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RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

RFE/RL's Kazakh Service offers informed and accurate reporting in the Kazakh and Russian languages about issues that matter in Kazakhstan, while providing a dynamic platform for audience engagement and the free exchange of news and ideas.

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Also by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

September 12, 2024
Kazakh Court Cancels Ruling On Early Release Of Businessman Convicted In Banker's Murder Case

The Almaty regional court on September 12 canceled a lower court's decision to grant an early release to Kazakh businessman Muratkhan Toqmadi, who was sentenced in 2018 to a lengthy prison term for his alleged involvement in the killing of banker Erzhan Tatishev.
September 12, 2024
4 People, 2 Companies Fined In Kazakhstan Over Polls On Possible Nuclear Power Station

The Kazakh Prosecutor-General's Office said on September 12 that four individuals and two companies have been fined for holding opinion polls on the issue of the construction of a controversial nuclear power station.
September 11, 2024
Kazakh President Pardons Leading Sinologist Convicted Of Treason

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has pardoned noted sinologist Konstantin Syroyezhkin, who was released on parole in April after serving more than half of the 10-year prison term he was handed in 2019 on high treason charges.
September 11, 2024
Kazakh Opposition Activist Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

Asanali Suieubaev, a founding member of the unregistered Algha, Qazaqstan (Forward, Kazakhstan) political party, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on September 10 on a charge of distributing illegal drugs that he rejects as politically motivated.
September 11, 2024
Kazakh Activists Create Group Against Nuclear Power Station

A group of Kazakh activists has announced the creation of "a platform" to oppose a government plan for the construction of a nuclear power plant as a nationwide referendum on the issue next month nears.
September 09, 2024
Kazakh Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Opposition Politician's Appeal

Kazakhstan's Supreme Court on September 9 refused to hear an appeal filed by the leader of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, Zhanbolat Mamai, against a parole-like six-year prison setence, citing "lack of reasons" for the appeal.
September 09, 2024
Kazakh Ex-President Nazarbaev Meets With Uzbek Leader Mirziyoev

The Ozbekiston-24 state television channel and other state media outlets in Uzbekistan reported over the weekend that Kazakhstan's former President Nursultan Nazarbaev visited the Uzbek city of Bukhara last week, where it said he held "unofficial" talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev.
September 04, 2024
CPJ Expresses Concerns Over Kazakhstan's New Media Accreditation Rules

The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed concerns over recently introduced changes to Kazakhstan's domestic-media accreditation regulations and proposed changes to foreign-media accreditation, saying they could be used to muzzle independent media.
September 03, 2024
Kazakhstan To Spend Over $32 Million On Controversial Referendum About Nuclear Power Station

The chairwoman of Kazakhstan's Central Commission on Referendums (ORK), Sabila Mustafina, said on September 3 that 15.5 billion tenges (more than $32 million) has been requested for a nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power station in the Central Asian country next month.
September 02, 2024
Kazakh President Announces Date For Controversial Nuclear Plant Project

Kazakhstan will hold a referendum on October 6 on whether to build a nuclear power plant, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev announced on September 2.
August 29, 2024
Imprisoned Ex-Wife Of Former Kazakh President's Nephew Gets Additional Prison Term

The Specialized Inter-District Court in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, on August 29 sentenced the already imprisoned ex-wife of a convicted nephew of the Central Asian nation's former authoritarian president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, to 12 years in prison.
August 27, 2024
Amid Heated Debate, Kazakhstan To Hold Referendum On Nuclear Power Plant

The Kazakh government ruled on August 27 that a referendum will be held on the construction of a nuclear power station amid protests against the idea.
August 27, 2024
Moscow Court Sentences Ukrainian Ex-Envoy To Kazakhstan In Absentia

The Basmanny district court in Russia sentenced former Ukrainian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Petro Vrublevskiy in absentia to six years in prison on August 26 on a charge of inciting ethnic hatred.
August 23, 2024
Human Rights Foundation Submits Case Of Imprisoned Kazakh Activist To UN Special Procedures

The New York-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF) said on August 22 that it had filed a submission with the Special Procedures division of the UN Human Rights Council on behalf of Marat Zhylanbaev, the imprisoned leader of the unregistered Algha Qazaqstan (Forward Kazakhstan) political party.
August 22, 2024
Kazakh Prosecutors Seek Additional Prison Term For Ex-Wife Of Nazarbaev's Nephew

Prosecutors in Kazakhstan have asked a court in Almaty to sentence the imprisoned former wife of a convicted nephew of the Central Asian nation's former authoritarian president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, to 12 years in prison on charges that include the illegal deprivation of liberty and extortion.
August 22, 2024
Kazakh Court Rejects Appeal Of Former Minister Against Prison Sentence

A court of appeals in Astana on August 21 rejected an appeal by former Kazakh Culture and Sports Minister Arystanbek Mukhamediuly against his imprisonment after being convicted of corruption.
August 22, 2024
Kazakhstan Summons Belarusian Ambassador After Lukashenka Interview

Kazakhstan summoned Paval Utsyupin, Belarus' ambassador in Astana, to "objectively assess" the Central Asian nation's stance on key international issues in an unbiased manner amid rising tensions between the two countries.
August 20, 2024
3 Kazakh Activists Fined For Demanding Registration Of Opposition Party

A court in Kazakhstan has fined three activists over their participation in a rally in late May demanding the official registration of the opposition Algha, Qazaqstan (Forward, Kazakhstan) party.
August 20, 2024
Kazakh Activist Known For Stance Against Nuclear Plant Under Pressure

Kazakh anti-nuclear activist Meiirkhan Abdimanapov was fined 129,000 tenges ($270) after he was detained in Almaty on August 19 on his way to Astana where he planned to take part in public debates on government's plans to construct a nuclear power station in Kazakhstan.
August 19, 2024
Prison Term Of Kazakh Ex-President's Nephew Replaced By Suspended Sentence

A court in Kazakhstan's eastern city of Oskemen has replaced a six-year prison sentence given to a nephew of Kazakhstan's former strongman President Nursultan Nazarbaev with a suspended sentence.

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