Articles by Aiman Nakispekova

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transition to a unicameral parliament and the implementation of its new constitutional framework were among the key issues raised by foreign observers during the parliamentary vote taking place on Aug. 23. The country’s prospects for attracting international investment were also a major focus of their discussions. For international observers, the election to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s transition to a single-chamber legislature entered a new stage Aug. 23 as voters went to the polls to elect the country’s first Kurultai, with international observers monitoring the process. The election is part of a broader effort to modernize Kazakhstan’s political institutions and strengthen their ability to respond to the country’s changing…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is expanding academic and scientific cooperation with leading universities and research institutions in Japan and South Korea. The country seeks to strengthen higher education, research and artificial intelligence (AI) development. During visits to Seoul and Tokyo in August, Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek met with university leaders and government officials to…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Kurultai election campaign entered its final stretch, with nationally televised debates dominating the campaign. The debates offered voters an opportunity to compare the platforms of the seven competing political parties. The campaign featured the first-ever team debates involving representatives of all seven parties, broadcast on the Jibek Joly television channel. The week…

ASTANA – Three historians from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia explored how the Golden Horde continues to shape the historical narratives and identities of their countries during a podcast organized by Kazakh historian and Golden Horde researcher Zhaksylyk Sabitov. The discussion highlighted both the shared historical legacy of the medieval empire…

ASTANA – A United Arab Emirates company has secured a 25-year license to develop the Kenderlyk coal deposit in eastern Kazakhstan, expanding foreign investment in the country’s mining sector.  According to documents released ahead of public hearings in early August, MQ Emirates Group Ltd will develop Coal-Shale Field No. 1 of the Kenderlyk deposit using…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan confirmed that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in the United States (US) in December, following a meeting on Aug. 12 between Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.  Although Kazakhstan is not a…

ASTANA – A nationally televised debate on education dominated Kazakhstan’s election campaign during the week of Aug. 3-9. Representatives of the country’s seven political parties outlined their visions for reforming the education system during the two-and-a-half-hour broadcast. The debate consisted of four segments. Party representatives first presented their election platforms and questioned one another in…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has launched a new phase of its effort to revive the iconic aport apple, a variety once renowned worldwide but now considered at risk of disappearing. Scientists are expanding orchards and establishing specialized nurseries to restore commercial production of the historic cultivar and supply growers with high-quality planting material. The Kazakh Ministry…

ASTANA – As climate change fuels increasingly intense heat waves, staying safe in extreme temperatures has become a growing concern across Kazakhstan. This summer, temperatures have climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in several regions, testing both people’s endurance and public health systems. While modern households rely on air conditioners and fans, Kazakhstan’s nomadic ancestors developed…

ASTANA – This week’s election campaign roundup covers developments from July 27 to Aug. 2, when Kazakhstan’s political parties intensified voter outreach following the first nationally televised debate and held dozens of campaign events nationwide. National televised debate draws public attention One of the week’s key campaign events took place on July 29, when Qazaqstan…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry said a complete shutdown of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is not under consideration, dismissing media reports suggesting the pipeline’s operations could be fully suspended. In a statement issued Aug. 1, the ministry said the CPC temporarily suspended operations on July 31 but continues to receive crude oil from shippers…

ASTANA – What began as a series of independent projects has grown into Kazakhstan’s first inclusive digital ecosystem, combining transportation, accessibility and communication services into a single platform designed by and for people with disabilities. Developed by Pavlodar-based university students Stanislav Kirichenko and Islam Kulenov, Involve aims to simplify everyday life through digital solutions that…

ASTANA – Twenty years after the first Kazakh crude reached China, the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline has evolved from an infrastructure project into one of Eurasia’s most strategically important energy corridors. More than a transportation route, the pipeline has strengthened economic ties between neighboring Kazakhstan and China while providing an alternative export corridor at a time of…

ASTANA – Political parties stepped up campaigning nationwide in the first week of Kazakhstan’s first elections to the Kurultai, the country’s new unicameral parliament. Since the campaign officially began July 23, parties have held tours, public forums, sporting events and meetings with voters to promote their platforms ahead of the Aug. 23 vote. Adilet launches…

The Astana Times continues its weekly roundup of key developments in campaigning for Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections scheduled for Aug. 23. This edition highlights candidates’ policy proposals.  ASTANA – With campaigning underway for Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections, seven political parties have unveiled programs outlining their priorities for the next parliamentary term. While their agendas overlap on issues…

ASTANA – From soaring modern landmarks to centuries-old sanctuaries carved into rock, Kazakhstan’s mosques reflect the country’s rich spiritual heritage and architectural diversity. While modern mosques attract visitors with their monumental domes and soaring minarets, many of the country’s oldest mosques continue to captivate travelers with their unique construction techniques, legends and historical significance. According…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Austria officially launched the Austrian-Kazakh Connectivity Platform at the Austrian Parliament on July 15 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in transport, logistics, infrastructure, energy and investment, reported the Austrian Press Agency. The platform aims to bring together government agencies, businesses and financial institutions from both countries to develop joint projects and improve…

ASTANA – As fertility rates continue to fall across much of the world, Kazakhstan is among the countries where births are still above the population replacement level. New data, however, indicate that the country is beginning to mirror the broader global demographic slowdown.  According to the United Nations, the global fertility rate has dropped from…

ASTANA – Hidden in the foothills of the Kyrgyz Alatau in the Zhambyl Region, the village of Merke is far more than a stop along the highway connecting Almaty and Taraz. One of Kazakhstan’s oldest settlements, Merke combines the legacy of the Silk Road, sacred archaeological landscapes and dramatic mountain scenery. Kazakhstan’s open-air sacred landscape…

ASTANA – Long before climate change and water scarcity became global concerns, the nomads of the Kazakh steppe built a way of life around mobility, restraint and close observation of the natural world. Their experience offers a striking example of how human societies once lived in balance with nature rather than trying to dominate it.…

ASTANA – Archaeologists in Kazakhstan’s Kostanai Region have uncovered three Neolithic burials in the Auliekol district, a rare discovery that researchers say could rank among the country’s most significant archaeological finds in recent years. The burials, tentatively dated to the seventh to fifth millennia B.C., were found beneath the floors of ancient dwellings belonging to…

ASTANA – An exhibition showcasing nearly 100 rare silk textiles, archaeological artifacts and contemporary design works celebrating China’s centuries-old silk-making traditions opened at the National Museum of Kazakhstan on July 2. Organized jointly by the China National Silk Museum and museums from Huzhou and Turpan, the exhibition traces the development of Chinese silk craftsmanship from…

ASTANA – Bananas are not a crop typically associated with Kazakhstan’s vast steppe, but in the country’s south, a greenhouse complex is proving otherwise. Central Asia’s only banana farm, located in the Turkistan Region near Shymkent, is cultivating tropical fruit on an industrial scale while drawing visitors eager to see how bananas grow far from…

ASTANA – Long before modern courts emerged, disputes on the Kazakh steppe were resolved by biys, a respected judges whose authority stemmed not from official appointment but from public trust, deep knowledge of customary law and a reputation for fairness. Zharilkasyn Zhappasov, a candidate of historical sciences and professor at the International Engineering and Technological…