Stories about Kazakhstan from January, 2007
Kazakhstan: German Relations
Ben Paarmann reports on the meeting between the leaders of Kazakhstan and Germany during which Germany offered support for Kazakhstan's bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Kazakhstan: James Giffen
Leila translates a post on James Giffen, an American businessman facing trial in the United States for bribing Kazakhstan's president, something he says that he did with the knowledge of the US government. The case has been used by opposition politicians in Kazakhstan against the president.
Kazakhstan: Queuing for Profit
Ben Paarmann reports on a business so suited for post-Soviet countries that it's a wonder no one had already launched it in Kazakhstan: standing in line for cash. A new company launched by Ruslan Akkuzhin will allow people to hire someone to stand in lines for them. The person in...
Kazakhstan: Party Un-development
Sean Roberts examines efforts to consolidate political parties into and the elimination of parties in opposition to the pro-presidential Nur-Otan.
Kazakhstan: Destination Kazakhstan
neweurasia reports that Kazakhstan has ranked third most popular destination among European countries for gap year backpackers. Borat is believed to be the cause for the jump in popularity.
Crime and Punishment in Kazakhstan
Blogger's Trial Kazis Toguzbayev, a journalist who uploaded his articles on KUB, a group blog, was tried in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 22 January. In his article, Toguzbayev implied that the President was covering the murders of the opposition figures. He got a two-year suspended sentence for violating the Criminal Code...
Kazakhstan: Blogger on Trial
Leila reports on the first blogger to go on trial for blogging in Kazakhstan.
Central Asia: European Policy
Registan.net writes about German proposals for a new European Union policy on Central Asia, and neweurasia responds, wondering why we don't hear more on Europe's efforts to renew ties with the region.
Kazakhstan: Foreigners & Oil
The Roberts Report explains why Kazakhstan's government is taking steps to decrease the number of foreign workers in the oil sector and stop the resale of licenses to develop oil deposits.
Kazakhstan: Cooking Manti
News from the Caravan posts a recipe for manti, a dish made in not just Kazakhstan, but also in the rest of Central Asia, Mongolia, and Turkey.
Kazakhstan: World Class Sports
Ben Paarmann says that Kazakhstan, unlike other Central Asian states, is a home for world class sports.
Kazakhstan: The Innovative Mr. Vassilenko
At neweurasia, Arthur reports on Roman Vassilenko, the spokesman of Kazakhstan's embassy to the United States and Canada, his innovative use of the internet, and his skillful handling of the press.
Kazakhstan: Doctors on Trial
Mira Bakhytova reports that the trial of health care professionals said to be responsible for a wave of HIV infections in southern Kazakhstan has gotten underway.
Central Asia: The LDS Church in Central Asia
The Golden Road to Samarqand writes about the LDS church in Central Asia.
Kazakhstan: The Nazarbayev Way
Leila reports that Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev has a new book out, and she takes a look at his prolific publishing career.
Kazakhstan: NurOtan Rises
KZBlog notices that the head of the NurOtan party was present at the first meeting of Kazakhstan's new government and says that this is a sign of the party's growing importance in Kazakh politics.
Kazakhstan: Discussing the New Government
“The Government resigned… It was expected for so long that I am not even surprised…”, wrote Slavasay in Livejournal community on Kazakhstan politics. On 8 January Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Danial Akhmetov resigned, as did the whole Government. Not much change was expected though: “In Kazakhstan's autocratic presidential system, changes of prime...
Kazakhstan: The New Government
At neweurasia, Leila translates a post that gives a rundown of who's who in the new Kazakh government and how power balances between different interest groups.
Kazakhstan: Wikipedia Sanitation
Ben Paarmann reports that the Wikipedia entries for the heads of a Kazakhstan-based, UK-incorporated mining company linked to a potential 2007 IPO in London are being sanitized.
Kazakhstan: Reshuffling the Government
A government reshuffle took place in Kazakhstan this week and – this time being no exception – occasions like this are a great chance to get a rare glimpse behind the scenes of intra-elite power-brokering Kazakh style. According to Kazakhstan specialist Daniel Kimmage of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty,...
Kazakhstan: World Class Architecture
Ben Paarmann reports that German architects won a contract to build housing and community structures near Almaty. Judging from the designs, he wonders whether or not the contracts Kazakhstan gives out for new construction to Western firms are resulting in the realization of student projects.