Stories about Kazakhstan from February, 2007
Kazakhstan: Afghanistan Veteran
neweurasia posts a fascinatin interview with a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan: Heretical Borscht
At News from the Caravan, Nyura posts her recipe for “cheerfully heretical borscht.”
Kazakhstan, the Soviet: “Stalinkas” and “Khrushchevkas”, Afghanistan and the Red Army Holiday
Save the Houses Photo by Adam Kesher Blogger Adam Kesher is displeased: the “Stalin's” house next to his own is going to be replaced by a new fancy building. These houses, built before the Second World War (1935-1938) or after (till 1955) are notable for their scale, high ceilings so...
Kazakhstan: Environmental Buyout
Ben Paarmann says that ChevronTexaco has long had problems with accumulating sulfur deposits at its Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan. So why is the government suddenly threatening to punish the company for environmental damage? Ben suggests that Kazakhstan's government may be trying to get more control over the project.
Kazakhstan: Gathering Evidence
The Atyrau Informant reports on the story of a woman tormented by a gang of criminals in Kazakhstan. The police refused to look into the matter, citing a lack of evidence. That is, they refused until she started videotaping the people harassing her.
Kazakhstan: Exile for Aliyev?
Sean Roberts discusses the sudden appointment of the son-in-law of Kazakhstan's president as ambassador to Austria and the OSCE, speculating as to whether or not he has been exiled for recent scandalous behavior just as was believed to be the reason for his appointment to the same position in 2001.
Kazakhstan: Memorial Demonstration
neweurasia reports on a recent public demonstration marking the first anniversary of the murder of opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbayev and calling for certain officials to resign and for government organs involved in the murder to be disbanded.
Soviet Union: History Syllabus
J. Otto Pohl posts his third “imaginary” syllabus: “Introduction to the History of Kazakhstan and Central Asia Under Russian and Soviet Rule.”
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan: Radio Cuts
Adam Kesher reports on plans in President Bush's proposed budget to cut funding for Kazakh and Uzbek language radio broadcasts.
Kazakhstan: Moving the Ministry
KZBlog reports on yet another of the many uses of students in Central Asia. In this case, it is moving Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education into a new building.
Central Asia & Caucasus: Nonmarket Economies
Registan.net discovers a law proposed in the United States Congress that would slap all of Central Asia and the Caucasus except Kazakhstan with extra tariffs because they would be considered to be economies not functioning on market principles.
Kazakhstan: Presidential Vodka
KZBlog reports that Kazakhstan's president now has a vodka dedicated to him.
Kazakhstan: Products of a Workshop
A workshop on blogging took place in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan last weekend, and Leila Tanayeva summarizes the posts the participants wrote at neweurasia.
Kazakhstan: Profile of a Silversmith
News From The Caravan profiles Serzhan Bashirov, a Kazakh silversmith who is currently in the United States to exhibit his work.
Central Asia: Microfinance
The Private Sector Development Blog reports on Central Asia's dynamic microfinance industry.
Russia: Racist Attack on Journalist/Blogger
Channel One footage of the Feb. 10 news piece (RUS) on the subway attack on Aidar Buribayev, a reporter for Newsweek's Russian-language edition. Four young men attacked Aidar Buribayev – LJ user aidar_b2, a 28-year-old reporter for Newsweek's Russian-language edition – on a Moscow subway train just after midnight Saturday....
Central Asia & Caucasus: Press Freedom
neweurasia reports on recent developments related to press freedom in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Kazakhstan: Money, Kidnapping, Money, Power, Money…
“The headline is not a text from James Bond film trailer. It is how they do business in Kazakhstan”, wrote Jana Zhukova is Livejournal community of Almaty residents (RUS). She referred to mysterious set of events that surrounded “Nurbank”, the seventh largest bank in Kazakhstan connected with the President's son-in-law...
Central Asia: Why It Matters
Joshua Foust argues that Central Asia should be given more attention by Western policymakers.
Central Asia: US Aid
Registan.net looks at the Bush administration's proposed budget for the 2008 fiscal year and says it shows the White House is dropping the ball on Central Asia.
Kazakhstan: Farewell, Bazaar
Michael Hancock bids a bittersweet farewell to the Shymkent bazaar.
