Central Asia

Kazakhstan president calls for constitutional referendum, warns against ‘provocateurs’

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced a national referendum on his proposed amendments to the county’s constitution and warned against what he described as “provocateurs who are trying to undermine the unity in the country”.

Meaningful investigation of Kazakhstan’s January unrest is ‘key’, EU says

Meaningful investigations into January's unrest and genuine follow up on announced reforms will be crucial for Kazakhstan, EU representatives, and academics agreed at a recent EURACTIV event, though scholars remain sceptical about the authorities' resolve.

Kazakh official: We will not risk being placed in the same basket as Russia

In a wide-ranging interview, Timur Suleimenov, the First Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Kazakhstan, discussed the war in Ukraine, the impact on his country of the Western sanctions, the drive for modernization following the January unrest in his country and the changing geopolitical balances.

Kazakh President lays out constitutional reforms following January unrest

Constitutional reforms to limit the powers of the president's office have been announced by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who says the country needs to switch from "superpresidential" rule to a presidential republic with a strong parliament.

‘Nobody can tell me if Kazakhstan can sell yogurt to Russia’

The EU and the US should draw a clear red line between what is sanctioned and goods that can be continued to be traded with Russia, Kairat Torebayev, vice-minister of trade and integration of Kazakhstan, told EURACTIV.

Kazakhstan undergoes changes comparable to ‘Perestroika’

The events of January bring to a close the two-year Kazakh duumvirate with former President Nazarbayev, paving the way to a political system firmly united around President Tokayev, perceived as a reformist, writes Alberto Turkstra.

Kazakhstan takes distance from Russia’s Ukraine war

Kazakhstan, one of Russia's closest allies, has denied a request for its troops to join the offensive in Ukraine and will not recognise the so-called republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Myanmar attacks Rohingya genocide case at UN’s top court

Myanmar hit out Monday (21 February) at a genocide case brought against it by the Gambia for alleged persecution of Rohingya Muslims, urging the UN's highest court to drop the claim on legal grounds.

UNICEF to pay stipend to Afghan teachers

The United Nations children's agency would pay Afghan teachers a monthly stipend for at least two months, the organisation said, with salaries unpaid for months as the country is plunged into economic crisis due to sanctions on the Taliban administration.

Kazakh ombudsman looks into reported police violence against protesters

Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights Elvira Azimova told EURACTIV on Wednesday (2 February) that her office takes seriously the reports that some of the people arrested following the protest in early January had been tortured and that testimonies had been extracted under duress.

Guards clash again on Kyrgyz-Tajik border, ceasefire falters

Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards exchanged fire on Thursday (27 January) amid a standoff over a blocked road, in the latest clash between the former Soviet neighbours following a similar violent incident last year that killed dozens.

Mysterious power blackout hits Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

The central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan suffered electrical power outages in major cities on Tuesday (25 January), according to authorities and residents, after a major power line in Kazakhstan was disconnected.

Fallout from Kazakh unrest must not undermine decades of progress

It is crucial that after the unrest, president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev now prioritize the safeguarding of the country’s reputation as a stable country, responsible international partner, and attractive investment destination, writes Matthew Bryza.

Kazakhstan security forces on high alert in Almaty amid calls for fresh protests

Security forces blocked several downtown streets and cordoned off one of the squares in Kazakhstan's biggest city Almaty on Wednesday (19 January) as an opposition group planned to stage protests, a Reuters correspondent reported from the scene.

Kazakh FM: We had no choice but to call the Russian troops

Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi said on Tuesday (18 January) the situation in his country was normalising, following the unrest that shook it in the first days of the new year, and Russian troops, which he said helped prevent a possible coup d'etat, were withdrawing.

Russia-led bloc starts pulling troops out of Kazakhstan

A Russia-led military bloc began pulling its troops out of Kazakhstan on Thursday (13 January) after a week-long deployment during the worst bout of unrest in the Central Asian nation's post-Soviet history.

Insider’s account: The Kazakhstan unrest

A trusted EURACTIV source in Almaty gave a rare first-hand account of the Kazakhstan unrest that shook up the Central Asian country in the first days of 2022.

Kazakh president fires rare criticism at predecessor after unrest

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued rare criticism of his long-ruling predecessor Tuesday (11 January), and said he expected Russian-led forces to leave the troubled Central Asian country in the next 10 days.

Russia-led troops to start leaving Kazakhstan

A Russia-led military bloc will begin withdrawing its troops from Kazakhstan in two days' time after fulfilling its main mission of stabilising the Central Asian country after serious unrest, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Tuesday (11 January).

The Brief – ‘Business as usual’ with Kazakhstan?

The new year started with unrest in Kazakhstan, which will likely impact the wider picture of world geopolitics.

EU ministers to consider measures over Kazakh crackdown

EU foreign ministers will this week discuss possible measures to respond to the crackdown against anti-government protests in Kazakhstan over the past week, a French minister said on Sunday (9 January).

Kazakh president says gave order to ‘open fire with lethal force’ amid continued unrest

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he has personally ordered security forces to “open fire with lethal force” against protestors amid a violent uprising currently gripping the Central-Asian country.

Europe voices concern over unrest in Kazakhstan

Authorities in Kazakhstan declared a nationwide state of emergency and promised a tough crackdown on Wednesday (5 January) as mass unrest plunged the country into chaos.