Kazakhstan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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Silk Roads

The Northern Silk Road and the Middle Corridor

The recent hostilities in the Persian Gulf and the ensuing naval blockades of Iran have brought into sharp relief the growing importance of the Middle Corridor – or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) – the rapidly expanding trade link between Western China and Europe. This vast network of road, rail and maritime transport links had already increased in importance as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing sanctions, which have crippled large parts of Russia’s economy. With hundreds of container ships and oil tankers bottled up in the Gulf and the prospect of serious economic consequences, particularly in the developing world and for China and India, the idea of an overland – mostly – trade route to Europe is increasingly seen as a solution that provides a viable alternative in uncertain times. And not for the first time, as we shall discover. The TITR is around 3,000 km shorter than the so-called Northern Corridor through the Russian Federation, and transit times from China to Europe now average 10-15 days, compared to double that time for the Northern Corridor and anything up to 60 days for sea transport. According to World Bank estimates, the Middle Corridor could soon account for 20% of overland trade between China and the EU, with a tripling of current traffic levels by 2030, mainly due to economic growth in the Greater Caspian region. When planning began on the Middle Corridor almost 15 years ago, few people appreciated how rapidly it would develop. But as uncertainties over trade policies have increased, a route that avoids both the Russian Federation and the increasingly dispute-prone waterways in the Gulf and the Red Sea makes sense. Goods produced in Chinese factories in Chongqing, Xi’an and Urumqi can now be transported westward across Kazakhstan by rail to its Caspian Sea ports at Aktau and Kuryk. There are now major rail termini at the Kazakhstan-China border and more than 4,250 kms of rail lines in the network, together with 500 kms of sea transport. In Aktau on the Caspian, containers are loaded onto ships bound for Baku in Azerbaijan, where they are transferred onto the rolling stock of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway for shipment into Turkey. The original plan was designed to handle 6.5 million tons of freight annually, but this figure is expected to top 17 million tons by 2034. New port facilities to handle the increasing number of containers arriving at Aktau and Kuryk have been financed by Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol Programme. Aktau, for example, is being dredged to enhance maritime safety and expand capacity. Its port currently handles up to 15 million tons of cargo a year. According to the TITR itself, around 57,000 containers travelled along the route in 2024, up from 20,500 in 2023. The route has continued to gather momentum in 2026: from January to March, 125 container trains were dispatched from China via the corridor, a 34.4% increase over the same period last year. Rail traffic volume increased by 5.7% in Azerbaijan...

Inclusivity

Kazakhstan Expands Accessible Transportation for People with Disabilities

Kazakhstan is expanding efforts to improve accessible transportation for people with disabilities. At a government meeting on April 21, Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbaev reported on progress in implementing an inclusive policy in the transport sector. He said that, as part of the Inclusive Policy Concept for 2025-2030, Kazakhstan is taking measures to ensure accessibility across three key areas: infrastructure, transport, and services. In the rail sector, approximately 90% of trains have been equipped with lifts and compartments adapted for passengers with disabilities. By 2030, every train is expected to include at least one specialized carriage. Railway stations are being modernized to include essential accessibility features such as ramps and lifting devices. Ticket offices and restrooms are also being upgraded. Passengers with disabilities receive a 50% discount on train tickets, and online booking for specialized compartments is available. In 2025, around 580,000 passengers with disabilities traveled by rail in Kazakhstan. In aviation, accessibility is also improving. Ten airports, including those in Astana and Almaty, now operate 13 lifts for passengers with disabilities. A further five airports are expected to be equipped by the end of the year. In 2025, more than 9,000 passengers with disabilities traveled by air. In the road transport sector, 80% of bus stations and 79% of city buses now meet accessibility requirements. Kazakhstan is also continuing to develop the Invataxi project, which provides specially adapted minivans for passengers with limited mobility. The fleet has expanded by 30%, reaching 1,426 vehicles. Cities across the country are working to improve accessibility more broadly. Infrastructure is being adapted to meet modern standards, while businesses and public institutions are increasingly responding to the needs of people with disabilities by improving access to buildings and interior spaces. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, more than 29,500 social infrastructure facilities -- 68% of the total -- are now accessible to people with disabilities across Kazakhstan. By the end of 2026, this figure is expected to rise to over 34,000.

Science

Researchers in Kazakhstan Develop Central Asia’s First Digital Food Atlas

Researchers at Nazarbayev University in Astana have unveiled Central Asia’s first digital food atlas, a tool designed to improve how diets in the region are measured and studied. The development is expected to strengthen research in public health and nutrition. Developed by the Central Asia Food Innovation Lab (CAFI Lab), the atlas addresses a long-standing gap in public health research: the lack of accurate, region-specific data on dietary habits. As the researchers note, even minor errors in estimating portion sizes can lead to significant distortions in calculating calorie and nutrient intake. Until now, specialists in Central Asia have largely relied on Western or East Asian dietary databases. However, the structure of the regional diet, characterized by high consumption of red meat, flour-based foods, and dairy products, limits the accuracy of such tools. [caption id="attachment_47557" align="alignnone" width="300"] @NU[/caption] The atlas introduces a standardized approach based on two previously developed regional datasets: the Central Asian Food Dataset (CAFD) and the Central Asian Food Scenes Dataset (CAFSD). It includes 115 items, ranging from traditional dishes such as beshbarmak, plov, and manty to commonly consumed foods such as pizza, cereals, and ice cream. Each item has been digitized under laboratory conditions with precisely measured portions, an essential factor for accurate dietary assessment. “This is not just a visual guide,” said Dr. Mei Yen Chan, assistant professor at the university's school of medicine. “It aligns with international standards and allows researchers in Central Asia to generate data that are globally comparable.” At the same time, the atlas represents only a first step. It does not directly calculate calorie content and requires an additional analytical layer. As the authors note, regional dishes vary widely in composition and preparation methods, while “hidden” components, such as fats, broths, and density, make precise assessment difficult. In theory, caloric value is calculated as the sum of the energy provided by all ingredients (e.g., 4 kcal per gram of protein and carbohydrates, and 9 kcal per gram of fat). In practice, however, accurate calculation would require weighing every ingredient, an approach rarely feasible in real-life settings. Visual atlases therefore serve as a practical compromise, helping estimate portion size and approximate calorie intake, albeit with some margin of error. Even AI-based systems still struggle to accurately analyze complex, multi-ingredient dishes. [caption id="attachment_47558" align="alignnone" width="300"] @NU[/caption] In this context, the project’s significance extends beyond calorie counting. By standardizing portion sizes, the atlas addresses a fundamental prerequisite for reliable dietary assessment and the advancement of digital nutrition technologies. Beyond research, the atlas supports the development of AI-driven health applications. The datasets are already being used to train machine learning models, including multi-task deep learning systems capable of recognizing dishes, estimating nutritional value, and supporting digital health tools from mobile applications to telemedicine platforms. The findings have been published in the international peer-reviewed journals Nutrients, IEEE Access, and Scientific Reports, and are available in open access. The research team is currently working to expand the project by incorporating detailed nutritional data and is seeking additional...

Animal Rights

Animal Euthanasia in Kazakhstan: Cruelty or Necessity?

In early April 2026, Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis, approved in the first reading amendments to the law “On Responsible Treatment of Animals.” The key proposed change is a shift away from the policy of returning vaccinated and sterilized dogs to their habitats, toward the legalization of euthanasia. The decision has triggered a sharp public divide: supporters cite safety concerns, particularly for children, while critics view the amendments as a rollback of the humane principles enshrined in the 2021 law and an attempt to compensate for institutional shortcomings through the mass culling of stray animals. Background: From Reform to Reversal In 2021, Kazakhstan sought to overhaul its approach to managing stray animal populations, aligning it with international practices. This led to the adoption of a dedicated law, which formalized a transition from culling to the CNVR model (capture, neuter, vaccinate, and return). The reform was presented as a compromise between humane treatment and public safety. The shift was driven by both civic activism and political momentum. In 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described attitudes toward animals as a benchmark of societal development, acknowledging systemic shortcomings in the country. He later emphasized that state protection should extend to both people and animals. The initiative received support both domestically and internationally. Authorities pledged a systemic approach, including the creation of a national animal registry, mandatory microchipping, expansion of shelters, and tighter regulation of pet ownership. The expectation was that these measures would gradually reduce the stray population in a humane and sustainable manner. The Case for the Amendments: Safety and Cost The amendments, introduced in 2024, propose a transition to a no-return capture model. Despite criticism from animal welfare groups, the bill passed its first reading on April 8, 2026, and was forwarded to the Senate eight days later. Lawmakers, including Mazhilis committee chairman Yedil Zhanbyrshin, argue that the CNVR model has failed to deliver results under Kazakhstan’s conditions. They cite an increase in the stray dog population from 207,000 in 2022 to 247,000 in 2023. Another factor highlighted is the unintended consequence of mandatory microchipping introduced in 2023. According to lawmakers, the cost of registration and sterilization, averaging around 27,000 KZT (approximately $54), led some owners to abandon their pets. This, they argue, is reflected in the sharp decline in registered dogs, from 28,000 in 2022 to just 961 in 2024. Public safety remains the central argument. According to the Ministry of Health, Kazakhstan records an average of 105 animal attacks per day. Fiscal considerations are also significant. A full CNVR program is estimated to require annual spending of 14-15 billion KZT (approximately $28-30 million). Against the backdrop of competing budget priorities, including education and healthcare, lawmakers consider such expenditures excessive. They also point to practices in countries such as the United States and Japan, where euthanasia is used as a population control measure. Under the proposed model, captured animals would be held for a limited period, 15 days for unchipped dogs and 60 days for those with identified owners....

Elena Rybakina

Rybakina Wins on Clay in Stuttgart, in Run-up to Roland Garros

World number two Elena Rybakina defeated Karolina Muchova to win the WTA title in Stuttgart, Germany on Sunday, elevating her to the top spot in the points race to qualify for the season-ending championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November. Rybakina’s 7-5, 6-1 victory over Muchova was the Kazakhstani player’s 13th title - and the first repeat title of her career after winning 12 titles in 12 different tournaments. She won in Stuttgart in 2024. In the Stuttgart quarterfinals this year, Rybakina saved two match points against Leylah Fernandez in a three-hour battle. The title on clay in Stuttgart gives the Russia-born player momentum ahead of the French Open, which begins next month. Rybakina won the Australian Open this year and is also the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

TCA Interviews

From From Global Streaming to International Productions: Kazakhstan Filmmakers Go International

Makpal Kursabayeva is a sound engineer whose work has increasingly extended beyond Kazakhstan’s local film industry. Over the years, she has contributed to projects with international teams, from working alongside The Matrix cinematographer Bill Pope to taking part in series produced for global streaming platforms. Her career highlights the expanding role of Kazakhstani professionals in international production and shows that local crews can compete with their Western counterparts. Her work includes on-set recording, post-production, and sound capture in environments ranging from military airbases and nighttime steppes to urban locations. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, she discusses how the industry works and why crews from Kazakhstan are competitive in international productions. TCA: You are a highly experienced sound engineer, but most of your work has been on local projects. Do you think Kazakhstani specialists are competitive in the global market? Makpal: I have no doubt about it, however confident that may sound. Recently, we worked on an international series filmed in Kazakhstan by Turkish filmmakers. Many department heads were Turkish, but I led the sound department. We worked and communicated seamlessly; there were no barriers at all. And that’s always the case. I also worked on a commercial project for Chevron, where the cinematographer was Bill Pope, who shot the legendary film The Matrix, the Ant-Man films, Shang-Chi, and more. TCA: Was the entire crew international as well? Makpal: The second director was American. Playback equipment was brought from Moscow. It was a mix, bringing together the best. The Russian team even said that such sound equipment isn’t available in Moscow. Technically, we are not lagging behind at all. We also have plenty of talented and highly skilled professionals. TCA: Were they at all arrogant? Makpal: Not at all. Bill Pope was great to work with. He’s like a rock star, very open, loves music. We talked about ethnic music; I let him listen to the band Turan. He even asked me to play the dombra. I was a bit nervous because the executive producer was very strict, and I thought she might say I was disrupting the workflow. But he went to her himself and asked, and then she was the one chasing me to make it happen, so the question isn’t whether we can work at a Western level; we already do. TCA: You’ve also worked with German teams on Emir Baigazin’s films, and with French teams on projects by Yermek Shinarbayev and Akan Satayev’s epic Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe? Makpal: Yes. There was an interesting experience with one Western specialist, I won’t say from which country. I thought they had a different school and that I could learn from him. But while he was good on set, he wasn’t very strong in post-production. It even got to the point where I was teaching him, explaining how to properly edit sound and the technology behind it. Sometimes I would suggest something, and the next day those ideas would be presented as his own....