December 2013

Dictators and their uses. The absence of democracy in Central Asia

30 Dec

Events and opinions

2288

Dictators and their uses. The absence of democracy in Central Asia

If democracy and the Central Asian states have proved to be mutually exclusive, there are two reasons: history and geography. Lee Kuan Yew in his The Singapore Story, recalling his country's e read more..

Wife of Kazakh oligarch thanks Italy after travel ban dropped

25 Dec

Events and opinions

2079

Wife of Kazakh oligarch thanks Italy after travel ban dropped

The wife of an exiled Kazakh oligarch accused of embezzling millions of dollars from his former bank thanked Italy yesterday for helping her to overturn a travel ban, months after she was expe read more..

24 Dec

Events and opinions

2234

Kazakh exile Rakhat Aliyev applies for Cypriot citizenship

Rakhat Aliyev, the former son-in-law of Kazakh dictator Nursultan Nazarbaev, has applied for citizenship in Cyprus, MaltaToday has learnt. The multi-millionaire exile has been living in M read more..

Rome probing alleged Eni role in Kazakh deportation scandal. Italian energy giant suspected of misusing influence

17 Dec

Events and opinions

2214

Rome probing alleged Eni role in Kazakh deportation scandal. Italian energy giant suspected of misusing influence

Rome prosecutors on Monday said they were investigating an alleged role played by Italian energy company Eni in the expulsion of the wife and daughter of Kazakh oligarch and political dissiden read more..

17 Dec

Events and opinions

3161

Ukraine: On the Edge of Empires

The name "Ukraine" literally translates as "on the edge." It is a country on the edge of other countries, sometimes part of one, sometimes part of another and more frequently divided. In the 1 read more..

Clinton bails on $275k gig after org founder convicted of espionage

12 Dec

Events and opinions

2751

Clinton bails on $275k gig after org founder convicted of espionage

Bill Clinton was paid an estimated $275,000 to speak at the glittering Center for Global Dialogue and Cooperation gala in Vienna — but the ex-president pulled out hours before the event after read more..

Eurasia Awaits Post-2014 Afghan Storm – Analysis

12 Dec

Events and opinions

2353

Eurasia Awaits Post-2014 Afghan Storm – Analysis

The final withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan and Central Asia may result in an upsurge of narcotics trafficking, terrorism and other security challenges. So are the area's leading p read more..

French prosecutor urges extradition of Kazakh tycoon

12 Dec

Events and opinions

2076

French prosecutor urges extradition of Kazakh tycoon

A French public prosecutor recommended on Thursday that Kazakh oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of embezzling up to $6 billion from his former bank, be extradited to Ukraine or to Russia, wh read more..

AZERBAIJAN, THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY OF EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

12 Dec

Corruption!

2666

AZERBAIJAN, THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY OF EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

We are glad to see Azerbaijan and the European Union moving closer to each other. Our cooperation is bearing fruit. Just look at the results of the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius and the sign read more..

Ukrainian Unrest May Help Ex-BTA Chairman Fight Extradition Bid

12 Dec

Events and opinions

2100

Ukrainian Unrest May Help Ex-BTA Chairman Fight Extradition Bid

Political upheaval in Ukraine may help Mukhtar Ablyazov, the former fugitive banker at the center of a $6 billion fraud case, fight extradition to the eastern European country. A French c read more..

Necessary Reforms Can Keep Interpol Working in the U.S. Interest

12 Dec

Events and opinions

2508

Necessary Reforms Can Keep Interpol Working in the U.S. Interest

Participation in Interpol is in the U.S. national interest. However, Interpol's practice of allowing its members to transmit diffusions without systematic prior review by Interpol raises serious conce... read more..

Ethnic diversity in Kazakhstan: flaw or advantage?

11 Dec

Events and opinions

2354

Ethnic diversity in Kazakhstan: flaw or advantage?

Outside of Central Asia there is very little knowledge of Kazakhstan. Once you begin to explain, some will recognize it as the large darkish red tones that illustrated most geography classroom read more..

09 Dec

Events and opinions

2722

Das Duo mit den Milliarden

Der kasachische Präsident Nasarbajew und sein Geheimdienstchef Alijew waren Weggefährten. Jetzt sind sie Feinde und tragen ihren Konflikt bei uns in Europa aus – es geht um Mord, Geldwäsche un read more..

Kazakhstan: Corporate Retreat from LSE Raises Governance Questions

04 Dec

Economy

2831

Kazakhstan: Corporate Retreat from LSE Raises Governance Questions

When Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, rang the bell to open trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in late November 2006, he was symbolically ushering in a new era. Companies read more..

04 Dec

Events and opinions

2164

China raises presence in Central Asia

President Xi Jinping's latest, highly ambitious tour through the Central Asian republics in September took regional political circles by surprise, writes Baktybek Beshimov, a former Member of read more..

Kazakhs Say Ex-Oil Region Governor Caused $459 Million of Damage

04 Dec

Events and opinions

2066

Kazakhs Say Ex-Oil Region Governor Caused $459 Million of Damage

Kazakhstan's financial police said a former Atyrau regional governor, Bergei Ryskaliyev, and his associates committed crimes that caused 71 billion tenge ($459 million) in damages to the state read more..

Rich Kazakhs Revive Polygamy as Young Women Flee Poverty

02 Dec

Events and opinions

2504

Rich Kazakhs Revive Polygamy as Young Women Flee Poverty

Given the choice between love and money, Samal, a tall, curly-haired 23-year-old woman from a village in southern Kazakhstan, would take the cash. Struggling to pay rent and tuition on he read more..

02 Dec

Events and opinions

1986

Kazakhstan State visit postponed

The State visit by His Excellency President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan which was scheduled to take place tomorrow, 03 December, has been postponed. A new dat read more..

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