Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan’s deputy foreign minister, calls for diplomacy to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Throughout the Ukraine war, Kazakhstan has walked a delicate line.

The companies operating two major oil fields in Kazakhstan are being taken to arbitration by the nation’s government, with billions of dollars of revenue at stake amid allegations of unapproved spending, according to people familiar with the matter.

On the picture: Dmitry Konov filed his appeal at the EU General Court in Luxembourg on June 1.Source: Bloomberg

• Some 20 sanctioned billionaires have filed EU court appeals
• EU sanctions challenges can last many years, with wins rare

On the picture:  Dispossessed farmers dance in front of the Marcos Monument after suffering for years under dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He and his wife Imelda were overthrown by the "People Power" revolution in 1986. Peter Charlesworth/LightRocket

For a long time Switzerland was considered a safe haven for the ill-gotten gains of many dictators, not least because of its banking secrecy. In recent years it has been a leader in fighting dirty money, although the past has not gone away. We look at 15 of the most infamous cases involving illicit funds in Switzerland.

If Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign — and energy — policies are to be successful, Tokayev will need to shrewdly balance the country’s partners.  

On the picture: Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during their meeting at the Kremlin on February 10, 2022. Since then, Russian-Kazakh ties have become less secure. Photo: Sputnik / Mikhail Klimentyev / Kremlin

Kazakhstan is being wooed by Turkish investment and military hardware