Our People > Dmitry Pokidaev

Dmitry Pokidaev

Journalist

Dmitry Pokidaev is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan, with experience at some of the country's top media outlets. Before his career in journalism, Pokidaev worked as an academic, teaching Russian language and literature.

Articles

Sports

Kazakh Boxer Alimkhanuly Stripped of One of His Two Championship Titles

Kazakh boxer Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been stripped of one of his two middleweight world championship titles following a doping case but has retained his second belt. The athlete will be eligible to return to the ring at the end of 2026 after serving a one-year suspension. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in December last year Alimkhanuly found himself at the center of a doping controversy less than a week before one of the most important fights of his career, a unification bout for three middleweight (up to 72.6 kg) titles against Cuban boxer Erislandi Lara. At that time, he tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. Following several months of proceedings, it was determined that the drug containing meldonium had been taken unintentionally. This finding allowed the potential period of disqualification to be reduced to one year. The suspension period began on December 2, 2025, the date of the boxer’s provisional suspension from competition. Accordingly, Alimkhanuly will be eligible to return to the ring on December 3, 2026. At the time of the ruling, the 29-year-old Kazakhstani held two world middleweight titles, under the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) versions. The WBO decided not to strip the Kazakh boxer of his championship belt. “Although the WBO has the authority to strip the champion of his title, we have concluded that, given all the circumstances and his status as a first-time offender, declaring the title vacant would not be proportionate to the punishment,” the organization said in a statement. In contrast, the IBF ultimately decided to strip the Kazakh boxer of his title. However, the decision was not taken directly because of the positive doping test. Rather, due to the suspension, the boxer will be unable to defend his title within the time frame stipulated by IBF regulations. Under the organization’s rules, a champion is required to defend his belt at least once every nine months. Alimkhanuly had been scheduled to defend his title on July 4, 2026, a date that is no longer feasible because of his suspension. As a result, the IBF Board of Directors declared the title vacant. The president of the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation, Rakhimzhan Yerdenbekov, said the situation should serve as a serious lesson for the athlete’s team. “I believe that this situation has been a major lesson for Zhanibek’s team. He will return to the ring even stronger and win all four world belts,” Yerdenbekov wrote on Instagram. The Alimkhanuly case is the second high-profile doping controversy in Central Asian boxing in a short period. Olympic champion Lazizbek Mullujonov of Uzbekistan was recently banned for three years for violating anti-doping rules.

3 days ago

Nuclear Energy

Kazakhstan Discusses Local Production of Nuclear Power Plant Equipment with South Korea

Kazakhstan has discussed the possibility of localizing production of equipment for nuclear power plants (NPPs) with South Korean partners during a working visit to the Republic of Korea by Almasadam Satkaliyev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Agency for Atomic Energy. According to the agency’s press service, the Kazakh delegation held meetings with officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, as well as executives from major Korean companies, including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Doosan Enerbility. The talks focused on strengthening strategic cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, expanding technological partnerships, and developing industrial and investment collaboration. “Particular attention during the visit was given to cooperation with leading Korean companies that have extensive international experience in nuclear power plant construction and high-tech manufacturing,” the Kazakh agency said in a statement. “The sides discussed the development of industrial cooperation, including the possibility of localizing the production of equipment and individual components in Kazakhstan, as well as involving Kazakh enterprises in the technological and manufacturing chains of nuclear energy projects.” During discussions with South Korean government representatives, Kazakhstan presented its priorities for developing the national nuclear industry, including institutional reforms and the creation of a modern system of state regulation and management of the sector. The parties also exchanged views on nuclear and radiation safety standards and explored opportunities to share regulatory experience and best practices in managing nuclear energy programs. Another key topic was workforce development for the nuclear sector. Discussions covered potential cooperation in training specialists, expanding educational programs, and exchanging professional expertise necessary for the implementation of long-term nuclear energy projects. “The meetings confirmed mutual interest in further strengthening the partnership, expanding institutional dialogue, and deepening practical cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea in the development of the nuclear energy sector,” the agency said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan has already selected partners for the construction of three nuclear power plants. The first project will be led by Russia’s Rosatom, while the second and third plants are expected to be built by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Earlier this year, the authorities also selected the site for the country’s second nuclear power plant in the Zhambyl District of the Almaty Region, close to the location chosen for the first plant near the village of Ulken on Lake Balkhash.

4 days ago

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Considers Supporting Dairy Sector to Curb Inflation

Kazakhstan’s government is considering additional support for dairy processors and bakeries as part of broader efforts to slow inflation and stabilize prices for essential food products. The proposal was discussed during a government meeting focused on inflation dynamics and price trends for socially significant food products. According to Aizhan Bizhanova, Kazakhstan’s First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration, inflation in the country has been slowing for five consecutive months, declining from 12.9% in September 2025 to 11.7% in February 2026. Food inflation has also continued to ease, falling from 13.5% in December and 12.9% in January to 12.7% in February. The ministry attributes the slowdown in part to the expansion of the list of socially significant food products subject to price regulation. The list has been expanded from 19 to 31 items, and since the beginning of the year authorities have opened more than 800 administrative cases related to violations of pricing rules. “During the first week of March, the price index for socially significant food products increased by 0.1%. At the same time, dairy products recorded price growth, mainly due to rising costs of raw milk,” the government’s press service said in a statement. Additional pressure on prices has also come from higher energy costs and increased production expenses. Dairy products account for a significant share of Kazakhstan’s food inflation, estimated at about 6.3%. The Ministry of Trade and Integration therefore proposed exploring mechanisms to support dairy processing enterprises in order to reduce production costs and stabilize prices. The government also discussed possible support measures for Kazakhstan’s bakery sector. Among the options considered were providing bakeries with discounted grain and flour and exploring the possibility of lowering railway tariffs for transporting raw materials. Officials suggested working with the national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy to reduce transportation costs for the sector. Participants at the meeting noted that prices traditionally rise in March due to seasonal factors. However, the Ministry of Trade and Integration plans to mitigate the impact through additional price discount campaigns and expanded agricultural fairs. Kazakhstan also continues to use a “green corridor” mechanism to facilitate the import of vegetables from neighboring countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, who chaired the meeting, instructed authorities to conduct a detailed review of pricing at 42 dairy processing enterprises operating in Kazakhstan. The aim is to identify effective mechanisms for supporting producers and stabilizing consumer prices. Officials also highlighted slow releases of vegetables from regional stabilization funds, which supply products to the market at fixed prices. The slow pace was particularly noted in the Aktobe, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, and Ulytau regions. Zhumangarin instructed the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade to inspect regional stabilization funds and verify the actual availability of products reported by local authorities. Despite recent improvements, several international organizations expect inflation in Kazakhstan to remain elevated in 2026. S&P Global Ratings forecasts inflation will reach about 11% by the end of the year. The Eurasian Development Bank predicts inflation could fall to 9.7% by...

4 days ago

Science

Kazakh Scientists Develop Technology to Generate Electricity from Noise

Researchers at Satbayev University in Almaty are developing a compact device capable of converting environmental mechanical vibrations into electrical energy. Mechanical vibrations are repetitive movements that occur around a system’s equilibrium position and include phenomena such as sound waves and physical oscillations. Scientists at Satbayev University aim to harness these vibrations as a stable energy source for autonomous sensors operating in remote and hard-to-access areas. The project focuses on creating an electromagnetic converter capable of operating within a frequency range from several tens to a few hundred hertz, the range most commonly found in natural vibration environments. “We are developing a device that will efficiently convert mechanical vibrations into electrical energy and serve as an autonomous power source. This will help ensure the continuous and reliable operation of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in remote regions,” said project leader Albanbay Nurtay. The scientific basis of the technology is the law of electromagnetic induction: when a coil and magnets move relative to each other inside the device, an electrical signal is generated. Researchers are focusing on engineering solutions that maintain high efficiency across a wide range of vibration frequencies. Engineers are also working to ensure stable operation under different vibration conditions and to minimize energy losses during transmission. The project is being implemented in several stages. The first phase involves developing the conceptual design of the device, along with its 3D and mathematical models. In the next stage, Satbayev University researchers plan to build experimental prototypes and develop a dedicated testing platform to measure the device’s performance. Based on the results of these experiments, scientists will select a final prototype with optimal technical characteristics. The final stage will include the publication of research findings and the filing of a patent for the intellectual property. The device could have practical applications across several sectors, including industrial monitoring, environmental observation, and agriculture. The project represents an important step in the development of green technologies. “Efficient use of natural vibration sources opens new opportunities for energy conservation and supports the implementation of sustainable development principles and goals,” Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education noted. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, researchers at Nazarbayev University recently developed a medical exoskeleton designed to assist in stroke rehabilitation.

5 days ago

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Extends Ban on Chicken Egg Imports to Support Domestic Producers

Kazakhstan has decided to extend a ban on chicken egg imports in an effort to support domestic poultry producers. The restriction will also apply to imports from member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), despite the absence of customs borders within the bloc. The decision was made during a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Foreign Trade and Participation in International Economic Organizations, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. The commission reviewed several key issues affecting the country’s food security and economic policy. “An import ban on chicken eggs will be introduced for six months, including imports from EAEU countries. The relevant order will be adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture,” the government press service said following the meeting. According to the government, Kazakhstan currently has 70 poultry farms, including 34 specializing in egg production, 29 focused on meat production, and seven engaged in breeding and reproduction. In 2025, domestic production of chicken eggs increased by 2.4% to reach 4.57 billion eggs. As a result, local production now covers approximately 98% of domestic demand. Kazakhstan previously introduced temporary restrictions on egg imports in December 2025, when the Ministry of Agriculture imposed a one-month ban on imports of fresh chicken eggs. That measure expired on January 11, 2026. Earlier, a similar restriction had already been in place from April 2025 for six months. Taken together, these measures effectively closed Kazakhstan’s egg market to imports for more than a year. The commission also reviewed the possibility of introducing restrictions on potato exports. After assessing domestic market conditions, however, officials decided not to impose export limits. According to the government, stabilized prices and sufficient domestic supply make it possible to maintain potato exports without additional restrictions. At the same time, requirements for exporters seeking beef export quotas will be eased. The decision takes into account the government’s Comprehensive Livestock Development Plan, which aims to increase Kazakhstan’s cattle population from 7.9 million to 12 million head. The program also seeks to expand Kazakhstan’s beef export potential and open new foreign markets. The Ministry of Agriculture will amend the existing quota distribution rules accordingly. Meanwhile, authorities decided to extend the ban on the export of breeding livestock, including female cattle, as well as young bulls, in order to preserve breeding stock and ensure sufficient supply for domestic meat processors. The restriction also applies to exports to EAEU member states. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan increased revenue from agricultural exports by more than one-third in 2025 compared to 2024.

5 days ago