Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

Kazakhstan Celebrates 150 Years of Inspirational Revolutionary Amangeldi Imanov

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Amangeldi Imanov, the leader of the 1916 national liberation uprising against the Tsarist rule, who became a symbol of resistance to social oppression during the power transition period of the early 20th century. Imanov took a passionate stance against both the colonial policy of the tsarist…

New Animated Series Tell Story of Prominent Kazakh Composer Kurmangazy

ASTANA – A debut animated series, “Dala Shyrqauy” (The Field Song), produced by Tasqyn Studio, brought to light the story of Kurmangazy, a prominent Kazakh composer and dombra player, whose 200th anniversary is celebrated across Kazakhstan this year. The first episode premiered on March 16 on the Tasqyn Studio Youtube channel. The series offers a…

Blooming Beauty: Forgotten Facts About Kazakhstan’s Rich Tulip Heritage

ASTANA – Spring manifests itself in many ways, but the blossom of tulips might be among the most welcomed in Kazakhstan, the land where dozens of tulip species originate. For Kazakh people, a brief but intense period when the flowers are in bloom is a reminder of life’s transience. They are beloved for signaling the…

Country’s First Children Dubbing Studio Opens to Popularize Kazakh Language

ASTANA – A creative initiative of schoolchildren from the town of Ekibastuz in northeastern Kazakhstan to dub popular foreign cartoons into the Kazakh language has secured a grant to expand its cartoon-dubbing venture, announced the city’s education department on its Instagram page on March 28. The initiative aims to provide dubbed entertainment content tailor-made for…

Kazakh Ecology Minister Meets with UN Secretary-General

ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Zulfiya Suleimenova, discussed Kazakhstan’s plans for sustainable water resources management with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the UN Headquarters in New York on March 24. The Secretary-General commended Kazakhstan’s efforts, emphasizing the active position taken by the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals…

Kazakh Team of 38 Professionals Compete in Abilympics for the First Time

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s finest team of 38 people took part in the 10th International Abilympics competition of professional skills for people with disabilities in the French city of Metz on March 23-25, reported Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in Strasbourg’s press service. Kazakhstan’s team represented educational institutions from nearly all regions of the country. It includes professionals…

Kazakhstan Taking Steps to Prevent Torture and Protect Human Rights, Says Human Rights Commissioner

ASTANA – The recently enacted law that tightens punishment for torture is an extension of Kazakhstan’s ongoing legal reforms directed to combat the deliberate targeting of civilians and torture, said Kazakhstan’s Human Rights Commissioner Artur Lastayev in an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on March 22 ahead of the Right to Truth Day.  This day…

Kazakhstan’s Election Offered Voters Increased Choice, Some Limitations Remain, OSCE Observers Say

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s March 19 parliamentary election offered increased choice for voters, though some limits on the exercise of fundamental freedoms and participation remain, said international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly during the presentation of their preliminary…

There Is Something to Learn from Kazakhstan’s Election, Foreign Observers Say

ASTANA – Respect for the rule of law, transparent voting procedures, and accessible and civilian-oriented polling stations are among the few features of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections that define the country’s commitment to the expansion of democracy, said international observers at the press briefing in Astana on March 19. Daniel Robert Kawczynski, a member of the…

International Observers Mark Active Youth Participation, No Significant Violations

ASTANA – Smooth organization and high voter turnout among the young people is how foreign observers describe Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election at a press briefing in Astana on March 19, saying there are no significant violations as of noon. Observers from the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) reported active voter participation, particularly…

Top Kazakh Officials Brief Foreign Media on Upcoming Parliamentary Election

ASTANA — State Counselor Erlan Karin and Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko spoke about the major features and changes in the upcoming March 19 parliamentary election and its significance for Kazakhstan’s political development with the foreign reporters in Astana on March 16. With the country undergoing transformative political reforms and electoral cycle, one could not…

Kazakh MFA, CEC Brief Diplomatic Corps on Preparations for Parliamentary Election

ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko and the Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Nurlan Abdirov briefed the heads of diplomatic missions on the preparation and conduct of the March 19 parliamentary election to Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakh Parliament, and maslikhats, the local representative bodies, on March 15, days before what could…

Kazakh CEC Accredits Almost 800 International Observers for Parliamentary Election

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 793 observers from 41 foreign states and 12 international organizations, as the CEC wrapped up accreditation on March 13 at 6 p.m. Astana time, reported CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a March 13 CEC meeting in Astana. Out of 793 observers, 473 observers from 17 foreign countries…

Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Developing in All Directions

ASTANA – The European Union and Kazakhstan are strengthening bilateral cooperation opportunities in trade and investment, transport, energy, agriculture, travel, and education, said Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko at a Central Communications Service briefing on March 10. Vassilenko outlined the ministry’s efforts in boosting investment exchanges and establishing business partnerships in recent years.  The EU…

Kazakh Central Election Commission Accredits 165 International Observers So Far

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has so far accredited 165 international observers from 16 countries and four international organizations for the upcoming parliamentary and maslikhats (local representative bodies) election on March 19, said CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a March 7 meeting in Astana. CEC has also received applications for accreditation from 157…

European Ballet Stars Shine at Freedom Ballet Gala Concert in Astana

ASTANA – Some of the world’s biggest names in ballet from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom took the stage of Astana Ballet theater in the capital at the Freedom Ballet Gala on March 5.  The concert combined the classical ballet pieces of “Don Quixote” and “Le Corsaire,” the romance of “Giselle” and…

Japanese Embassy in Kazakhstan Celebrates Traditional Girls’ Festival, Highlights Strong Bilateral Ties

ASTANA – The Japanese Embassy in Kazakhstan showcased the beautiful tradition of decorating and displaying miniature dolls to celebrate the Hinamatsuri girls’ festival on March 3 in Astana. The event also marked the Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday on Feb. 23, who turned 63 this year. Every year Japanese families with young daughters display intricately crafted…

Kazakh Gulder Ensemble Performs Again in Blazing Celebration of National Dance

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s legendary Gulder (Flowers) dance ensemble gave its first performance in the new composition on March 1, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports’ press service. Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall exploded with energy when young performers and the ensemble’s former members captivated the audience with the ensemble’s lightness and color. It was…

Teach for Qazaqstan Program Brings Bright Specialists to Rural Schools

ASTANA – Some of the nation’s talented specialists and leaders from various fields are bringing their devotion to teaching in rural areas on a two-year placement through Teach for Qazaqstan (TFQ) program, said the program’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Gulnara Salmen.  As part of the global Teach for All educational movement that operates in…

Kazakh CEC Accredits 111 International Observers, Reviews 52 More Requests

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 111 international observers from 11 countries and three international organizations, CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman said at a meeting in Astana on February 27. As of Feb. 27, CEC also received applications for accreditation from 52 observers, including three from India, two from Moldova, 17 from the…

Kazakh Eagle Hunting Festival Spreads its Wings to Celebrate Noble Tradition

ASTANA – Eagle hunting has been central to the Kazakh nomadic life for generations, and it remains as popular as ever in Kazakhstan, as the country hosts the 16th Kusbegilik championship among adults in the Atyrau Region on Feb. 24-26, reported the Kazakh Kusbegilik Federation’s press service. Kusbegilik, or sayat, are Kazakh traditional names for…

‘I Started to Believe in Miracles:’ Kazakh Rescuers Share Stories of Resilience from Türkiye Earthquake

ASTANA – After 12 consecutive days of digging through rubble to find survivors in Nurdağı town in Türkiye, 15 rescuers from the Karagandy Region Department of Emergency Situations shared their stories of resilience and miraculous survival with the press on Feb. 21, the Kazinform news agency reported. The rescuers’ team raced against time to work…

Slave Boy Who Became Ruler of Mamluks: Kazakhstan Celebrates 800 Years of Sultan Beibars

ASTANA – From humble beginnings as a slave boy to becoming one of the most eminent Mamluk sultans, the extraordinary story of Sultan Beibars is celebrated in Kazakhstan 800 years after his birth as an example of how one man can turn a region filled with ongoing political rivalry and warfare into a prosperous place.…

New Atlas-Book Containing Early Kazakh State Names: Must Read on Kazakhstan’s Uninterrupted History of Statehood

ASTANA – A new atlas-book with a remarkable collection of 130 European and American maps dated from 1562 to 1879 and the names of the early Kazakh state displays an uninterrupted history of Kazakh nationhood in the 16-19th centuries, said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, the author of the book, doctor of political science and director of the…

Kazakhstan Accredits 82 International Observers For Parliamentary Election

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 82 international observers from 10 foreign countries and 3 international organizations, announced CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a Feb. 19 CEC meeting in Astana. The Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)…