Articles by STAFF REPORT

President Tokayev Meets with Members of National Council of Public Trust to Promote Social Harmony Measures

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with and discussed a number of pressing issues with members of the National Council of Public Trust on April 27, according to a statement by Akorda press service. During the meeting with the head of state, political scientist Marat Shibutov shared his vision for the country’s territorial development. Shibutov…

Kazakh Actress Yeslyamova Wins Best Actress 2019 Prize at Russia’s Nika Awards

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh actress Samal Yeslyamova won the Best Actresses 2019 award for her role in “Ayka” directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy at Russia’s Nika National Film Awards, reported TASS news agency.  Russian actress Viktoria Miroshnichenko also received this award for her role in “Dylda” (Beanpole) directed by Kantemir Balagov.  The awards ceremony was postponed last…

Kulmenov Family Continue Traditions of Nomadic Craft of Blacksmithing

NUR-SULTAN – The blacksmithing art of the Kulmenov family who make armor of ancient Turkic warriors and traditional household items of nomads is known not only in Kazakhstan, but also in other countries.  The Kulmenovs are members of the Union of Designers of Kazakhstan and founders of modern weapons art in Kazakhstan. Three brothers Tursynzhan,…

US Ambassador William Moser Congratulates Kazakhstan on 30th Anniversary of Independence, Diplomatic Relations

NUR-SULTAN – On April 21, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan William Moser held a press conference to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Kazakhstan, the press service of the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan reported.  This year, the U.S. Embassy to Kazakhstan launched the 30 Years Together Campaign that goes through December…

Turkistan to Become Center of International Tourism and Pilgrimage

NUR-SULTAN – Turkistan is the cultural and historical city of Kazakhstan, a center of international tourism and pilgrimage. This year, the ancient city of South Kazakhstan was named the spiritual capital of the Turkic world at an informal summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States. In February, it was officially admitted to the list…

Small Businesses Receive Nearly US$168 Million as Part of Economy of Simple Things Lending Program in Two Years 

NUR-SULTAN – In 2019-2020, 1476 agricultural producers received preferential loans worth 71.4 billion tenge (US$168 Million) from the Agrarian Credit Corporation as part of the Economy of Simple Things concessional lending program. The Economy of simple things concessional lending program was implemented in 2019 as one of the government policies aimed at increasing domestic production…

Kostanai Car Manufacturer Launches Production of KIA Car Models

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin took part March 26 in the opening of the KIA car model production line at the SaryarkaAvtoProm plant as part of his working visit to the Kostanai region, PrimeMinister.kz. reported.  It is planned to start production of 20,000 KIA car models per year. The localization will reach up…

Chronicle of President Tokayev’s Term Highlighting the Heroic Covid Response Released

NUR-SULTAN – A chronicle of the activities of the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev over the last year has been released, reported the Akorda Press service.   “The year 2020 will be remembered by the global fight against COVID-19, which affected the socio-economic development not only of Kazakhstan, but of the whole world. Our country was one…

Kazakh Bike Traveler Stays in Mexico, Meets Mexican Fans of Kazakh Pop Singer Dimash Kudaibergen

NUR-SULTAN — A story about a famous Kazakh bicycle traveler who has been continuing his round the world bicycle tour in Mexico is making the rounds of Kazakh media. As Kazakh traveler Talgat Zhumabekov settled with local people, he says Mexican people know and love Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen. They cherish, listen to and want…

Kyrgyz and Uzbek Presidents Review Bilateral Cooperation in Tashkent

NUR-SULTAN – Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 11 in Tashkent as part of his official visit to Uzbekistan. The heads of state praised the current state of bilateral relations, according to their press services and media reports. They discussed issues around the further development of cooperation in political,…

Young Soloists of Astana Opera House Make Debut in Gala Programs

NUR-SULTAN – The Astana Opera House will present the two-part gala programs on Feb. 20 and 23, the theatre’s press service reported.  The new ballet programs feature six performances that are directed by People’s Artist of Russia and artistic director of the Astana Opera Ballet Company Altynai Asylmuratova.  “How Long Is Now?” one-act ballets staged…

Kazakhstan Marks 100th anniversary of Kazakh Legal Scientist and Scholar Salyk Zimanov 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Kazakh scientist, scholar and politician Salyk Zimanov on Feb. 19.  Zimanov, born in 1921 in Atyrau, is an outstanding scientist, public figure, doctor of law, professor and scholar of the Kazakh national academy of sciences.  Zimanov has devoted more than 45 years to Kazakh legal science.…

Kazakhstan Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Kazakh Poet Mukagali Makatayev

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan is celebrating the 90th anniversary of Kazakh poet, writer and translator Mukagali Makatayev on Feb. 9.  “His poetry touched the hearts of many readers,” wrote Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his Twitter. “The poet’s anniversary coincides with the 30th anniversary of our independence. This is a holiday for every citizen of Kazakhstan,”…

Kazakhstan’s First President Delivers Remarks at GEEF Forum On Sustainable Development 

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered remarks at the Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) Feb 5, as reported by the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This year, the forum was held Feb. 4-5. in an online format.  The message was delivered by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime…

Central Election Commission Summarizes Results of Election Campaign in Media, all Parties Given Fair Treatment

NUR-SULTAN –  On the eve of the elections for Majilis (the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament) and the Maslikhats (local executive bodies) to be held on Jan.10, an important meeting of the Central Election Commission took place on Jan.8. Anastasia Schegortsova, a member of the Central Election Commission, said that the pre-election activities of…

Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Attends Virtual Denuclearization Meeting

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi recently took part in the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament and Support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), organized online in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. The participants discussed possible…

Moscow’s Court Sentences Former Chairman of BTA Bank to 15 Years of Prison in Absentia

A Moscow-based court sentenced the former chairman of the board of directors of BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov to 15 years in prison in absentia. This was reported on Dec. 28 by the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office, according to Russian state news Agency TASS. “The Tagansky District Court of Moscow passed a verdict…

Kazakh Government Establishes Institute of Parliamentarism to Improve Legislation

NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Government decreed Dec. 24 to establish the Institute of Parliamentarism under the Parliament to fulfill the instructions of the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In Tokayev’s state-of-the-nation address dated Sept. 2, 2019, he instructed to create an appropriate structure under the Parliament, which should improve the quality of laws. The government and…

Artificial Ski Slope Opens in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – The sports and training center for snowboarding and freeskiing, a special type of alpine skiing, was opened on Dec. 20 at the park named after Mustafa Kamal Ataturk in the Kazakh capital, the city administration’s press service reported. Kazakhstan’s first artificial slope for snowboarders is also suitable for one of a special form…

Kyrgyzstan Receives Humanitarian Aid from Kazakhstan to Help Fight COVID-19

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan dispatched humanitarian cargo to Kyrgyzstan Nov. 26 as part of a joint effort to address the COVID-19 pandemic, reported the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The decision to send 16 tons of humanitarian assistance was initiated by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The cargo included 400 medical ventilators and…

ADB Issues First Batch of Green Bonds in Kazakh Tenge

NUR-SULTAN – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised nearly 14 billion tenge ($32.56 million) in the first green bonds auctioned and listed Nov. 17 on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, the ADB press service reported. The Bond Proceeds, which were issued under the ADB’s Green Bond Framework, will finance ADB’s portfolio of climate change adaptation and…

Stunning Video with Pink Flamingos on Lake Karakol Becomes Popular in Kazakhstan (Video)

NUR-SULTAN – Aktau resident Azamat Sarsenbayev recently stunned the Kazakh social media after releasing a video featuring pink flamingos near Lake Karakol in the Mangistau region. A video drone footage went viral overnight.  “Thanks to these moments I love my country,” Sarsenbayev wrote in his video preview on Facebook.  Flamingos fly to the Mangystau region…

UN in Kazakhstan Honors The Astana Times Editorial Team’s Efforts in Promoting UN Day 2020

NUR-SULTAN – The editorial office of The Astana Times newspaper has received a certificate of appreciation for media coverage of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations presented by UN Resident Coordinator a.i. for Kazakhstan Yakup Beris.  This year, Kazakhstan joined the global campaign to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN.  “As one of…

Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister in Nur-Sultan

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi met Oct. 29 with Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruslan Kazakbayev in Nur-Sultan, reported the ministry’s press service. The parties discussed the Kazakh-Kyrgyz cooperation in trade, economic, investment, transit, transport and cultural and humanitarian sectors and increased cooperation in international organizations. Maintaining positive dynamics and regional…

Heads of States of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Release Joint Statement on Events in Kyrgyzstan

NUR-SULTAN – Heads of states of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan released a joint statement in the light of recent events in Kyrgyzstan on Oct. 9, reported Akorda Press.  “As close neighbors bound by centuries-old bonds of friendship, good neighborliness, common cultural and spiritual values, we call on the people of Kyrgyzstan in these complicated…