2015

NYT's Becker: Clinton Gave Kazakh Pres 'Propaganda Coup' Before Donor Got Uranium Deal

25 Apr

Events and opinions

2209

NYT's Becker: Clinton Gave Kazakh Pres 'Propaganda Coup' Before Donor Got Uranium Deal

New York Times reporter Jo Becker said that after Bill Clinton gave Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev a "propaganda coup," businessman Frank Giustra got a large uranium concession in the cou... read more..

Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal

25 Apr

Events and opinions

1746

Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal

A Uranium One sign that points to a 35,000-acre ranch owned by John Christensen, near the town of Gillette, Wyo. Uranium One has the mining rights to Mr. Christensen's property. Credit Matthew Staver ... read more..

Kazakhstan Fears Ukraine-Inspired Uprising by Large Russian Minority

25 Apr

Events and opinions

1847

Kazakhstan Fears Ukraine-Inspired Uprising by Large Russian Minority

As oil-rich Kazakhstan votes for a president Sunday, the governing elite is pounding home a mantra of stability as fears percolate about the country's massive Russian minority taking inspiration from ... read more..

How Putin’s Russia Gained Control of a U.S. Uranium Mine

24 Apr

Political process

2244

How Putin’s Russia Gained Control of a U.S. Uranium Mine

Since 2013, the nuclear energy arm of the Russian state has controlled 20 percent of America's uranium production capacity. Rosatom's acquisition of Toronto-based miner Uranium One Inc. made the ... read more..

Mitt Romney says Clinton Foundation's link to uranium deal 'looks like bribery'

24 Apr

Events and opinions

1671

Mitt Romney says Clinton Foundation's link to uranium deal 'looks like bribery'

Mitt Romney held nothing back when he was asked about a recent wave of allegations that hit Hillary Clinton's family foundation on Thursday. In an interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show, Romney said o... read more..

24 Apr

Events and opinions

1925

The irreplaceables in Central Asia

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the authorities don't even have to stuff the ballot boxes, their presidents have done everything they can to appear irreplaceable. In post-Soviet Central Asia, presiden... read more..

Kazakhstan election avoids question of Nazarbayev successor

24 Apr

Events and opinions

2373

Kazakhstan election avoids question of Nazarbayev successor

The 74-year-old president is set to be reinstated by his loyal followers on Sunday, but the failure to consider a successor is making the outside world nervous. From nervous students to frail war... read more..

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev's re-election and beyond

20 Apr

Events and opinions

1826

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev's re-election and beyond

Interesting Facts about KazakhstanThe EU's keen interest in Kazakhstan's upcoming presidential elections on 26 April is due to a number of reasons – the engagement of two parties, resulting in the con... read more..

Blair has used his political nous to pocket millions

15 Apr

Corruption!

2745

Blair has used his political nous to pocket millions

On January 26, 2009, Tony Blair arrived in the Gulf state of Kuwait in his capacity as representative of the "Quartet", for talks with the Emir, Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the Palestine ques... read more..

Two men accused in Kazakh banker murders go on trial in Vienna

15 Apr

Events and opinions

1801

Two men accused in Kazakh banker murders go on trial in Vienna

The trial of two Kazakh men charged in connection with the abductions and deaths of two bankers in Kazakhstan has begun in a Vienna court. The main suspect died of apparent suicide in a Vienna prison ... read more..

Why Is Central Asia Excited About the Iran Deal? Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in particular are keen to see progress in the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1.

15 Apr

Events and opinions

1787

Why Is Central Asia Excited About the Iran Deal? Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in particular are keen to see progress in the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1.

Central Asia's leaders are excited by the progress in negotiations between Iran and the P5+1. Hemmed in by sanctions-hit Russia to the north, an energy-hungry but distant China to the east, war-torn A... read more..

Kazakh pair in Austria trial after Aliyev jail death

13 Apr

Extra

3191

Kazakh pair in Austria trial after Aliyev jail death

Two Kazakhs are due to appear in court in Austria in one of the country's most unusual murder trials. The men, who include a former intelligence chief, are accused of aiding the abduction and mur... read more..

What Is the US Policy for Central Asia? A senior State Department official outlines Washington's current policy for the region.

05 Apr

Events and opinions

1718

What Is the US Policy for Central Asia? A senior State Department official outlines Washington's current policy for the region.

The United States is often – and often fairly – maligned for a distinct lack of strategy in its relations with Central Asia. Tacked on to Chinese or Afghanistan policy, bogged in securitization or sti... read more..

The Hunted. Uzbekistan's president has jailed, tortured, and murdered his opponents at home. Now, he's hiring hit men to track down and kill dissidents abroad.

05 Apr

Events and opinions

1892

The Hunted. Uzbekistan's president has jailed, tortured, and murdered his opponents at home. Now, he's hiring hit men to track down and kill dissidents abroad.

A cold drizzle fell on Istanbul on the morning of Dec. 10, 2014, as Abdullah Bukhari made his way to teach his students at a madrasa nestled amid apartment blocks and hardware stores in the Zeyt read more..

No choice. Democracy in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is a managed affair, without clear rules of succession

01 Apr

Events and opinions

1637

No choice. Democracy in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is a managed affair, without clear rules of succession

Ever since communist bosses morphed into democrats after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, they have polished a veneer of democracy. It means staging elections from time to time. It does not mean ... read more..

01 Apr

Events and opinions

1775

Welcome to Karimovstan

Uzbekistan, a Central Asian state of 30 million people with vast natural resources, has recently witnessed two major back-to-back events – the Navruz holiday and the 4th presidential elections since t... read more..

Kazakhstan: One Last Time for Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan's president will run one more time, but indicated that it's time for a change.

21 Mar

Events and opinions

1678

Kazakhstan: One Last Time for Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan's president will run one more time, but indicated that it's time for a change.

As expected, Nursultan Nazarbayev has been confirmed as the ruling party's candidate for the presidential elections that will be held next April in Kazakhstan. At the Nur Otan convention in Astana, Na... read more..

Ex-adviser to Sarkozy charged with corruption over Kazakhstan deals

21 Mar

Events and opinions

1763

Ex-adviser to Sarkozy charged with corruption over Kazakhstan deals

An ex-adviser to the French presidency was indicted on corruption charges linked to a trade agreement between Paris and Astana during Nicolas Sarkozy's term, a source close to the probe told AFP Thurs... read more..

Russia Frustrated By Refusal Of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan To Cooperate On Security

21 Mar

Events and opinions

1669

Russia Frustrated By Refusal Of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan To Cooperate On Security

Russia is disappointed in the unwillingness of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to cooperate with its collective security bloc, and considers Iran to be a model those countries could follow, a senior Russi... read more..

Malaysian PM Najib to solemnise daughter's marriage to Kazakhstan President's nephew

21 Mar

Events and opinions

1903

Malaysian PM Najib to solemnise daughter's marriage to Kazakhstan President's nephew

The daughter of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will be getting married today, a spokesman for the leader's family for the engagement and wedding ceremonies said. &n... read more..

How Billionaires in London Use Secret Luxury Homes to Hide Assets

15 Mar

Events and opinions

1794

How Billionaires in London Use Secret Luxury Homes to Hide Assets

On London's Billionaires Row in Hampstead, the seven-bedroom Carlton House with its 50-foot ballroom, underground swimming pool and 10-person Turkish bath is for sale for 14 million pounds ($21.5 mill... read more..

Rakhat Aliyev: Claims of murder over death of rival to Kazakhstan's president in Austrian prison

14 Mar

Events and opinions

1920

Rakhat Aliyev: Claims of murder over death of rival to Kazakhstan's president in Austrian prison

Prison authorities discovered his corpse at 7.20 on a Tuesday morning late last month. Rakhat Aliyev's body was hanging from a noose made from gauze bandages which had been attached to a peg in the ce... read more..

Kazakhstan Continues to Face Challenges in 2015. On both the economic and diplomatic fronts, the difficulties of 2014 have not gone away.

14 Mar

Events and opinions

1708

Kazakhstan Continues to Face Challenges in 2015. On both the economic and diplomatic fronts, the difficulties of 2014 have not gone away.

It's no secret that 2014 ended on a poor note for Kazakhstan. Sagging oil prices coupled with an economic crunch in Russia to hammer Astana's economy. Russian adventurism – and not-so-veiled threats a... read more..

Ex-Soviet Republics Are Feeling Putin's Ruble Pain Now

11 Mar

Events and opinions

1731

Ex-Soviet Republics Are Feeling Putin's Ruble Pain Now

A key element to President Vladimir Putin's vision of growing Russian influence in the world is his plan to lead the former Soviet republics into an economic union. Right now, though, what he's m... read more..

Five ways to stay in power in Central Asia

10 Mar

Events and opinions

1809

Five ways to stay in power in Central Asia

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are both expected to re-elect their leaders this spring. Few will be surprised if Nursultan Nazarbayev keeps his job in Kazakhstan - though he's yet to announce he is running... read more..

The Kazakh despot who bought Blair for £16million (and Cherie for £320k): How ex-PM sold himself to a 'virtual gangster' linked to torture, money laundering, bribery and murder

09 Mar

Events and opinions

1753

The Kazakh despot who bought Blair for £16million (and Cherie for £320k): How ex-PM sold himself to a 'virtual gangster' linked to torture, money laundering, bribery and murder

It's the damning new book that lifts the lid on Tony and Cherie Blair's lust for money. Yesterday, in our exclusive serialisation, we told how revelations about his relationship with a tycoon's wife p... read more..

04 Mar

Events and opinions

1778

Bitter end for Kazakhstan's sugar czar

The ignominious end of Rakhat Aliyev, Kazakhstan's most feared man, heir apparent, sugar czar, fugitive. On the morning of February 24, the warden of Vienna's Josefstadt prison announced the suic... read more..

Kazakhstan in the wake of the Ukraine crisis

04 Mar

Events and opinions

1933

Kazakhstan in the wake of the Ukraine crisis

I am in Astana, the gateway to southern Siberia. The temperature in the afternoon is around -10 degrees Celsius. All around us the ground is covered in ice, but Astana residents still say, "We've made... read more..

Nurbank AO : Kazakh ex-diplomat Rakhat Aliyev's lawyers convinced his death was no suicide

04 Mar

Events and opinions

1813

Nurbank AO : Kazakh ex-diplomat Rakhat Aliyev's lawyers convinced his death was no suicide

The lawyers of former Kazakh diplomat and Malta exile Rakhat Aliyev are insisting that his death in an Austrian prison was no suicide, and are calling for an independent investigation into the matter.... read more..

03 Mar

Events and opinions

2064

Millions painted in blood

A suicide in the prison of Vienna put an end to the first phase of a political-financial thriller which preoccupied the governments of Malta, Austria and the prosecuting authorities in Europe for year... read more..

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