Kazakhstan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 487

Urban Development

Kazakhstan Launches Smart City Project in Taldykorgan

The Taldykorgan City Administration (akimat), Kazakh telecommunications company ASTEL, and French Internet of Things (IoT) solutions developer Actility have signed a memorandum of cooperation to implement a Smart City project in the town of Taldykorgan. The initiative, based on LoRaWAN technology, will establish a comprehensive urban monitoring system aimed at improving city management and residents’ quality of life. The agreement was signed in Paris during the 16th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Kazakhstan and France. The project involves deploying a LoRaWAN-based IoT network that will collect real-time data from environmental sensors across the city. This data will feed into a centralized monitoring platform, enabling municipal services to respond swiftly to environmental changes. The initiative also includes urban transport management and measures to enhance safety in schools. Taldykorgan Governor (akim) Ernat Bazil told The Times of Central Asia that the memorandum represents a key milestone in the city’s digital development strategy. According to Bazil, the project aims not only to introduce cutting-edge technologies but also to deliver tangible improvements for residents, such as better environmental oversight, more efficient public services, enhanced public transport, and safer educational institutions. Full implementation of the Smart City system is scheduled for 2026. ASTEL President Miras Kasymov said the LoRaWAN-based project in Taldykorgan will serve as a model for scalable smart city solutions across Kazakhstan, marking an important advancement in the country’s digital infrastructure. The project is supported by the French government’s FASEP program (Fonds d'Études et d'Aide au Secteur Privé) and the French Embassy in Kazakhstan. Actility, a global leader in IoT and LoRaWAN technologies, serves as the technical partner. The company’s platform is currently used in over 70 countries. Actility CEO Olivier Hersent noted that the Taldykorgan project aligns with FASEP’s goals of promoting innovation in urban safety, environmental monitoring, and sustainable development, particularly in small and mid-sized cities. French Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sylvain Guillegot said the initiative highlights France’s commitment to supporting digital transformation in Kazakhstan’s regions. He described the project as a concrete example of Franco-Kazakh collaboration in infrastructure modernization and sustainable development. The system is set to launch in 2026. If successful, it could be replicated in other cities throughout Kazakhstan. LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is an energy-efficient, cost-effective wireless communication protocol widely used for IoT deployments, especially in smart urban infrastructure projects.

Independence Day

The Contested Legacy of Kazakhstan’s Independence Day: From Sovereignty to Unrest and Reinvention

On December 16, 2025, Kazakhstan marks the 34th anniversary of its independence. The story of this national holiday mirrors the nation’s own complex path toward sovereignty and statehood. A Difficult Legacy On December 16, 1991, Kazakhstan adopted the Law “On State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” officially becoming the last Soviet republic to leave the USSR. The date came at the tail end of the so-called “parade of sovereignties,” when other republics had already declared independence. This delay led to a popular saying: “Kazakhstan turned off the lights in the USSR.” In the early years of independence, the holiday was celebrated widely, often with several days off. Yet the date also evokes painful memories. Just five years earlier, in December 1986, the capital city of Alma-Ata (now Almaty) witnessed what are now known as Jeltoqsan köterılısı - the December Events. On December 16, 1986, the Communist Party of Kazakhstan abruptly dismissed First Secretary Dinmukhamed Konaev and replaced him with Gennady Kolbin, a party official from the Russian city of Ulyanovsk with no ties to the republic. This Moscow-imposed decision sparked protests by students and young people that turned violent. While the full causes and consequences remain partially unexplored, the uprising is widely seen as an early expression of resistance to Soviet central control and the imposition of non-Kazakh leadership. The protests were brutally suppressed. For several days, unrest continued in the city, with some incidents fueled by ethnic tensions. In the years since, the December Events have become symbolic of both state repression and the early stirrings of Kazakh nationalism. Because of the proximity of dates, many citizens continue to conflate the date of independence with the December Events. For years, the national holiday was therefore overshadowed by grief and division. Unrest in the Oil Region Independence Day was further marred in 2011 by violent unrest in the oil-rich Mangistau region after months of unresolved labor disputes. On December 16 of that year, striking workers from the OzenMunaiGas company in the town of Zhanaozen clashed with police after demanding higher wages. The protests escalated into riots, with government buildings, hotels, and vehicles set ablaze. ATMs were looted, and a state of emergency was declared. Official figures state that about 20 people were killed and over 100 were injured. The Zhanaozen tragedy underscored deep socioeconomic disparities, particularly in regions rich in resources but lacking infrastructure and basic services. From Old to New Kazakhstan Over time, Independence Day became closely associated with unrest and national trauma. Analysts suggest that full investigations into the December 1986 and 2011 events were hindered by the political legacy of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s first president. Nazarbayev held senior posts during the Soviet period and later presided over the country during the Zhanaozen crackdown. In June 2019, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev succeeded Nazarbayev as president and launched a platform of gradual political reform. However, his efforts were reportedly obstructed by entrenched elites aligned with the Nazarbayev era, often referred to as “Old Kazakhstan.” Public discontent boiled over again in January...

Digitalization

Face Pay, Palm Scans, and AI Cameras: Inside Kazakhstan’s Digital Transformation

Daily life in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, increasingly resembles scenes from a futuristic film. Subway fares can be paid with a glance, schoolchildren enter campuses by scanning their palms, and traffic flows are monitored by an expansive video surveillance system. With just a smartphone, citizens can apply for a marriage license, open a business, or access official documents within seconds. Kazakhstan has embraced rapid digitalization, positioning itself as a regional leader in GovTech and fintech. Authorities promote this trajectory as a means to create a secure and efficient environment, and the public has largely welcomed it. The country now boasts one of the world’s highest penetration rates for cashless payments and digital services. Yet the swift adoption of emerging technologies has brought new challenges. The digital infrastructure is evolving faster than the country’s legal frameworks can adapt, raising concerns among experts about how to balance technological convenience, public safety, and the right to privacy. Biometric Security or Overreach? Kazakhstan’s biometric systems are being integrated into a growing ecosystem of everyday services. A prominent example is the Alaqan system in schools, which replaces traditional entry cards with palm-scanning technology. Currently in a pilot phase at nearly 300 schools, the government plans to expand the system nationwide within the next two to three years, should it prove to be successful. Supporters argue this enhances child safety by preventing unauthorized access. Critics, however, warn that it also involves building a vast biometric database of minors, requiring unprecedented security protocols. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Digital Development is rolling out a national video surveillance network powered by artificial intelligence. The system, which integrates citywide cameras into a unified platform, will enable real-time facial and license plate recognition and detect incidents such as fights, large gatherings, or abandoned items. Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev described the system as a tool to monitor public safety 24/7. Equipment Dependence and Strategic Risk Much of Kazakhstan’s surveillance infrastructure relies on equipment from major Chinese companies such as Hikvision and Dahua. Their products are favored for their cost-effectiveness, but concerns have been raised internationally over cybersecurity vulnerabilities and potential data access “backdoors.” Several U.S. and EU countries have imposed restrictions on these firms for national security reasons. In Kazakhstan, which pursues a multi-vector foreign policy, the issue is viewed more as technical than political. Experts recommend diversifying suppliers and enforcing strict data encryption protocols, regardless of the origin of the equipment. Kazakhstan’s exposure to cybersecurity risks became clear in February 2024, when a leak involving the Chinese firm iSoon compromised databases belonging to local telecom operators and targeted government institutions, including the Unified Pension Fund. The incident prompted an urgent reassessment of data security practices. Centralized data hubs, experts noted, can only function securely if accompanied by significant investment in cybersecurity infrastructure. Legislation Lagging Behind While Kazakhstan has a law on personal data, experts argue it is outdated, particularly given the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into public systems. Recent legislative amendments now allow biometric identification to...

Higher Education

Kazakhstan to Train Nuclear Energy Specialists Abroad Through Bolashak Program

Kazakhstan will begin training specialists for its nuclear energy sector at leading international universities through a new track within the Bolashak international scholarship program, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced this week. The Bolashak scholarship, launched in 1993, supports education, retraining, and professional development for specialists in priority economic sectors. Initially limited to four countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, it now allows recipients to study in nearly 30 countries worldwide. More than 13,000 Kazakh citizens have participated in the program to date. The latest initiative adds future nuclear energy professionals to its ranks, aiming to build domestic capacity ahead of Kazakhstan’s planned entry into the nuclear power sector. This week, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek signed a four-party memorandum launching the new program. Other signatories included Almasadam Satkaliev, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency; Adil Kusmanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Center for International Programs”; and Yernat Berdigulov, General Director of LLP “Kazakhstan Atomic Power Plants.” “The initiative will attract specialists in engineering, technical, and scientific fields, which will be key to the development of Kazakhstan's nuclear energy sector,” the ministry stated. The program will provide 20 pilot grants in 2026, with similar allocations expected annually. It will cover international internships, as well as master’s and doctoral programs at top universities around the world. A key requirement will be cooperation with potential employers and guaranteed job placement for graduates. Tripartite agreements are being signed between scholarship recipients, nuclear sector enterprises, and the Bolashak program’s administrator to ensure employment pathways. Work is already underway to finalize agreements with several foreign institutions, including Pennsylvania State University (U.S.), Grenoble INP-UGA (France), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China), City University of Hong Kong, and the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Russia). “The creation of a dedicated training track for the nuclear sector within Bolashak will help form a skilled pool of engineers, technologists, operators, and other specialists with international-level qualifications,” the ministry noted. Earlier this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced plans to establish two “science cities” in Almaty and Kurchatov to support the development of nuclear energy and nuclear medicine. Kazakh universities have also launched domestic training programs to prepare personnel for the country’s first nuclear power plant, which is currently under development.

Society

Women Who Wear Niqab in Public in Kazakhstan to Risk Fines Under New Law

The Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh parliament, has approved in its second reading a draft law “On the Prevention of Offenses,” which introduces fines for wearing a niqab, or other clothing that covers the face, preventing identification in public spaces. The bill amends the Code of Administrative Offenses to include penalties for such violations. A first offense will result in a warning; a second offense will incur a fine of $78 under current rates, increasing to $86 from 2026. A ban on face-covering garments, including both masks and niqabs, was first introduced in the summer of 2025. The new amendments formalize enforcement through administrative measures. Garments such as hijabs, sheilas, and khimars, which do not cover the face, remain permitted. Similar measures have been adopted in other Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan. Beyond face coverings, the bill introduces liability for posting and distributing illegal content and for failing to comply with official instructions to remedy violations. It also expands the powers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, allowing it to hold officials from state and local executive bodies accountable for not implementing civil protection measures intended to prevent natural or man-made emergencies. Debate over banning the niqab has persisted in Kazakhstan for years. Despite public resistance from some groups, authorities have finalized the decision, citing national security and efforts to counter extremism.

Kazakhstan's Parliament

Tokayev Signals End of Presidential Appointments in Unicameral Parliament Plan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced that Kazakhstan’s planned transition to a unicameral parliament will eliminate the presidential quota for appointing members of the legislature. The reform, Tokayev has said, is part of a broader effort to streamline the structure of parliament and enhance its professional capacity. The proposal to move to a single-chamber legislature was first introduced in Tokayev’s September address to the nation. At present, Kazakhstan’s parliament consists of two chambers: the Mazhilis, with 98 deputies elected through a mixed electoral system, and the Senate, which comprises 50 members, some elected by regional maslikhats (local representative bodies) and others appointed by the president. Under the current system, the head of state appoints 10 senators, half of whom are nominated by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. Speaking at a forum of rural akims (governors), Tokayev confirmed his intention to relinquish this presidential privilege. “An excessive increase in the number of deputies is inappropriate. On the contrary, the work of parliament should be optimized and improved. In the new unicameral parliament, there will be no presidential quota, all deputies must be elected in a unified manner,” he said. Tokayev emphasized that the transition to a unicameral model necessitates the formation of a "truly professional parliament" composed of qualified legislators capable of addressing the country’s pressing issues. Among the structural reforms proposed are the creation of new committees, including those focused on digitalization and regional development. These institutional changes will be included in a comprehensive package of constitutional amendments. The president also stated that the forthcoming referendum will serve as a vote on an updated version of the Constitution. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Tokayev’s call to abolish the Senate has already sparked debate among political analysts and lawmakers regarding the implications of a unicameral future for Kazakhstan.