July 2016

Kazakhstan: Rare Public Outreach Being Wound Down

26 Jul

Events and opinions

1349

Kazakhstan: Rare Public Outreach Being Wound Down

Kazakhstan launched a rare exercise in consulting with the general public earlier this year to defuse spreading discontent, but the authorities are now bracing to pull the plug on the experiment and r... read more..

Kazakhstan: Stricter Laws to Follow Almaty Shootings

22 Jul

Events and opinions

1262

Kazakhstan: Stricter Laws to Follow Almaty Shootings

In the wake of the deadly Almaty shootings, authorities in Kazakhstan are drawing up measures to step up the fight against extremism and considering the creation of a fingerprint and DNA register. “P... read more..

Kazakhstan -- In The Absence Of Official Information. Kazakhstan has been going through some tough times recently.

22 Jul

Events and opinions

1313

Kazakhstan -- In The Absence Of Official Information. Kazakhstan has been going through some tough times recently.

There were widespread protests against government land-reform plans in late April that culminated in countrywide rallies against government policies on May 21. Hundreds of people were arrested in the ... read more..

How Rogue Regimes Have Weaponized Interpol.

19 Jul

Events and opinions

1750

How Rogue Regimes Have Weaponized Interpol.

Iran, Russia, Venezuela and other authoritarian governments abuse the agency to target critics. Autocratic regimes and governments who sneer at the rule of law have found a new tool for harassing i... read more..

Kazakhstan: Libel Fine Deals Another Blow to Independent Media

19 Jul

Events and opinions

1280

Kazakhstan: Libel Fine Deals Another Blow to Independent Media

One of Kazakhstan’s last remaining independent newspapers has been ordered to pay heavy damages in a libel case that its editor believes was designed to drive it out of business. The ruling ordering ... read more..

Kazakhstan’s Latest Shooting: Terror or Crime?

19 Jul

Events and opinions

1287

Kazakhstan’s Latest Shooting: Terror or Crime?

In a disturbing development for Kazakhstan, another supposedly radicalized gunman singled out security forces for an attack — this time in the country’s largest city, Almaty. Interior Ministry said a... read more..

How Tony set up crony to spin for blood soaked tyrant: Blair's former 'director of political operations' had three month role with the Kazakh government

15 Jul

Events and opinions

1344

How Tony set up crony to spin for blood soaked tyrant: Blair's former 'director of political operations' had three month role with the Kazakh government

Few of Tony Blair's cronies have defended the former prime minister more vociferously after the damning conclusions of Sir John Chilcot's Iraq report than his one-time 'director of political operation... read more..

Former Soviet Countries’ Use of Symbols to Thumb Their Noses at Russia

10 Jul

Events and opinions

1243

Former Soviet Countries’ Use of Symbols to Thumb Their Noses at Russia

A Ukrainian postal stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of Stepan Bandera’s birth. Public Domain Symbols were important during the Soviet era. The hammer and cycle was the premier example. Then... read more..

Brexit Bet Makes Kazakhstan Better Than Soros

10 Jul

Economy

1832

Brexit Bet Makes Kazakhstan Better Than Soros

Move over George Soros, Kazakhstan is claiming the title as the most prescient speculator in the pound. The former Soviet republic’s central bank bet against the currency before Britain’s surprise ... read more..

10 Jul

Events and opinions

1324

Monstrous hypocrite

As Blair's liar-in-chief Alastair Campbell claims the moral high ground after Chilcot, the chilling memos that reveal how he touted for work to 'rebrand' one of the world's most repressive tyrannies ... read more..

07 Jul

Corruption!

1488

Corruption: Moving money out of purgatory. In the crackdown on kleptocracy, ‘global policemen’ states have faced difficulties in returning illicit assets to citizens.

Aron Bornstein arrived in Kazakhstan in February 2009 with $84m and a daunting assignment. His job was to hand out millions of dollars to impoverished families, non-governmental agencies and students ... read more..

Christians Worry About Trend Of Raids On Services At Homes In Former Soviet Union

07 Jul

Events and opinions

1294

Christians Worry About Trend Of Raids On Services At Homes In Former Soviet Union

Christians are condemning a provision in Russia’s soon-to-be-signed anti-terrorism law that prevents people from holding religious services in their homes. The provision is one of a raft of restric... read more..

Chevron and Kazakhstan see mutual benefits to oilfield expansion

07 Jul

Events and opinions

1392

Chevron and Kazakhstan see mutual benefits to oilfield expansion

Mega-projects are an endangered species in today’s oil and gas industry. As companies struggle to keep up their dividend payments with sharply reduced revenues, multiyear, multibillion-dollar commitme... read more..

Kazakhstan's China Choice. Kazakhstan’s future is at a crossroads, with its relationship to China as the key.

07 Jul

Events and opinions

1342

Kazakhstan's China Choice. Kazakhstan’s future is at a crossroads, with its relationship to China as the key.

Most of the routes from China to Europe pass via Kazakhstan’s vast landmass, located strategically on the crossroads between Europe and Asia. As China is expanding its economic outreach to Europe, the... read more..

Kazakhstan: Independent Magazine Killed by Squeezed Finances

03 Jul

Events and opinions

1314

Kazakhstan: Independent Magazine Killed by Squeezed Finances

A much-respected current affairs publication in Kazakhstan has announced it is set to close because of financial difficulties, further impoverishing a media scene dominated by outlets funded by the go... read more..

Sweden, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan elected to Security Council

03 Jul

Events and opinions

1318

Sweden, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan elected to Security Council

The 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly today elected Sweden, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan to serve on the world body’s Security Council for a period of two years, starting from 1 J... read more..

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