Articles by Staff report

President Tokayev Highlights Efforts to Evacuate Kazakh Citizens from Military Conflict in Ukraine

NUR-SULTAN  – “President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev closely monitors the work of the Foreign Ministry and other agencies to evacuate Kazakh citizens from Ukraine”, wrote Berik Uali, the Spokesperson of the President of Kazakhstan, on Facebook today.  “President Tokayev assesses the measures taken as successful. Since the start of warfare, 553 of our compatriots have received assistance,…

New Park to Open on Destroyed Site of Presidential Residence in Almaty as Investigation of January Unrest Continues

NUR-SULTAN – A new park will be built on the site of the Presidential residence in Almaty, which was completely destroyed during looting on the night of January 5-6, said the President’s spokesperson Berik Uali.  “According to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s decision, the official residence in Almaty destroyed by bandits and terrorists, will be demolished. A…

President Tokayev Outlines Tasks for Operational Office to Address Economic Issues, Boost Investment Activities

NUR-SULTAN – The operational office is set to conduct a detailed analysis of the potential impact of the country’s economy from anti-Russian sanctions, propose possible scenarios around the situation, and develop an action plan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the meeting of the Supreme Council for Reforms on March 3, as reported by the Akorda. …

Kazakh Foreign Minister Takes Part in High-Level Segment of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s decision to join the United Nations Human Rights Council for the second time in its history is based on its firm determination to protect and promote human rights both at the national and international level, said Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi at the high-level segment of the…

Special Operational Group Conducts Thorough Investigation of Crime Committed During Mass Riots in January, Says Official

NUR-SULTAN – The special interdepartmental investigation and operational group continues to investigate more than 3,000 criminal cases in connection to the January mass riots in Kazakhstan, reported Rizabek Ozharov, the Head of the Special Prosecutor Service of the General Prosecutor’s Office.   The operational group has also been investigating grave and especially grave crimes. The…

Video Questions Narratives of Tragic January Events in Kazakhstan (Video)

NUR-SULTAN – KeyNews, a Telegram channel devoted to covering “Everything that is most important about Kazakhstan”, released its version of the chronicle of the January events in the country and challenged certain interpretations of their nature. In early January, some international media reported law enforcement officers had been ordered to shoot without warning at peaceful…

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Launches Hotlines for Kazakh Citizens in Ukraine

NUR-SULTAN –  The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Kyiv has launched a telephone hotline for Kazakh citizens in Ukraine in connection with the latest events in Ukraine, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hotline numbers are +38 (067) 347 04 08 (WhatsApp, Viber), +38 (044) 483 15 96, +38 (044) 489 18 58. The embassy is located…

President Tokayev Discusses Almaty’s Socio-Economic Development With City Mayor

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged government officials to intensify their work on the restoration of Almaty city and on compensation payments to businesses that were damaged during the mass riots in early January at the meeting with Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dosayev on Feb. 23, reported Akorda.  It is expected that the city authorities will…

Kazakh President Holds Emergency Meeting of Security Council

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the emergency meeting of the Security Council to address issues related to the further socio-economic development of Kazakhstan in connection with the situation over Ukraine on Feb. 22, reported Akorda Press.  Tokayev set before his cabinet the task of adopting an anti-crisis plan to respond to the…

Prosecutor General’s Office Investigates 91 Cases in Connection to Terrorism and Riots in Early January, Monitors Conditions of Detention Centers

NUR-SULTAN – The Prosecutor General’s Office has been investigating 91 cases including 46 terrorism cases and 45 cases of mass riots related to the tragic events in early January, reported Yeldos Kilimzhanov, Deputy Head of the First Service of the Prosecutor General’s Office, at a February 21 briefing at the Central Communications Center. “Considering the…

Kazakhstan Eases COVID-19 Restrictions on Businesses

NUR-SULTAN – The interdepartmental commission on coronavirus prevention announced a decision to ease restrictions for businesses and community, reported the Prime Minister’s Office. The shopping and entertainment center, retail chains, food courts, swimming pools, nightclubs, and karaoke are open for visitors with green and blue status in the Ashyq system. The maximum occupancy limit of…

Land Transit Through Kazakhstan Observes Positive Growth in 2021

NUR-SULTAN – The road cargo transportation sector fully recovered in Kazakhstan in 2021 after a decline a year earlier, reported the ATI.SU, the international road freight exchange in Russia and the CIS.  The costs for road cargo transportation through the country have not changed significantly while transportation to the country increased, especially in the direction…

Presidential Residence in Almaty to Undergo Full Restoration After Attack

NUR-SULTAN – The Presidential residence in Almaty will be restored before the end of the year, reported the press service of the Presidential administration. The work on the restoration of the damage caused by explosions and rioting and a technical examination have been completed.  The residence was among the buildings damaged during looting on the…

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Launches Flights to Kazakh Capital, International Airlines Increase Number of Flights

NUR-SULTAN – Wizz Air Abu Dhabi airline has launched its Nur-Sultan – Abu Dhabi flights starting on Feb. 14, reported the Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee. The flights will be operated with a frequency of two flights a week on Mondays and Fridays on an A-321 aircraft with strict observance of sanitary and epidemiological requirements and…

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Have Both Observed Growth in Bilateral Trade, $661 Million In Agreements Already Signed

NUR-SULTAN – Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan increased by 33 percent and reached $4.3 billion at the end of 2021. This was announced at the meeting of Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on Feb. 11, reported the Prime Minister’s Office.   President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistan President…

Kazakh President Pays Tribute to Memory of Victims of January Events

NUR-SULTAN – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in a memorial event dedicated to those who lost their lives during the January attacks at the Khazret Sultan Mosque in the capital on Feb. 13.  The President said that state integrity, citizen security and the future of the country were under threat. “We managed to deter terrorists…

Kazakh President Pays Working Visit to Russia, Meets with President Putin

NUR-SULTAN, MOSCOW – Kazakhstan and Russia confirmed their readiness to deepen political, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. This was announced during the meeting between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of Tokayev’s working visit to Russia on Feb. 10, reported the Akorda. The leaders discussed the prospects for…

Kazakhstan Plans to Increase Military Production and Upgrade Armed Forces

NUR-SULTAN – The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development announced technological modernization plans in the military-industrial sector as part of the reforms set out by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The President spoke about the new tasks set for the Armed Forces during the Jan. 19 meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. He emphasized…

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…