Stories about Kazakhstan from September, 2009
Kazakhstan: Playing the Borat card
Vicky reports that that the government of Kazkahstan is now thawing and reversing its position on Borat, a comic character, as tourism rose by 13% last year.
Kazakhstan: Interview with the author of a comic book about Kazakhstan
Jenia Saikina interviews Nicolas Journoud, the French artist living in Kazakhstan, who prepares to release a comic book about this Central Asian country.
Kazakhstan: Propaganda Allergies
As megakhuimyak described it, last week in Kazakhstan “the senility grew ever stronger.” The country is astir over the president’s former son-in-law, Rakhat Aliev, now émigré enemy of the state # 1. People’s fear of the once-omnipotent oligarch and secret service official has turned into fear of being associated with...
Kazakhstan: Right activist to continue his work in jail
Slavasay writes that Yevgenii Zhovtis, the famous Kazakhstani human rights activist, who is currently waiting to serve a four year prison sentence for a traffic violation that caused a man’s death, is undeterred, and will continue to defend himself and others.
Kazakhstan: Informal summit of the Caspian Sea states
Elina Galperin informs her readers that leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan met in Aktau (Kazakhstan) to ‘informally’ discuss the resources in the Caspian Sea. Iran did not take part.
Kazakhstan: Lenin. More Alive Than the Living
Two similar messages have entered the Kazakh blogosphere from opposite ends of the country. They both talk about the revival of one symbol of a bygone era: head-and-shoulders statues of Lenin.
Kazakhstan: OSCE Leadership and Increased Autocracy
Joshua Foust points out a recent series of human rights violations and arbitrary prosecution in Kazakhstan and says that the OSCE Chairmanship has become a cover for worse repression than before.
Kazakhstan: Chronicles of the Rights Activist’s Case
Sorge writes that discrepancies in the media reports about the criminal case against the well-known human rights activist, along with the contradictory results of the expert examinations trigger concerns of the general public in Kazkahstan.
Kazkahstan: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Past and Future
Timur writes about the history and present condition of the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan – the largest and oldest operational space center in the world.
Kazakhstan: Problems of Balkhash Lake
Michael Hancock reports on the current status of Balkhash Lake, a unique water reservoir in Kazakhstan, which risks repeating the destiny of the Aral Sea.
Kazakhstan: The Nursultan Nazarbaev National Library
Michael Hancock reports on the new grand architectural design for the Kazakhstan's new capital Astana – the favorite pet project of the country's president.