World War II Guerrilla Fighter and Author Kasym Kaisenov Remembered in Kazakhstan on His 105th Anniversary
ASTANA – Kasym Kaisenov, a frontline guerrilla fighter during World War II and a novelist whose chronicles explored the war’s legacy for a post-war generation, is being celebrated in Kazakhstan on his 105th anniversary on April 23. Personal war experience and memories of his comrades From the standpoint of a guerrilla fighter, Kaisenov possessed a…
Rising Kazakh Chess Star Meruert Kamalidenova: Success Comes from Balancing Fun and Effort
ASTANA – It has been a promising year for the 17-year-old Meruert Kamalidenova, Kazakhstan’s national chess team member, who made an eye-catching performance on the final day of the women’s teams match, defeating China’s four-time Women’s World Chess Champion Hou Yifan. In her recent interview with the Kazinform news agency, she talked about her approach…
Young Choreographers Bring Neoclassical and Modern Dance Together in Astana Ballet’s Latest Premieres
ASTANA – Astana Ballet is premiering Ainur Abilgazina’s neoclassic “Soli Deo Gloria” and Olzhas Makhanbetaliyev’s modern “Nine” to highlight the theater’s 10th anniversary season on April 15-16 in the capital. By bringing different dance styles together the artists have created new transformative ways to interpret the music and the narrative arc. Both choreographers are staging…
Ding Liren Makes Comeback to Beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in Trilling Match
ASTANA – The stakes are as high as ever at the FIDE World Chess Championship in Astana. Ding Liren convincingly defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi during the sixth game, leveling the score at 3:3 on April 16, reported the FIDE press service. The match took another unexpected turn as Ding recovered from his heavy defeat in the…
Kazakhstan Prepares New Document to Boost Development and Prevalence of Kazakh Language
ASTANA – The Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education has developed a draft concept for language policy development for 2023-2029 that addresses priorities, the future outlook, and measures to boost the development of the Kazakh language. The draft, published on the Open Legal Acts website, is available for public discussion until April 25. The…
Second Game in Chess Championship Turns Bitter for Ding after Nepomniachtchi Seizes His First Win
ASTANA – Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated Ding Liren in 29 moves with black in the second game of the 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship on April 10 in Astana, seizing an early advantage in the race for the men’s most prestigious title in chess, reported FIDE. This was the first victory in the games for the…
Unraveling Colorful Art and Tradition of Kazakh Carpet Weaving
ASTANA – Discovering Kazakh carpets can take one on a highly patterned journey through the centuries-old aesthetic tradition of nomadic people, their symbolism in design, and the simple practicalities of such an essential household item. The ancient nomadic practice of carpet weaving remains one of the last vestiges of art that is fading away. In…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 150 Years of Inspirational Revolutionary Amangeldi Imanov
ASTANA – Kazakhstan is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Amangeldi Imanov, the leader of the 1916 national liberation uprising against the Tsarist rule, who became a symbol of resistance to social oppression during the power transition period of the early 20th century. Imanov took a passionate stance against both the colonial policy of the tsarist…
New Animated Series Tell Story of Prominent Kazakh Composer Kurmangazy
ASTANA – A debut animated series, “Dala Shyrqauy” (The Field Song), produced by Tasqyn Studio, brought to light the story of Kurmangazy, a prominent Kazakh composer and dombra player, whose 200th anniversary is celebrated across Kazakhstan this year. The first episode premiered on March 16 on the Tasqyn Studio Youtube channel. The series offers a…
Blooming Beauty: Forgotten Facts About Kazakhstan’s Rich Tulip Heritage
ASTANA – Spring manifests itself in many ways, but the blossom of tulips might be among the most welcomed in Kazakhstan, the land where dozens of tulip species originate. For Kazakh people, a brief but intense period when the flowers are in bloom is a reminder of life’s transience. They are beloved for signaling the…
Country’s First Children Dubbing Studio Opens to Popularize Kazakh Language
ASTANA – A creative initiative of schoolchildren from the town of Ekibastuz in northeastern Kazakhstan to dub popular foreign cartoons into the Kazakh language has secured a grant to expand its cartoon-dubbing venture, announced the city’s education department on its Instagram page on March 28. The initiative aims to provide dubbed entertainment content tailor-made for…
Kazakh Ecology Minister Meets with UN Secretary-General
ASTANA – Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Zulfiya Suleimenova, discussed Kazakhstan’s plans for sustainable water resources management with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the UN Headquarters in New York on March 24. The Secretary-General commended Kazakhstan’s efforts, emphasizing the active position taken by the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals…
Kazakh Team of 38 Professionals Compete in Abilympics for the First Time
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s finest team of 38 people took part in the 10th International Abilympics competition of professional skills for people with disabilities in the French city of Metz on March 23-25, reported Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in Strasbourg’s press service. Kazakhstan’s team represented educational institutions from nearly all regions of the country. It includes professionals…
Kazakhstan Taking Steps to Prevent Torture and Protect Human Rights, Says Human Rights Commissioner
ASTANA – The recently enacted law that tightens punishment for torture is an extension of Kazakhstan’s ongoing legal reforms directed to combat the deliberate targeting of civilians and torture, said Kazakhstan’s Human Rights Commissioner Artur Lastayev in an interview with Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on March 22 ahead of the Right to Truth Day. This day…
Kazakhstan’s Election Offered Voters Increased Choice, Some Limitations Remain, OSCE Observers Say
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s March 19 parliamentary election offered increased choice for voters, though some limits on the exercise of fundamental freedoms and participation remain, said international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly during the presentation of their preliminary…
There Is Something to Learn from Kazakhstan’s Election, Foreign Observers Say
ASTANA – Respect for the rule of law, transparent voting procedures, and accessible and civilian-oriented polling stations are among the few features of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections that define the country’s commitment to the expansion of democracy, said international observers at the press briefing in Astana on March 19. Daniel Robert Kawczynski, a member of the…
International Observers Mark Active Youth Participation, No Significant Violations
ASTANA – Smooth organization and high voter turnout among the young people is how foreign observers describe Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election at a press briefing in Astana on March 19, saying there are no significant violations as of noon. Observers from the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) reported active voter participation, particularly…
Top Kazakh Officials Brief Foreign Media on Upcoming Parliamentary Election
ASTANA — State Counselor Erlan Karin and Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko spoke about the major features and changes in the upcoming March 19 parliamentary election and its significance for Kazakhstan’s political development with the foreign reporters in Astana on March 16. With the country undergoing transformative political reforms and electoral cycle, one could not…
Kazakh MFA, CEC Brief Diplomatic Corps on Preparations for Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko and the Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Nurlan Abdirov briefed the heads of diplomatic missions on the preparation and conduct of the March 19 parliamentary election to Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakh Parliament, and maslikhats, the local representative bodies, on March 15, days before what could…
Kazakh CEC Accredits Almost 800 International Observers for Parliamentary Election
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 793 observers from 41 foreign states and 12 international organizations, as the CEC wrapped up accreditation on March 13 at 6 p.m. Astana time, reported CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a March 13 CEC meeting in Astana. Out of 793 observers, 473 observers from 17 foreign countries…
Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Developing in All Directions
ASTANA – The European Union and Kazakhstan are strengthening bilateral cooperation opportunities in trade and investment, transport, energy, agriculture, travel, and education, said Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko at a Central Communications Service briefing on March 10. Vassilenko outlined the ministry’s efforts in boosting investment exchanges and establishing business partnerships in recent years. The EU…
Kazakh Central Election Commission Accredits 165 International Observers So Far
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has so far accredited 165 international observers from 16 countries and four international organizations for the upcoming parliamentary and maslikhats (local representative bodies) election on March 19, said CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a March 7 meeting in Astana. CEC has also received applications for accreditation from 157…
European Ballet Stars Shine at Freedom Ballet Gala Concert in Astana
ASTANA – Some of the world’s biggest names in ballet from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom took the stage of Astana Ballet theater in the capital at the Freedom Ballet Gala on March 5. The concert combined the classical ballet pieces of “Don Quixote” and “Le Corsaire,” the romance of “Giselle” and…
Japanese Embassy in Kazakhstan Celebrates Traditional Girls’ Festival, Highlights Strong Bilateral Ties
ASTANA – The Japanese Embassy in Kazakhstan showcased the beautiful tradition of decorating and displaying miniature dolls to celebrate the Hinamatsuri girls’ festival on March 3 in Astana. The event also marked the Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday on Feb. 23, who turned 63 this year. Every year Japanese families with young daughters display intricately crafted…
Kazakh Gulder Ensemble Performs Again in Blazing Celebration of National Dance
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s legendary Gulder (Flowers) dance ensemble gave its first performance in the new composition on March 1, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports’ press service. Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall exploded with energy when young performers and the ensemble’s former members captivated the audience with the ensemble’s lightness and color. It was…
