Kazakhstan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tourism Rapidly Expanding in Kazakhstan

According to the Bureau of National Statistics, in the first nine months of last year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Kazakhstan increased by 37%, reaching 834,900 people. The geography of places visited is also expanding every year. "Kazakhstan, in addition to its closest neighbors, has also been visited by travelers from far-flung countries," the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, Yerzhan Yerkimbayev stated. According to the Ministry of Tourism, for the period from January to September 2023, the largest number of tourists to visit Kazakhstan, 356,850, came from the Russian Federation. In second place were Chinese tourists, who numbered 75,131 people. The third place was taken by travelers from Turkey - 41,134 people, in fourth came India (34,757), and in fifth came and the U.S.A. (28,160), which entered the top five for the first time.

Kazakhstan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazatomprom Qualifies for Production of Advanced Nuclear Fuel

Kazakhstan’s National Atomic Company, Kazatomprom, the world's largest producer of uranium, says it has successfully completed the qualification process for the production of AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies at the Kazakh-Chinese Joint Venture, Ulba-FA LLP, which produces nuclear fuel for Chinese nuclear power plants. A document confirming the technical compliance of the product with all the mandatory quality requirements, norms and standards was provided by Framatome, the holder of technology. Work on the qualification for fuel assemblies’ production started in March 2023. As a result, the plant successfully received confirmation on the quality of its products. The qualification allows the plant to produce AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies, in addition to AFA 3G TM AA fuel assemblies, thus expanding the product line, Kazatomprom said. In 2024, Kazatomprom plans to commission industrial production of AFA 3GTM type A fuel assemblies and supply a batch of fuel assemblies of this type to nuclear power plants in China. The Ulba-FA plant has allowed Kazatomprom to diversify its production, expanding its product line and producing advanced, export-oriented uranium products with a high added value. With a production capacity of 200 tons of uranium in the form of fuel assemblies per year, the Ulba-FA plant has a guaranteed sales market for the next 20 years, Kazatomprom said. The launch of this innovative production has allowed Kazakhstan to enter the limited circle of countries which produce and supply nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.

Justice Kazakhstan Justice

Kazakh model committed suicide two years after visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious island

Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ruslana Korshunova was discovered by a modelling scout at the age of 15 and quickly moved abroad to pursue her career. She worked with well-known international brands such as Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, Paul Smith, Vera Wang, Nina Ricci, Donna Karan, and Christian Dior. Her striking features also graced the covers of Russian Vogue, French Elle, and The New York Times Style Magazine. Tragedy struck when Korshunova was found dead outside her Wall Street home in New York in 2008 at the age of 20. She was believed to have fallen from her apartment’s balcony. Prior to her death, it was reported that she had joined an intense Russian “self-help group”, as revealed in Peter Pomerantsev's 2014 book entitled "Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia". Recent court documents related to American financier and convicted sex offender, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and his former lover, Ghislaine Maxwell, reveal that at the age of 18, Korshunova was flown to Epstein’s Little Saint James island on his infamous private Boeing 727 aircraft, known as the “Lolita Express”. This plane was allegedly used to transport young girls to the island in the company of wealthy and influential men. Flight logs showed that Korshunova boarded the Lolita Express in New York on June 7, 2006, destined for the notorious private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The recent revelation of Korshunova's involvement with Epstein comes in the wake of another tragic incident in Kazakhstan involving Saltanat Nukenova, the wife of former Minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev. The public murder of Nukenova by Bishimbayev had prompted the Zhana Adamdar movement to hold a rally in Almaty in November 2023 to raise awareness about violence against women and children. Following Nukenova's untimely death, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was quick to implement a decree to enhance human rights with a focus on combatting gender inequality and strengthening the justice mechanism for victims of domestic violence. This decree represents an expansion of protections for women and marginalized groups as part of the President’s larger reform agenda initiated in 2022. Human rights infringements, as illustrated by both above incidents involving tragic deaths of young women, transcend geographical boundaries. The onus for rectification lies with the authorities and their proactive measures to prevent such violations. It is just as imperative that offenders are unequivocally and swiftly brought to justice. Given recent initiatives by its government, Kazakhstan seems to be progressing in this direction. The prolonged litigation and lack of transparency in the Epstein case, on the other hand, has provoked unease globally, considering that the victims originate from numerous countries.

Kazakhstan Life & Culture Kazakhstan Features Kazakhstan Featurees Kazakhstan Home

The NeMolchi.kz Foundation: Unraveling the Controversy Surrounding Dina Tansari

In a recent development, Dina Tansari, the head of the public foundation "NeMolchi.kz," has found herself at the center of six criminal cases, two of which involve allegations of fraud, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Tansari, also known as Dinara Smailova, stands accused of disseminating false information, infringing upon privacy rights, and engaging in fraudulent activities, as outlined by the police investigations. The foundation she leads, "NeMolchi.kz," primarily focuses on advocating against violence targeting women and children in Kazakhstan. However, investigations have revealed alleged discrepancies in Tansari's actions. Forensic examinations indicate a tendency in her publications toward accusatory tones, built solely on subjective perspectives, as stated by authorities. Moreover, reports suggest that since 2021, while residing outside Kazakhstan, she used social media to solicit funds supposedly intended to aid victims of violence. One notable incident involves the publication of misleading information in April 2023 about the alleged suicide of a girl in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Tansari's subsequent posts expressing condolences and mistrust of police statements were deemed false. Consequently, these actions led to a criminal case based on the charge of hooliganism and injury to a minor, which was forwarded to court. Despite these circumstances, Tansari initiated a fundraising campaign purportedly for the victim's legal counsel, amassing over 20 million tenge ($44,000). However, only a fraction was utilized for the intended purpose. An analysis of financial data, sanctioned by the court, disclosed that funds intended for the foundation were diverted to Tansari's husband's personal account and spent on her personal expenses abroad, violating laws governing non-profit organizations. This turn of events led law enforcement to place Tansari on the wanted list on December 27th. In response, she expressed her concerns on Instagram, highlighting that seven individuals were victims in her case and appealing for support from the people of Kazakhstan. Previously, Tansari reported the fund's accounts being blocked in November, and faced accusations of fraud by the East Kazakhstan police in early December. Subsequently, she and her husband, Almat Mukhamedzhanov, sought political asylum in Europe, claiming persecution due to NeMolchi.kz's activities. Established in 2017, "NeMolchi.kz" focuses on addressing violence against women and children in Kazakhstan through donations. Despite the recent controversy, the foundation has been active in initiating criminal cases against 81 alleged rapists over the past five years. The foundation offers a diverse array of support to victims, spanning legal, psychological, and medical aid, alongside educational initiatives and legislative advocacy for victim protection. While Tansari's current predicament unfolds, the legacy of "NeMolchi.kz" in aiding victims and fighting against violence remains a significant aspect of its ongoing mission, both within Kazakhstan and across various neighboring countries.

Kazakhstan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Approves SDGs Action Plan for 2024

The seventh meeting of the Coordinating Council for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place in Astana on January 5th, chaired by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov. The meeting was attended by heads of government agencies and representatives from the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the European Union. At the meeting, updating the national SDG indicators, localizing SDGs in the regions, and preparing an annual report on the implementation of SDGs was discussed. Following the symposium, the SDG Coordinating Council approved an action plan for 2024. During the meeting, Prime Minister Smailov emphasized that the primary goal of the SDGs is to improve the quality of life of Kazakhstan's citizens by implementing advanced international standards. "In September of last year, the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the United Nations SDG Summit,” Smailov said. “During his speech, the President emphasized that achieving SDGs is a top priority for the nation. As a result, Kazakhstan is always willing to collaborate with all Member States to pursue a more just and sustainable world." The UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, Sukhrob Khojimatov, highlighted two key areas the UNDP focused on in 2023. The first was the localization of SDGs within the framework of a regional program to establish an SDG Platform for Central Asia funded by the European Union. The second was the support provided by the UNDP to the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan in creating a Parliamentary Commission for monitoring the implementation of national goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development. Johannes Baur, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, emphasized that in 2024 the EU and its member states have committed to supporting Kazakhstan's transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2060. During this year, they will launch the implementation of the Team Europe initiative, which will focus on energy, water resources, and climate change in Central Asia. The initiative will receive a budget of €20 million. This cooperation will be extended through a new bilateral mechanism to facilitate the transition to a green economy and modernize Kazakhstan's emissions trading system.

Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Business & Economy Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Increase Bilateral Trade

On January 5th, the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov met with the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliev in Tashkent. The officials discussed the implementation of investment agreements and trade contracts signed during the recent visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, as well as the further development of trade and economic relations and industrial cooperation between the two countries, the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade said. The parties noted a growth of bilateral trade, stating that over the past six years, trade turnover has grown almost 2.5-fold from $1.9 billion in 2016 to more than $4.6 billion in 2023. The sides agreed on a number of measures aiming to bring bilateral trade to $10 billion in the coming years. In particular, they have agreed to establish a joint working group on the removal of barriers to bilateral trade. The parties also expressed readiness to support the activities of a joint foreign trade company, UzKazTrade, which will include an online trading platform for the sale of a wide range of goods in the markets of both countries. The ministers exchanged views on the development of industrial cooperation, referring to the practical aspects of establishing an International Center for Industrial Cooperation, "Central Asia". An agreement was also reached on taking joint measures to accelerate the establishment of the center and launching its operations.