KZBlog

An American expat living in Astana, Kazakhstan

Tag archive for ‘Astana’

  • Nauryz Nauryz!

    Happy Nauryz! On the 22nd of March will be the vernal equinox, the Persian-Muslim New Year, the Kazakhstan national holiday Nauryz! One of my favorite holidays here because it’s one of the few where they do more than just make a big concert of alternating pop hits and old Kazakh songs. The same songs every […]

    3/20/08 • (Comments Off on Nauryz Nauryz!)

  • Our Taxdollars at Work

    In an attempt to improve the image of Kazakhstan, the akim is finishing up building a model of Astana on Google Earth! Surely they have better things to do with their time. However a group of developers who claim to be independent, are working on Second-Life Astana, a model of Astana on the popular website […]

    3/04/08 • (Comments Off on Our Taxdollars at Work)

  • Shooting from a Balcony

    According to the nomad.su the car of the Russian ambassador to Kazakhstan was shot at in Astana on the 7th of February from the balcony of an apartment building near the Russian Embassy. According to the story (originally broadcast on Channel 31 ) four 15-year olds are under suspicion. The teenagers and their parents claim […]

    2/10/08 • (Comments Off on Shooting from a Balcony)

  • Blues Explosion was not number one in Astana. Ace of Base was number one in Astana!

    Blues Explosion was not number one in Astana. Ace of Base was number one in Astana!

    According to a sign outside of Congress Hall, the local concert hall, Ace of Base is playing Astana! The big bands usually go to Almaty. Most recently the Scorpions did Almaty. But big Russian bands like Chaif and Time Machine, not to mention pop stars like Zhanna Friske come to Almaty with some regularity. Astana’s […]

    2/06/08 • (Comments Off on Blues Explosion was not number one in Astana. Ace of Base was number one in Astana!)

  • Got Spellcheck. Will Write for Food

    Got Spellcheck. Will Write for Food

    Walking by bus stops in Astana, particularly those near universities, you might see ads that read like the one illustrated here: “Will write research papers and dissertations (in Russian or Kazakh). Selection of texts and translations. Written to schedule, high-quality, CHEAP!” Other ads highlight that they write course papers in Kazakh, a big help to […]

    1/23/08 • (1)

  • Problems in the Financial Sector

    As the banking sector in Kazakhstan is viewed internationally as unstable, the government is taking controversial measures to try to stabilize the financial sector, including buying out shares of Kazakhstan companies and cutting the budget to put 4 billion tenge aside as a reserve fund to bail out banks. Last week it was reported that […]

    10/18/07 • (Comments Off on Problems in the Financial Sector)

  • Kazakhstan 101

    Just noticed on Chriss Merriman’s site that he has a new page up where you can find some of his posts on life in Kazakhstan, and links to some other sources of basic information about the country. Check out

    6/22/07 • (Comments Off on Kazakhstan 101)

  • High Level Scandal in Kazakhstan

    As many of you have probably read by now, Rakhat Aliyev, the wife of Dariga Nazarbayeva and son-in-law to the President of Kazakhstan is the subject of an international police search. The President has issued an order to arrest Aliyev, he has been reported to Interpol to be extradited to Kazakhstan for investigation, but he […]

    5/29/07 • (Comments Off on High Level Scandal in Kazakhstan)

  • Constitutional Amendments Proposed

    Today, a joint-session of Kazakhstan’s Parliament is meeting to discuss and possibly approve Constitutional Amendments. The President will be present along with the Prime Minister, the akims of the oblasts and major cities, and representatives of the President’s Administration. According to the head of the Constitutional Commission, the proposed amendments will: increase the role of […]

    5/16/07 • (Comments Off on Constitutional Amendments Proposed)

  • 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)