Kazakhstan Eases Coronavirus Travel Rules to Boost Economic Activity
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan has begun relaxing temporary travel restrictions to boost economic activity, develop domestic tourism and improve the investment climate, said Deputy Prime Minister Yeraly Tugzhanov at a February 7 meeting of the interdepartmental commission. The interdepartmental commission removed temporary restrictions for Kazakh citizens who travel to foreign countries, foreign citizens (from countries with…
Kazakh President Sets Tasks on Economic Stabilization during Government Meeting
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the full recovery of economic potential of the country is an important task for a new government at the extended meeting of the government on Feb. 8, reported Akorda. The economy grew by 4 percent at the end of the year. The manufacturing industry grew by 5.5 percent,…
High Terrorism Threat Level Scaled Down in Almaty, Zhambyl Region, Investigation Continues
NUR-SULTAN – The high (orange) terrorism threat level has been canceled starting Feb. 7 as the situation stabilized in the city of Almaty and the Zhambyl region, reported the regional operational headquarters for combating terrorism. The special and law enforcement agencies will continue their activities. The critical (red) level of terrorism threat was introduced on…
Oil Refining Capacity Expected to Reach 17.9 Million Tons in 2022, Says Top Official
NUR-SULTAN – Oil refining capacity is expected to reach 17.9 million tons in 2022, said Kazakh Minister of Energy Bolat Akchulakov during a February 3 press conference at the Central Communications Center. Oil refining capacity of three largest refineries including the Atyrau Oil Refinery, Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery and PetroKazakhstan Oil Products reached 17 million…
Non-Primary Sectors of Economy Lead to Investment Growth in 2021
NUR-SULTAN – The non-primary sectors of the economy primarily contributed to investment growth in 2021. This was announced at the Investment Headquarters headed by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov on Feb. 2. Investments in fixed assets reached 13.2 trillion tenge (US$30 billion) in 2021, which is 7.3 percent more than in 2020. The indices of the…
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Confirms Kazakhstan’s Commitment to Human Rights Obligations
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan condemns any cases of excessive use of force, unlawful detention, torture or ill-treatment of detainees, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released on Feb. 3. An official statement was made in response to the request from the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the international non-governmental organization, about cases of excessive…
Independent Investigation of the Events of Tragic January Continues
NUR-SULTAN – Thirty-six people have been released in Almaty, reported a newly established Amanat public commission that protects the rights and freedoms of people ostensibly unreasonably persecuted in connection with the January events. According to the commission, the attacks led to mass looting and pogroms. This caused casualties and property damages. The investigation should identify…
President Tokayev Gives Major Interview After January Attacks: Fair Investigation Continues, Reforms in Parliamentary and Party System Necessary
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reconfirmed that the violent unrest in January was a planned attempt to seize power headed by professional militants trained abroad in an exclusive interview with Khabar 24 TV channel on Jan. 29. In his first interview after the tragedy, President Tokayev spoke about the consequences of the attacks on the…
EBRD Invests $630 million in Kazakhstan in 2021, Green Financing Remains Priority
NUR-SULTAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested $630 million in 18 projects in Kazakhstan in 2021, reported the bank’s press service. Forty percent of projects are aimed at promoting the green economy. The EBRD will also support Kazakhstan in implementing its long-term cooperation strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Overall,…
President Tokayev Becomes Chairman of Ruling Nur Otan Party
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Nur Otan party on Jan. 28 at the extraordinary 21st Congress of the Party, reported Akorda. First President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who headed the party since its foundation in 1999, made a proposal to elect Tokayev as the party’s chairman. “I…
Kazakhstan’s AI-Powered Medical Software Enters World’s Ten Most Innovative MedTech Startups
NUR-SULTAN – Cerebra, Kazakhstan’s AI-powered software for early stroke detection and faster and more accurate treatment, has been included in the list of the world’s ten most innovative projects in the field of medical artificial intelligence, according to Medtronic APAC Innovation Challenge. This is a platform for startups and businesses run by Medtronic, a Florida-based…
First Deputy Prime Minister Meets with Тоp German Companies, Key Investors Pledge Further Investment
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen Kazakh-German relations, economic and investment cooperation and to implement joint projects. This was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar at the online meeting with the executives of German companies on Jan. 26, reported the Prime Minister’s Office. Approximately 90 representatives of German companies and heads of the…
Kazakh Government Implements Plan to Help Businesses and People Recover After January Events
NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh government has implemented a package of measures for socio-economic development on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions, reported the Prime Minister’s Office. A moratorium on tariffs and prices for utilities (heat supply, water supply, sanitation, electricity, gas supply) was introduced for 180 days from Jan. 5. The Ministry of Internal Affairs plans…
CSTO United Staff to Analyze Measures in Kazakhstan to Improve Crisis Response Mechanisms
NUR-SULTAN – The CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) United Staff will analyze what happened in Kazakhstan to improve its crisis response mechanisms, said Turaly Koyshikulov, deputy chief of the CSTO joint staff at a Jan. 19 press briefing. The CSTO United Staff is a permanent working body of the organization responsible for preparing proposals on…
President Tokayev Appoints New Minister of Defense, Outlines Priorities for Reforms in Armed Forces
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Murat Bektanov from the Minister of Defense’s position and appointed Ruslan Zhaksylykov as the new minister, the Akorda reported on Jan. 19. Zhaksylykov previously served as the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs – Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard. Zhaksylykov was born in 1966 in the Almaty region. He started…
Omicron Continues to Spread in Kazakhstan, Top Health Officials Recommend Strict Measures
NUR-SULTAN – On Jan. 18, Kazakh Minister of Healthcare Azhar Giniyat reported that COVID-19 cases have increased by 19.6 times over the past month. Daily laboratory testing has increased by 3.5 times and reached 50,000 tests per day. Despite the incidence rate, the mortality rate has decreased by 2.5 times over the past day. The…
Nursultan Nazarbayev: “We Must Support the New Program of Reforms Put Forward by President Tokayev”
NUR-SULTAN – The President has put forward a new program of reforms to improve the well-being of people. We must support this program, said Nursultan Nazarbayev in a video addrees on Jan.18 Read the full text of address of Kazakhstan’s First President on Jan.18 Dear people of Kazakhstan! The events of early January shocked the entire…
Kazakhstan’s Human Rights Ombudsperson: State Must Investigate All Reports of Cruel Treatment, Conduct Thorough Legal Investigation
NUR-SULTAN – Peace, order and rule of law in the country depend not only on the legislative and executive authorities but also on every citizen of Kazakhstan. What happened must become a lesson for all, said Elvira Azimova, Kazakhstan’s Human Rights Ombudsperson in Kazakhstan, at an online media briefing at the Central Communications Service. “Human…
Almaty Police Department Releases Details Surrounding Tragic Events in Almaty
NUR-SULTAN – The situation has stabilized in Almaty, reported Head of the Almaty Police Department Kanat Taimerdenov at the Jan. 16 Central Communications Center briefing. As a result of the clashes,149 civilians and 11 officers were killed. The police continue to seize stolen firearms. Terrorists damaged and destroyed more than 356 cars including 163 police…
Kazakh Prosecutor’s General Office Releases Statement on Legal Procedures Against Suspects in Events of Tragic January
NUR-SULTAN – Forty-four terrorism cases related to the recent attacks in some regions are under investigation, the General Prosecutor’s Office reported on Jan. 13. As of Jan. 14, the high (orange) level of terrorism threat has been set in the Kazakh capital. The critical (red) level of the terrorism threat has been lifted in 14…
Smailov Becomes Kazakhstan’s New Prime Minister
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented Alikhan Smailov’s candidacy for the Prime Minister’s Office at the Jan. 11 meeting of the Majilis, the lower house of Parliament. During the meeting, the majority of deputies supported the President’s decision. Smailov previously served as the First Deputy Prime Minister. Alikhan Smailov was born in 1972 in…
WATCH: Striking Video of Terrorists Rampaging Through Almaty, Taldykorgan, Aktobe, Looting Businesses, Assaulting Police, Injuring Civilians
Telegram channel “KeyNews” presents a video montage of the tragic events that occured in the beginning of January 2022 in Kazakhstan. In just 5 days, bands of terrorists and opportunists and marauders turned one of the most peaceful and stable Central Asian republics into a war zone. January 10 has been declared the National Day…
Spectacular Skating Performance on Lake Kolsai is Becoming Popular on Instagram (Video)
NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh figure skater Kseniya Pankratova’s dance performance on the frozen Lake Kolsai recently attracted quite an audience on Instagram, reported Kazinform. A short video titled “The magic ice of Kolsai” is available on Pankratova’s account. Pankratova went viral on the internet with her performance on the Big Almaty Lake in December 2018. This…
Kazakhstan Adopts Law on Abolition of Death Penalty and Law on Commissioner for Human Rights
NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the laws “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts on the Abolition of the Death Penalty” and “On the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan” on Dec. 29, reported Akorda. According to the law “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts on the Abolition of the…
New Industrial Projects and Investments to Contribute to Almaty City’s Economic Growth
NUR-SULTAN – Seven projects have been launched at the Almaty Industrial Zone, reported head of the industrial zone Adil Amralin at the Dec. 27 press conference. The projects, worth more than 48 billion tenge (US$110 million), will create 749 workplaces. In February, a plant for the production of copper and aluminum wire rod worth more…
