Articles by Aibarshyn Akhmetkali

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…

Teach for Qazaqstan Program Brings Bright Specialists to Rural Schools

ASTANA – Some of the nation’s talented specialists and leaders from various fields are bringing their devotion to teaching in rural areas on a two-year placement through Teach for Qazaqstan (TFQ) program, said the program’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Gulnara Salmen.  As part of the global Teach for All educational movement that operates in…

Kazakh CEC Accredits 111 International Observers, Reviews 52 More Requests

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 111 international observers from 11 countries and three international organizations, CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman said at a meeting in Astana on February 27. As of Feb. 27, CEC also received applications for accreditation from 52 observers, including three from India, two from Moldova, 17 from the…

Kazakh Eagle Hunting Festival Spreads its Wings to Celebrate Noble Tradition

ASTANA – Eagle hunting has been central to the Kazakh nomadic life for generations, and it remains as popular as ever in Kazakhstan, as the country hosts the 16th Kusbegilik championship among adults in the Atyrau Region on Feb. 24-26, reported the Kazakh Kusbegilik Federation’s press service. Kusbegilik, or sayat, are Kazakh traditional names for…

‘I Started to Believe in Miracles:’ Kazakh Rescuers Share Stories of Resilience from Türkiye Earthquake

ASTANA – After 12 consecutive days of digging through rubble to find survivors in Nurdağı town in Türkiye, 15 rescuers from the Karagandy Region Department of Emergency Situations shared their stories of resilience and miraculous survival with the press on Feb. 21, the Kazinform news agency reported. The rescuers’ team raced against time to work…

Slave Boy Who Became Ruler of Mamluks: Kazakhstan Celebrates 800 Years of Sultan Beibars

ASTANA – From humble beginnings as a slave boy to becoming one of the most eminent Mamluk sultans, the extraordinary story of Sultan Beibars is celebrated in Kazakhstan 800 years after his birth as an example of how one man can turn a region filled with ongoing political rivalry and warfare into a prosperous place.…

New Atlas-Book Containing Early Kazakh State Names: Must Read on Kazakhstan’s Uninterrupted History of Statehood

ASTANA – A new atlas-book with a remarkable collection of 130 European and American maps dated from 1562 to 1879 and the names of the early Kazakh state displays an uninterrupted history of Kazakh nationhood in the 16-19th centuries, said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, the author of the book, doctor of political science and director of the…

Kazakhstan Accredits 82 International Observers For Parliamentary Election

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) accredited 82 international observers from 10 foreign countries and 3 international organizations, announced CEC Secretary Mukhtar Yerman at a Feb. 19 CEC meeting in Astana. The Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)…

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…