November 2009

Kazakhstan: Rights Groups Disappointed by Progress Ahead of OSCE Chairmanship

30 Nov

Events and opinions

2690

Kazakhstan: Rights Groups Disappointed by Progress Ahead of OSCE Chairmanship

When the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe finally decided to designate Kazakhstan as the chair of the group in 2010, the general hope in Vienna was that the responsibility would enc... read more..

30 Nov

Events and opinions

2783

'The Tragic Destiny Of Kazakh People Living Abroad, Written By A Witness'

A series of novels written by an ethnic Kazakh man imprisoned in China that was secretly brought to Kazakhstan was presented in Almaty on November 24, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. Cal... read more..

30 Nov

Economy

3740

Stagnation in store for Kazakhstan's banking sector

Kazakhstan's banking sector has been shored up by government cash, but this isn't sustainable in the long run. Until new sources of funding can be tapped, the sector is in for a period of stagnation, ... read more..

30 Nov

Political process

3140

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan agree on customs bloc

The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus reached a deal Friday to create a customs union among their three ex-Soviet states from July 1 next year. "This is a very significant and l... read more..

28 Nov

Events and opinions

6802

How the US Funds the Taliban

On October 29, 2001, while the Taliban's rule over Afghanistan was under assault, the regime's ambassador in Islamabad gave a chaotic press conference in front of several dozen reporters sitting on th... read more..

We have the star gate, they have keys to it

26 Nov

Events and opinions

2835

We have the star gate, they have keys to it

When Kazakhstan loosing opportunities in oil sector, then it's a matter of corruption; if talking space, then the problem is in incompetence. In addition to all this, there is no system of responsibil... read more..

25 Nov

Corruption!

5162

Kazakhstan climbs 25 points to rank 120th in corruption perception index, Transparency International

As reported, Kazakhstan was ranked 84th in 1999, 66th in 2000, 71stin 2001, 100th in 2003, 122nd in 2004, 102nd in 2005, 111th in 2006,150th in 2007 and 145the in 2008. Transparency Inter... read more..

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan to seal Customs Union deal

25 Nov

Political process

3769

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan to seal Customs Union deal

The presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will sign a deal on a Customs Union between the three ex-Soviet republics in Minsk on November 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesd... read more..

25 Nov

Extra

3525

30% of Kazakh residents unaware of opposition consolidation

The survey of 2,307 respondents in 16 cities conducted by the Kazakhstan Institute of Politician Decisions showed that 34% of residents, city dwellers, had been unaware of the merger of the National S... read more..

25 Nov

Economy

3558

Russia and Kazakhstan sign agreements on oil and power transit

Russia and Kazakhstan have concluded agreements on oil transit and the parallel operation of the two countries' power grids, according to media reports. The deals were signed November 20 by Russian En... read more..

25 Nov

Events and opinions

2516

Kazakhstan: Battle over Flagship Bank Illustrates Volatile Mix of Business and Politics

The erstwhile flagship of Kazakhstan's banking sector, BTA Bank, is wrapping up a turbulent year: embattled by the credit crunch, dogged by allegations of massive fraud, nationalized under duress and ... read more..

Kazakh special agency denies arrest of investigation team on "uranium case"

24 Nov

Events and opinions

2910

Kazakh special agency denies arrest of investigation team on "uranium case"

The information disseminated by some media outlets that the investigation team probing into the case of Kazatomprom ex president Mukhtar Djakishev has been allegedly placed under house arrest, is not ... read more..

24 Nov

Economy

4181

BTA Bank Seeks Early Loan Payments

New management wants to cover inability to work by blaming on mistakes of old management BTA Bank, the largest Kazakh lender to default this year, has asked borrowers to repay billions ... read more..

24 Nov

Economy

4232

Temir bank defaults on debt; seeks restructuring

Temirbank, Kazakhstan's tenth largest bank, has defaulted on its debt and became the fourth Kazakh lender to seek restructuring this year, the bank said in a statement on Monday. Temirb... read more..

23 Nov

Economy

3457

Power Struggle Threatens Central Asian Electricity Grid

Defections from regiona distribution network may destroy Soviet-era effort to ensure equitable sharing of electricity. Kazakstan's decision to withdraw from the Central Asia-wide electric... read more..

Uzbekistan Closes Border With Kazakhstan

23 Nov

Extra

3303

Uzbekistan Closes Border With Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan has closed its border with Central Asian neighbor Kazakhstan to all but citizens of each nation returning home, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said today, as swine flu spreads in both countrie... read more..

20 Nov

Events and opinions

3079

Kazakhstan adopts tough privacy protection law

Kazakhstan approved on Thursday a bill introducing tougher punishment for invasion of privacy in a move condemned by the opposition as an attack on press freedom. Democracy, media fr... read more..

NGO's Allege Kazakhstan Not Ready for OSCE Chairmanship

20 Nov

Political process

3432

NGO's Allege Kazakhstan Not Ready for OSCE Chairmanship

Less than two months before Kazakhstan takes over the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Kazakh NGO's are warning the international community about the rap... read more..

19 Nov

Economy

3697

Kazakh Bank Risk Waning, Economy Troughed, UBS Says

Kazakhstan bank asset quality is improving as the economic outlook picks up and non-performing loans level off, UBS AG said. Shares in the country's two largest banks climbed, helping the benchmark st... read more..

19 Nov

Events and opinions

2798

Kazakh Rights Activist Denied Access To Lawyer

The imprisoned director of the Kazakh Bureau for Human Rights, Yevgeny Zhovtis, has been denied access to his lawyer, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. Zhovtis's lawyer, Vitaly Voronov, ... read more..

Uzbeks Skip Regional Security Meeting In Kazakhstan

19 Nov

Political process

3271

Uzbeks Skip Regional Security Meeting In Kazakhstan

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has begun a third round of discussions in Almaty about upcoming counterterrorism exercises, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. (photo: An SCO meeting last mo... read more..

18 Nov

Economy

3263

U.S. firms want to invest in Turkmen gas fields

The United States urged Turkmenistan on Tuesday to allow its companies to invest in onshore Turkmen gas deposits including South Iolotan, a giant field seen as a key future source of Caspian energy. ... read more..

18 Nov

Events and opinions

2819

Pardon for President's Son-in-Low, Convicted to 40 Years of Jail?

Nazarbayev has understanding of human weaknesses and can forgive those who repent Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev says he is not a man to bear grudges and can forgive if asked to... read more..

18 Nov

Economy

3006

Kazakh banking sector reaches bottom; BTA and Alliance restructuring to impact further growth

Kazakhstan's banking sector reached the bottom this fall and is now on its way to recovery, according to a research report authored by Russian investment bank VTB Capital. The bank attr... read more..

18 Nov

Extra

3550

Uranium One gets Kazakh approval to buy 50-percent stake in Karatau uranium mine

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources approved Canada-based Uranium One's acquisition of a 50-percent interest in the Karatau uranium venture from Russia's Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ). ... read more..

18 Nov

Events and opinions

2839

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Dodges President-for-Life Question Ahead of Astana's OSCE Chairmanship

As Kazakhstan gears up to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, Astana is facing criticism over its recent democratization record. Helping to highlight the country's i... read more..

BTA Bank’s former chairman loses legal challenge against asset freeze

16 Nov

Events and opinions

3817

BTA Bank’s former chairman loses legal challenge against asset freeze

London's High Court ruled today (12 November) to maintain a freezing order restricting the assets of BTA Bank's ex-chairman, Mukhtar Ablyazov, and other former managers. Court sessions held on the mat... read more..

Kazakhstan will not allow foreign investors to take control of key banks - Nazarbayev

16 Nov

Extra

3292

Kazakhstan will not allow foreign investors to take control of key banks - Nazarbayev

Kazakhstan will not allow foreign investors to take control over key Kazakh banks, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in a televised question and answer session on Friday. "We know that ... read more..

16 Nov

Economy

3671

Kazakh tenge ready to appreciate - Marchenko

The fundamentals for the Kazakh tenge to appreciate are in place, central bank chairman Grigoriy Marchenko said on Wednesday, citing rising oil prices and improving current account. Ear... read more..

Tolerance is under attack. However it's the basis of country survival

16 Nov

Events and opinions

2448

Tolerance is under attack. However it's the basis of country survival

Tolerance — major vitality resource of Kazakhstan has become a subject of testing. The specificity of our country is the high level of tolerance; it's impossible to speak of any normal country develop... read more..

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