reinterprets Conventional Pieces at Non Classica Concert
ASTANA – Astana Ballet’s orchestra charmed its audience with vibrant jazz, classical and contemporary hits in an original interpretation during the Non Classica show program on June 16. The classical music industry, with its unchanging, formal setting for music, may have made the audiences less interested, but in Non Classica, music brought musicians into a…
