USAID Deputy Administrator Visits Central Asia Region, Affirms Enduring Support
ASTANA – Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Isobel Coleman emphasized the United States’ commitment to each of the Central Asian states’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence during her working trip to the region on Feb. 12-18, reported the USAID press service. Coleman began her trip…
Bundestag Delegation Visits Astana to Promote Ties, Receives Warm Welcome
ASTANA – A German delegation from the Bundestag, headed by Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the States of Central Asia Eugen Schmidt, arrived in Astana on Feb. 20 to meet with the Kazakh top officials and discuss the Kazakh-German relations. The official delegation included Bundestag members Thomas Bareiss, Christian Gorke, and…
Uzbekistan to Increase Exports to EU via Aktau Seaport in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Uzbek exporters are set to increase freight shipments to European markets through the Aktau seaport, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry’s Dunyo media agency reported. Aktau seaport President Abai Turikpenbayev met with the Consul General of Uzbekistan in Aktau Atabek Tursynbekov to address the cooperation development in transport and logistics on Feb. 16. Turikpenbayev spoke…
Kazakhstan to Deliver 55 Tons of Additional Humanitarian Relief to Türkiye
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will deliver 55 tons of additional humanitarian assistance for the earthquake victims in Türkiye at the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on Feb. 15. The humanitarian relief includes clothes (warm jackets and trousers), tents, metal beds, and bedding, among other essential items. The airplane with humanitarian…
Humanitarian Aid from Kazakhstan Keeps Flowing to Türkiye and Syria
ASTANA – According to the Turkish Embassy in Kazakhstan, four tons of humanitarian aid collected by Astana residents were delivered to charitable organizations in Türkiye on Feb. 11. People of the Aktobe Region sent over 11 tons of humanitarian aid worth more than 30 million tenge (US$66,340) on Feb. 12 to support those in need…
Former Taldykorgan Policemen, Accused of Torture with Hot Iron, Sentenced to Prison
ASTANA – The Zhetisu regional court in Taldykorgan sentenced five former police officers to prison terms on Feb. 10 after they were found guilty of torturing detainees involved in the January 2022 events with the use of a hot iron, reported Liter.kz. The court found the defendants guilty under Article 146, part 2 of the…
Kazakhstan Rated among Top 10 Most Budget-Friendly Countries for Tourists
ASTANA – Kazakhstan was named among the top 10 most budget-friendly countries to visit in February, according to the Curly Tales food, travel, experiences, and lifestyle content platform. “Kazakhstan is a country with two time zones and five climate zones. This landlocked country offers a diverse range of canyons, glaciers, arid plains, and deserts. You…
Rescuers Free One Kazakh Citizen, Three Remain Trapped under Rubble after Türkiye Quake
ASTANA – Kazakh native Sabina Mamadyarova was found alive after being trapped for hours under the rubble in Hatay, Türkiye on Feb. 8, said the Kazakh Foreign Ministry in a statement published on its Telegram channel. She was taken to hospital with a broken arm. The rubble under which two Kazakh citizens, Astana Hub international…
President Tokayev Calls to Strengthen Principles of Democracy at Senate Meeting
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for unity and strengthening the principles of democracy for effective governance in his address to the Senate, the upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, on Jan. 26. Tokayev noted the inviolability of the principle “different opinions, but one nation.” “Democracy is responsibility for one’s words and actions. We all…
Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister, Top EU Officials Review Progress in Key Areas of Cooperation in Brussels
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko held meetings with top European Union (EU) officials on Jan. 23 in Brussels to address the effective and full implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the EU, covering 29 areas of interaction, reported the ministry’s press service. Vassilenko met with Deputy…
Herd of Endangered Saiga Antelopes Walk the Streets in Ulytau Region (Video)
ASTANA – Kazakh citizens witnessed hundreds of endangered Saiga antelopes racing along the streets and roads in one of the villages in the Ulytau Region, reported the Khabar 24 TV channel. Ecologists believe this is a one-of-a-kind case because steppe antelopes are extremely rare in Central Kazakhstan. Additionally, they typically travel south in the winter.…
Kazakh Chess Player Bibisara Assaubayeva Wins Silver at Belt and Road 2022 World Chess Woman’s Summit Tournament in China
ASTANA – Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva, 18, took second place at the Belt and Road 2022 World Chess Woman’s Summit tournament in China’s Xi’an, Assaubayeva wrote on her Instagram account. “I managed to play in a Chinese tournament over the weekend. I played without defeats and scored one point more, at least. Unfortunately, the…
Kazakhstan Extends Open Sky Policy Through to 2027
ASTANA – The Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development extended the open sky aviation policy for five years through to Dec. 26, 2027, reported the committee’s press service on Jan. 6. This regime removes all restrictions on the number of flights and provides foreign airlines with a fifth degree…
Kazakhstan to Continue Political Modernization This Year, Says State Counselor Karin
ASTANA – Kazakhstan will continue implementing the political modernization program this year, State Counselor Erlan Karin wrote on his Telegram channel on Jan. 3, reporting on fundamental changes coming in 2023. The Constitutional Court, which just started its operation on Jan. 1, would ensure strict and unswerving observance of the norms of the Constitution. The…
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Sign Treaty on Allied Relations, Agreement on Border Demarcation to Foster Strategic Partnership
ASTANA – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wrapped his state visit to Tashkent on Dec. 22, resulting in the signing of major documents cutting across many areas of cooperation, reported the Akorda press service. Among the key documents are the treaty on allied relations and an agreement on border demarcation. During their talks in a…
Kazakhstan Approves Sustainable Development Goals 2023 Action Plan
ASTANA – Kazakhstan approved the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2023 action plan at a Dec. 21 meeting of the SDGs coordinating council chaired by Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. The leadership of central government agencies and representatives of the diplomatic corps, the United Nations (UN), and the United Nations…
National Bank Chair Presents Results For 2022, Sets Tasks for Next Year
ASTANA – Chair of Kazakhstan’s National Bank Galymzhan Pirmatov announced the results of 2022 and the bank’s main tasks for the forthcoming year at a Dec. 12 expanded government meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. New fiscal policy According to him, the fiscal policy of Kazakh government will increase…
President Tokayev Calls for Immediate Actions to Tackle Socio-Economic Challenges at Government Meeting
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about social, economic, and infrastructure issues, political reforms, and the government’s welfare policy at a Dec. 12 expanded government meeting in Astana, reported the Akorda’s press service. “The presidential election demonstrated the people’s support for the government’s course. People are waiting for changes, not in the distant future, but…
Kazakh Prime Minister Delivers Report on Social, Economic Development in 2022, Outlines Plans for 2023
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov delivered a report on the country’s social and economic development in 2022 and the government’s action plan for 2023 at a Dec. 12 expanded government meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, reported Prime Minister’s press service. Economic growth and inflation According to Smailov, the economic growth rate reached…
EU Continues to Support President Tokayev’s Reforms Towards Inclusive and Fair Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The European Union (EU) is committed to deepening and broadening relations with Kazakhstan in all mutually beneficial areas, according to the EU statement released on Dec. 8. EU also continues working with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev “to further advance his reforms towards an inclusive, democratic and fair Kazakhstan.” The EU has been working with…
Tokayev Addresses Economic Challenges, Digitalization Prospects at Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Meeting in Bishkek
ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the issue of rising inflation, sanction pressure, digitalization prospects, and labor migration, among other issues, at a Dec. 9 meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC), the highest governing body of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), in Bishkek, reported the Akorda press service. Despite the International Monetary…
Kazakhstan’s David Charlin to Compete at Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Armenia
ASTANA – David Charlin, a 12-year-old Almaty resident, will represent Kazakhstan at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Yerevan on Dec. 11, reported Khabar TV channel on Nov. 30. At the Junior Eurovision, he will perform a new song, “Jer-ana” (Mother Earth). Children from 16 countries will participate in the competition, including Albania, Armenia,…
Two Kazakh Films “Baqyt,” “Goliath” Enter 80th Golden Globe Awards Longlist
ASTANA – The Kazakh feature film “Baqyt” (Happiness), directed by Askar Uzabayev, and the noir film “Goliath” by Adilkhan Yerzhanov entered the longlist of the 80th Golden Globe Awards to take place on Jan. 10, 2023, reported the Kazakhfilm press service on Nov. 30. In September of this year, Kazakh actors Berik Aitzhanov and Daniyar…
Kazakhstan’s Megapolises See Sharp Rise in Population Growth
ASTANA – Over the last ten years, the population of Astana has increased by 59 percent reaching 1.3 million, Almaty – by 37 percent reaching 2.1 million and Shymkent – by 67 percent reaching 1.18 million, Kazakh Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov said at a Nov. 23 meeting in Mazhilis, a lower chamber of…
Preliminary Results of Presidential Election: Incumbent Tokayev Wins 81.31% of Votes
ASTANA – Incumbent President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won 81.31 percent of the vote at the presidential election, according to the preliminary data from the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on Nov. 21. The preliminary election result shows Zhiguli Dairabayev, a candidate of the Auyl Party, winning 3.42 percent (271,641 votes), Karakat Abden nominated by…
