Articles by STAFF REPORT

Kazakh President to Deliver Address at First Session of Parliament Tomorrow

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will deliver an address at the opening of the first session of the Kazakh Parliament of the eighth convocation on March 29, the Akorda press service reported. The President’s address will be broadcasted live at 10 a.m. Astana time on national TV channels and social media. Heads of state bodies,…

Kazakhstan Creates G4 City Special Economic Zone Intended to Attract $8 Billion in Investment

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has created the G4 City special economic zone (SEZ) in the Almaty Region, seeking to attract nearly 3.7 trillion tenge ($8.1 billion) of investments through 2048, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on March 17. The new economic zone with an area of 30,000 hectares is expected to provide favorable conditions for…

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Increase Flight Frequency on Astana-Baku Route

ASTANA – Kazakh low-cost carrier Fly Arystan is set to launch Astana-Baku passenger flights from June 2, the Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee reported on March 16. Flights will be operated twice a week on Mondays and Fridays on Airbus-A320 aircraft. The air carrier also operates flights on the Aktau-Baku route. Kazakh national air carrier Air…

Kazakh Parliament of Eighth Convocation to Convene First Session on March 29

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on March 27 to convene the first session of the Kazakh Parliament of the eighth convocation at 10 a.m. Astana time on March 29, reported the Akorda press service. The decree shall enter into force from the date of signing. The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the…

Astana to Host Next Session of Assembly of People of Kazakhstan in April

ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on March 27 to convene the 32nd session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) on April 26-27 at the capital’s Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, reported the Akorda press service. The theme of the upcoming session is Just and Fair Kazakhstan: Unity, Stability,…

Kazakhstan Beats Denmark in EURO 2024 Qualifying

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national football team sensationally beat Denmark 3-2 in the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match at home on March 26. The Danes led 2:0 at half time. But goals in the final 17 minutes from Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov, Askhat Tagybergen, and Abat Aimbetov completed a stunning comeback victory.   The Kazakh national team will next…

Six Parties Elected to Parliament, According to Final Results of Central Election Commission

ASTANA – Six parties were elected to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, on March 19, out of seven parties that participated in the election, according to the final results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) at a March 27 meeting. These six parties received enough votes to pass the required…

Eight Kazakh Universities Enter 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject

ASTANA – Eight Kazakh universities in 40 disciplines entered the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject, published on March 22 by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the world’s largest international higher education network based in the United Kingdom, announced the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education.  The QS World University Rankings by Subject cover 54…

Archaeologists Restore Baikara Temple in North Kazakhstan Region

ASTANA – A restored 7.5-meter-high Scythian-Saka era Baikara mound is set to become a new tourist attraction in the Shal akyn district in northern Kazakhstan, Director of the Center for the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage Rakhat Mambetalinov said, as reported by Kazinform on March 22. “We want everyone to have a…

Dimash Kudaibergen Releases New Song “Together”

ASTANA – Kazakh famous singer Dimash Kudaibergen released a new song, “Together,” on March 22, calling it a message of love and hope for the current challenging times on his Instagram page. Kudaibergen first performed the song written by his brother Mansur Kudaibergen at a concert in Almaty. He also shared that the soon-to-be-released music…

Kazakhstan on its Way to Oil Supply Diversification

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to diversify its oil supplies and work out alternative routes for delivery of goods in line with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions outlined at a meeting with the government, relevant ministries, departments, and national companies involved in developing the country’s transport and transit potential. In a recent interview with Zakon.kz, Lidiya Parkhomchik,…

Nauryz Is Reflection of New Kazakhstan, Says President Tokayev

ASTANA – The Nauryz holiday has marked a new political milestone in the development of Kazakhstan, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev while attending events celebrating the occasion, the Akorda press service reported on March 21. Speaking at a public event, the President noted the large-scale political modernization that has been ongoing since last year. The idea…

Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan Receives Air Transport Award in Canada

ASTANA – The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan received the Air Transport News (ATN) Corporate Award, recognizing the transition to new civil aviation management, at the Global Connectivity Challenges Air Transport Symposium in Montreal, Canada, the country’s Civil Aviation Committee announced on March 20. “The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and the Civil Aviation Committee will continue…

Kazakhstan and UN Mark 31 Years of Partnership

Kazakhstan became a member of the United Nations on March 2, 1992. In 31 years, Kazakhstan has gone from joining the organization to chairing a session of the General Assembly. Over these decades, Kazakhstan has contributed to many aspects of the UN’s work across the globe. In this article, we look back at some of…

Kazakhstan Can Preserve Aral Sea Ecosystem Stability with Support of International Partners, Expert Says

ASTANA – Last month, Italian capital Rome hosted the seventh EU–Central Asia High-Level Conference, which Kazakhstan chaired. One of the areas of cooperation between the EU and Central Asia is addressing the Aral Sea crisis.  Bolat Bekniyaz, director of the Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, discussed the lake’s ecosystem…

Central Election Commission Announces Preliminary Election Results: Six Parties Elected to Parliament

ASTANA – Six parties have been elected to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on March 20. Six out of the seven parties that participated in the election received enough votes to pass the required five percent threshold to gain seats…

Voters Abroad: Expectations of Kazakhs from New Parliament

ASTANA – Kazakh citizens abroad had the opportunity to vote in Kazkahstan’s parliamentary election at 77 polling stations opened by diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in 62 countries. Members of election commissions noted active participation in the election. The Astana Times interviewed voters in various capitals of the world to get their thoughts on the election…

Kazakh Minister Addresses Security Issues of Caspian Region at Baku Forum

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Information and Social Development Darkhan Kydyrali participated in the 10th edition of the Global Baku Forum, which took place on March 9-11 in Azerbaijan, reported the ministry’s press service. Among several issues he singled out were ecological challenges of the Caspian Sea. “The Caspian Sea is a unique body of…

Foreign Observers Assess Kazakhstan’s Election as Transparent and Democratic

ASTANA – Foreign observers praised the well-organized process of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election on March 19, high voter turnout, and people’s freedom of expression at a press conference in Astana on March 20. According to Sadi Jafarov, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, the organization’s mission witnessed thorough preparations to safeguard people’s will.…

UNICEF: Kazakhstan’s Repatriation Program Serves as Model for Other Countries

ASTANA – Kazakhstan set an example for other countries in the region facing similar challenges by being one of the first to repatriate its women and children from Syria and Iraq and effectively reintegrate them into society, said United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative Arthur van Diesen at a March 16 conference dedicated to the…

Kazakhstan’s Top Seed Climbs to 7th Spot in WTA Tour’s Singles Ranking

ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s tennis player Elena Rybakina clinched her first triumph at a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament and climbed from tenth to seventh in the singles ranking, Kazakhstan Tennis Federation’s press service announced on March 20. Rybakina beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in five tries with a 7-6 (13-11) 6-4 victory at the Indian…

Amanat Party Leads in Kazakh Parliamentary Election, According to Three Exit Polls

ASTANA – Amanat party is leading in the parliamentary election, according to exit polls conducted by three public institutions. The results were announced live after midnight on March 20 during the Sailau 2023 TV marathon.  The exit poll conducted by the Institute of Eurasian Integration shows the Amanat party receiving 53.46 percent of the vote,…

Almost 42 Percent Voter Turnout Abroad in Kazakhstan’s Parliamentary Election as Voting Continues

ASTANA – Voter turnout abroad has reached 41.8 percent as of 7 p.m. Astana time, representing more than 5,071 people out of 12,016 registered voters, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko said during an evening briefing at the Central Election Commission.  Kazakh citizens can cast their ballot at 77 polling stations opened in the…

Voter Turnout for Parliamentary Election in Kazakhstan Hits 53.11 Percent

ASTANA — Voter turnout in Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election reached 53.11 percent as of 6 p.m. local Astana time, Central Election Commission (CEC) member Shavkat Otemisov announced at a press briefing today. 6,390,046 out of 12,032,550 eligible voters have cast their ballot in 10,223 polling stations across Kazakhstan. The Kyzylorda Region has the highest voter turnout,…

Kazakh Voters Show High Engagement and Best Outfits on Election Day

ASTANA – As the parliamentary election continues nationwide, voters in the country’s regions are exercising their constitutional rights at an increasingly higher rate than those in big cities.  According to the latest data from the Central Election Commission (at 4:30 p.m.), the highest voter turnouts are in the Kyzylorda Region at 64.95 percent, Kostanai Region…