2015

Kazakhstan: Early Presidential Vote Designed to Defuse Instability Fears?

03 Mar

Events and opinions

1762

Kazakhstan: Early Presidential Vote Designed to Defuse Instability Fears?

Many Kazakhstanis, including ethnic minorities, support Nazarbayev's leadership. (Photo: Joanna Lillis). A billboard in the northern Kazakhstani city of Kostanay extols the virtues of the country... read more..

China's challenge to Russian influence in Kazakhstan

02 Mar

Events and opinions

1841

China's challenge to Russian influence in Kazakhstan

On 14 December 2014, the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Astana for the 13th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The premier's visit signified a ... read more..

Hitchin MP urged to confront Kazakh clients on human rights

02 Mar

Events and opinions

1826

Hitchin MP urged to confront Kazakh clients on human rights

An MP who is paid £15,000 a year to advise a repressive regime has been urged to confront it about human rights. Peter Lilley, the MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, is paid the sum for his advisory w... read more..

Austria asks Swiss to do new autopsy on dead Kazakh dissident - paper

01 Mar

Events and opinions

2058

Austria asks Swiss to do new autopsy on dead Kazakh dissident - paper

Austria has asked Switzerland to carry out an autopsy on Rakhat Aliyev, a Kazakh dissident found hanged in an Austrian prison last week, to dispel any suggestions of a cover up after a first post mort... read more..

Kazakh dissident Aliyev found hanged in Austrian jail

28 Feb

Special projects

7519

Kazakh dissident Aliyev found hanged in Austrian jail

Rakhat Aliyev, the Kazakh president's former son-in-law turned political foe, was found hanging in an Austrian jail on Tuesday while awaiting trial for murder, but his lawyers doubted the official exp... read more..

Rakhat Aliyev: Businessman and diplomat who exploited his connections to make a fortune but was due to stand trial for murder

28 Feb

Events and opinions

2502

Rakhat Aliyev: Businessman and diplomat who exploited his connections to make a fortune but was due to stand trial for murder

Rakhat Aliyev experienced the sort of career that is only possible in autocratic regimes; where blood is thicker than water, and where whom you know is infinitely more important than anything you may ... read more..

28 Feb

Events and opinions

2248

How Jihad Came to Brooklyn

The two Uzbeks and one Kazakh who were arrested this week in Brooklyn for allegedly making plans to join Islamic State found their way to the extremist group only after they immigrated to the United S... read more..

Aliyev, Kazakh exile who fled to Malta, found hanged in Austrian jail

25 Feb

Events and opinions

2038

Aliyev, Kazakh exile who fled to Malta, found hanged in Austrian jail

Rakhat Aliyev, the Kazakh president's former son-in-law who had came to Malta in a bid to evade double murder charges, has been found dead in an Austrian jail after killing himself, a court spokeswoma... read more..

Vladimir Putin ordered Russian special forces to steal MH370 and secretly landed it at huge space port in Kazakhstan, claims expert

24 Feb

Events and opinions

1833

Vladimir Putin ordered Russian special forces to steal MH370 and secretly landed it at huge space port in Kazakhstan, claims expert

The missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was hijacked on the orders of Vladimir Putin and secretly landed in Kazakhstan, an expert has claimed in a wild new theory. Je... read more..

Kazakhstan: Rakhatgate Saga Over as Former Son-in-Law Found Hanged

24 Feb

Events and opinions

1749

Kazakhstan: Rakhatgate Saga Over as Former Son-in-Law Found Hanged

Rakhat Aliyev, the flamboyant and controversial former son-in-law of Kazakhstan's president, has been found dead in an Austrian prison, where he was awaiting trial on charges of murdering two bankers ... read more..

A banished member of Kazakhstan royalty has died by apparent suicide

24 Feb

Events and opinions

1896

A banished member of Kazakhstan royalty has died by apparent suicide

The estranged former son-in-law of Kazakhstan's president has been found hanged in a Vienna jail cell, after an eight-year effort by the Central Asian government to bring him home to face murder and r... read more..

Far From Kazakh Chief's Inner Circle, Aliyev Found Dead in Cell

24 Feb

Extra

3235

Far From Kazakh Chief's Inner Circle, Aliyev Found Dead in Cell

Rakhat Aliyev rose to the height of influence and power in Kazakhstan, marrying the president's daughter and controlling many of the country's major companies. By the time he was found dead in a Vienn... read more..

Kazakh ex-diplomat Aliyev dies from apparent suicide - Austrian court

23 Feb

Extra

3421

Kazakh ex-diplomat Aliyev dies from apparent suicide - Austrian court

Rakhat Aliyev, the Kazakh president's former son-in-law turned opponent, has been found dead in an Austrian jail from an apparent suicide, a court spokeswoman said on Tuesday. "He committed suici... read more..

Kazakh resistance to ex-Soviet devaluation wave damaging economy

23 Feb

Events and opinions

2087

Kazakh resistance to ex-Soviet devaluation wave damaging economy

Facing early elections, Kazakhstan has been steadfast in refusing to devalue the tenge but the dangers of an over-valued currency are already evident and may ultimately force official action. Kaz... read more..

Kazakh Fund Says FX Sales Alone Won’t Shore Up Tenge

22 Feb

Economy

2932

Kazakh Fund Says FX Sales Alone Won’t Shore Up Tenge

Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund, which controls oil producer KazMunaiGaz and the nation's rail monopoly, said selling its companies' foreign-currency earnings alone won't stave off pressure on the ... read more..

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Allies Call for Snap Presidential Poll

15 Feb

Events and opinions

1888

Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Allies Call for Snap Presidential Poll

Moves are afoot in Kazakhstan to hold a snap presidential election. Proponents say an early election would give incumbent strongman Nursultan Nazarbayev a fresh mandate as the country faces a slumping... read more..

Kazakhstan's Industrial Heartland Feels Economic Squeeze

15 Feb

Events and opinions

1841

Kazakhstan's Industrial Heartland Feels Economic Squeeze

Kazakhstan's slowing economy is pinching the country's industrial heartland. Several industrial behemoths have announced cutbacks that they blame on a toxic mix of factors hitting their bottom li... read more..

Russia To Replace Ukrainian Weaponry With Help From CSTO Allies

01 Feb

Events and opinions

1767

Russia To Replace Ukrainian Weaponry With Help From CSTO Allies

Russia's post-Soviet security bloc will work to build up the capacity of other member states to produce substitutes for Ukrainian weaponry, the bloc's top official announced. ... read more..

24 Jan

Special projects

7915

ISIS to sets sights on Central Asia?

The Islamic State, the jihadist group better known as ISIS, was said to have allocated US$70 million in an attempt to destabilize Central Asia, posing significant threats to China's borders, reports n... read more..

MPs seek law to force Blair to declare his paymasters

21 Jan

Events and opinions

1716

MPs seek law to force Blair to declare his paymasters

Conservative MPs in Britain will today launch a campaign to force Tony Blair to reveal how much he earns - and continue to declare who pays him for the rest of his life. The Tory MP Andrew Bridgen is ... read more..

Russia’s borders: Moscow’s long alliance with Kazakhstan is strong but not unbreakable

20 Jan

Events and opinions

1885

Russia’s borders: Moscow’s long alliance with Kazakhstan is strong but not unbreakable

In this instalment of our series looking at Russia's relations with the countries along its border, we reach Kazakhstan, Moscow's closest ally in central Asia. Region specialist Julia Kusznir tells a ... read more..

Kazakhstan Facing Serious Challenges From Low Oil Prices

20 Jan

Events and opinions

2052

Kazakhstan Facing Serious Challenges From Low Oil Prices

In the current volatile energy market, Italy has again bet big on hydrocarbon-rich Kazakhstan, trying to re-cement its cooperation with the Central Asian republic. The bilateral partnership had been s... read more..

Even Vladimir Putin's Authoritarian Allies Are Fed Up With Russia's Crumbling Economy

20 Jan

Events and opinions

1829

Even Vladimir Putin's Authoritarian Allies Are Fed Up With Russia's Crumbling Economy

To get a sense of why the world this month welcomed the Eurasian Economic Union with such resounding silence, look back to late August. As his country began its ongoing march into economic crumble, Ru... read more..

15 Jan

Economy

2622

Kazakhstan energy profile: second-largest oil reserves among Former Soviet Republics – Analysis

Kazakhstan, an oil producer since 1911, has the second-largest oil reserves as well as the second-largest oil production among the former Soviet republics after Russia. Kazakhstan is a major oil pr... read more..

Kazakhstan Devaluation Risk Revealed in Fivefold Jump in Swaps

15 Jan

Economy

2287

Kazakhstan Devaluation Risk Revealed in Fivefold Jump in Swaps

In Kazakhstan, the most telling sign that investors are bracing for another currency devaluation is their refusal to part with dollars. Exporters and other holders of the greenback are turning to the ... read more..

15 Jan

Events and opinions

2249

Court Decisions

It's not often that Kazakhstan's backyard politicking come to the fore. It's rarer yet when such sniping is aired in English, made available to that much larger of an audience. It's political gossip a... read more..

Compass subsidiary accused of paying bribes to Kazakhstan officials

15 Jan

Corruption!

3509

Compass subsidiary accused of paying bribes to Kazakhstan officials

Ex-finance director at arm of FTSE 100 company claims officials received holidays and cash for lucrative contracts. A subsidiary of Compass Group, the FTSE 100 catering firm, paid bribes to Kazakhsta... read more..

Kazakh Leader's Ex-Son-in-Law Jailed in Murder Probe

14 Jan

Events and opinions

1965

Kazakh Leader's Ex-Son-in-Law Jailed in Murder Probe

Rakhat Aliyev, the ex-husband of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's eldest daughter, surrendered today in Austria seven years after police in his home country sought his arrest in a murder probe.... read more..

Tony Blair Has Another Repressive Central Asian Autocracy to Sell You

07 Jan

Events and opinions

1908

Tony Blair Has Another Repressive Central Asian Autocracy to Sell You

With Ukraine in continued crisis and Moscow deflating under a crippled ruble, the European Union has begun scouring for non-Russian gas. Azerbaijan, in the gas-rich southern Caspian, should present a ... read more..

Prince Andrew and his past controversies are still challenging the royal family

07 Jan

Events and opinions

1942

Prince Andrew and his past controversies are still challenging the royal family

EVERY couple of years a now familiar cycle begins at Buckingham Palace when officials try to rehabilitate Prince Andrew's battered image. Journalists invited to in... read more..

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