Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

Kazakhstan Presents Second Voluntary National Review of UN SDGs in New York

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov presented the second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development during his visit to UN headquarters in New York on July 14, reported the ministry’s press service. The second VNR…

Legendary 20th Century Diplomat Nazir Torekulov’s Legacy Honored as Kazakh Diplomatic Service Turns 30 Years

NUR-SULTAN – As Kazakhstan celebrated the 30th anniversary of its diplomatic service on July 2, many prominent political figures who have contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations over the years of independence and before have been called to memory. Among them is Nazir Torekulov, the first Kazakh diplomat to travel to Saudi Arabia to…

Coronavirus Cases Increase 2.5 Times in One Week, But Hospitalization Rates Remain Low, Says Kazakh Minister of Healthcare

NUR-SULTAN – The number of coronavirus cases has increased 2.5 times compared to the previous week due to the overall spread of the coronavirus around the world, said Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Azhar Giniyat during a press briefing on July 15. According to statistics provided by her, the number of coronavirus infections has been increasing…

Kazakh National Security Committee Celebrates 30 Years Highlighting Most High-Profile Operations

NUR-SULTAN – NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (NSC) marks its 30th anniversary this July. Addressing its senior management and personnel on July 13, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted NSC’s contribution to statehood protection. “Thanks to the effective work of the Committee, 42 people involved in extremist activity and terrorist propaganda have been detained. Two terrorist…

Kazakhstan Rises 15 Places in Global Gender Equality Ranking

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has risen to 65th place in the Global Gender Gap Report ranking compared to 80th place last year, recording the fourth highest overall score among the group of Central Asian countries, and after Moldova (16th), Belarus (36th), and Georgia (55th). The Global Gender Gap Index, a research study conducted by the World…

President Tokayev Outlines Youth Work Priorities for New Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the priorities for youth work in the fields of knowledge, diligence, and patriotism – three main priorities for the youth of New Kazakhstan during the sixth congress of the youth wing of Amanat party, which took place in Zerenda village of the Akmola Region on July 12, reported…

Kazakhstan’s Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina Talks About Her Sensational Win, Emotions, and Meeting With Djokovic

NUR-SULTAN – From asking about meeting men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic, to questions about her citizenship and whether her emotional calmness helped her win the final – the press lobbed curious questions to Elena Rybakina, the first Kazakh player to win the Wimbledon women’s singles final, during a press conference on July 12. Rybakina became…

Kazakhstan’s Economy Cannot Immediately Transition from Oil Production to Phones, Says KazISS Director

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Director Yerkin Tukumov spoke about his vision for economic diversification and the transition to a New Kazakhstan in an interview with Arbat Media. Tukumov said that political freedom precedes the economic freedom and diversification that Kazakhstan seeks. According to him, recent reforms put Kazakhstan on the right…

President Tokayev Congratulates Citizens on Qurban Ait

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kazakh Muslims on the Qurban Ait (Eid al-Adha) holiday, the Akorda press service reported. This year Qurban Ait will last three days from July 9 till July 11. Muslims around the world are celebrating the three-day Qurban Ait or Eid al-Adha, which in Arabic means ‘festival of the sacrifice’…

Riots in Nukus Attempted to Undermine Territorial Integrity and Constitutional Order of Uzbekistan, Says Uzbek Ambassador to Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Uzbekistan Ambassador to Kazakhstan Saidikram Niyazhojayev briefed journalists on July 8 on the latest updates regarding the July 1-2 riots in the city of Nukus in the Karakalpakstan region. Mass riots broke out in the city of Nukus in the Karakalpakstan region on July 1-2 with people protesting against the proposals for constitutional…

International Conference Dedicated to 30 Years of Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Service Highlights Major Foreign Policy Achievements

NUR-SULTAN – The conference titled Republic of Kazakhstan in the modern system of international relations was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic service and gathered top diplomats and veterans to celebrate the country’s achievements in foreign policy over the past decades in Nur-Sultan on July 1. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev conveyed congratulations to the…

30 Years of Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Service: Photo Exhibition Capturing Key Milestones Opens in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled the collection of more than 100 images featuring major political events throughout the years of independence at the exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic service of Kazakhstan on June 30 in Nur-Sultan. Previously unseen formal photographs and archive documents taken over the decades…

Nazarbayev University Experts Discuss Evolution of Political Narratives in Aftermath of January Events

NUR-SULTAN – The Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP) hosted a panel discussion on Political Instability in Central Asia on June 7 unpacking how the society and government discourse changed in the context of January events and exploring what the policy implications of those changes are. Aziz Burkhanov, Associate Professor of NU…

Kazakhstan Votes by Substantial Margin of 77.18 Percent in Favor of Constitutional Amendments

NUR-SULTAN – By a margin of 77.18 percent of votes in favor and 18.66 percent against, and with a turnout of 68.06 percent, Kazakhstan has voted to accept the amendments to its constitution, Nurlan Abdirov, the Central Referendum Commission (CRC) Chairman, reported the preliminary results by 8 a.m. local time at an early Monday briefing…

Voting at Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum is Over With 68.44 Percent Turnout

NUR-SULTAN – Voting at the national referendum on constitutional amendments has finished with 68.44 percent voter turnout as polling stations close across Kazakhstan by 10 p.m. reported the Central Referendum Commission (CRC). Voting is still underway in 25 polling stations abroad.  More than eight million Kazakh citizens cast their votes on the constitutional amendments. Turnouts…

Kazakhstan’s National Referendum Declared Valid: At Half Mark, Turnout Reaches 53.43 Percent

NUR-SULTAN –- More than six million people turned out on Sunday, June 5 by 2 p.m. of local time to vote in for the national referendum on constitutional amendments, which is 53.43 percent of the eligible population, which deemed the referendum valid, reported the Central Referendum Commission (CRC). “According to the law, a referendum is…

Kazakh Officials Brief Foreign Journalists on Upcoming Referendum and Reforms

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s State Secretary Erlan Karin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko met with a group of foreign journalists to brief them on the major changes that the upcoming national referendum on June 5 will bring to the Constitution and the political and economic outcomes of the reforms, on June 2-3. Karin…

Constitutional Referendum to Test Civic Maturity, Says President Tokayev

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev encouraged citizens to demonstrate their civic activism by voting in the upcoming nationwide referendum on constitutional amendments in his address on June 3.   The referendum is scheduled for June 5. If adopted, the amendments will affect 31 articles of the Constitution and introduction of 2 new articles. “The referendum…

CRC Completes Series of Training Seminars on National Referendum

NUR-SULTAN – A Youth and Referendum seminar organized by the Central Referendum Commission (CRC) completed a series of national-level training seminars aimed at preparing the representatives of public associations, mass media, youth and regional commission members to the upcoming national referendum scheduled for June 5, reported the CRC press service on May 31. In total,…

Kazatomprom Marks 25 Years in Business: CEO Talks Achievements and Efforts to Establish Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities

NUR-SULTAN – Kazatomprom national atomic company, the world’s largest uranium producer, celebrates 25 years that turned it into the world’s leader in both uranium mining and sales. To mark the date, Kazatomprom CEO Mazhit Sharipov spoke about the company’s key achievements, its efforts to establish nuclear fuel cycle production in Kazakhstan, and develop an environmentally…

Dimash Kudaibergen Introduces International Audience to Kazakh National Instruments at DLD Munich 2022 (Video)

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen appeared before dozens of dignitaries from around the world speaking and performing at the Digital Life Design (DLD) conference in Munich on May 21, reported Dimashnews.com Four months before the conference Mobilium Global CEO and producer Ralph Simon invited Dimash to be a guest at the DLD conference which…

CRC and Information Ministry Report on Measures to Inform Citizens on National Referendum

NUR-SULTAN – The Central Referendum Commission (CRC) and Ministry of Information and Social Development has completed its campaign to inform citizens on the upcoming national referendum on constitutional amendments scheduled for June 5. Explanatory video and audio materials, social and mass media coverage were all used, said CRC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov during a CRC meeting…

More than 100 Foreign Observers from OSCE, Other Int’l Organizations Accredited So Far for Referendum in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – The Central Referendum Commission (CRC) has accredited 105 observers from various international organizations as of May 25, said CRC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov during a briefing with foreign diplomats. They include 10 observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) Referendum Assessment Mission, 43 observers from the Commonwealth of Independent…

Foreign Minister and CRC Chairman Brief Diplomatic Corps on Preparation for June 5 Referendum in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi joined Central Referendum Commission (CRC) Chairman Nurlan Abdirov to update on the preparation for the upcoming national referendum on amendments to the Constitution during a briefing with foreign diplomats on May 25. “We, as the state, are committed to holding the referendum in…

Baiterek Holding Broadens Support for Small and Micro Businesses, Says Chairman Kanat Sharlapaev

NUR-SULTAN – Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhstan’s state-run financing institution Baiterek Holding Kanat Sharlapaev in his exclusive interview to The Astana Times introduced holding’s plans to strengthen the support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and measures taken by the holding to turn into more accessible and transparent institution for local businesses. Baiterek…