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

Military Defense

Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry Confirms Russian Origin of Crashed Drones

Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Minister of Defense, Sultan Kamaletdinov, has confirmed that the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that crashed in the West Kazakhstan region earlier this year were launched from a Russian test site. Since January, four unidentified drones have been found in the region. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Senate session, Kamaletdinov shared the preliminary findings from an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Defense. “More than 90% of the unmanned aerial vehicles discovered in the West Kazakhstan region were located within the boundaries of the 926th Main Flight Test Center of the Russian Federation,” he stated. “The airspace above this site is utilized by the center for UAV testing.” When asked who had launched the drones, Kamaletdinov responded directly: “The Russian Federation, which is testing its UAVs.” A String of Drone Incidents The first reported drone was found on February 18 in the village of Ualy in the Bokeiordinsky district. A second was discovered near the village of Atameken in the Taskalinsky district on March 18. At the end of March, a third UAV was located near the border with Russia, followed shortly by the crash of a fourth drone in the Zhanibek district. Russian Testing Grounds in Kazakhstan Russia leases three military test sites in Kazakhstan, including those associated with the 929th State Flight Test Center. These facilities are located in the West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions and are tied to Russia’s V.P. Chkalov State Flight Test Center (929 GLITS VVS), a key institution for military aviation and weapons testing. The main base of the Chkalov Center is in Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan region, but its network of test ranges extends across Russia and Kazakhstan, spanning distances from 22 to 800 kilometers from Akhtubinsk. While the use of Kazakh territory for foreign military testing has long been a sensitive topic, Kamaletdinov’s comments underscore the enduring presence of Russian military operations within Kazakhstan’s borders.

10 months ago

man-made mineral waste

Kazakhstan to Slash Extraction Tax for Processing Man-Made Mineral Waste

Kazakhstan's new draft Tax Code proposes a tenfold reduction in the mineral extraction tax (MET) for companies processing man-made mineral formations (MMF), a move expected to boost investment in mining waste reclamation and reduce environmental burdens. Currently, Kazakhstan taxes the processing of MMF, mineral residues left in waste dumps after the primary extraction of solid minerals, at standard MET rates. These rates range from 21.06% for chromite ore to 2% for mineral raw materials containing technical stones. The application of these standard rates to waste materials has discouraged subsoil users from reprocessing them. As a result, an estimated 55 to 60 billion tons of MMF have accumulated in dumps, tailing ponds, and storage facilities across the country’s mining enterprises, according to Gulnara Bizhanova of the Atameken Chamber of Entrepreneurs. She presented this data at the AMM-2025 Mining and Metallurgical Forum. In Kazakhstan, only 11% of MMF is currently being processed, compared to 70-80% in many developed countries, where such waste is either exempt from MET or subject to significantly reduced rates. “The draft Tax Code introduces a reduction coefficient of 0.1 for MET on the processing of MMF. The bill is still under consideration in the Senate,” Bizhanova stated. Bizhanova noted that this change would benefit both the government and the private sector. For instance, Qarmet, a leading Kazakh steel and mining firm, plans to launch 10 projects worth $137 million if the tax reduction is approved. “There are many investors interested in this area of MMF processing. It is also important to highlight that increasing waste processing will reduce the operational burden on active mines,” she added. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that Aibar Dautov, head of the Kazakhstan Mining Industry Association, urged reforms to the MET framework to enhance state revenue from both oil and solid mineral extraction.

10 months ago

Saigas

Kazakhstan Weighs Legalizing the Culling of Female Saigas Amid Population Surge

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Erlan Nysanbayev, has announced that the government is considering allowing the selective culling of female saiga antelopes in response to their rapidly expanding population. Once listed as an endangered species, the saiga antelope population in Kazakhstan plummeted to fewer than 40,000 by 2005 due to overhunting and habitat loss. In response, the government imposed strict hunting bans and conservation measures, which allowed the species to rebound significantly, reaching an estimated 1.3 million animals in recent years. However, by the end of 2024, the saiga population had reportedly reached 4 million, prompting renewed debate over population control. Farmers have raised concerns about crop destruction and the risk of disease transmission from saigas intermingling with livestock on shared pastures. “We have vast expanses of land, but not enough inspectors to monitor every hunter,” Nysanbayev said during a briefing at the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament. “We had a negative experience previously, when hunting was permitted, the steppe was littered with saiga carcasses, their horns sawed off. So, we are now considering allowing hunting only for females, possibly exclusively for females. But the technical implementation is still under discussion with hunting organizations.” Processing Infrastructure Ready Nysanbayev also stated that meat from culled saigas would be sold in commercial outlets. According to the ministry, 13 meat-processing facilities across regions populated by saigas, West Kazakhstan, Atyrau, Aktobe, Kostanay, Akmola, Karaganda, and Pavlodar, are prepared to handle up to 3,700 animals daily following recent inspections. The final decision on the culling plan awaits a biological justification from the Institute of Zoology. Experts will assess the ecological viability of the measure before the government proceeds. Regional Conservation Efforts While Kazakhstan is considering population control measures for saigas due to their rapid rebound, neighboring Kyrgyzstan is focused on species recovery. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that in May 2025, Kyrgyzstan launched a conservation initiative to reintroduce the jayran, or goitered gazelle, a species also listed in the Red Book, along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

10 months ago

Technology

Kazakhstan and China Launch Chip Manufacturing Project in Semey

Construction has commenced on a high-tech chip and electronics manufacturing plant in the Ondiris industrial zone of Semey, the administrative center of Kazakhstan’s Abai region. The project is being developed by the joint Kazakh-Chinese venture, Suto Kazakhstan. The initiative was formally presented at the Big Altai international subregional conference held in Altai, located in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. During the forum, 15 memoranda of cooperation were signed between the Abai region and Chinese investors, amounting to a total of $1.5 billion. $50 Million Investment in High-Tech Infrastructure The Semey plant, with an investment of $50 million, will be developed in three stages from 2025 to 2028. Once completed, the facility will manufacture microchips, microcircuits, optoelectronic modules, intelligent host controllers, and electronic displays. The products will be supplied to both domestic and international markets. “A modern microchip manufacturing plant labeled ‘Made in Kazakhstan’ will appear in Semey. We have been allocated a 20-hectare site. In the first stage, we will build the main building and production facilities. If we manage to complete construction within 90 days, we will immediately launch the first line,” said Suto Kazakhstan founder Ernur Bolatuly. “Our main goal is to establish the production of chips that have never before been manufactured in Kazakhstan only assembled.” Broader Context of Technological Expansion The project is part of a broader effort by Kazakhstan to position itself as a technological hub in Central Asia. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in May 2025, the country received the region’s most powerful supercomputer, further demonstrating its ambitions in high-performance computing and digital infrastructure.

10 months ago

TCA Interviews

Interview: President of COP29 Calls for Caspian Summit to Tackle Environmental Crisis

Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s presidential representative on climate issues and president of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), spoke to The Times of Central Asia about the urgent need for a summit of Caspian states to address the region’s worsening ecological crisis. TCA: Central Asia and the South Caucasus are among the regions most vulnerable to the climate crisis. In your view, what are the most serious threats facing the region today, and why? Babayev: You’re right to group Central Asia and the South Caucasus together, as both regions border the Caspian Sea, a shared ecosystem facing severe climate pressures. The most pressing issue is water scarcity, which has worsened in recent years. This stems from climate change and has contributed to widespread desertification across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and surrounding areas like the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea, and Iran’s Lake Urmia. These processes are interconnected, but the drying of the Caspian Sea is one of the central challenges. At the recent Nevsky International Environmental Congress, Azerbaijan proposed a summit to address this crisis. The Aral Sea offers a stark precedent; its desiccation triggered not only environmental degradation but also social upheaval, including mass migration. Our focus now must be on mitigation and adaptation. Experts widely agree that the Caspian’s water level will continue to drop over the next 15–20 years. The impact is especially acute in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau and Aktau regions, affecting agriculture, infrastructure, offshore energy operations, and ports. The Caspian has now fallen below the lowest level recorded since the 19th century. While the situation cannot be reversed quickly, coordinated action is essential, especially measures to protect biodiversity and boost the water flow from key rivers such as the Kura, Ural, Terek, Samur, and Volga, which have seen significant declines. TCA: How is climate change affecting transboundary water resources? Is there a risk of regional competition over water shortages, and what strategies could Central Asian countries adopt? Babayev: It’s natural for states to prioritize national interests, but this underscores the need for regional coordination. A summit of the five Caspian littoral states could align strategies — particularly around restoring river inflows to the Caspian. A unified political approach could avert emerging tensions over water use. [caption id="attachment_32521" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: TCA[/caption] TCA: Are there adequate mechanisms for coordinating climate strategies between Central Asia and the South Caucasus? Can a supranational climate agenda, akin to the EU or ASEAN, be developed? Babayev: The global landscape is evolving rapidly, with new technologies and scientific advances offering better tools for decision-making. Artificial intelligence, for instance, can improve forecasting and scenario modeling. Azerbaijan has integrated AI into state programs and is fostering regional cooperation in climate science. Building shared scientific capacity is the first step toward a common agenda. TCA: Given the region’s hydrocarbon wealth, how realistic is a long-term decarbonization of the energy sector? Babayev: Decarbonization must go hand in hand with biodiversity protection. While oil and gas operations will persist, Azerbaijan is actively investing in renewables. We’ve signed agreements with...

11 months ago