KZBlog

An American expat living in Astana, Kazakhstan

Tag archive for ‘СНГ’

  • Bread Revolution?

    For the past two weeks, there has been quite a bit of coverage on TV and in the print media about the increases in prices of bread in Central Asia. This week, in Kazakhstan the issue came to a head and was brought to the government’s attention. Some report that in Shimkent a leposhka (flat […]

    10/03/07 • (Comments Off on Bread Revolution?)

  • Another Russian Rocket Crashes in Kazakhstan

    Following the Russian Dnepr rocket which crashed taking off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan last year, A Russian Proton rocket crashed in Karaganda Thursday. No one was hurt as the rocket crashed in an uninhabited area about 30 miles southwest of Zhezkazgan and the rocket was unmanned, carrying only a Japanese satellite. However the environmental damage to […]

    9/08/07 • (Comments Off on Another Russian Rocket Crashes in Kazakhstan)

  • Sexiest Leader in the Post-Soviet Space

    NR2.ru is holding a contest to vote for the sexiest CIS President. At the moment, Putin (Russia) and Edward Kokoyty (South Ossetia–and his presence in the list tells you this is a Russian survey!) are neck-in-neck. Nazarbayev, whose birthday is in 2 days (and I will post on what’s been going on in Astana for […]

    7/04/07 • (Comments Off on Sexiest Leader in the Post-Soviet Space)

  • Paul Theroux on Turkmenistan

    Paul Theroux, the prolific and noted travel writer, probably most famous in this region for his book on traveling the Trans-Siberian railroad, has written an article for the New Yorker on Turkmenistan and the cult of personality, Letter from Turkmenistan and given an interview with RFE/RL in Turkmenistan. Interesting reading, particularly the end of the […]

    6/08/07 • (Comments Off on Paul Theroux on Turkmenistan)

  • The New Great Game Take infinity

    President Vladimir Putin was in Kazakhstan yesterday and he and President Nazarbayev will be traveling to Turkmenistan this week together. Two issues are on the agenda. First, Russia will be assisting Kazakhstan in enriching uranium for its nuclear energy power center. The two countries will be setting up a joint-uranium enrichment center. It looks like […]

    5/11/07 • (Comments Off on The New Great Game Take infinity)

  • Some of the Big April Events

    I apologize for not posting more often. Mainly I’m just busier with other things. Normally I don’t like just posting links and summaries of big stories. I prefer to post stories when I have some more in-depth information or some angle or information I don’t see covered elsewhere. Or something I have a strong opinion […]

    4/29/07 • (Comments Off on Some of the Big April Events)

  • Kazakhs released from Guantanamo Bay

    Three Kazakhs out of four allegedly held have been released from Guantanomo Bay: The three Kazakhs arrived in their Central Asian homeland on Saturday and were met by relatives who took them home, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ilyas Omarov. Omarov said the three would not face investigation and charges “because their release means that they […]

    12/22/06 • (Comments Off on Kazakhs released from Guantanamo Bay)

  • Leaders of Kazakhstan on Niyazov’s Passing

    Nazarbayev, currently in China, sent a telegram to the acting President, reading in part: Saparmurat Atayevich was an outstanding leader of the Turkmen people, a politician with foresight, constantly working hard for the good of his homeland. He played a key role in creating and strengthening the independent state of Turkmenistan, and developing the economic […]

    12/22/06 • (Comments Off on Leaders of Kazakhstan on Niyazov’s Passing)

  • Turkmenbashi is dead

    Usually I keep my focus on Kazakhstan, but this is a big one. The President-for-life, Saparmurat Niyazov, died Wednesday night of heart failure at age 66. As is well-known, he was an authoritarian leader given to fulfilling whims and crushing dissent. Although there were rumors that his heart was weak, his health was considered top-secret. […]

    12/21/06 • (Comments Off on Turkmenbashi is dead)

  • Image

    Sean Roberts has an article up about nation branding and (inevitably) Borat. Upon the occasion of yet another big paid article in the Washington Post, Who Needs Borat? Here’s the Kazakh President, highlighting the President’s new devil may care attitude to the comedian (which itself did not emerge until after Sascha Baron Cohen did an […]

    12/20/06 • (Comments Off on Image)