Kazakhstan trial over deadly riots begins (27.03.2012)

(Source:BBC)

A court in Kazakhstan has begun the trial of 37 people accused of violent disorder, the worst since the country's independence 20 years ago.

Nazarbayev bashes OSCE amid domestic tension (07.03.2012)

(Source:Eurasianet)

Not too long ago, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was held in the highest regard by President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s administration, in large part because Astana chaired the group in 2010. Now, the OSCE is an object of Kazakhstan’s contempt.

OSCE monitors criticize Kazakh vote failings (16.01.2012)

(Source:RFE/RL)

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said that despite the authorities' stated ambition to strengthen democratic processes, the January 15 vote "did not meet fundamental principles of democratic elections."

Kazakhstan invites UN to probe deadly rioting (22.12.2011)

(Source:RFE/RL)

Kazakhstan's prosecutor-general has reportedly invited the United Nations to take part in the investigation into last week's deadly clashes between security forces and protesters in the oil-rich west.

UN's Ban urges Kyrgyz reconciliation (08.12.2011)

(Source:RFE/RL)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the new leadership in Kyrgyzstan to encourage national dialogue and reconciliation in the wake of last year's overthrow of the government and subsequent deadly ethnic clashes. The statement from Ban's office comes one day after Almazbek Atambaev, a former prime minister, was inaugurated as Kyrgyzstan's president … .

Kazakh President dissolves Parliament, calls early elections (16.11.2011)

(Source:RFE/RL)

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev has dissolved the lower house of parliament and called early parliamentary elections for January 15-16.

Kazakhstan: Astana confronts extremist threat (06.09.2011)

(Source:EurasiaNet)

Kazakhstan's law-enforcers had a busy summer: it began with the country’s first ever suicide bombing in May, and continued with sporadic deadly clashes between security forces and armed suspects. Officials at first resisted linking the incidents to terrorists. But now, after months of denials, authorities are acknowledging an extremist threat, primarily in the country’s energy hub.

Kazakh party demands probe into reported election violations (05.04.2011)

(Source:RFE/RL)

Kazakhstan's opposition Azat (Free) Social Democratic Party has demanded an investigation into reported electoral-law violations during the April 3 presidential election, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev wins re-election (04.04.2011)

(Source:BBC)

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has won an crushing election victory, saying he now has "carte blanche" to continue national reform.

Kazakh parliament passes bill on early polls (02.02.2011)

(Source:RFE/RL)

Kazakhstan's parliament today approved amendments to the constitution allowing President Nursultan Nazarbaev to call an early presidential election.

U.S. criticizes move to extend Kazakh president's term via referendum (04.01.2011)

(Source:RFE/RL)

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan said Washington believes that a national referendum to replace the presidential elections guaranteed by Kazakhstan's constitution would be a "setback for democracy in Kazakhstan."

Six months into OSCE chair, Kazakhstan found wanting in Kyrgyz events (30.06.2010)

(Source:RFE/RL)

As Kazakhstan hits the halfway mark in its one-year chairmanship, many observers have said the OSCE's response to the crisis in Kyrgyzstan has been lackadaisical, if not downright negligent.

Afghan reconciliation process must respect constitutional order, Ban says (16.03.2010)

(Source:UN News)

Cautioning against a militarization of the overall effort towards greater peace and democracy in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says there is growing consensus for a political process to end the conflict, as well as for the establishment of a programme to reintegrate low- and mid-level insurgents who wish to give up fighting.

Foreign U.N. staffers return to Afghanistan (15.03.2010)

(Source:Reliefweb)

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan is no longer keeping staff abroad as a security measure, after it evacuated hundreds of foreign workers following an attack last year, a spokeswoman said on Monday. Scores of the evacuated workers have returned to Afghanistan, while others have quit and others left after their contracts ran out, leaving many vacancies for staff, Susan Manuel said.

Kazakstan to enshrine political pluralism in law (08.09.2009)

(Source:IWPR / UK)

New bill envisages multiparty legislature, though critics say the authorities will seek to handpick parliamentary “opponents”. … Analysts see the move as part of Kazakstan’s desire to produce a better set of democratic credentials when its turn comes to chair of the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe, OSCE, next year.

Rights group urging improvements, as OSCE chair looms (24.06.2009)

(Source:EurasiaNet / USA)

A global human rights watchdog says Kazakhstan is risking a public relations debacle unless it takes fast action to ease restrictions on mass media and promote political openness.

HRW warns Kazakhstan’s OSCE chairmanship could “backfire” (05.06.2009)

(Source:RFE/RL / International)

(HRW executive director) Kenneth Roth told RFE/RL in Almaty that unless Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev or Prime Minister Karim Masimov sends a clear signal that the government cares how its OSCE chairmanship is received, the lower levels of government will not take the necessary steps to improve media rights, the freedom of assembly, and religious freedoms. Roth said that instead of boosting the Kazakh government's reputation and legitimacy around the world, its OSCE chairmanship could backfire if it is seen as the "hypocrisy of a leader that fails to abide by the democratic standards it is supposed to be upholding."

Evaluating Astana’s democratization intentions (15.05.2009)

(Source:EurasiaNet / UK)

When Kazakhstan was named 2010 chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Astana pledged to undertake wide-ranging political reforms. But now, just over six months before Kazakhstan takes over the OSCE’s helm, US lawmakers and diplomats are voicing concern that Astana is not serious about fulfilling its commitments.

Kazakhstan ponders joining Afghan fray (10.12.2008)

(Source:Asia Times / China)

Kazakhstan is seriously considering sending its peacekeepers to Afghanistan, which would mark the first deployment of soldiers from Central Asia since the Soviet-Afghan war of the 1980s. Such a controversial step would follow Kazakhstan's decision in October to withdraw its peacekeepers from Iraq, based there since 2003 under Polish command and carrying out demining and water purification tasks.

Kazakhstan falling short on OSCE goals, rights group says (01.12.2008)

(Source:RFE/RL / International)

The West agreed to allow Kazakhstan to become the first ex-Soviet nation to take over the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) after Kazakhstan promised to introduce a package of liberal reforms. In a report titled "An Atmosphere of Quiet Repression," New York-based Human Rights Watch said Kazakhstan has made only "superficial" steps in that direction.

Kazakh Government prepares to impose elements of democracy (17.11.2008)

(Quelle: RFL / RL) Two ingredients usually found in a democracy are a parliament with representatives from more than one political party and an unfettered, independent media. The Organization for Security and Coop-eration in Europe (OSCE) upholds such democratic ideals and calls on its members to ensure they are respected. But the country slated to take over the OSCE's rotating chairmanship in 2010, Kazakhstan, lacks those two basic ingredients. To make up for this shortfall, the government is taking steps to impose elements of parliamentary pluralism and free media.

OSCE helps promote confidence- and security-building measures in Central Asia (29.10.2008)

(Kabar) Further enhancing confidence- and security-building measures and promoting military co-operation outlined in the 1999 OSCE Vienna Document are the focus of a training seminar that started in Almaty yesterday.

Kazakh electors pick fresh crop of senators (04.10.2008)

(Quelle: RFE / RL) The head of Kazakhstan’s election authority has endorsed the results of an indirect vote to fill a handful of seats in the country’s rubber-stamp upper house of parliament, saying candidates won majorities in all 16 contests. It was unclear whether all the winners were members of the pro-presidential Nur-Otan party or nominal independents, but there were no opposition members among the 37 candidates in the running.

Kazak state tightens grip on media (31.03.2008)

(Quelle: IWPR) The Kazak government has moved in to buy up all remaining shares in the country’s largest broadcasting conglomerate, in a move that media-watchers have seen as an attempt to reinstate total control over the media.

Kazakh son-in-law 'gets 20 years' (26.03.2008)

(Quelle: BBC) The former son-in-law of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has been found guilty of plotting a coup. A military court sentenced Rakhat Aliyev - who lives abroad and was not at the trial - to 20 years in prison.

Kazakhstan picked to chair OSCE (01.12.2007)

(Quelle: BBC) Kazakhstan will assume the presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010, the body's council has decided. The Central Asian country will be the first ex-Soviet republic to chair the human rights and defence watchdog.

Ethnic clash a worrying sign (23.11.2007)

(Quelle: IWPR) Sporadic clashes involving different ethnic groups in Kazakstan suggest that the authorities are failing to manage intercommunal tensions and work towards better integration, say analysts. Over the last two years, a number of incidents that initially had no ethnic dimension have blown up into broader clashes between people divided along ethnic lines.

Kazakhstan, OSCE to continue election cooperation (06.11.2007)

(Quelle: RFE / RL) A visiting OSCE official has signaled the organization's readiness to continue cooperating with Kazakhstan on democracy and rights issues, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. The head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), Christian Strohal, made his remarks after meeting with Kazakh officials in Astana to discuss election procedures there.

Wahlen in Kasachstan mit klarem Favoriten (16.10.2007)

(Quelle: NZZ) Bei den Parlamentswahlen in Kasachstan wird die Partei von Präsident Nasarbajew erneut deutlich gewinnen. Dennoch könnte es diesmal auch einer Oppositionspartei gelingen, ins neue Parlament einzuziehen.

Ruling Party sweeps Kazakhstan election, official count shows (20.08.2007)

(Quelle: Washington Post) The ruling party of Kazakhstan won all of the contested seats in a nationwide parliamentary election this weekend, according to preliminary results announced Sunday. The outcome cements the authority of the country's longtime leader, President Nursultan Nazarbayev. … As opposition parties dismissed the results as invalid, monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the vote failed to meet a number of international standards of fairness but nonetheless represented a step forward for the democratic development in the oil-rich Central Asian country.