Stories about Kazakhstan from April, 2008
Soviet History: Samizdat Anniversary
Window on Eurasia writes about the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Soviet samizdat publication, the Chronicle of Current Events.
Kazakhstan: Bloggers Discuss Elites and Economics
Plitical intra-elite battles and anti-corruption crusades both remain hot topics on the agenda of Kazakhstani blogosphere, but speculations over the looming global food crisis and its implications for Central Asia made the bloggers cover this issue in their discussions. Ehot wonders, what will Kazakhstan be looking like if the food...
Kazakhstan: Kyrgyz Protest against Concessions to Kazakhstan
Adam reports that hundreds of people marched in Kyrgyzstan to protest against a government decision approving the handover of four Soviet-era tourist complexes on Lake Issyk Kul to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Kids at Banks
Adam tells that numbers of children of high-ranking officials among Kazakhstan’s bankers have grown.
Kazakhstan: Eurasian Media Forum
Arman opines on the Eurasian Media Forum, a large conference masterminded and organized by the Kazakhstan president’s elder daughter, Dariga Nazarbayeva.
Kazakhstan: NATO Coop. and Regional Integration
Patrick Frost reports that amidst failure of the initiative of Central Asian Union's creation, NATO’s Special Representative recently visited Kazakhstan to discuss the railway transit project.
Kazakhstan: Almaty Traffic Jam Photo
Ehot posts a photo of traffic jam, which is already a regular phenomenon in Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan and the region's business hub.
Kazakhstan: Chevron to Face New Fine
Zhanna Zhukova informs the redaers that Kazakhstan’s government threatens U.S. oil major Chevron with a fine equivalent to $309 million for alleged environmental violations.
Kazakhstan: New Capital's PR in Action?
Adam reports on the highly praiseful and therefore suspicious report by Voice of America about the Kazakhstan’s new capital, whose 10th anniversary is to be widely celebrated in the country this summer.
Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan: Lenin's Birthday
On April 22, Vladimir Lenin would have turned 138 - and quite a few Russophone bloggers still remember the date.
Kazakhstan: Chief of Local TI Office Stands Up for Arrested State Manager
Adam reports that a prominent lawyer and chief of the Kazakhstani branch of Transparency International came out in support of the former state company’s manager, accused of corruption.
Kazakhstan: Opposition's Renaming Approved Officially
Lena B-va reports that the major democratic opposition force of Kazkahstan, the “Azat” [Freedom] party celebrated official recognition of their new name by the Ministry of Justice.
Kazakhstan: Nuclear Domination Ambitions
Joshua Foust reflects on the Kazakhstan's prospects and plans to take a leading position in the world's uranium market.
Kazakhstan: US on Stans, Same Difference
Adam is exasperated by the US’s one-size-fits-all approach to Central Asia that puts Kazakhstan and Afghanistan in the same category.
Kazakhstan: Political Players Reshuffled
Kazakhstani political field may only seem still and silent against the background of a one-party parliament and a long-ruling president. But in its depth it is very lively – passions and intrigues are brewing both within the state apparatus and in the opposition's camp. The competition between groupings is not...
Kazakhstan: People Get Poorer Amid Economy Boom and Corruption
As the Kazakhstani economy continues to grow – although much slower now – thanks to petrodollars inflow, the resource nationalism and state expansion tendencies get stronger. Private business has to fight against the credit crunch consequences themselves, but both sectors suffer from flagrant and endemic corruption.
Kazakhstan: India Eyes Kazakh Oil
Arman discusses reports that India may be planning to increase its presence in Caspian and Central Asian energy markets by purchasing oil assests in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Wheat Export Policies
Joshua Foust analyzes the latest moves undertaken by the Kazakhstan government in fighting two-digit inflation by suspending wheat exports.
Kazakhstan: Alleged Newspaper Attack
Zhanna_Zhukova reports on an alleged attack in which shots were fired through the windows of the Taszharghan newspaper in Almaty.
Russia, Kazakhstan: Baikonur
Russia may “decamp” from Baikonur, “the Russian Cape Canaveral,” The Lede (the New York Times) reports.
Central Asia: ADB Report and Economic Trends
Patrick Frost reviews the Asian Development Bank's 2008 report, which poits at a downward macroeconomic trend, skyrocketing food and energy costs and foresees double-digit rates of inflation.
