Ethnicity - The Times Of Central Asia

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Ethnic Kazakhs Continue To Return to Kazakhstan

In 2024, a total of 12,325 ethnic Kazakhs returned to their ancestral homeland, gaining the status of "Kandas," a term for ethnic Kazakhs and/or members of their families of Kazakh nationality who have not previously held citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since independence, Kazakhstan has welcomed 1.14 million returnees. This year, 45.6% of the arrivals came from China, 39.2% from Uzbekistan, and the remainder almost exclusively from Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Russia. As of September 1, 2024, the majority of these individuals are working-age adults (58.2%) with higher or secondary education. Many have secured employment and received support for resettlement in labor-deficient regions, such as Akmola and Kostanay. Kazakhstan actively supports these returnees with relocation subsidies of 258,400 tenge ($540) per family member, and offers housing and utility subsidies for a year. Economic mobility programs also provide assistance towards purchasing housing and obtaining favorable mortgage rates. Furthermore, the process to obtain Kandas status has been streamlined, allowing applications through Kazakhstani embassies without the need to enter the country. This pilot program, started in 2023, has already processed 17,158 applications. Since 2020, the term "Kandas," meaning "tribesman" or "one-brother," has replaced "Oralman," reflecting a more positive and respectful connotation. This change is part of a broader effort to simplify citizenship processes for returnees, offering access to residency and citizenship through streamlined procedures, boosting the nation's labor potential and economic growth.

Ethnicity New Kazakhstan Interview

Embracing Diversity: Love Blossoms Between International Couples in New Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a multi-ethnic country in which more than 130 ethnic groups coexist. According to the 2021 census, Kazakhs make up about 70% of the total population, while other ethnic groups make up the remaining 30%. This diversity of cultures and traditions creates a unique atmosphere for interethnic relations. The growing number of international couples in Kazakhstan can be attributed to this diversity. People of different nationalities are beginning to meet and start families, enriching their lives with new traditions and cultural aspects. One such couple is DJ, Ainura Tukubayeva, and Mehrdad Razavi, a fashion model, whose story together began in 2018. TCA spoke to Ainura to find out about their experience of living in Kazakhstan, and how the diversity of cultures has influenced their relationship. TCA: Tell us about yourselves, where did you meet? Ainura: My husband and I are an international couple. I’m from Kazakhstan and he’s from Iran. We first met in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at a party organized by a mutual friend. That night marked the beginning of our incredible journey together. TCA: How did your husband adapt to life in Kazakhstan? My husband's adaptation to life in Kazakhstan was remarkably smooth, largely because we were surrounded by family who showered us with love and support. This made a world of difference, helping him feel at home right from the start. The biggest challenge for him was definitely the weather. Coming from the tropics, the harsh Kazakh winter, with temperatures dropping to -30°C, was a real shock. I still remember the look on his face when he first stepped outside into the freezing cold; it was priceless! However, with time and plenty of warm clothing, he adjusted, and now he even jokes about how he's become a true Kazakh by enduring such extreme conditions. TCA: What has impressed him most about Kazakh culture? What really captivated him about Kazakh culture was the strong sense of community and the deep bonds within families. He was touched by how families are incredibly close-knit and how this sense of unity extends to the larger community, as well. There's a genuine spirit of togetherness here that he finds both comforting and inspiring. He also noticed how much people here love to celebrate life. Whether it’s a small gathering or a big event, Kazakhs know how to have a good time, and this joy for life is something he truly admires. It’s a nation of happy, resilient people, and that’s left a lasting impression on him. TCA: How did locals in Kazakhstan perceive you as an international couple? Our experience as an international couple in Kazakhstan has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly supportive people who have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and at home. Despite some stereotypes about international marriages, we’ve never faced anything that made us feel different or unwelcome. In fact, our friends and family have embraced us wholeheartedly, and this has...

Bilateral Relations Bilateral Cooperation Ethnicity

Focus on Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan

On 21 May, Astana hosted the 20th meeting of the Kazakh-German Intergovernmental Commission for the Affairs of Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan, co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities, Member of the Bundestag, Natalie Pawlik. Representatives of the two countries’ ministries and organizations, including the Wiedergeburt (Rebirth) foundation also participated. The agenda focused on cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany to support the cultural, linguistic, and national identity of Kazakh Germans, as well as the implementation of joint projects in science, education, and culture. The parties reiterated their mutual interest in expanding partnerships within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission and strengthening the “living bridge” connecting Kazakhstan and Germany. During World War II, Stalin's henchman, Lavrentiy Beria supervized the mass deportation of the Volga Germans, Chechens, Ingush, Pontic Greeks, Crimean Tatars, Balkars and the Karachays, largely to Central Asia. With the crowded wagons stopping only to bury the dead in the snow, approximately 30% perished. According to statistics, 226,000 ethnic Germans reside in Kazakhstan, today, whilst some one million Germans have moved from Kazakhstan to their ancestral homeland. Emphasizing the importance of Kazakhstan’s multi-ethnic population in the successful development of the country, Vassilenko stated that: “Thousands of kilometers separating our countries do not hinder the development and deepening of Kazakh-German relations, as well as the promotion of rapprochement of our peoples. By virtue of history, Kazakhstan has a large German diaspora, while many former citizens of Kazakhstan have resettled in Germany.” Ethnic Germans are represented in all spheres of life in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh-German Center in Astana, the Kazakh-German University in Almaty, the Kazakh-German Institute of Sustainable Engineering in Aktau, the German Drama Theatre, as well as the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper play significant roles in strengthening cultural and humanitarian interaction between Kazakhstan and Germany. Natalie Pawlik welcomed the dynamically developing bilateral cooperation and emphasized that Germany regards Kazakhstan as a key partner in its relations with Central Asia. In her commendation of assistance provided by the German Federal Government to the Germans of Kazakhstan, she mentioned that the study of the German language in Kazakhstan can not only contribute to the preservation of the ethnic Germans’ national identity but prove beneficial to professionals engaging in joint investment projects.

Kazakhstan Society Ethnicity National Unity

Divisive Forces Prompt Tokayev’s “National Unity” Message

At the 32nd session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promoted peace and harmony as the state ideology and impressed on “national unity” by referring to all citizens of his country as Kazakhs regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or religious affiliation. “Society should not be divided on these grounds”, Tokayev said. Kazakhstan, a predominantly Muslim nation where Christians make up nearly 25% of the population, constitutes a genuine melting pot housing 131 different ethnicities. Such diversity can positively fuel innovation by merging different perspectives and create complex problem-solving methods. But it can also turn into a vulnerability when differences are manipulated to divide communities to gain political advantage. The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan was established in 1995 to mitigate such risks and foster social harmony in the country. Forces of division The President's latest statements draw attention to what the country perceives as threats to its national unity, which also reverberate elsewhere in the world, including corruption, malign foreign influence, and disinformation. It is difficult to ascertain whether foreign-backed political activities are genuinely aimed at enhancing the human condition in a country or are instead trying to undermine the state's stability to advance the agendas of other states or individuals. Worryingly for Kazakhstan, a survey of whom many of the well-known political activists are affiliated with shows that they have not grown organically from the country’s civil society ecosystem. Instead, they are often funded by foreign states, NGOs and/or oligarchs. This represents a complex scenario that should alarm true defenders of democracy and human rights. Firstly, the entrenched oligarchy formed under former President Nazarbayev’s thirty-year reign presents a challenge to the current leadership’s efforts to tackle corruption, kleptocracy and disinformation. These powerful business elites, who largely control the economy and media, resist any efforts to curtail their reach and influence. The government’s anti-corruption initiatives and asset recovery efforts are seen as direct threats to their wealth and dominance. Secondly, foreign actors see Kazakhstan’s strategic value in the renewed Cold War between Russia and the West. While Kazakhstan’s official and clear position has been one of neutrality, foreign-backed grassroots movements and misinformation campaigns have aimed to move society to take one side or another in this somewhat bipolar battle. The convergence of these domestic and international pressures forms a formidable challenge that threatens to compromise Kazakhstan's sovereignty and the welfare of its citizens. The oligarchs, mainly fearing repatriation of their assets hidden abroad through the recovery efforts of the country’s new leadership, could be inclined to support state-led polarization efforts to weaken the government, thus further intensifying the threat to Kazakhstan's peace and stability. The evolution of the Kazakh ideology The development of Kazakhstan's national identity has been in the works since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and has intensified as the country became a focal point for foreign powers seeking influence in 2022. This broader statehood identity celebrates Kazakhstan's history and diversity. President Tokayev appears to be leading...