Magzhan Ilyasov Appointed Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United States

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Magzhan Ilyasov as Kazakhstan’s new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States. The appointment is part of a broader reshuffling of the country’s foreign policy leadership. The presidential decree announcing the appointment was published on the official Akorda website. Ilyasov succeeds Yerzhan Ashikbayev, who served in Washington from 2021 until his dismissal on September 26, 2025, shortly after Tokayev’s working visit to New York. Born in Almaty in 1974, Ilyasov graduated with honors from the Faculty of International Relations at the Kazakh State University of World Languages. He later earned a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Ilyasov began his diplomatic career in 1996 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, starting as a referent before serving as attaché and secretary in the Department of the United Nations and International Economic Organizations. By the late 1990s, he transitioned to the Presidential Administration, focusing on protocol and organizing international meetings. From 2005 to 2016, he held senior roles in the foreign policy division of the Presidential Administration, eventually becoming an advisor to the president. His diplomatic postings include: 2016-2020: Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 2020-2022: Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations; and 2022-2025: Ambassador to the United Kingdom, with concurrent accreditation to Iceland and Ireland beginning in 2023 Ilyasov’s appointment comes amid a broader realignment of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy team. On the same day Ashikbayev was dismissed, several key changes were announced: Murat Nurtleu stepped down as Foreign Minister to become the president’s assistant for international investment and trade cooperation; Yermek Kosherbayev was appointed as the new Foreign Minister; and Yerzhan Kazykhan, formerly the president’s assistant for international affairs, was named Kazakhstan’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Ilyasov’s extensive diplomatic experience and recent high-profile postings are seen as aligning with Kazakhstan’s strategic priorities in the United States, particularly amid growing engagement in investment, trade, and security dialogue.

QazElles Brings Kazakh Culture to France

Since 2023, the Association of Kazakh Women in France — QazElles, a name blending "Kazakhstan" with the French word elles (meaning "women") — has gained international recognition for its impactful initiatives well beyond the borders of France. Today, QazElles unites 40 accomplished women living in cities across France, all of whom have personal or professional ties to Kazakhstan. Its diverse membership includes students from leading Parisian universities, engineers at prominent French companies, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the creative industries. The association was established a few years ago in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in France. “QazElles represents bright, strong, and accomplished daughters of their homeland who dedicate their free time to promoting Kazakh identity in France, building a supportive community of like-minded women," says Madina Kulmanova, president of QazElles, who has lived in France for over 20 years. "Many of us have no close family here in France. This association became our family." Despite its relatively recent founding, QazElles has already organized several high-profile cultural events, all carried out on a fully volunteer basis by Kazakh women living in Paris. In 2023, the group operated a chalet at La Défense, the largest Christmas market in the Paris region, for over a month. Showcasing Kazakh artisans, it quickly became a crowd favorite. Long queues formed for traditional manti (steamed dumplings filled with meat, pumpkin, and dough) and handmade felt slippers. For two consecutive years, a miniature Kazakh aul (village) has come to life during Nauryz (March 21–22) on Place des Ternes, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe. Much like in Kazakhstan, the celebration features a yurt, traditional games, folk music, and festive cuisine. This year, several thousand visitors, mostly local Parisians, many encountering Kazakh culture for the first time, explored the aul. Inside the yurt, guests experienced a guided audio tour written and narrated by Aliya Syzdykova. Outside, dancers from the Kazakh city of Shymkent performed in the square, while artisans sold out of tyubeteikas (traditional embroidered caps). Among the exhibitors was QazElles member Kamila Florenti, a jeweler who creates a distinctive line of delicate silver pieces inspired by Kazakh motifs. "We love this project because it brings people together. There was so much kindness, warmth, and friendship. I think we truly gave Parisians a little journey into a real Kazakh celebration,” shares Madina Kulmanova, her emotion clearly visible. QazElles quickly discovered that the way to a Parisian’s heart is through culinary exploration. One of the association’s most celebrated initiatives was a “four-hands” dinner featuring two renowned chefs: Artem Kantsev from Astana and Frédéric Simonin from Paris. The event was held at Simonin’s Michelin-starred restaurant, where the two chefs collaborated on a unique menu that blended the bold flavors of Kazakh cuisine with the finesse of French culinary tradition. Among the standout dishes was camel meat manti wrapped in coffee-infused dough, served with a sauce made from kurt (a salty, dried fermented dairy product popular in Central Asia) and French cheeses. The success of the event...