The Astana International Forum 2025 brought together global leaders to tackle critical issues like energy, trade, and regional cooperation, highlighting Kazakhstan’s commitment to multilateralism. The event underscored the nation’s goal of uniting small and middle powers to shape a more inclusive and sustainable global future.
See our special coverage on the Astana International Forum here.
A Russian regional lawmaker has stirred debate by suggesting that parts of Siberia may be the ancestral homeland of some Central Asian migrants, including Uzbeks. The statement was made by Khalid Tagi-Zade, a member of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (Yugra) regional parliament, during a discussion on birthrate trends among local and migrant populations. His remarks were broadcast via a livestream on the parliament’s official VKontakte page, according to Gazeta.ru.
Tagi-Zade emphasized the historical complexity of migration, arguing that “not all migrants are the same.” He pointed to the fact that Yugra and parts of the neighboring Tyumen region were once territories of the Siberian Khanate. He further noted that the Khanate’s last ruler, Khan Kuchum, descended from the Shaybanid dynasty, a prominent Uzbek lineage from the Bukhara Khanate. From this, he implied that some Uzbek migrants could view their presence in the region as a form of return to ancestral lands.
The speaker of the parliament, Boris Khokhryakov, quickly moved to halt the discussion, citing procedural rules that prohibit extended remarks during that segment of the session.
Tagi-Zade’s comments come at a time of heightened scrutiny over the treatment of Uzbek migrants in Russia. On May 2, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bobur Usmonov raised concerns in a meeting with Russian Ambassador Oleg Malginov in Tashkent. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Usmonov expressed alarm over a rising number of reports involving the mistreatment of Uzbek citizens in Russia and urged Moscow to safeguard their rights.
Sergey Kwan
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have reaffirmed their commitment to significantly boost bilateral trade, aiming to reach $3 billion annually by 2030. The pledge was made during a meeting between Daniyar Amangeldiyev, First Deputy Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, and Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, on the sidelines of the Astana International Forum on May 30.
In 2024, trade between the two countries totaled $1.7 billion. The new target reflects a strategic initiative set by the presidents of both nations to deepen economic integration.
Roadmap for Trade Expansion
At the meeting, officials discussed a draft roadmap to accelerate bilateral trade. Zhumangarin noted that Kazakhstan is prepared to increase its exports to Kyrgyzstan by more than $260 million, with a focus on petrochemicals, food products, and metallurgy.
In the first quarter of 2025, trade between the two countries reached $435.1 million, a 25.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Kazakhstan’s exports stood at $341.9 million, while imports from Kyrgyzstan totaled $93.3 million.
Agriculture: A Key Growth Sector
Agricultural products now account for 20% of bilateral trade, and this figure continues to rise. In Q1 2025, trade in agricultural goods surged by 40.7%. Kazakhstan exported 3,400 tons of grain and 10,900 tons of flour to Kyrgyzstan during this period.
In a notable development, Kazakhstan has approved Kyrgyzstan’s proposal to establish a “green-light” corridor at the border, ensuring the unhindered passage of early-season fruits and vegetables from Kyrgyzstan.
Major Logistics Hub to Boost Connectivity
A flagship joint project is the creation of an Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex at the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border. Located near the Karasu and Ak-Tilek checkpoints, the hub is poised to become one of Central Asia’s largest cargo distribution centers, supporting the consolidation, processing, and transit of goods.
Land has already been allocated for the project: 50 hectares on the Kazakh side and 40 hectares on the Kyrgyz side. An investor has been identified, and work on a master plan and feasibility study is currently underway.
To support this initiative, Kazakhstan has established the Alatau industrial zone in the Zhambyl region. The zone will host facilities for agricultural processing, as well as the production of consumer goods and building materials.
Infrastructure Connectivity: Almaty-Issyk-Kul Highway Project
The meeting also touched on the long-anticipated construction of an alternative highway linking Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, with Lake Issyk-Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most popular tourist destinations. The project is expected to enhance regional connectivity and stimulate tourism and trade between the two countries.
Educational cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom is reaching new milestones, with fresh opportunities emerging for Tajik students to study and gain professional experience in the UK. On May 31, representatives of Tajikistan’s State Agency “Center for International Programs” held talks with leadership at the University of Greenwich to discuss avenues for academic collaboration and student support initiatives.
Building Bridges in Higher Education
The meeting took place within the framework of Tajikistan’s broader strategy to internationalize its education and science sectors. According to the Ministry of Education and Science, discussions focused on improving access for Tajik citizens to high-quality education, facilitating professional internships, and exploring financial assistance mechanisms.
Particular emphasis was placed on fields such as economics, finance, and management. University of Greenwich officials highlighted their partnerships with major financial institutions, which enable students to gain practical experience and enhance their competitiveness in global labor markets.
Greenwich: A Gateway to Global Careers
As part of the talks, the two sides explored the possibility of offering scholarships to Tajik students through national and international funding schemes. An agreement was reached to continue discussions and expand academic exchange programs. Experts see this initiative as a significant step in strengthening bilateral educational ties and opening new horizons for Tajik youth.
Strengthening Tajik-UK Educational Ties
Tajik-UK educational cooperation has grown steadily in recent years. Since 2018, more than 30 Tajik students have received Chevening Scholarships to pursue master’s degrees at top British universities. The program, funded by the UK government, remains a key pillar of bilateral academic exchange.
In 2022, the British Council resumed operations in Dushanbe, boosting collaboration on English language education and teacher training. Joint projects with the Tajik Ministry of Education aim to modernize teaching methods and improve educational outcomes.
Tajik universities, such as Rudaki Tajik National University, are also forging partnerships with British institutions like the University of Central Lancashire, including dual degree programs and collaborative research. STEM education is a growing area of focus: in 2023, British-supported robotics and programming courses were launched for Tajik schoolchildren.
Regional Context: Broader British Engagement in Central Asia
The UK is expanding its educational footprint across Central Asia. In Turkmenistan, British experts have supported teacher training and curriculum modernization. In the 2024/25 academic year, 12 Turkmen nationals received Chevening Scholarships. The British Council continues to roll out digital education initiatives, such as the Digital Learning project, in the region.
In May 2025, Turkmenistan also participated in the World Education Forum in London, joining delegates from over 100 countries to discuss global trends and priorities in education.
Much remains publicly unknown about how Ukraine pulled off a complex drone attack that targeted several Russian air bases, but some initial, unconfirmed Russian reports say the drones were assembled at a rented warehouse in Chelyabinsk, a Russian city in a region that borders Kazakhstan.
When asked about the reports, a spokesman for Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a briefing on Monday that he was aware of them and could not confirm speculation that Ukraine may have smuggled the drone components into Russia from neighboring Kazakhstan.
“I am not an expert in military affairs. Of course, I saw these reports this morning, of course, anonymous Telegram channels are spreading them, there is no official confirmation of this, so I cannot confirm it. I will leave this to the realm of theory for our experts,” ministry spokesman Aibek Smatdiyarov said in remarks reported by media in Kazakhstan.
The Russian sources said they geolocated the warehouse in Chelyabinsk by studying photos that purportedly show the drones and their containers as well as the interior of the rented building where they were assembled. The photos were published by Ukrainian media. Additional unconfirmed reports say Russian investigators have questioned several truck drivers who said they drove from Chelyabinsk and were duped into delivering the drones to their target areas.
The Russian reports have not been confirmed by officials in either Ukraine or Russia.
The pro-Russian War on Fakes channel on Telegram said it was “worth noting” that the Chelyabinsk region borders Kazakhstan and that there was a possibility that the drone parts could have been smuggled into Russia from there. It did not offer any direct evidence to support its speculation.
International media analysts have described the War on Fakes channel as a disseminator of disinformation, though Russian military bloggers on the war between Russia and Ukraine are closely monitored because they sometimes offer more information than that provided by the Kremlin and other official channels. Some international observers of the war circulated the Chelyabinsk report on social media.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the “office” of the drone operation was next to a regional headquarters of the FSB, the Russian security agency. He did not identify the region.
The border between Russia and Kazakhstan is about 7,600 kilometers, making it one of the longest borders in the world. The two countries have a robust trade relationship. Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries have tried to project a neutral stance in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine’s security service, known by its acronym SBU, said on Telegram that it hit “34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation” and that it will provide details about the operation “a little later.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions were repelled.
“In the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, as a result of the launch of FPV drones from the territory located in the immediate vicinity of airfields, several units of aircraft caught fire,” the ministry said.
Drone footage appeared to show fire and smoke rising from some of the military planes that were struck by drones. Another video taken by a bystander showed a drone purportedly taking off from the top of a truck, lending credibility to reports that Ukraine activated drones that had been installed inside vehicles in Russia, drastically reducing the distance to their targets.
Kazakhstan ranks 36th out of 124 countries in a global gasoline affordability index based on average monthly earnings, according to recent data from Numbeo and analysis by Energyprom.kz. The study assesses how many liters of gasoline a person can buy with an average monthly salary and compares this indicator across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and globally.
Kazakhstan Among CIS Leaders in Fuel Affordability
According to the report, the average Kazakhstani can purchase approximately 1,100 liters of gasoline per month based on their salary. This places Kazakhstan second among CIS countries, trailing only Russia, where the average salary covers about 1,140 liters, ranking 34th worldwide. Belarus follows with 801.3 liters, then Azerbaijan (677.9 liters), Kyrgyzstan (483.9 liters), Moldova (476.6 liters), Uzbekistan (461.3 liters), Armenia (450.3 liters), Ukraine (341.4 liters), and Tajikistan (223.8 liters).
Globally, Libya leads with a staggering 10,100 liters, followed by Kuwait (8,900 liters) and Qatar (6,600 liters). In contrast, Syria ranks last, where the average salary can buy just 22.1 liters. Cuba (28.5 liters) and Côte d’Ivoire (112.3 liters) also rank among the lowest.
Global Gasoline Prices: Kazakhstan Remains Among the Most Affordable
Kazakhstan is also one of the countries with the lowest fuel prices, around $0.50 per liter. Cheaper fuel is found in Libya ($0.03), Egypt and Algeria ($0.30), Kuwait ($0.40), and Malaysia ($0.50). By comparison, the most expensive gasoline is in Hong Kong at $3.10 per liter, followed by Iceland ($2.40), and Singapore, the Netherlands, and Switzerland (all around $2.20).
Price Trends in Kazakhstan
In April 2025, gasoline prices in Kazakhstan rose by 0.4% compared to the previous month and by 2.2% year-on-year. Prices for premium grades, AI-95/96 and AI-98, increased by 0.1% month-over-month, while AI-92 rose by 0.4%.
On an annual basis, AI-92 increased by 1.8%, AI-98 by 3.2%, and AI-95/96 by 4.3%. The Zhambyl region saw the highest monthly increase at 1%, followed by the Abai and Turkestan regions and Shymkent (all at 0.8%). North Kazakhstan recorded the smallest increase (0.1%), while prices remained unchanged in Aktobe, Ulytau, and Almaty. The West Kazakhstan region saw a slight price decline of 0.1%.
Year-on-year, the highest price growth was observed in West Kazakhstan (4.8%), Aktobe (4.1%), and Shymkent (3.1%). The most modest increases were recorded in Almaty (0.9%), Akmola (1.1%), and Zhetysu (1.7%).
Production, Pricing, and Export Data
In April 2025, the average price per liter of AI-92 was 205 KZT ($0.40), AI-95/96 stood at 264 KZT ($0.52), and AI-98 at 299 KZT ($0.59). The highest AI-92 prices were in Petropavlovsk ($0.41), and the lowest in Atyrau ($0.38). Taldykorgan had the most expensive AI-95/96 ($0.54), while Atyrau offered the lowest ($0.48). AI-98 was priciest in Almaty ($0.62) and cheapest in Aktobe ($0.56).
In the first two months of 2025, domestic producers met 99.99% of the nation’s gasoline demand. Kazakhstan produced 1.1 million tons of gasoline, a 20.8% year-on-year increase. Imports totaled only 101.8 tons, down 8.1%. The country exported 6,700 tons of gasoline during this period, all to Uzbekistan. Supplies to the domestic market rose by 20%, also reaching 1.1 million tons.
