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14 Aug 2024

Home, Life & Culture, International Affairs, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Blast off to Baikonur: A Space Tourist’s Odyssey

August 16, 2024
By Ola Fiedorczuk

Space tourism is a growing industry, with visitors to Baikonur attending launches, especially missions to the International Space Station. The town is a leased Russian enclave ensconced within Kazakhstan, including the cosmodrome which is controlled by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. After NASA ended its Space Shuttle program in 2011, Baikonur became the only launch site to the International Space Station (ISS) until 2020. Now, 60 years after space travel began, it still remains an important gateway to the stars.

As described by Megan Eaves, “Baikonur is in many ways a perfect relic of the Soviet 1960s. Stoic mosaics depicting muscular comrades heralding a new era of space still decorate entrance gates and the walls of the town’s functional, Brutalist apartment blocks, which once housed construction workers, aerospace engineers and space families. Inside the cosmodrome, crumbling hangars stand side-by-side next to the original, minimalist cottages where Yuri Gagarin and the early cosmonauts slept.”

Statue of Yuri Gagarin in the town of Baikonur, Kazakhstan; image: Ric Gazarian

Near a hotel where visitors stay is Cosmonaut’s Alley, a path in a wooded area surrounded by trees planted by all those who launched into space from Baikonur. The first tree that greets visitors is Yuri Gagarin’s from 1961.

Continuing our coverage of Baikonur, TCA spoke to renowned travel blogger, Ric Gazarian, who in 2018 witnessed the MS-08 launch which sent three men on the 55th expedition to the ISS.

TCA: Your blogs about your experience at Baikonur contain a lot of history on the Russian space program; where and when did you find out about Baikonur and the space program? Was there anything in particular that piqued your interest?

Gazarian: There wasn’t a specific moment, but I’ve been intrigued by space travel since I was a kid. NASA is exceedingly cool and fascinating, and so is Roscosmos, but with the addition of the exoticness from a Western perspective. The history and rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union’s space program is so rich. So, when I found out about the opportunity to visit Baikonur and witness a space launch, it was immediately added to my bucketlist.

It was this unique opportunity to witness firsthand Soviet/Russian space traditions. The added bonus is so few people make the effort to visit.

Museum in the Chelomey International Space School, Baikonur, Kazakhstan; image: Ric Gazarian

TCA: You stated that “This was not your typical tourist trip to Paris…This was a group of space geeks and Soviet fan boys.” Which one are you?

Gazarian: A little bit of both. One experience we had was watching the cosmonauts leave their quarantine hotel and board the bus to take them for their final preparations before the launch. A crowd of a couple of hundred people had circled their bus; it was a rock star moment. To know these guys were soon to be launched into space touches you emotionally.

And yes, this is a dream come true for Soviet fan boys. The history, culture, images and the monuments date back to the inception of the space program, and you can relive it here.

TCA: How easy was it to arrange and how affordable was it? Could independent travelers cut some corners to make it happen, or do they need to do it strictly through a tour company?

Gazarian: It was straightforward. I contacted a company that specialized in these tours. I sent my money and a scan of the passport, and they took care of my visit to Baikonur. The reality is that Baikonur isn’t centrally located for many Western travelers. It does take a bit of extra effort to make your way there.

When I went it was approximately €2,000 for a four-night/five-day trip. In my opinion, it was truly great value. The days were incredibly full, and the access was fantastic. I felt like we were VIPs.

I believe you can visit Baikonur with the proper permission, but I’m not sure how feasible it is to see and do what we did independently in the actual space base and launch area.

TCA: What were the highlights of your trip?

Gazarian: We saw the cosmonauts a second time for a brief ceremony in the evening. As they departed, spectators rushed the bus. I recall a small boy on someone’s shoulders pushed up against the bus window and one of the cosmonauts placing his hand on the other side of the window, and I imagined that this was his son. I got a chill thinking of the magnitude of this situation and the magic that mankind has reached the stars.

TCA: You have some interesting images on your blog of the experience – like the one you describe of the boy pressed up against the bus window. Are there any other favorite ones and why?

Gazarian: My favorite photo was of the sun creeping up behind Gagarin’s Start (the most historic launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome from which Sputnik 1 and Vostok 1 were launched. Due to a lack of funding to modernize the pad, it is currently a museum). It was an epic, beautiful moment which made you think of the tradition, of all the years, every space launch where the rocket exits the hanger and makes its way down the tracks on its journey to the stars.

Soyuz rocket MS-08 at Gagarin’s Start, Baikonur, Kazakhstan; image: Ric Gazarian

TCA: Space embodies cooperation beyond geopolitics and national boundaries; with very strained relations between the West and Russia today, does what you viewed at Baikonur inspire hope that we can still work together here on Earth?

Gazarian: Well, that has been the beauty of these competing and sometimes cooperating programs. There has been common ground to combine efforts and collaborate. It will be extremely difficult for this previous extensive cooperation to continue into the future; but let us hope.

TCA: For considerably more money, Baikonur offers the next generation of space tourism in flights into space and living like a cosmonaut for ten days – is that on your bucketlist?

Gazarian: Of course, these opportunities would be amazing, but a bit beyond my budget. On my bucketlist now is to visit Russia’s newer space base, the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

This is part two of a three-part special on Baikonur. To read part one, click here. Join us soon for part three.

To read more about Ric Gazarian’s experience: “Five Days at the Russian Cosmodrome in Baikonur,” click here.

14 Aug 2024

Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Comic Con Astana 24: Mixed Impressions from Delight to Disappointment

October 8, 2024
By Tamila Olzhbaekova

Comic Conventions, known as Comic Con, began back in1970 when a group of enthusiasts gathered in San Diego, California to exchange comics. Since then, international festivals promoting comics, pop culture, sci-fi, video games, anime and related films and TV series have soared in popularity, attracting thousands of fans to venues across the globe.

Now an annual event, Kazakhstan’s Comic Con was first staged in 2019, and Comic Con Astana ’24, running from 25-28 July at the city’s Expo International Exhibition Center, was one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the world of pop culture. Tickets were available online from 15 April as well as at the door. Quick to sell out, the four-day festival attracted over 53,000 visitors from 30 countries.

photo TCA : Center stage

Comprising a comprehensive program representing all aspects of the international comics industry, Astana’s festival included appearances by numerous superstars such as Russian actors Ruzil Minekaev and Anton Lapenko, and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen renowned for his leading role in the TV series ‘Hannibal’ and as Cliff Unger in Hideo Kojima’s video game ‘Death Standing.’ Representing the home front, presentations were made by over 100 Kazakh authors of graphic novels.

In addition to having a unique opportunity to meet their heroes, actors and authors, visitors were able to actively participate in various themed events, masterclasses, autograph sessions, and exhibitions. Professionals and attendees alike, injected great flair to the event by dressing as their favorite heroes to compete for prizes totaling US$ 27,000 in a Cosplay contest.

photo: TCA: Cosplay participants

Response to the organizers’ delivery of a dynamic, wide-spanning program was generally positive, with visitors reporting that the event had met their expectations. Many however, commented that their overall impression was significantly marred by the considerable discomfort caused by lengthy, bottleneck queues of up to three hours to either enter the building or access popular events.

“The program was great, especially meeting our favorite actors,” a guest named Altair, told TCA. “But the queues were simply unbearable. We spent almost half of the day just waiting, and it greatly affected our enjoyment.”

Nastya, another guest, also expressed her dissatisfaction over the control of the flow of visitors: “The festival was cool, but the crush, which led to some visitors fainting, made our stay not as comfortable as we would have liked. I hope that in the future, Comic Con will take this into account and improve the organization.”

Aruzhan, the third visitor interviewed by TCA, added, “I liked everything, it was especially cool to see stars from all over the world, but I think they should have sold fewer tickets so that everyone was comfortable in the building.”

On the other side of the fence, blogger Anastasiz and a guest headliner of the Comic Con, was similarly upset by administrative oversights and in a video post, condemned the fact that because the queues were not closed, hundreds of people, standing in tight groups for up to three hours, suffered fainting spells and panic attacks. She was also particularly unhappy that because the organizers had failed to announce that she would not be accepting gifts, many of her fans were left disappointed and even in tears.

photo: TCA Mads Mikkelsen

Whilst acknowledging that an element of disorganization had resulted in him spending over double his allocated time signing photographs and autographs at Comic Con, Mads Mikkelsen waxed lyrical about his visit to Kazakhstan. In a recorded Q&A session, he praised Kazakh hospitality and referencing his role in the film ‘King Arthur’ in which he rode a horse with bird and bow in hand, announced that next time, he would like to explore the country on horseback.

Unfortunately, complaints about overcrowding at Kazakhstan’s Comic Con are not new. In an article published by The Astana Times on 6 August 2019, a visitor commented, “My only wish is for next year’s convention to feature free cold water and limit the number of guests that are allowed into the building at once.”

Given the fact that Comic Con is a global phenomenon which continues grow to grow from strength to strength, it can only be hoped that the organizers of next year’s event in Kazakhstan will heed visitors’ comments and take action to better ensure their comfort and safety.

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan, Life & Culture, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics, Turkmenistan Features

Turkmenistan Celebrates Caspian Sea Day

August 13, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Caspian Sea Day is currently being celebrated in a series of festive events in Turkmenistan’s national tourist zone, Avaza,

With a key focus on environmental awareness, specialists from the Nature Protection Society of Turkmenistan have organized a programme of educational activities in schools and public spaces to instil in children, a love and respect for nature, encourage them to live in harmony with the environment, and develop a strong sense of responsibility for nature conservation.

As part of the Caspian Day celebrations, the Society has conducted creative contests on environmental themes, exhibitions demonstrating the beauty of nature, photo contests, and cultural and sports competitions dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea.

In addition to the above, Turkmenistan has organized international conferences, scientific meetings, and environmental events, with special attention paid to protecting the marine environment, preserving the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea, and developing regional cooperation.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan has consistently advocated turning the Caspian Sea into a zone of peace, trust, and ecological well-being, and is actively involved in developing trade, economic, and socio-cultural ties in the region.

The Caspian Day on August 12 – a date chosen in connection with the instigation of the Framework Convention on the Protection of the Caspian Sea and the Environment from Pollution – has been celebrated annually since 2006, by the five Caspian littoral states: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Turkmenistan.

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan Establishes Center for “Information Security”

August 13, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Kyrgyzstan has created the Information Environment Research Center (IERC), which will be part of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy; its main task is to monitor and analyze the country’s information space in order to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms and prevent the spread of misinformation and inaccurate information.

The Center will identify and block illegal content on the internet and in the media and cooperate with the administrations of major social networks such as Facebook, Google, and TikTok. It will monitor compliance with legislation in the information sphere and provide recommendations on improving the information environment in Kyrgyzstan.

The establishment of the Center is part of the state strategy to strengthen information security and control the observance of citizens’ rights in the media space.

Earlier, we reported that a unified TV channel and a regional media platform could appear in Central Asia, which would become important elements in strengthening information security and cultural exchange in the region. This year, Central Asia, and Kazakhstan in particular, has been the subject of swathes on disinformation on the internet. However, independent media in Kyrgyzstan has been the target of repression by the authorities, which UN Special Rapporteurs have denounced.

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Life & Culture, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Central Asia’s Olympic Performance: A Regional Overview

August 13, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

On their return home from the Olympic Games in Paris, the Times of Central Asia reported a sense of regional unity as athletes from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan celebrated each other’s victories.

Uzbekistan won 13 medals, including eight golds, two silvers, and three bronzes, placing it top amongst Central Asian countries, and in 13th place of the 206 countries on the medals table .

The National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan announced that the equivalent of $5,804,108 had been allocated in the first three months of this year to prepare for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games. Rewards for its medalists were also generous. Gold medalists were awarded $200,000, Chevrolet Tahoes, and two-story cottages, while their coaches received $50,000 each. The silver and bronze medalists received cash prizes of $100,000 and $50,000, respectively, along with BYD Song Plus cars and apartments as a “President’s Gift”, whilst their coaches received $25,000 for silver, and $12,500, for bronze.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the equivalent of $13,551,603 was invested in preparing the national team for the Olympics. Kazakh Olympic champions received $250,000 for gold, $150,000 for silver, and $75,000 for bronze, and with one gold, three silver, and three bronze, Kazakhstan finished 43rd overall.

Kyrgyzstan allocated $3,220,140 for training its athletes and awarded silver medal winners with $83,000, and bronze medal winners with $60,000. Bringing home two silver and four bronze medals, the Kyrgyz national team was placed 68th overall.

With three bronze medals, for which each athlete received $4,500, Tajikistan took 79th place. Unfortunately, despite the participation of six athletes, Turkmenistan failed to win any medals. Details concerning funding for the Tajikistan and Turkmenistan’s teams have not been disclosed.

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Justice, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Kazakhstan Justice, Local Politics, Kazakhstan

Nazarbayev’s Nephew Returns $1.6 Billion to Kazakhstan Following Embezzlement Conviction

August 13, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Service has completed an investigation into the case of Kairat Satybaldyuly, the nephew of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Following the investigation, around 733 billion KZT ($1.6 billion) worth of assets have been returned to the state.

In September 2022, Satybaldyuly was sentenced to six years in prison for embezzling funds, and causing damage to companies such as Kazakhtelecom and CTC. In 2023, the investigation was expanded to look into into other crimes that he committed. The full investigation revealed numerous cases of legalization of illegal income and evasion of customs duties.

Satybaldyuly pleaded guilty and cooperated with the investigation, allowing the return of assets in Kazakhstan and abroad.

Most assets were found in Austria, Liechtenstein, the UAE, and Turkey. The recovered assets included 28.8% of shares of the national telecom operator Kazakhtelecom, assets of CTC JSC, and stakes in four companies.

The state has also recovered 115 real estate objects in Kazakhstan, including buildings, apartments, and land plots. The returned assets include luxury real estate and jewellery confiscated in various countries.