Kazakhstan Featurees - The Times Of Central Asia

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Armenia

Kazakhstan Works with Armenia and Azerbaijan for South Caucasus Peace

By Robert M. Cutler On May 10–11, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hosted peace talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers. These constructive negotiations were strictly bilateral, with Kazakhstan absent from the room and only providing the venue for the meeting. The event illustrates the dedication by Tokayev and his foreign policy to regional stability and mediation. Kazakhstan has done this sort of thing in the past; it hosted Russia–Turkey–Iran talks over Syria until last year. It was also mentioned as a place for bilateral Russia–Ukraine negotiations, although that idea never materialized. Armenia's Future is in the South Caucasus and Asia Tokayev had offered to provide the venue during his first official visit to Armenia, which took place on April 15 this year. His trip to Armenia may in retrospect be seen as a turning point. Former President Nursultan Nazarbayev had been forced to cancel a visit in 2016, following protests in Yerevan against Astana's support of Baku in the Karabakh conflict. Armenia’s participation in the new peace efforts, now under way for a couple of years, marks a significant shift after decades of rejecting such cooperation. It offers the prospect of renewed regional relations. Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has lately been trying to shift its foreign policy, reaching out to Western countries such as France and the U.S. in order to decrease its long-standing dependence on (some would say, vassalage to) Russia. But Armenia is a state in the South Caucasus, not in Europe or America. For this reason, the state’s objective interests (as opposed to those of the far-flung diaspora) are geopolitically compatible with those of Azerbaijan and Turkey, and also of Kazakhstan more distantly. Astana’s ties with Baku and Ankara, and Azerbaijan’s strengthening of its own ties with Central Asia, reflect strategic manoeuvring in the region. These partnerships enhance Kazakhstan's and Turkey's roles in promoting stability and development in the South Caucasus. They consequently offer Armenia a new path to prosperity. Peace with Azerbaijan would lead to the lifting of the Turkish embargo on Armenia and open the possibility of Armenia's integration into the Trans-Caspian International Trade Route (TITR, "Middle Corridor"). Such an opening would further widen Armenia's diplomatic vistas and decrease its dependence on Russia. Turning to Europe and the U.S. can offer some advantages, but Armenia must be cautious of the influence of a bellicosely irredentist Armenian diaspora, whose interests are not first and foremost the well-being of Armenians living in Armenia. Prioritizing regional integration and cooperation with its South Caucasus neighbours and other TITR participants will enable Armenia proper to build a more stable and prosperous future. Infrastructure and Connectivity Initiatives With the assistance of the international financial institutions, the European Union and Central Asia are developing the TITR as a critical trade corridor that will also contribute significantly to the prosperity and stability of the countries lying along its route. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have long been key players in the promotion and realization of this plan. The Middle Corridor,...

Bishimbayev Murder Trial

Justice Prevails in Kazakhstan Murder Trial Exposing Rift Between Government and Old Regime

The trial of Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former Minister of the Economy of Kazakhstan, was a watershed event representing the growing role of civil society in the country, as well as the new political leadership’s success in breaking a decades-old cycle sustained by corrupt elites. In spearheading reforms to align his country with international best practices, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has also answered people’s demands. But public worries that Bishimbayev, sentenced to 24 years in prison for killing his wife, may be pardoned as soon as Tokayev leaves office shows how fragile the country’s institutional development remains and how its progress may still be on a ticking clock. Kazakh politician Kuandyk Bishimbayev was convicted of murdering his common-law wife, Saltanat Nukenova, during an altercation between the couple in November 2023 at an Astana restaurant. Throughout the course of his trial, which started in March 2024, it became apparent that the violence caught on a CCTV camera was not a one-off incident, but the latest in a string of abuse. The video, also seen by the jury, includes scenes of a man grabbing a woman by the hair, kicking her, and hitting her in the face. Nukenova is said to have subsequently died from brain trauma. Several factors drew international attention to the case, including the high-profile names involved, broadcasted court proceedings, wide social media engagement, and the commentaries from human rights figures and opinion leaders. The ultimate verdict handed down to Bishimbayev, 24 years imprisonment in a maximum-security institution, is in many ways unprecedented in post-Soviet states, and became a harbinger of changes in both Kazakhstan’s justice system and society. Bishimbayev’s cousin and the director of the restaurant where Nukenova was killed, Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, was also sentenced to four years in prison. How a tragedy precipitated positive change Saltanat Nukenova’s death, and the events following it, helped bring about new laws and perhaps even opened the way for further reforms. Just as importantly, they also increased legal literacy among Kazakhstan’s civil society. The government’s response, for its part, has garnered international praise. Critically, the public tragedy expedited the implementation of positive steps that President Tokayev had previously wanted to take. Contrary to popular belief, Nukenova’s murder was not the basis of the initiative to re-criminalize domestic violence. This change had already been proposed by Tokayev in 2019, but was opposed by legislators, some of whom reportedly had themselves been previously associated with cases of domestic violence or abuse. The events surrounding Nukenova’s death provided the government with an opportunity to overcome domestic opposition and take steps to correct the country’s course on violence against women and children. On April 15, 2024, Tokayev signed a landmark law criminalizing violence against women and children, reversing a 2017 decriminalization. The need for full-fledged judicial reforms has been advocated for by several international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public associations, as well as institutions in the United States and Europe. This is not surprising given that the country’s existing judicial system was largely formed under its first...

Middle Powers Converge: Kazakhstan and Singapore Strengthen Bilateral Ties

During his country’s first presidential-level visit to Singapore in two decades, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 23. The meeting represents an alignment of interests and resources between the two middle powers and serves to create a more balanced and cooperative global environment. Identifying middle powers When global powers become embroiled in their domestic issues or engage in rivalries that prevent effective international cooperation, middle powers step in to fill the leadership void. For instance, Canada has historically taken a lead in peacekeeping missions under the United Nations, advocating for human rights and mediating conflicts where larger powers are either unwilling or unable to engage. Middle powers, also referred to as “swing states”, are defined as influential players in international politics who resist taking sides in major conflicts and possess a specific combination of characteristics such as geostrategic location, demography, economic performance, natural resource wealth, military power and/or political influence. In a January 2024 study, the German Institute of Security and International Affairs (SWS) listed Kazakhstan among twelve notable “middle powers” in the world, who were of great importance to Germany and the EU for either shaping policies or minimizing geoeconomic risks by diversifying foreign policy relations. Kazakhstan possesses immense energy resources and critical materials for the green transition. Bordering Russia, China, and the Caspian Sea, it also offers a land bridge linking East-West and North-South corridors. Singapore is also considered a middle power with its notable regional and international influence, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. A highly developed country with one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world, Singapore is the only nation in Asia with a “AAA” sovereign credit rating from all major rating agencies. Additionally, it has one of the highest per capita defense expenditures globally and is among the largest arms manufacturers. A partnership between Kazakhstan and Singapore strengthens their middle power status What distinguishes middle powers from smaller powers is their ability to be more independent and active, particularly in the realm of diplomacy. The collaboration between these two leaders, therefore, helps solidify their middle power status. On a diplomatic level, President Tokayev emphasized Singapore's role as Kazakhstan’s strategic partner in Southeast Asia and expressed confidence that his state visit would strengthen bilateral relations. For his part, Prime Minister Wong highlighted that Singapore could serve as a gateway for Kazakhstan to engage with Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) while Kazakhstan could help Singapore build ties with Central Asia. Economically speaking, collaboration offers great potential gains for both sides. Currently, over 140 Singaporean entities and joint ventures operate in Kazakhstan, with total investment exceeding $1.7 billion. These numbers are expected to rise through further integration of their economies. During their recent meeting, the leaders focused on key sectors where Kazakhstan brings high strategic value. For instance, Wong expressed the importation of more agri-food products from Kazakhstan. Singapore’s Indorama Corporation is already in discussions about the production of phosphate fertilizers in Kazakhstan. Logistics is another key...

Why Have Women’s Carriages Become So Popular in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstani women have already had time to appreciate women-only cars in trains - an innovation that seemed unthinkable in the secular country a few years ago. However, the special carriages did not appear as an indulgence to traditionalist views. Kazakhstani women now have a choice: they can ride in a regular carriage, or they can ride in a carriage that is practically closed to men - and demand for the latter service is increasing year by year. In May, the statistics of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), a railroad monopoly, were published, which revealed that women twice as often choose women's cars. Since 2021, more than 359,000 women have chosen this option, and since the beginning of 2024 alone, the service has been used by about 70,000 women, whereas in 2023, only 34,000 did so. Today, women's cars run in eight long-distance passenger trains, with only female conductors working in them. Male children up to seven-years-old are allowed, whilst men can go enter for a short period of time, but overnight stays are strictly prohibited. The need to ensure the safety of women in trains began to be discussed after the scandal that broke out in the fall of 2018, when two conductors raped a female passenger on the high-speed train "Talgo" on the Astana-Aktobe route. This crime resonated widely, and led to loud demands for the authorities to take action. Conductors Zhetes Umbetaliev and Kolkanat Kurmaniyazov were found guilty of rape in July 2019 and were sentenced to just 2.3 and 2.5 years, respectively, whilst Kanat Almagambetov, first deputy chairman of KTZ, apologized on behalf of the company. The first women-only cars were launched in October 2021. "This is being done primarily for the safety of women... If demand for the service increases, our company is ready to expand the geography of these routes. Apart from the female conductors, these carriages are no different from the others. They have the same pricing policy," KTZ explained at the time. The current routes were chosen because of their length, company representatives said. Kazakhstan is a large country and a trip from Almaty to Mangistau, for example, takes several days. Ainagul Kasenova, a resident of Mangistau Oblast, travels to see relatives in Almaty several times a year, and for her, women's cars have become a solution. "Now I try to buy tickets only in a separate car. You travel for a long time, so it's much more comfortable if there are only women and children around. I used to encounter men talking to me, paying me unnecessary attention; it was unpleasant. When the news about the rape of a female passenger by conductors broke, my parents didn't even want to let me go to Almaty. Now they let me go without any problem," Kasenova told TCA. According to her, both students and pensioners are comfortable in women's carriages, especially those who have to travel often, which increases the risk. "The women's carriage is always quiet, friendly atmosphere, without drinking and noise," she added....

Economy

Amid Russian Sanctions, Kazakhstan Can Benefit From Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

After Astana hosted the latest meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, Almaty-based financial analyst and expert in cross border business and asset value recovery, Rassul Rysmambetov believes that Kazakhstan still has huge potential in the organization that is yet to be utilized. The SCO was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In 2017 India and Pakistan joined, followed by Iran in 2022. Belarus is expected to join the SCO this summer. The association's main objectives are to strengthen stability in the region, fight terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as develop economic cooperation, energy, scientific, and cultural partnerships. At the Astana meeting 22 decisions were adopted. The SCO's secretary general Zhang Ming praised Kazakhstan's work as the organization's chair, saying: "Since July 2023, within the framework of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the SCO, the Kazakh side has organized more than 180 events in various fields. Kazakh partners have put a special emphasis on economic, investment, transportation, cultural and humanitarian issues." Sources report that Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the foreign ministers of the other SCO member states. He mentioned that more than 100 large-scale events have been held recently, including the SCO digital, tourism, and energy forums. "Work on the SCO project 'Spiritual Sanctuaries' is being completed. On our initiative, 2024 has been declared the SCO Year of Ecology. The government of Kazakhstan continues to prepare for several additional significant events in the spheres of energy, transportation, and culture. Of course, we pay great attention to the upcoming Astana SCO summit," Tokayev said. Financial analyst Rasul Rysmambetov, in a conversation with The Times of Central Asia, spoke about the SCO's significance on a global scale. "Its member states have a combined population of over three billion people," he said. "The SCO has not undergone any serious changes in its 22-year existence. Of course some countries try to promote a political agenda, but the organization is focused on economic and security interests." "Of course, the SCO benefits Kazakhstan in the context of western sanctions against Russia, because we have China, Pakistan, and Russia, all of which are large countries that are markets for our goods. Of course, we must open markets for them, but we are open to the goods of many countries within the WTO. Concerning Kazakhstan, sanctions are not an obstacle to the work of the SCO. We do not trade in weapons, so there are no problems. Members of the organization see sanctions restrictions in terms of re-exports, and everything works fine in terms of ordinary, non-sanctioned goods," Rysmambetov added. Regarding Belarus's imminent accession to the SCO, he said: "It's beneficial for us. We can't produce and sell much yet, but at least we'll earn on transit. This is an opportunity to develop our logistics, improving our export prospects when more production facilities are launched in Kazakhstan."

U.S. and Kazakhstan Discuss Shared Values at High-Level Dialogue on Human Rights and Democratic Reforms

The United States and the Republic of Kazakhstan held their third annual High-Level Dialogue on Human Rights and Democratic Reforms on May 20, 2024, in Astana, Kazakhstan. The U.S. delegation was headed by Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya, while the Kazakh delegation was led by Ambassador Erzhan Kazykhan, Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan for External Affairs. As in prior Dialogues, the United States and the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed their shared commitment to advancing human rights, rule of law, freedom of expression, and the protection of members of vulnerable and marginalized populations. In this context, The United States “reaffirmed its strong support for the full implementation of President Tokayev’s reform agenda and commended the Republic of Kazakhstan for progress made in the advancement of human rights including the passage of the April 2024 law recriminalizing domestic violence, a very important step in protecting survivors” while encouraging “advancement of Kazakhstan’s reform efforts with the full participation of, and in consultation with, civil society partners for transparency and accountability”. The United States stated that “Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are integral to a prosperous, vibrant “New Kazakhstan,” where independent media, civil society groups, and political parties can operate freely, without undue restrictions”. Multilateral cooperations, including with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and C5+1 Platform were also discussed. The full press release of the US Department of State can be found here.