Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

ASTANA – On Human Rights Day, marked on Dec. 10, a scientific-practical conference in Astana evaluated Kazakhstan’s progress in human rights protection and addressed the challenges that remain. Organized by Kazakhstan’s Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, the Commission on Human Rights under the…

ASTANA – Astana Ballet theater premiered “December Rain” ballet on Dec. 6, which tells the extraordinary romantic biography of Frederic Chopin on the journey towards death. Anyone familiar with classical music, almost certainly, has encountered a piece by Chopin, but not many know his life story and his passionate, unconventional love affair with the extravagant…

ASTANA – The new documentary “Amu Darya: River to a Missing Sea” seeks to raise awareness about the escalating environmental crisis surrounding the Amu Darya and its implications for the Central Asian region’s ecosystems and communities. The Astana Times spoke with Annie Liddell, the project co-founder, about the team’s efforts, challenges, and discoveries during the…

ASTANA – Astana Opera unveiled a new edition of “Aisulu” comic opera on Nov. 29, in honor of the 100th anniversary of its composer, the renowned Kazakh musician Sydyq Mukhamedzhanov. Staged in 1972, “Aisulu” became the first Kazakh comic opera with a modern plot. It follows Serke, a young man from a village, as his…

ASTANA – Kazakh tazy, a dog native to Kazakhstan, is winning titles and hearts alike in international dog show championships, said Yelena Khardina, a passionate breeder from Oskemen who has dedicated 16 years to preserving the breed in an interview with Kazinform news agency.  Khardina knows what it takes to maintain the bloodline of tazy.…

ASTANA – The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is viewed by experts as a promising alternative for Kazakhstan’s oil exports, but its expansion comes with significant cost challenges, as transporting oil via the BTC is more expensive than existing routes, such as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). These remarks follow Kazakhstan’s announcement of plans to expand its…

ASTANA – The “Energy in Transition – Powering Tomorrow” traveling exhibition opened on Nov. 25 at Nazarbayev University in Astana – its final stop in Central Asia after visiting Aktau and Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It aims to inspire discussions on energy transitions for a sustainable future. Initiated by the German Federal…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, with a focus on the marvelous city of Aktau. We aim to unveil the rich diversity of Kazakhstan’s cities and bring you closer to their heart and soul. ASTANA – With Aktau set to become the capital of the Turkic…

ASTANA – The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University presented Soyle App, a multifunctional application for speech recognition, voice synthesis, text and speech translation into four languages, in Astana on Nov. 20. Powered by Kazakhstan’s foundational speech model, Soyle App is an AI product developed to enhance multilingual communication for…

ASTANA – Behind the red curtains of Astana Opera is a universe of dedicated crew who work tirelessly to ensure that every costume fits perfectly, every makeup and prop enhances the performance, and every scene transition is executed smoothly. The Astana Times correspondent spoke with faces who make up the backbone of the theater community:…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan marks the 130th anniversary of Beimbet Mailin, a renowned Kazakh poet, writer and playwright who championed the struggles of women and the poor in Kazakh Soviet literature. Early years Born in 1894 in what is now Beimbet Mailin district of the Kostanai Region, he came from a poor family and lost his…

ASTANA – Recently discovered maps reveal new layers of Kazakh statehood, suggesting it could be 12 centuries old, said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, Kazakh researcher, doctor of political science and director of the Institute of Modern Studies at the Gumilev Eurasian National University, in an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper. This new discovery comes against the commonly…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Kyzylorda. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – Kyzylorda, once the Soviet capital of Kazakhstan, has transformed into…

ASTANA – Ninety years after its first concert, the Kurmangazy orchestra of Kazakh national instruments continues to color the vast landscape of Kazakh music, showcasing national instrumental culture to the world. The orchestra is celebrating its anniversary throughout the year and across Kazakhstan.  “The foundation of each nation lies in its worldview, traditions, national culture…

ASTANA – The United Nations (UN) day was celebrated in Astana with a performance of the Kazakh musical “Zhibek” at the Zhastar theater on Nov. 5. This year’s UN event emphasized Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and celebrated the strong partnership between Kazakhstan and the UN in promoting peace, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation. Newly appointed interim…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s decision to build its first nuclear power plant might expand mutually beneficial cooperation with France in the nuclear industry, contributing to global energy security, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in an article published by Le Figaro French newspaper during his state visit to Paris on Nov. 5. In a comprehensive article, President…

ASTANA – Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) drives growth in Kazakhstan’s economic development through private equity investment, implementing 118 projects and creating over 20,000 jobs across key sectors in Kazakhstan. QIC is Kazakhstan’s institution for private equity investment with a portfolio managed in partnership with over 50 renowned international institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, including…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan signed eight commercial agreements worth $2.5 billion with Chinese companies during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s working visit to Shanghai on Nov. 4, reported the Prime Minister’s press service. Bektenov took part in the Kazakh-Chinese investment roundtable and met with representatives of leading Chinese companies in metallurgy, energy, machinery, automotive, carbon chemistry,…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s first tungsten processing plant was launched in the Almaty Region on Nov. 1, marking a milestone for the domestic mining industry and strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in the global market of rare earth metals, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction. The $300 million project will provide up to 1,000 jobs for…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and France are expanding the scope of their bilateral relations beyond traditional trade to a strategic partnership, deepening cooperation each year through official visits, said Alisher Abdreshev, a leading expert at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is set to pay a visit to France on Nov.…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu met with South Korean companies to advance major hospital and industrial projects during his official visit on Nov. 3, the Foreign Ministry reported. Nurtleu’s visit included a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and participation in the Central Asia –…

Editor’s Note: The Astana Times continues its series of articles, Exploring Kazakhstan, City by City, in the marvelous city of Pavlodar. We are setting out to unveil the rich diversity of cities to bring you closer to the heart and soul of Kazakhstan. ASTANA – Built as an outpost on the bank of the Irtysh…

ASTANA – In October, Kazakhstan marked the 130th anniversary of Saken Seifullin, an iconic poet and writer who profoundly impacted Kazakh literature and played a prominent role in politics, advocating for mass education and social progress. His literary legacy focused on the upheaval of Kazakh society and the revolutionary changes he witnessed firsthand. Seifullin was…

ASTANA – A new adapted version of the Kazakh poet Abai’s philosophical work has been released in three languages, titled “Legacy to the Next Generation. Words of Wisdom by Abai Kunanbaiuly. Adapted Version,” reported Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on Nov. 1.  The author, Gulmira Amandykova, is a teacher of the Kazakh language, who has published five…

ASTANA—Heritage from a long line of carpet weavers in Kazakhstan is presented at the “She Rug” exhibition, which opened in Astana on Oct. 17 and will run through Nov. 9. Forte Kulanshi art space temporarily became home to a remarkable collection of traditional Kazakh carpets spanning ancient times to the 20th century and modern times.…