Tag Archives: Kazakhstan

UK foreign minister goes on “grand tour” of Central Asia

APRIL 22 2024 (The Bulletin) — David Cameron, Britain’s foreign minister, started a “Grand Tour” of Central Asia designed to win backing for migrant labour deals from the region’s presidents and persuade them to support the West over the Kremlin. Lord Cameron becomes the first British foreign minister to visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, highlighting the increased importance of the region. Britain has been trying to plug Brexit labour shortages with migrants from Central Asia.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 565 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on April 23 2024

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2024

Threats made against Kazakh murder judge

APRIL 19 2024 (The Bulletin) — Police in Astana started investigating anonymous threats made against the judge presiding over the trial of former Kazakh economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev for the murder of his wife. The Supreme Court said that the threats had been left on the phone of Aizhan Kulbayeva, the judge. Bishimbayev’s trial is perhaps the most high-profile murder trial in Kazakhstan’s history.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 565 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on April 23 2024

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2024

Kazakhstan bans vaping

APRIL 19 2024 (The Bulletin) — Kazakhstan banned vapes because it said that the e-cigarettes were bad for people’s health. Vaping in Kazakhstan has boomed, especially among young people.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 565 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on April 23 2024

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2024

Tokayev wants stronger Kazakhstan-Armenia trade links

APRIL 16 2024 (The Bulletin) — On a trip to Yerevan, Kassym Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan’s president, said that he wanted to boost Kazakh exports to Armenia to $350m/year. This was Mr Tokayev’s first official visit to Armenia. It came as Yerevan tries to weaken links with Russia and boost ties with the West.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 565 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on April 23 2024

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2024

Attackers firebomb Kazakh journalist’s car

JAN. 13 2023 (The Bulletin) — Unknown attackers firebombed a car belonging to Kazakh journalist Dinara Yegeubaeva on the anniversary of anti-government protests across Kazakhstan. Ms Yegeubaeva interviewed dozens of protesters who were detained and tortured by the police and broadcast them on social media channels. She had received several threats before her car was attacked.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023

Kazakh Central Bank keeps interest rates steady

JAN. 13 2023 (The Bulletin) — Kazakhstan’s Central Bank kept its key interest rate steady at 16.75% because it said that inflation was still rising, although more slowly than previously. Annualised inflation in Kazakhstan now stands at around 20.3%. In Georgia, the Central Bank said that inflation measured around 9.8%. Kyrgyzstan was the only country in the region to lower interest rates last year.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023

Kazakh inflation hits Steppe Cement profit

JAN. 11 2023 (The Bulletin) — London-listed Steppe Cement said that high inflation in Kazakhstan would hit its profit in 2022, forcing its share price to drop by 15%. The announcement was significant because it was one of the first times that business has admitted that high inflation in Kazakhstan, at 20%, is hurting it.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023

Nazarbayev loses Elbasy status and title

JAN. 11 2023 (The Bulletin) — A law that gave former Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev elevated status and power has been scrapped. Mr Nazarbayev has seen his legacy and privileges eroded since losing a power struggle with his successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, last year after anti-government protests. He has now lost his title of Elbasy, or Father of the Nation.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023

Kazakh government sets up “yurts of invincibility” in Ukraine

JAN. 6 2023 (The Bulletin) — The Kazakh government set up two so-called “yurts of invincibility” in Kyiv and Bucha to give people warm food and drinks and allow them to power up their mobile phones. Ukraine’s government has set up various “points of invincibility” to help people cope with a bombing campaign by Russia aimed at knocking out civilian heat and power sources. Russia has accused Kazakhstan of siding with its enemies.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023

Energy ministers agree to build hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan

JAN. 6 2023 (The Bulletin) — The energy ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed a deal to develop a major hydropower station in Kyrgyzstan which they hope will help to ease pressure on the region’s power production capacity. Plans to build Kambarata HPP-1 in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalalabad region have been on the drawing board for years and signing the deal is considered a major regional diplomatic success. Construction is scheduled to take up to 10 years. Central Asia’s power grid systems are interconnected.

ENDS

— This story was published in issue 532 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on Jan. 16 2023

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2023