Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

De Montfort University Kazakhstan Serves as Bridge-Builder between UK and Kazakhstan in Education, Says University Chair

ASTANA – De Montfort University Kazakhstan (DMUK) seeks to deliver quality British education in support of both countries’ knowledge and technology transfer goals and employment competitiveness targets, said Mike Gifford, the chairman of DMUK Board of Governors, in an exclusive interview for this story. Education has long been one of the key priorities in cooperation…

Kazakh CEC Accredits 62 Int’l Observers So Far Ahead of Election, Considers Applications from 12 More Observers

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 62 international observers and received applications from 12 more observers from six states and two international organizations, reported CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a Feb. 13 CEC meeting in Astana.  As of Feb. 13, 62 observers have received accreditation, including 45 observers from the Election Observation Mission…

Textile Artist from US Breaks Boundaries with Felt, Traditional Material of Kazakh Nomads

ASTANA – The United States-based textile artist Janice Arnold took felt as a starting point to explore its symbiotic relation with the culture of the nomads, connecting the cultural with personal effects through her widely varying works with felt. Felt, a highly functional textile art form, has been enmeshed in the Central Asian nomadic lifestyle…

ODIHR Starts Observation Mission in Kazakhstan ahead of Parliamentary Election

ASTANA – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election observation mission on Feb. 8 following an official invitation from Kazakhstan’s leadership and met with the Kazakh authorities as the country prepares to hold an early parliamentary election on March 19. The mission,…

Kazakh Top Expert’s New Book Analyzes Country’s Political Evolution and Challenges over Past 30 Years

ASTANA – A new book by Sanat Kushkumbayev, the deputy director at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS), offering a political perspective on the country’s domestic and foreign policy, regional cooperation, security in Central Asia, and national identity, was presented at KazISS on Feb. 3 in Astana. Titled “Kazakhstan and Central Asia Between Challenges…

Kazakhstan to Launch Astana International Forum Addressing Climate, Food and Energy Security

ASTANA – Kazakhstan will host the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 8-9 in Astana, launched under the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which aims to tackle global challenges on climate, food scarcity, and energy security, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service. The forum is expected to serve as a platform for eminent delegates…

Pink Flamingos Return to Mangystau Region Earlier Than Usual This Year(Video)

ASTANA – Kazakh videographer from Aktau Azamat Sarsenbayev once again captured a beautiful flock of flamingos returning to Lake Karakol in the Mangystau Region earlier than expected this migratory season in January. “Flamingos coming back from warm places in January… This year, they came a little early,” wrote the author of the video on his…

EU, Kazakhstan Mark 30 Years of Ties with Concert Featuring International Opera Stars

ASTANA – Some of the biggest names in European and Kazakh opera music gathered at the Astana Opera to celebrate the 30th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) in Astana on Feb. 2. Taking place in Kazakhstan’s classical music scene, the concert showcased both local talent, soprano…

New Video Captures Two Foreign Travelers Finding Getaway in Kazakh Nature

ASTANA – A new video by Kazakh Tourism national company featuring Kazakhstan’s best nature sites near Almaty, Astana, and Turkistan offers a glimpse of what awaits the visitors arriving in Kazakhstan through the eyes of two foreign travelers Cederique de Coster from Belgium and Anas Abouqamer from Qatar. Videographer Adilet Rakhmetolla captured Coster and Abouqamer…

Kazakhstan, Council of Europe to Organize Conference on Human Rights Protection and Torture Prevention

ASTANA – Kazakhstan to hold a Central Asian regional conference on the prevention of torture and inhumane treatment as part of the Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) program implemented with the Council of Europe, said Sergey Dikman, head of Human Rights National Implementation Division at the Council of Europe on Jan. 31 in…

Kurmangazy Orchestra Enters 90th Anniversary Season with Impressive Program

ASTANA – The Kurmangazy National Folk Instruments Orchestra launched the 90th celebratory season on Jan. 20 with a concert to mark the 200th anniversary of Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly, the most renowned Kazakh folk composer and dombra player, reported the Regional Communications Service of Almaty. “This year will mark the 200th anniversary of our ancestor Kurmangazy. Beginning…

Immerse in Kazakh Folklore or Learn Kazakh Language: Qonzhyq App Ticks off Both

ASTANA – For those who want to make meaningful use of their screen time immersed in high-quality Kazakh folklore content, the Qonzhyq App offers an extensive collection of modern Kazakh and traditional music, gathers all pieces of Kazakh folklore in one place, and seeks to address the lack of a systematized folklore archive in the…

Kazakh and American Researchers from Oxus Society Collaborate to Address Energy, Social and Foreign Policy Issues in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The leading researchers from the United States and Kazakhstan will collaborate to develop policies to address Kazakhstan’s challenges in climate change and green economy, migration, economic diversification, and foreign policy over the next six months under the auspices of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs program, which was launched on Jan. 26…

Astana Opera Enters 10th Anniversary Season in 2023 With Impressive Repertoire

ASTANA – From the international tour performance of the Boris Eifman ballet to the premieres of Jiří Kylián’s “Petite Mort” and  Herman Severin Løvenskiold’s “La Sylphide,”  the Astana Opera’s tenth anniversary season lineup could be the theater’s most engaging yet. “This is an anniversary season for the opera house, so we have already held a…

On the Move With a Home in Tow – Nomadic Lifestyle Made Possible by Kazakh Yurt

ASTANA – For hundreds of years, the nomadic rhythm of life was defined by mobility and practicality even in the choice of dwelling. The Kazakh yurt, also referred to as kiyiz ui (felt home), is a portable, weather-resistant, eco-friendly house that enabled traditional Kazakh herders to maintain a nomadic lifestyle that had them spending winters…

Experts Discuss Challenges and Opportunities Facing Central Asia Through 2030 in Astana

ASTANA – Leading experts on strategic studies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan discussed the challenges and opportunities the Central Asian states might face in this decade at the Central Asia 2030: Visions of the Future conference in Astana on Jan. 20. Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermukhambet Konuspayev started the session by…

President Tokayev Announces March 19 as Mazhilis Election Day After Dissolving Lower Chamber

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced early elections to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament on March 19, after he dissolved the chamber and terminated the powers of the maslikhats, local administrative bodies, reported Akorda press service. Tokayev proposed holding elections to the Mazhilis and maslikhats in the first half of last year…

Respublica Party Seeks to Establish Effective Governance in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – The newly registered Respublica party will be advocating for a modern, high-tech national ecosystem and a more inclusive society made possible by the dawn of the era of digitalization and cognitive technologies, according to the party’s platform.  The party was founded by popular Kazakh entrepreneurs and public figures and announced its official registration…

Kazakhstan Wins Two Golds in Biathlon and Ski Jumping, Remains Unbeaten in Ice Hockey at FISU 2023

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s team continues its winning streak with two gold medals in biathlon and ski jumping, and an undefeated ice hockey team that is set for playoffs at the 2023 FISU (Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire) World University Games, which runs from Jan. 11–22 in Lake Placid, the United States of America. Over 1400…

Uzbekistan to Showcase 17 Historical Exhibits at Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia

ASTANA – Uzbekistan will display 17 exhibits reflecting the country’s cultural heritage at the First Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah for three months from Jan. 23 to April 23, reported the Uzbek Foreign Ministry press service. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the biennale intends…

CEC Announces Preliminary Results of Senate Election in Kazakhstan

ASTANA – Twenty senators representing 17 regions and three cities of national significance were elected on Jan. 14 to the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC). This year, 55 candidates competed for the 20 open seats in the Senate. The elected…

Kazakh President Tokayev Addresses SDGs, Food and Water Security at Voice of Global South Summit

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the need to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, food and water security in a joint effort with other countries at the Voice of Global South virtual summit on Jan. 13, reported Akorda press service. India’s Voice of Global South summit on Jan. 12-13 brought together over…

New Book Explores History and Sights of Kazakhstan’s Abai Region Through Photos

ASTANA – The new book “Sacred Land of Abai,” written by renowned journalist Alla Belyakina, offers a visual exploration of the Abai Region, a land with rich history and the birthplace of great Kazakh figures, such as the poet Abai Kunanbayev and writer Mukhtar Auezov, reported the region’s press service on Jan. 10.  The book…

Lineup of International Musicians to Perform at Vienna Classics Festival in Astana Opera Revealed

ASTANA – Astana Opera will gather an impressive lineup of guest musicians from Japan, Mongolia, Israel, and Estonia at the Vienna Classics Festival, one of the few major cultural events set to go ahead this January in Astana starting from Jan. 13. The program for the classical music festival features the works of the great…

Like Father, Like Son: Murat Auezov Was a Steward of His Father, Kazakh Classic Writer Mukhtar Auezov’s Literary Legacy

ASTANA – Last year was the 125th anniversary of writer Mukhtar Auezov, one of Kazakhstan’s greatest literary figures, followed by another anniversary this year – the 80 year celebration of his son, Murat Auezov, on Jan. 1, which gave Kazakh society another opportunity to explore the creativity of the former from his son’s perspective. No…