Articles by Dmitry Lee

Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Discuss Economic Cooperation

The Kazakh-Afghan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation met in Kabul Sep. 16-17 to deepen economic relations between the two Central Asian countries. A wide range of promising spheres…

Former Nuclear Test Site proposed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

In a peculiar twist of fate for the notorious Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, officials at Kazakhstan’s National Nuclear Center which runs peaceful nuclear research works at the former test site, are seeking to have it included on the UNESCO World Heritage list and make it a tourist attraction. Just over two decades ago, the question…

High Hopes for Alternative Energy as Country Bets on Solar

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world and is rich in oil, gas, coal, amongst other minerals. Even though the economy revolves mostly around oil and…

Kukushkin wins Challenger in Istanbul

Kazakhstan tennis player Mikhail Kukushkin won ATP series Challenger in Istanbul on Sunday Sept. 15 by beating 4th seeded Ukrainian Ilya Marchenko (6:3; 6:3). The 25 year old Kukushkin had already beat Marchenko seven times prior to the Sunday’s face off and lost twice. The match lasted only 1 hr and 18 minutes and the…

Nibali and Team Astana Finish Second in Vuelta

Vincenzo Nibali, 28, leader of the Astana PRO Team, gave up the lead to Christopher Horner, 41, after stage 19, leading the Grand Tour at Vuelta for 13 stages out of 21. After the final 21st stage of the prestigious Spanish Vuelta Grand Tour that ended on Sep. 15, Horner finished ahead of Nibali with…

Against All Odds: Shakhtyor – Celtic 2:0

ASTANA ARENA, Aug. 20 – Champions League underdogs Shakhtyor of Karaganda, a city with a population of one million, made a solid step into the Champions League with a commanding 2-0 lead over Celtic of Glasgow in the first leg of playoffs in Astana. Nearly 30,000 Shakhtyor supporters watched the match in Astana Arena and…

ESCAS Conference Focuses on Symbiosis of Nomadic, Sedentary Civilisations

ASTANA – The 13th biennial conference of the European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS) took place at the Nazarbayev University on August 5-7 in Astana. The event attracted 180 participants from 16 countries from Central Asia, Europe and North America who presented their papers in panels and round-table discussions. “The European Society for Central…

Astana Dakar Team Readies for Next Challenge

ASTANA – With courage, speed and determination, Dakar rally drivers battle with thick sand baking sun and unfamiliar terrain, not to mention their opponents, to bring glory to their car and their team. For the Astana Dakar Team from Kazakhstan, however, there is one more goal: to promote the image of their country. Carrying the…

ATOM Project Ambassador Gains International Attention, Urges More Global Action

ASTANA – Honorary ATOM Project Ambassador and artist Karipbek Kuyukov, a victim of Soviet nuclear testing at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site who was born without arms and who paints with his feet and mouth, was named on June 28 one of the 100 most influential people in armed violence reduction by the British organization…

Macklin Admits Golovkin Is Toughest He Ever Faced After KO in Round 3

LEDYARD, Connecticut, USA, June — Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, with an excruciating left into Macklin’s lower body, knocked him out in third to defend his middle weight WBA title. Golovkin continues his 14 KOs hot streak and kept his record sheet clean at 27-0. Mathew Macklin of the UK had certainly expected to dominate the ring,…

Violinist Zhamilya Serkebayeva Makes it to the Top

Zhamilya Serkebayeva is more than just one of the most acclaimed classical violinists in Kazakhstan. She bridges the gap between classical and rock, and even shows her skills at lounge music. “Music in Kazakhstan, like everywhere else today, is perceived by what the audience sees, and not what it hears, unfortunately,” composer and musical producer…

Public Rides with Cycling Champions in Astana, Almaty

A two-day public bicycle ride with Astana Cycling Team stars Alexander Vinokourov, the recent London 2012 Olympic champion, and the recent Giro d’Italia 2013 winner Vincenzo Nibali took place in Astana and Almaty on June 8 and 9. The events celebrated the recent win at the Giro d’Italia, a prestigious and nearly century-old race, on…

Public Rides with Cycling Champions in Astana and Almaty

A two-day public bicycle ride with Astana Cycling Team stars Alexander Vinokourov, the recent London 2012 Olympic champion, and the recent Giro d’Italia 2013 winner Vincenzo Nibali took place in Astana and Almaty on June 8 and 9. The events celebrated the recent win at the Giro d’Italia, a prestigious and nearly century-old race, on…