Kazakhstan

An offensive 20-year-old rap song may land a Kazakh satirist in jail for seven years. But there's more to the case than a rude song.

The recent controversy surrounding CSTO General Secretary Imangali Tasmagambetov reveals the instability of the organization’s relationship with Kazakhstan.

Since February, there have been four separate reports of UAV fragments landing in a Kazakh region that borders Russia. 

Kazakhstan’s feminist activists persist, despite formidable resistance from both the state and anti-feminist groups.

Astana is talking a big game on artificial intelligence, but can it deliver?

One year after merging two time zones, the government’s decision is final.

But a proposed increase from 1.4 million tons to 2.2 million tons is just a drop in the bucket compared to the volumes Kazakhstan exports via Russia-based pipelines. 

The effort, however, comes at a time when major global powers – namely the U.S. – are pivoting away from the kind of U.N.-centered cooperative framework envisioned by Astana.

As Kazakhstan debates stricter regulations on foreign-funded NGOs and media, some organizations are already closing down due to the freeze on USAID funding.

Three years after announcing a “New Kazakhstan,” has Tokayev truly changed Central Asia’s leading economy?​ 

Faced with climate disasters at home, Kazakhstan is accepting clean energy as a necessity, not just an ambition.

Due to global turmoil, the importance of the Middle Corridor has grown exponentially. However, the Caspian Sea continues to pose a significant obstacle to the realization of the corridor’s economic potential.

While over 30 security and law enforcement officials have been convicted for abuse during Bloody January, the number remains low compared to the scale of violations.

The septuagenarian space port proves as reliable as ever, but geopolitics and funding mean that its future at the forefront of space exploration is far from guaranteed.

A planned oil pipeline could gain momentum given the uncertainty around routes through Russia.

Erbayan Mukhtar suffered a severe head injury during military service, sparking concerns about soldier safety and allegations of hazing in Kazakhstan's armed forces. 

Kazakhstan once harbored grand plans for a high-speed rail network. While its neighbors have pushed ahead with such projects, why has HSR fallen out of favor in Astana?

Although branded as commercial deals, most of the agreements involve a steel and mining company recently acquired and renamed by a state-owned private equity firm in the wake of a tragic mining accident.

Since 2021, 30 judges have been held accountable for corruption, resulting in 15 prison sentences, which notably is more than in the previous eight years combined.

Despite Kazakhstan’s efforts to reschedule the Kashagan maintenance, the drop in production conveniently forces Astana to meet commitments it has made to OPEC+ to reduce oil production. 

State-owned and private construction companies make plenty of money in the process of completing housing developments. It’s the buyers who lose out.

Around 200 nuclear power plants are currently operating in 30 countries around the world. Kazakhstan may well be on its way to joining that list. 

A recent survey of Kazakh civil servants reveals gaps in training and career development. Fostering greater international collaboration could play a critical role in addressing these challenges.

Any conviction under Kazakhstan’s broad extremism statutes lands an individual on the Financing Terrorism List – even if their alleged crime was merely supporting an opposition political party.