Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

ASTANA—The red dress of the Urzhar Priestess, a noblewoman from the fourth to third centuries BC, is evidence of the symbolism and significance attributed to the color red at that time. The specialists of the Ostrov Krym scientific restoration laboratory discovered the tomb in 2013 in the Urzhar district of the East Kazakhstan Region. Based…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan’s prominent cyclist Alexandr Vinokurov advocates for nurturing local talent within the professional cycling scene while managing the challenges of sustaining the Astana Qazaqstan Team, which is composed of international cyclists. In an interview with The Astana Times, Vinokurov, the winner of the 2006 Vuelta a España and 2012 Olympic champion in the group race,…

ASTANA – As traditional archers, wrestlers and racers from around the world gather in Astana ahead of the fifth Word Nomad Games starting this weekend, here is key information and updates from the grand event coming to the Kazakh capital. With 2,430 participants from 89 countries, including Australia and South America, these games are anticipated…

ASTANA—Kazakhstan commemorates the day its constitution came into effect on Aug. 30. On this date in 1995, the fundamental law of Kazakhstan was adopted at a national referendum. This document replaced the first 1993 Constitution, introducing a strong presidential system with considerable executive powers. It was a significant step in consolidating the country’s sovereignty and…

ASTANA – Semipalatinsk nuclear test site survivors recall the devastating human cost of the Soviet-run nuclear tests that they still bear in a documentary called “I Want to Live On: the Untold Stories of the Polygon” during the public screening in Astana on Aug. 28. Directed by Alimzhan Akhmetov and Assel Akhmetova, the documentary is…

ASTANA – KazAtomExpo international exhibition dedicated to nuclear technology and nuclear power took place in Astana on Aug. 27-28, as Kazakhstan explores alternative forms of clean energy in pursuit of energy security and carbon neutrality goals. The dual pressures of the energy crisis and the pursuit of net-zero emissions have sparked discussions on the benefits…

ASTANA – Danish author Leonora van Deurs’s historical fantasy novel “Botai – Shadowpath” based on Kazakhstan’s Botai culture of first horse breeders is a unique piece that bridges the present and past, science and fiction, and Danish and Kazakh cultures. Following its debut in Copenhagen in January, the author visited Kazakhstan, the land where the…

ASTANA – The fifth World Nomad Games in September will once again celebrate the rich tradition of nomadic culture while embracing what is best in others. Over seven days, participants from 89 countries will compete in 21 sports ranging from archery and race to wrestling and tug of war, as well as traditional games of…

ASTANA – Nearly 60,000 children aged 0-17 years across five countries in Central Asia live in residential care, according to a new policy brief published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Aug. 15. Despite the well-known and devastating impact of family separation and child institutionalization, there are an estimated 203 children for every…

ASTANA—With three United Nations (UN) environmental Conferences of Parties (COPs) coming up this year, this is a fitting moment to assess the true legacy of the Rio Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Desertification in Central Asia. The Rio Conventions derive directly from the 1992 Earth Summit. While each treaty stands independently, they remain intricately…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates 190 years of Birzhan-sal Kozhagululy, a prominent poet and aitys artist, which refers to the Kazakh literary tradition of impromptu. He emerged as a leading voice against the prevailing patriarchal customs and violence perpetuated by local governors in the Kazakh steppe of the late 19th century. Kozhagululy, commonly referred to as…

ASTANA – For many years, the Olympic podium in artistic gymnastics seemed a distant dream for Kazakh athletes. But fast forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nariman Kurbanov took the Olympic podium winning silver in men’s pommel horse. Kurbanov, 26, is among the few gifted Kazakh athletes to rise up in the gymnastics ranks. In…

ASTANA – With numerous festival awards gathering international attention, noir thriller “Dala Kaskyry” (Steppenwolf) was unveiled to the Kazakh audience in Astana on Aug. 12, ahead of its nationwide release in theaters on Aug. 15. Directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov, whose “Yellow Cat” drama film entered Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Film longlist in 2021, “Steppenwolf” is…

ASTANA – Qazaq Kuresi, a type of traditional wrestling, has been a major feature of Kazakh sporting life for centuries, continuing to attract men and women eager to flex their muscles. Wrestling has long been one of Kazakh people’s most treasured cultural practices, with no event or celebration complete without Qazaq Kuresi. The names of…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates Abai Day on Aug. 10, honoring the 179th birthday of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a Kazakh literary titan, poet, philosopher and composer. Almost 200 years on, Abai’s character and his enduring legacy remain relevant. Every generation continues to draw from the wellspring of Abai’s wisdom.  His poems, which are remarkably versatile, continue to…

ASTANA – Italian Dove travel magazine, one of the leading publications in the field of tourism, has included Kazakhstan in the list of the 10 best destinations to visit at least once in a lifetime, announced Kazakh Tourism national company on July 29.  “Inclusion in this prestigious list is a testament to Kazakhstan’s rich culture…

ASTANA – A Heads of Delegation (HOD) meeting in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, on July 26-27, marked a shift in negotiations on the adoption of the New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance ahead of the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in November, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on July 31. In…

ASTANA – This year, Kazakhstan marks 800 years since the foundation of Jochi Ulus (state), whose large territory once spanning from west Mongolia to eastern Europe, is considered the foundation of Kazakh statehood. Jochi was the eldest son of the Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan (ruler). Eight centuries ago, in 1224, Genghis Khan divided his empire…

ASTANA – Every year, millions of tourists visit less-trodden parts of Central Asia, diving into an experience full of new sights, sounds and smells. What many people do not realize is that a tour guide is the major person who sets the right tone for tourism in a country. Kazakh Tourism national company in cooperation…

ASTANA – Horse breeders in Kazakhstan are celebrating new amendments to the law on the preservation and reproduction of domestic horse breeds, signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June 9, in a move to save the Kostanai horse breed. In 1951, scientists introduced this new breed by crossing Kazakh mares with stallions from the Kalmyk,…

ASTANA – Four historical and cultural sites in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan went through restoration and rehabilitation efforts in a large-scale regional project implemented by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regional office in Almaty with the financial support of the European Union (EU). The project’s results were presented on…

ASTANA – The 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) for schoolchildren kicked off in Astana on July 7, with 305 young biologists from around the world participating. IBO is one of the top seven international competitions among schoolchildren. Over the past 28 years, Kazakhstan’s students have successfully represented the country, winning more than 70 awards. Such…

ASTANA – A sport that combines marksmanship with exceptional equestrian skills, zhamby atu or Kazakh traditional horseback archery, captivates more and more fans in Kazakhstan and around the globe. In the traditional national game, a participant on horseback must shoot down a high-hanging zhamby (target) while galloping past. “Zhamby” derives from the old Turkish word…

ASTANA – Regional stability, connectivity, and climate action are among the top priorities for Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), said President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev during his speech at the OTS informal summit in Shusha, Azerbaijan, on July 6, according to the Akorda press service. Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OTS for 2023-2024 is…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China launched several media projects to promote tourism and bilateral cultural interests at the cultural exchange event on July 2 in Astana. Titled a New Chapter of Advanced Relations, the event coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Kazakhstan from July 2-4 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit,…