New Kazakhstan - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 9

New Kazakhstan Murder Trial Talgar case Sherzat Bolat nationwide attention Judicial Transparency

Open Wounds: Why a Murder Trial in Talgar Has Gripped Kazakhstan

In recent years, Kazakhstan has begun broadcasting high-profile criminal trials online in a move toward greater transparency in the justice system. The trial of former Minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev, sentenced to 24 years for brutally beating his wife Saltanat Nukenova to death, marked the beginning of this new judicial openness. Now, another trial has captured the public imagination: the case of the killing of teenager Sherzat Bolat in a street fight involving adult men. The tragic events in Talgar, a small town near Almaty, have resonated across the country, exposing what many see as a long-standing culture of impunity and complacency within law enforcement. The Talgar Tragedy While the full chronology of events is still being established in court, several key details were released early in the investigation. Video footage suggests that Sherzat Bolat may have initiated the confrontation, allegedly striking a man he believed hadn’t paid for beer outside a store rented by his father. The man then summoned reinforcements. A group of eleven men reportedly responded to his call, sparking a violent altercation. During the melee, Bolat was fatally stabbed in the heart. His uncle, who rushed to defend him, was also stabbed and beaten. The incident occurred on October 4, 2024, in Talgar, a town with untapped tourism potential and historical roots tracing back to the medieval city of Talhiz. But for many, Talgar symbolizes not cultural heritage, but bureaucratic neglect. The town's overgrown archaeological remnants mirror what residents say is the indifference of local authorities. When no swift action followed his son’s death, Sherzat’s father, Karzhaubai Nurymov, staged a protest on October 7 alongside several residents. Nurymov demanded a transparent investigation and an open trial, appealing directly to Prosecutor General, Berik Asylov, and calling for visits from senior officials, including the Akim of the Almaty Region. Demonstrators threatened to block roads unless their demands were immediately addressed. The protest prompted action. With the Minister of Internal Affairs taking the case under his control, the authorities began reviewing the family’s allegations. Intimidation and Escalation Just days later, on October 12, Sherzat’s family home was set on fire while relatives gathered at his grandmother’s house for a memorial. Police opened a criminal case for arson and placed the family under protection. According to the family’s lawyer, Askar Kaymakov, they had requested protection a day earlier after receiving threats. The next day, National Guard units were deployed to patrol Talgar amid rumors of entrenched organized crime networks operating with the complicity of local officials and police. While the government has denied the existence of a "Talgar mafia," the incident triggered a wave of dismissals in the local police force and administration, seemingly validating public suspicion. Despite initial skepticism, the investigation appears to have been thorough. Authorities conducted 40 forensic examinations, questioned around 200 witnesses, and recreated the crime scene with the suspects. Confrontations and other legal procedures were carried out, and eight videos were analyzed. The criminal case now spans 62 volumes. A Nation’s Unresolved Trauma The Talgar case has...

New Kazakhstan Gender Equality Banknotes Gender Stereotypes

Video: Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Modern Kazakhstan

From factory workers to female boxing champions and long-distance lorry drivers, The Times of Central Asia explores the growing challenges to long-held gender stereotypes in modern Kazakhstan, as women feel more emboldened than ever to follow their dreams. [embed]https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/%D0%93%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BF%D1%8B.mp4[/embed] This video was made by UNFPA Kazakhstan with the financial support of the UK Government. All views expressed in the video do not reflect the official position of UNFPA or the UK Government.

Interview New Kazakhstan Ethnicity

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...

Nazarbayeva Security Rule of law Legislation Social New Kazakhstan Nazarbayev

How Kazakhstan Is Cleansing Itself of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Legacy

“New Kazakhstan,” the term introduced by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev after the attempted coup d'état in January 2022, has also given birth to a thesis about “Old Kazakhstan." "Old Kazakhstan" is associated with the country's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and his numerous relatives, who penetrated all spheres of life in the country. So, which former head of state's relatives fell into the clutches of justice? Gulmira Satybaldy Gulmira Satybaldy, former wife of Kairat Satybaldyuly, nephew of the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is currently on trial in Almaty. She is accused of locking up her relative and business partner, Abai Zhunusov, for 165 days and, after intimidating him, transferring his shares in various companies to her proxies. Damages are estimated at $2.2 million (1.4 billion KZT). The guilty verdict, which few doubt will be passed, will not be her first. On 4 May 2023, the Astana court sentenced Gulmira Satybaldy to seven years' imprisonment for self-rule and kidnapping. A month later, on 30 June 2023, the Kyzylorda court sentenced her to eight years in prison for embezzlement and misappropriation of other people's property. The new, harsher sentence absorbed the previous punishment. Kairat Satybaldyuly Next is Kairat Satybaldyuly, a rather grim figure from the Nazarbayev clan. In the early noughties, on the now defunct Internet site “Aziopa,” which was attributed to Nazarbayev's former eldest son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev, Kairat Satybaldyuly was painted black with hints of his handcuffing his wife to the radiator and beating her. It also pointed to Kairat's presidential ambitions. Satybaldyuly is the son of Nursultan Nazarbayev's younger brother, Satybaldy, who died in 1981 in a car accident. According to Forbes Kazakhstan, during his uncle's presidency, Kairat was listed as one of the country's most influential business people with a fortune of 163 million dollars. According to Kazakhstan's media, the nephew of the former president of Kazakhstan was listed as the sole founder of the offshore firm Skyline Investment Company S.A., which owns over 24% of the shares of Kazakhstan's telecommunications company Kazakhtelecom. In addition to working in the civil service, including in the National Security Committee, he was deputy akim of Astana, and held senior positions in national companies. Detained in March 2022 on suspicion of abuse of power and large-scale embezzlement of funds by Kazakhtelecom JSC and Transport Service Center JSC, Satybaldyuly was held in custody until the trial. In court, Satybaldyuly reached a mediation agreement with the injured parties and paid 40 billion tenge ($89.5 million) in damages. He also entered into a procedural plea agreement. In September 2022, he was sentenced to six years in prison. The court ordered the confiscation of his property and banned him from working in the civil service for ten years. A submission was also made to the President of Kazakhstan to strip Satybaldyuly of the title “Major General of the National Security Bodies of Kazakhstan,” as well as the state orders “Kurmet” and “Parasat.” Despite reports that the Anti-Corruption Service of Kazakhstan is investigating criminal cases against Satybaldyuly involving tax...

Saltanat Nukenova Bishimbayev Murder Trial New Kazakhstan Rule of law

Justice Prevails in Kazakhstan Murder Trial Exposing Rift Between Government and Old Regime

The trial of Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former Minister of the Economy of Kazakhstan, was a watershed event representing the growing role of civil society in the country, as well as the new political leadership’s success in breaking a decades-old cycle sustained by corrupt elites. In spearheading reforms to align his country with international best practices, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has also answered people’s demands. But public worries that Bishimbayev, sentenced to 24 years in prison for killing his wife, may be pardoned as soon as Tokayev leaves office shows how fragile the country’s institutional development remains and how its progress may still be on a ticking clock. Kazakh politician Kuandyk Bishimbayev was convicted of murdering his common-law wife, Saltanat Nukenova, during an altercation between the couple in November 2023 at an Astana restaurant. Throughout the course of his trial, which started in March 2024, it became apparent that the violence caught on a CCTV camera was not a one-off incident, but the latest in a string of abuse. The video, also seen by the jury, includes scenes of a man grabbing a woman by the hair, kicking her, and hitting her in the face. Nukenova is said to have subsequently died from brain trauma. Several factors drew international attention to the case, including the high-profile names involved, broadcasted court proceedings, wide social media engagement, and the commentaries from human rights figures and opinion leaders. The ultimate verdict handed down to Bishimbayev, 24 years imprisonment in a maximum-security institution, is in many ways unprecedented in post-Soviet states, and became a harbinger of changes in both Kazakhstan’s justice system and society. Bishimbayev’s cousin and the director of the restaurant where Nukenova was killed, Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, was also sentenced to four years in prison. How a tragedy precipitated positive change Saltanat Nukenova’s death, and the events following it, helped bring about new laws and perhaps even opened the way for further reforms. Just as importantly, they also increased legal literacy among Kazakhstan’s civil society. The government’s response, for its part, has garnered international praise. Critically, the public tragedy expedited the implementation of positive steps that President Tokayev had previously wanted to take. Contrary to popular belief, Nukenova’s murder was not the basis of the initiative to re-criminalize domestic violence. This change had already been proposed by Tokayev in 2019, but was opposed by legislators, some of whom reportedly had themselves been previously associated with cases of domestic violence or abuse. The events surrounding Nukenova’s death provided the government with an opportunity to overcome domestic opposition and take steps to correct the country’s course on violence against women and children. On April 15, 2024, Tokayev signed a landmark law criminalizing violence against women and children, reversing a 2017 decriminalization. The need for full-fledged judicial reforms has been advocated for by several international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public associations, as well as institutions in the United States and Europe. This is not surprising given that the country’s existing judicial system was largely formed under its first...

New Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Political Experts Outline Tasks Ahead for New Government

On February 7th, an expanded meeting of Kazakhstan's new government took place at which President Tokayev sharply criticized previous initiatives. For example, tax code improvements had been in the works for quite some time, but the final proposal was reduced to raising rates and even imposing taxes on mobile-phone transfers. This caused a wave of resentment among ordinary Kazakhstanis and entrepreneurs. Therefore, the recent resignation of the government is not a surprise, according to political scientist and Director of the Institute of Eurasian Integration, Urazgali Selteyev, who also labeled such legislative reforms "mistakes." "The resignation was long overdue," Selteyev told The Times of Central Asia. "There are accumulated omissions and systemic failures in the work of the government. For all the months of work, no serious improvements are visible. A practical vision of a new economic model has not been presented. The development of the budget code has been delayed, and the clarification of tax reform has failed. Positive statistics on the reduction of inflation do not correspond to the real state of affairs in the economy and social sphere." A similar opinion is held by political scientist and Managing Director of GR Consulting Group, Yerbol Yedilov, who notes that the focus will now be on improving the economy, but not to the detriment of business, as instructed by Tokayev at the meeting. "I think they will target [improving] the country's economy, and, led by the prime minister, will carry out large-scale work on the return of illegally exported funds. Reforming the budget sphere, which the president is talking about, is only the beginning. There are deeper plans, and in time they should lead to a global increase in the country's economy," Yedilov told The Times of Central Asia. The head of state referred to this in his address, stating that Kazakhstan will seek to improve its anti-corruption policy, meaning that further personnel reshuffles are inevitable."Tokayev mentioned that the state of roads, heat and power centers is a reflection of our corruption. It can be understood that [more] personnel purges within the ministries lay ahead. Emphasis will be placed on honest and incorruptible officials," Yedilov concluded. Currently, according to political analysts, Kazakhstan is lacking in investment resources, and the main goal of the new cabinet is to replenish the national fund. "This is a transformation of the economy on the basis of strengthening and expanding investment activity," political scientist Gaziz Abishev told The Times of Central Asia. "After all, the liberalization of prices in a number of sectors, the liberalization of the economy itself, the protection of investors from corruption and bureaucracy, the use of public funds and simplification of the tax code is all about investment, which is now so lacking in Kazakhstan. We need to invest in new production and the creation of [value-added industries], but this cannot be done without capital. For both internal and external reasons, and because of volatility in foreign markets, there is not a lot of free money in Kazakhstan's economy. How realistic...