Kazakhstan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence to Assist Criminal Investigations in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into law enforcement operations. The initiative, titled “Digital Assistant to the Investigator,” is being implemented by the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a district police department in Astana. The system was officially introduced last week, with participation from Sabit Nurlybay, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the General Prosecutor’s Office, and Sanjar Adilov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Built on AI algorithms and large-scale data processing, the digital assistant is designed to support investigators by identifying connections between cases, generating predictions, and offering procedural recommendations both for conducting investigations and preventing crime. According to a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the system is divided into three main modules: Investigation Planning - Upon registration of a criminal case, the system classifies the offense, outlines an investigative strategy based on existing circumstances, and suggests relevant witnesses to question and expert examinations to conduct Testimony Processing - AI transcribes spoken testimony into text during interviews, simultaneously analyzing speech patterns and behavior to detect contradictions and inconsistencies Document Generation - Based on interview data, the system drafts investigation documents that the investigator only needs to verify and sign The platform also generates final case documents, integrating information from the specific investigation along with relevant judicial precedents. Officials say the AI tool is expected to reduce investigation times and offload routine technical tasks from investigators. The initiative follows Kazakhstan’s unveiling of the most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia last month, a move aimed at bolstering national digital infrastructure and AI development. Kazakhstan’s push for AI integration aligns with findings from the International Monetary Fund, which last year ranked the country as the regional leader in AI readiness.

Tennis

Bublik of Kazakhstan Wins a Grass Title Ahead of Wimbledon

Alexander Bublik wasn’t enjoying tennis. Last year, after a mediocre performance at Wimbledon, he thought about quitting the game. The months went by, and more losses piled up. His ranking sank as low as 82 in March this year after a career-high 17 in May of 2024. Now the 28-year-old Kazakhstani is on a roll that seems to surprise even him and it’s happening as the tennis world again converges on Wimbledon, which starts June 30. Once again, he’s confounding expectations about a player who has delighted crowds with talent, showmanship and an arsenal of trick shots but also disappointed some fans because of a perception that, at times, tennis wasn’t a top priority for him. On Sunday, after winning the Halle grass court tournament, a tune-up for this year’s Wimbledon, Bublik celebrated in a typically ebullient style, dueling with opponent Daniil Medvedev in a champagne fight that left both players drenched. Such antics might be the norm on race car podiums, but they don’t happen much in the tradition-heavy sport of tennis. If Bublik is pushing the limits of tennis etiquette, few people object right now. They would rather gush about his recent accomplishments. Early this month, he reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, his best performance in a major tournament, before falling to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. He beat Sinner in the round of 16 on the way to the Terra Wortmann Open title in Halle, Germany, and his 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Medvedev in the final was his first win in seven meetings with the Russian. Bublik’s ranking rises to no. 30 on Monday. “It’s tough to speak. I had such tough months since last Wimbledon to probably this summer,” Bublik said in an on-court interview after the final. “I was close to calling it quits after Wimbledon, because I was not enjoying it anymore. "I promised my coach that I would stay there and keep practising, and after Wimbledon we will make a decision about whether I need to take a couple of months off before trying to come back. Now this is happening. I don’t know. Quarters at the French, winner here. I have no words.” Things were so grim earlier this year that Bublik’s coach, Artem Suprunov, suggested they take a road trip to Las Vegas ahead of a Phoenix challenger, a tournament on the lower rung of professional tennis. The break somehow helped the struggling player, who made it to the final in Phoenix before gaining momentum heading into the summer. Bublik, who also won the Halle tournament in 2023, was born in Russia and became a citizen of Kazakhstan in 2016 after promises of support from the tennis federation there. He has said he hates clay but then had that spectacular run at the French Open. He said he is relaxed about diet and ate a kebab before the final on Sunday. The plan now is to “stay human” and balanced and prepare for the next weeks of competition, said Bublik,...

Chess Prodigy

Kazakhstani Chess Prodigy to Represent France at Age 8

At just eight years old, Iskander Zhakupov has earned a spot on the French national youth chess team. This fall, the Kazakhstani citizen will represent France at the World Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the European Championship in Budva, Montenegro. In France, non-citizen children can compete internationally under the national flag if they attend school in the country and are part of a chess club. For adults, however, citizenship is required. Iskander was born in 2017 and is growing up to be an active and inquisitive boy. He enjoys soccer, playing guitar, solving Rubik’s Cubes, and studying math. In preschool, he was even awarded the title “Math Student of the Year.” Although both of his parents are citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, they currently live and work in France. His mother, Marzhan Kamardina, told The Times of Central Asia that his passion for chess began at the age of three, during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, his older brother was taking online chess lessons with a coach, and Iskander became fascinated while watching him play. “In the summer of 2021, we happened to visit a science museum,” his mother recalled. “As part of a chess promotion exhibit, there were tables set up for casual play. The organizers were amazed to learn that Iskander was only four years old. By then, he already knew so much. It was the first outside confirmation of his abilities and a real discovery for us.” Iskander soon began competing in online tournaments. During one hosted by a Kazakhstani chess school, a referee noted his use of a wide range of openings, including unconventional ones. Unlike Kazakhstan, France lacks a formal ranking system, so Iskander earns his titles through online qualifiers. He reached the equivalent of a second-level rank six months ago and will need to compete in an in-person tournament in Kazakhstan to advance to the first level. Iskander’s first major tournament took place in 2021, when he entered the qualifying round of the French under-8 championship at just four years old, competing against children three or four years older. He competed in seven games, winning four, drawing one, and earning 4.5 points, which was enough to advance to the regional Ile-de-France Championship. As the youngest player to qualify, he received a special prize. At the time, he didn’t grasp the significance of the achievement. He was simply enjoying the game. By age seven, Iskander had taken second place in the Ile-de-France tournament. In 2025, he became the French under-8 champion. The 62nd French Junior Chess Championship was recently held in Vichy, drawing more than 1,800 young players from across the country. The under-8 and under-10 categories competed over five days, each playing nine intense rounds. In the final rounds, Iskander faced regional champions from all over France. He lost only one game, to a player who had earlier been defeated by someone Iskander had beaten. Both players finished with 8 points, and the outcome remained uncertain until the very end. Iskander had...

Israel-Iran Escalation

Central Asia and Israel, a Pragmatic Relationship That Never Truly Blossomed

The conflict between Israel and Iran is having both international and regional repercussions. The situation has been further inflamed by the U.S. bombing of several Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, with Tehran responding by threatening retaliation on U.S. soil through the use of sleeper terrorist cells and the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which over a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. While Israel's geographical position places it at the heart of the Middle East, Iran's location brings the Islamic Republic into close contact with Central Asia. The consequences of the conflict are therefore likely to be felt heavily in the Central Asian region. The close relations between Tehran and the capitals of Central Asia, due in part to their geographical proximity, are often highlighted. Less explored is the nature of the relationship between Tel Aviv and Central Asia and the lines along which it has developed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. On both the Israeli and Central Asian sides, despite all the differences, relations began in the early 1990s, mainly based on certain mutual interests. From Israel's point of view, relations with Central Asia would mean expanding the circle of Muslim countries with which it had friendly ties, gaining greater influence in the region, and reducing its diplomatic isolation. From the Central Asian perspective, the appeal lay in increasing the number of its international partners, coupled with a desire to access Israeli know-how in numerous fields, and the possibility, through relations with Tel Aviv, of having a privileged channel of dialogue with the United States. More than three decades after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, relations remain good for the most part. “The positive relationship between Israel and Central Asia is driven by a combination of strategic, economic, and geopolitical factors,” Dr Zeev Levin, Coordinator of the Central Asian Research Unit at the Harry S. Truman Institute, told The Times of Central Asia. “One of the primary drivers is mutual interest in security and counterterrorism. Economically, Israel’s expertise in water management, agriculture, and technology is highly attractive to the arid, resource-seeking nations of Central Asia that aim to modernize their infrastructure and diversify their economies beyond oil and gas. Additionally, fostering ties with Israel provides a means of diversifying the foreign policy portfolios of the Central Asian republics.” This positive relationship, however, seems to have lost momentum in recent years due to several factors. Central Asian republics have increasingly oriented towards the East, moving closer to China and other players such as South Korea, Japan, and India, or towards other partners, such as the European ones, with Italy at the forefront in this regard. As Levin points out, the relation has cooled due to several factors: “Central Asian republics did look to Israel in the first decade of independence, but in the last decade to a much lesser extent, since Turkey and China are less complicated and cheaper options. For Israel, the region was never a priority or a point of...

Day J

Kazakhstan Marks Media Workers’ Day with “Day J” Festivities

Kazakhstan will celebrate Media Workers' Day on June 28, a professional holiday honoring everyone in the media industry, including reporters, editors, producers, technicians, and executives. Established by presidential decree, the date commemorates the launch of Turkestan Vedomosti, the first official print publication on the territory of modern-day Kazakhstan. It began publishing in Orenburg on June 28, 1870. For the past decade, “Day J” has brought together journalists and PR professionals to recognize outstanding achievements in Kazakhstani media in a creative, informal atmosphere. This year’s event, timed to coincide with Media Workers’ Day, will be held in Almaty on June 27. The Times of Central Asia is proud to serve as an information partner for “Day J,” an initiative inspired and organized by the communications agency 2BAgency. Theme: Romance of the ’90s This summer’s “Day J” will take participants back to the 1990s, an analog era remembered for cassette-recorded interviews, pager messages, single-cigarette purchases, denim-on-denim fashion, and a shared sense of optimism about the future. A highlight of the evening will be the annual Day J Awards, honoring professionals in five categories: Best Reporter Best Business Journalist Best Investigative Journalist Best Blogger Best Presenter Nominees and jury members were selected via the “Day J” Telegram channel and social media, reflecting recognition from within the journalistic community. Partners and Support As in previous years, the event is made possible by key partners. Sponsors of this year’s celebration include: Forte, a systemically important Kazakh bank Eurasia Insurance Company, a market leader Munchen Pub, renowned for its hospitality KazMinerals, one of the country’s top mining firms Tickets.kz, a leading travel platform ARTиШОК, the acclaimed independent theater RG Brands, producers of ASU and AVA beverages First Brewery, makers of Zhiguli Barnoe beer Additional media and organizational support comes from CheckPoint, BesMedia, Shishkin Like, Tribune, Profit, BlueScreen, Finratings, newtimes.kz, Offside.kz, aleminform.kz, optimism.kz, and bizmedia.kz. Following the event, The Times of Central Asia will publish coverage of the Day J Award winners and explore how this year’s celebration contributes to the evolving story of Kazakhstan’s media landscape.

Political Repression

Kazakhstan: Court Says 1986 Protester Was Victim of Political Repression

Four decades after participating in anti-Soviet protests in Kazakhstan, a 64-year-old man has been recognized as a victim of political repression by a court in the former Soviet republic. The ruling is part of a sweeping effort by Kazakhstan’s government to rehabilitate the reputations of people who faced persecution during Soviet rule, which ended when the country became independent in 1991. Many cases go back to a time of forced resettlement, famine and execution nearly a century ago, drawing on documents and the expertise of scholars and other specialists that lay bare historical trauma even as Kazakhstan maintains close trade and diplomatic ties with its neighbor, Russia. On Thursday, Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court released a statement about a more recent case, saying a resident of Aktobe city in western Kazakhstan who was a philosophy and economics student at Kazakh State University had been expelled for allegedly disturbing public order. “The reason for his expulsion was his detention by law enforcement officers on December 18, 1986 - on suspicion of participating in the December events, without charges being brought,” the court said. It did not name the student. The so-called December events refer to a 1986 protest movement called the Jeltoqsan that young people began in Almaty, then known as Alma-Ata. The demonstrations escalated into clashes with Soviet security forces and lasted for several days. The catalyst for the upheaval was the removal of Dinmukhamed Kunaev, an ethnic Kazakh who was the first secretary of Kazakhstan’s Communist Party, and his replacement with an ethnic Russian. The direct challenge to authority highlighted the erosion of Moscow’s control that would eventually end with the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court, the student who was detained was freed, but he was expelled from the Communist Party, faced persecution, and couldn’t find a job. His wife was also turned down for jobs. Between 1990 and 1993, the couple and their three young children had to rent housing and were in a “socially vulnerable position,” the court said. This year, the man, now 64 years old, filed a lawsuit to be recognized as a victim of political repression because of his participation in the 1986 protests. Court No. 3 of Aktobe agreed that he had been subjected to political persecution, including restrictions on labor rights, the Supreme Court said. The Aktobe court based its decision on documents from the university and the prosecutor's office, as well as witness testimony. Kazakhstan’s law on rehabilitation of victims of political repression can provide for the restoration of violated rights as well as financial compensation.