ANALYSIS: Succeeding in Kazakhstan
(bne) – When Nursultan Nazarbayev won April’s Kazakh presidential election with a resounding majority, the issue of who would suceed the septuagenarian appeared to have been put on the backburner for the time being. But three months later, Nazarbayev’s visit to Germany for medical treatment has put it firmly back on the agenda.
ANALYSIS: Voter turnout seen low in Kazakhstan’s foregone conclusion
(bne) – With Kazakhstan’s presidential election on April 3 sure to result in victory for President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has ruled for two decades, the only real question is how low the turnout will be.
Kazakhstan Politics Roundup – July 10, 2008
Nazarbayev hints that democratization will take back seat on OSCE agenda
(EurasiaNet) – President Nursultan Nazarbayev has given a preview of how Kazakhstan will approach its chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and the future does not look pretty for the organization’s democratization component.
Nobel Prize for alleged human rights offender?
(ABC News) – Controversial President of Kazakhstan is backed for Nobel by US lawmakers.
Kazakhstan Politics Roundup – July 2, 2008
U.S. lawmakers question Kazakhstan’s fitness to chair OSCE
(EurasiaNet) – A U.S. congressional delegation visiting Kazakhstan called on the country to speed up democratic reforms ahead of assuming the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010.
Managing to be friends with everyone
(Financial Times) – Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s president, is hosting a party this week to mark his 68th birthday and the first decade of Astana, the new capital he has built in the central Asian steppe.
Chairing the OSCE will test democratic commitment
(Financial Times) – Kazakhstan’s president is considering ordering a snap parliamentary election next year, setting the stage for more pluralistic political debate.
Kazakhstan Society Roundup – June 27, 2008
Kazakh leader creates national holiday on his birthday
(AP – IHT) – azakhstan’s president has approved a bill to create a new holiday on his birthday to honor the nation’s capital, Astana, local media reported Thursday.
Borat defeated? Kazakh women declare victory in battle of the sexes (Telegraph)
Traffic police head claims monthly salary over $1,000 will keep officers on job (Interfax)
