· October, 2007

Stories about Kazakhstan from October, 2007

Kazakhstan: Olympiad, Central Asian Style

  30 October 2007

Xxrock reports on the Kazakh government’s barely explainable step to modify the conditions of Asian Olympics-2011, which are to be held in Almaty. Now the officials want it to take place in Astana, the president Nazarbayev's “pet capital”, too.

Kazakhstan: Four Billion Dollars

  29 October 2007

Adam Kesher reports on the clarification on the recently announced government's measures to sustain the economy. Surprisingly, the explanation has arrived from the commercial bank's top officer, not from the government (ENG).

Kazakhstan: Keep Talking

  29 October 2007

Ben reflects on the continuing conflict between the oil companies consortium on Kashagan super-giant oil-field and the Kazakh government, in which the authorities are seeking more rights and money within the project (ENG).

Kazakhstan: Helping the Children

  28 October 2007

KZBlog tells about a seemingly international campaign to sew blankets for the Kazakhstani kids, noting that “it's all to cute”, while the Kazakh government launches series of competitions for the benefit of children.

Kazakhstan: OSCE Bid Puzzle

26 October 2007

Arthur reflects on the recently reported speculations concerning the prospects of Kazakhstan’s bid for the OSCE presidency in 2009.

Kazakhstan: Falconry on the BBC

26 October 2007

KZBlog tells about the BBC report on falcon hunting in Kazakhstan, specifically problems with finding funding to keep the birds. There are tries to use elite hunting trips to subsidize falcon preserves.

Kazakhstan blocks opposition websites

  26 October 2007

On October 18, 2007, Kazakhstan has blocked access to a number of independent websites switching off main opposition outlets including kub.kz, geo.kz, zonakz.net and inkar.info [more on GV Advocacy…]

Kazakhstan: “Kompromat” Wars

  25 October 2007

Rakhat Aliyev has lots of titles with an attribute “former”: former son-in-law of president Nazarbayev, former chief of special services, former media mogul and former influential clan leader. Today he is a figurant of the criminal case, accused of abduction and possible murder of heads of Nurbank, which was also...

Kazakhstan: Prices Unleashed

  24 October 2007

Immediately after the parliamentary elections, which were deemed undemocratic by the international monitors, the prices went crazy in Kazakhstan. The ruling party “Nur Otan”, led by president Nursultan Nazarbayev – who rules the country already for 17 years – had been building its campaign on socio-economic achievements and promises of...

Kazakhstan: The Cheshire Grin

22 October 2007

Steve LeVine shares his opinion concerning the recent state nationalism trends in the Kazakhstan's oil-driven economy, and informs that the clash between the government and ENI-led consortium has resulted in a number of concessions to Kazakhs.

Kazakhstan: New Bank. Why?

21 October 2007

Arseny translates a post by Adam Kesher about new bank emergence in Kazakhstan. Being fully owned by a person, allegedly associated with the higher officials and powerful clans, the bank's possible objectives are a subject of speculations among the local observers.

Kazkahstan: Credit Crunch

19 October 2007

Ben reflects on the troubles of Kazakhstan’s foreign capital dependent financial sector and the measures that have been proposed by the government to support it.

Kazakhstan: Panic over Prices

19 October 2007

Gulnaz reports on the panic in Karaganda, which was caused by unprecedentedly sudden and harsh rise in prices for goods of first priority [RUS].