About: Kazakhstan
Kazakh human rights reforms signal modernisation but EU lawmakers doubtful
Current human rights-related reforms in Kazakhstan are a step in the right direction, stakeholders from the country told a recent EURACTIV event but European Parliament lawmakers across the political spectrum were not entirely convinced.
Tajikistan calls up reservists to bolster border as Afghan troops flee Taliban
Tajikistan's president on Monday (5 July) ordered the mobilisation of 20,000 military reservists to bolster the border with Afghanistan after more than 1,000 Afghan security personnel fled across the frontier in response to Taliban militant advances.
Kazakhstan says it has upper hand in multi-billion legal case
Legal representatives for the government of Kazakhstan have told EURACTIV they believe the Central Asian country has gained the upper hand in a long-running legal battle surrounding what they called "one of the biggest frauds in the history of international arbitration".
Kazakhstan announces new efforts to improve human rights record
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree “On further measures of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of human rights”, which he said represents an important step in the political modernisation of the Central Asian country.
Kazakhstan rebuffs talk of joint sanctions response with Russia
Kazakhstan on Saturday (5 June) dismissed a senior Russian official's idea of a joint response to Western sanctions against Moscow and its allies such as Belarus by a Russia-led post-Soviet trade bloc.
EU prioritises climate, connectivity, regional cooperation in its Kazakhstan relations
Ahead of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council on 10 May, EURACTIV spoke to an EU official to gather information about the EU's expectations for the cooperation with Kazakhstan and with Central Asia in the years to come.
Kazakhstan launches QazVac, its own COVID-19 vaccine
Kazakhstan has joined the select number of countries that have produced and made available their own COVID-19 vaccine, as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev tweeted on Friday (23 April) that the first batch of QazVac vaccine had been despatched to several regions of the country.
Controversial lobbyists raise eyebrows in Strasbourg
A non-profit group has been raising eyebrows in the Council of Europe for its questionable lobbying activities, a British lawmaker told EURACTIV.
‘Clumsy’ resolution risks alienating EU from Kazakhstan, MEP says
The European Parliament's recent resolution on Kazakhstan is "clumsy" and detrimental both for the bilateral relations and the credibility of the EU, Bulgarian MEP Ivo Hristov (S&D) told EURACTIV on Wednesday (3 March).
Fugitive kleptocrat supports protest in Kazakhstan
Police in Kazakhstan detained dozens of protesters on Sunday (28 February) who were calling for the release of political prisoners in line with a resolution passed by the European Parliament.
Kazakhstan repatriates ‘foreign fighters’ from Syria
Kazakhstan has repatriated another group of its nationals who have been in Syria alongside terrorist forces. Unlike some EU countries that are reluctant to take back their nationals, Kazakhstan is making the effort to re-integrate them, but also punish those guilty of terrorism.
Kazakhstan holds parliamentary elections
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree scheduling the parliamentary elections for the Majilis for 10 January 2021. The elections are seen as another step in the process of “controlled democratisation” of the former Soviet republic.
International observers to monitor Kazakhstan election despite COVID challenge
The Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan has completed the accreditation of observers of international organisations and foreign states for the 10 January elections, media in the Central Asian nation reported.
Kazakhstan abolishes capital punishment
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree abolishing the death penalty in Kazakhstan, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday (2 January).
Russian court sentences Kazakh kleptocrat to 15 years in prison
A Russian court sentenced on Tuesday (29 December) the former chairman of Kazakh BTA Bank's board of directors, Mukhtar Ablyazov, to 15 years in prison, Russian media reported. The story of Ablyazov, a fugitive for years, has been turned into a book as a striking example of the ability of post-Soviet kleptocrats to benefit from Western “hospitality”.
Climate, Eurasian Union presidency among Kazakhstan’s 2021 priorities
Virtual conferences held in the run-up to Kazakhstan’s Independence Day on Wednesday (16 December) revealed the country’s priorities for 2021, including tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering on the Paris climate agreement and presiding over the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Kazakhstan seeks to improve its human rights record
Kazakhstan, a post-Soviet country which has been repeatedly criticized by Western rights group, is passing legislation to improve its standing on human rights.
‘We have to be observers’ in Kazakh elections, MEP says
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Parliament has yet to decide whether it will send observers to Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections in January.
Fearing Turkish role, France wants international supervision in Nagorno-Karabakh
France wants international supervision to implement a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict amid concerns in Paris that Russia and Turkey could strike a deal to cut out Western powers from future peace talks, the presidency said on Thursday (19 November).
EU, Central Asia touch base virtually in turbulent times
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen held a teleconference on Tuesday (17 November) with ministers from the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, with which the EU is trying to forge closer relations.
Kazakh leader calls for bioweapons agency to address ‘global dysfunction’
"Reaching a COVID-19 vaccine trade and investment agreement" should be a top priority for global leaders, and could help take "politics out of the vaccine," Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (23 September).
Kazakhstan suspends three airlines for breaking UN Libya embargo
Kazakhstan has barred three air carriers from operating for violating a UN Security Council embargo covering the supply of arms to Libya, the Central Asian country's government said Wednesday (23 September).
Kazakhstan says it has secured supplies of Russian COVID-19 vaccine
Kazakhstan has signed a deal to get supplies of Russia’s first potential COVID-19 vaccine once clinical trials are complete, the Central Asian nation’s government said on Wednesday (26 August). The government did not say how many doses of the vaccine...