Events and opinions

A University of Cambridge college has denied it intended to "celebrate" the autocratic president of Kazakhstan after advertisements appeared in the country for a fellowship in his name.

Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev and his son-in-law Timur Kulibyev are facing a lawsuit for laundering at least $436 million, Swiss media reported a lawyer involved in the case as saying on Monday.

Staatspräsident Nasarbajew bezeichnete den Sieg seiner Partei Nur Otan als "ehrlich" und von "beispielloser Transparenz". Die Organsation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa widerspricht dieser Darstellung nun vehement: Die Abstimmung habe internationale Standards klar verfehlt.

This is a holiday season the people of Kazakhstan will not soon forget. On Dec. 16 security forces in the western city of Zhanaozen killed and wounded hundreds of unarmed demonstrators, mostly striking oil workers, occupying a public square. Officials claim only 15 people died but reports from local people — impossible to confirm — say the death toll was higher. A startling video on YouTube — blacked out in Kazakhstan — shows police firing on fleeing civilians.

Tony Blair has blood on his hands from his 'consultancy' work with the dictator of Kazakhstan, opposition leaders in the former Soviet state claimed last night.

The former Prime Minister of Kazakhstan on Rakhat Aliyev's false testimony, the political situation in Russia and what we can expect in Kazakhstan after January 15th

The biggest instability facing the region's dictators is the lack of any mechanism to succeed them

WEEKS of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence come to a head in Astana, the new capital full of surreal bombast, on December 16th. The 16m-odd citizens of the oil-rich country have plenty to be proud of.

A London-based PR firm claimed it was planning to orchestrate a campaign by Kazakh children against the pop singer Sting after he withdrew from a performance in the country.