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Kazakhstan
More about this topic
Voices from Central Asia
Meet the man behind the end of nuclear testing
In partnership with MDQ
Olzhas Suleimenov, a Soviet and Kazakh writer and public figure, has left a lasting legacy at the intersection of literature and activism. Rising to global prominence as the leader of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk movement, he played a key role in the closure of the world’s first nuclear test site.
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Modern Nomads
Kazakhstan strengthens social protection and public welfare
In partnership with MDQ
Kazakhstan is steadily building one of Central Asia’s most comprehensive social support systems, combining financial assistance, public services, and digital tools to reach citizens at every stage of life.
East-West Connect
A rising destination for medical tourism
In partnership with MDQ
Kazakhstan is positioning itself as Central Asia’s medical tourism hub. The country attracted about 80,000 foreign patients last year and aims to increase that to 300,000 annually. Among the attractions is Astana’s National Research Oncology Center, which hosts the region’s only proton therapy unit.
Travel News
Astana to host major European travel forum
Kazakhstan will host the German DRV Destination Forum in Astana in August 2026 amid growing tourist flows from Germany. The agreement, reached at the ITB travel fair in Berlin, is expected to deepen tourism cooperation and raise Kazakhstan’s profile among German tour operators.
Lifestyle
Why young Kazakhs are turning ornaments into tattoos
What was once woven into carpets and carved into wood is now being etched onto skins of a new generation. For many young people, it is a way to reclaim identity, to reconnect with cultural roots and to transform inherited symbols into something deeply personal.
Cinema
Women's rights documentary makes historic Berlinale premiere
For the first time in its history, a Kazakh documentary has premiered at the Berlinale’s Forum section — one of the world’s most influential film festivals. ‘River Dreams’, the debut feature by director Kristina Mikhailova, gives voice to women imagining life beyond male dominance.
Culture news
One goal, two approaches: Cultural connections in Central Asia
Central Asia is investing heavily in cultural infrastructure, from privately funded museums in Kazakhstan to state-led institutions in Uzbekistan. These contrasting approaches reveal how culture is being mobilised as strategy, legacy and soft power across the region.
Markets
Europe lost out on 3.8mn tonnes of Kazakh oil after Black Sea attacks
Kazakhstan’s oil exports fell after Ukrainian drone attacks and stormy weather hampered operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s marine terminal in Novorossyisk. Its major oil field Tengiz also suffered an outage in January.
