NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, IPA: [qɑzɑqˈstɑn]; Russian: Казахстан, Kazakhstán, IPA: [kazəxˈstan]), officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of northern and central Eurasia. Ranked the ninth largest country in the world, it has a territory of 2,727,300 km² (greater than Western Europe). It is bordered by Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China. The country also borders on a significant part of Caspian sea. Image File history File links Flag_of_Kazakhstan. ... Image File history File links Coat_of_arms_of_Kazakhstan_(flat). ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The current flag of Kazakhstan was adopted on June 4, 1992. ... The coat of arms of the country of Kazakhstan The coat of Kazakhstan exists since the dissolving of the Soviet Union 25 December 1991. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogising the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognised either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... My Kazakhstan (Kazakh: ) is the current national anthem of Kazakhstan, adopted on January 7, 2006. ... Download high resolution version (1357x628, 21 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Coordinates: Government - Mayor Askar Mamin Population (estimated) - City 600,000 Time zone BTT (UTC+6) This article is about the capital of Kazakhstan; for the article on the palace in Sarawak, see Astana (Sarawak); for the professional road-cycling team see Astana Team; for the Iranian city, see Astaneh-e... Map showing Almatys location in Kazakhstan Almaty Orthodox church Mosque Almaty (ÐÐ»Ð¼Ð°Ñ‚Ñ‹; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Vernyj, Vyernyi (Ð’ÐµÑ€Ð½Ñ‹Ð¹) in Imperial Russia) is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 1,185,900 (2004) (8% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Kazakh (also Qazaq and variants[2], natively , , â€Ž; pronounced ) is a Turkic language closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... List of Presidents of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev (1990 - present) See also Politics of Kazakhstan Categories: Stub | Kazakhstan ... Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (Kazakh: ÐÒ±Ñ€ÑÒ±Ð»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ Ó˜Ð±Ñ–ÑˆÒ±Ð»Ñ‹ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [NÃ»rsÃ»ltan Ã„bÃ®shÃ»lÃ¢ Nazarbayev]; Russian: ÐÑƒÑ€ÑÑƒÐ»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ ÐÐ±Ð¸ÑˆÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [Nursultan Abishyevic Nazarbayev] (born 6 July 1940 in Chemolgan, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union) has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the Fall of the Soviet Union and the nations independence in 1991. ... This is a list of prime ministers and heads of government of Kazakhstan and its predecessor republic of the Soviet Union. ... Karim Kajymqanuly Masimov (Kazakh: ; Russian: ) born in 1965 in Tselinograd, Kazakh SSR now Astana, Kazakhstan)[1] has served as Prime Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan since 10 January 2007. ... Founding of the University of Pavia, Italy. ... The White Horde was a the name of a Mongolian state of the 14th century. ... Events October 12 - English forces under Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury besiege OrlÃ©ans. ... Events July 13 - Battle of MontlhÃ©ry Troops of King Louis XI of France fight inconclusively against an army of the great nobles organized as the League of the Public Weal. ... FlagÂ¹ Motto Alash! Capital Hazrat-e Turkestan Language(s) Kazakh Religion Sunni Islam Government Monarchy Khan - 1465â€”1480 Janybek Khan and Kerei Khan (first) History - Established 1456 - Disestablished 1731 Kazakh Khanate (Kazakh: ÒšÐ°Ð·Ð°Ò› Ñ…Ð°Ð½Ð´Ñ‹Ò“Ñ‹, Russian: ÐšÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ…ÑÐºÐ¾Ðµ Ñ…Ð°Ð½ÑÑ‚Ð²Ð¾) was a Kazakh state that existed in 1456-1731, located roughly on the territory of present day... The location of Kazakhstan By far the largest of the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union, independent Kazakhstan is the worlds ninth-largest nation in geographic area. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different surface areas here is a list of areas between 1 million kmÂ² and 10 million kmÂ². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... Gross domestic product (by purchasing power parity) in 2006 The purchasing power parity (PPP) theory was developed by Gustav Cassel in 1920. ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita for the year 2006. ... Graphical representation of the Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth distribution. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2006). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Coloured world map indicating Human Development Index (2006) (colour-blind compliant map) This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Programmes Human Development Report 2006, compiled on the basis of 2004 data. ... ISO 4217 Code KZT User(s) Kazakhstan Inflation 8. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... â€œUTCâ€ redirects here. ... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... â€œUTCâ€ redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .kz is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Kazakhstan. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... The country calling code +7 is assigned to Russia and Kazakhstan. ... Kazakh (also Qazaq and variants[2], natively , , â€Ž; pronounced ) is a Turkic language closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak. ... For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A current understanding of Western Europe. ... The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the worlds largest lake or a full-fledged sea. ...

Although it is vast in size, much of the land consists of semi-desert (steppe) terrain. In terms of population, Kazakhstan ranks 62nd in the world, with a population density of less than 6 people per square kilometre (15 per sq. mi.). The total population has declined somewhat since independence, dropping from 16,464,464 in 1989 to 15,300,000 in 2006. ^[1] This is due to the emigration of Russians and Volga Germans, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan, once the Kazakh SSR, is now a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. This article is about arid terrain. ... A steppe in Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, a steppe (Russian: - , Ukrainian: - , Kazakh: - ), pronounced in English as , is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being dominated by tall grasses... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Volga German pioneer family commemorative statue in Victoria, Kansas, USA. The Volga Germans (German: or Russlanddeutsche) were ethnic Germans living near the Volga River in the region of southern European Russia around Saratov and to the south, maintaining German culture, language, traditions and religions: Evangelical Lutheranism, Reformed and Roman Catholicism... State motto: Ð‘Ð°Ñ€Ð»Ñ‹Ò› ÐµÐ»Ð´ÐµÑ€Ð´Ñ–Ò£ Ð¿Ñ€Ð¾Ð»ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ñ€Ð»Ð°Ñ€Ñ‹, Ð±Ñ–Ñ€Ñ–Ð³Ñ–Ò£Ð´ÐµÑ€! (Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None. ... Member state Associate member Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Working language Russian Type Commonwealth Membership 11 member states 1 associate member Leaders - Executive Secretary Viktor Yanukovych Establishment December 21, 1991 Website http://cis. ...

[edit] History

Main article: History of Kazakhstan

The location of Kazakhstan By far the largest of the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union, independent Kazakhstan is the worlds ninth-largest nation in geographic area. ...

[edit] Kazakh Khanate

Kazakhstan has been inhabited since the Stone Age: the region's climate and terrain are best suited for nomads practising pastoralism. Historians believe that humans first domesticated the horse in the region's vast steppes. While ancient cities Taraz (Aulie-Ata) and Hazrat-e Turkestan had long served as important way-stations along the Silk Road connecting East and West, real political consolidation only began with the Mongol invasion of the early thirteenth century AD. Under the Mongol Empire, administrative districts were established, and these eventually came under the emergent Kazakh Khanate (Ak Horde). Stone Age fishing hook. ... Pastoralism is a form of farming, such as agriculture and horticulture. ... There are a number of theories regarding the domestication of the horse. ... Taraz (formerly Zhambyl or Dzhambul) is a city and a center of the Zhambyl oblysy in Kazakhstan. ... The Mazar of Shaikh Ahmad Yasavi in the town of Turkestan. ... The Silk Road extending from Southern Europe through Arabia, Egypt, Persia, India till China. ... Expansion of the Mongol Empire Historical map of the Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire (Mongolian: , Mongolyn Ezent GÃ¼ren; 1206â€“1405) was the largest contiguous empire in history, covering over 33 million kmÂ²[1] (12 million square miles) at its zenith, with an estimated population of over 100 million people. ... FlagÂ¹ Motto Alash! Capital Hazrat-e Turkestan Language(s) Kazakh Religion Sunni Islam Government Monarchy Khan - 1465â€”1480 Janybek Khan and Kerei Khan (first) History - Established 1456 - Disestablished 1731 Kazakh Khanate (Kazakh: ÒšÐ°Ð·Ð°Ò› Ñ…Ð°Ð½Ð´Ñ‹Ò“Ñ‹, Russian: ÐšÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ…ÑÐºÐ¾Ðµ Ñ…Ð°Ð½ÑÑ‚Ð²Ð¾) was a Kazakh state that existed in 1456-1731, located roughly on the territory of present day...

Throughout this period traditional nomadic life and a livestock-based economy continued to dominate the steppe. In the fifteenth century, a distinct Kazakh identity began to emerge among the Turkic tribes, a process which was consolidated by the mid-sixteenth century with the appearance of a distinctive Kazakh language, culture, and economy. Nevertheless, the region was the focus of ever-increasing disputes between the native Kazakh emirs and the neighboring Persian-speaking peoples to the south. By the early seventeen century, the Kazakh Khanate was struggling with the impact of tribal rivalries, which has effectively divided the population into the Great, Middle and Little (or Small) Hordes (jüz). Political disunion, tribal rivalries, and the diminishing importance of overland trade routes between East and West weakened the Kazakh Khanate. A steppe in Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, a steppe (Russian: - , Ukrainian: - , Kazakh: - ), pronounced in English as , is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being dominated by tall grasses... This article is about the various peoples speaking one of the Turkic languages. ... The Persian-speaking peoples constitute one of the largest Indo-European linguistic groups in the world. ...

Other challenges to Kazakh hegemony over the region came from the Oirats and Dzungars, Mongol peoples who attempted to reassert control over the territory. A Dzungar invasion (1723–1730) was crushed so completely by Abul Khair Khan and the Little Horde that the event became known as the "Great Disaster." The Kazakhs won major victories over the Dzungar at the Bulanty River (1726) and at the Battle of Anrakay in 1729. Oirats (also spelled Oyrats or Oyirads; Mongolian: ÐžÐ¹Ñ€Ð°Ð´Ñ‹Ð½ Ojradyn) refers to both a Western Mongol people of Europe and Asia and, historically, to a Turkic people now known as the Altays. ... The Dzungars (also Jungars or Zungars; Mongolian: Ð—Ò¯Ò¯Ð½Ð³Ð°Ñ€ ZÃ¼Ã¼ngar) were a tribe of the Oirat Mongols. ... Abul Khair Khan (1693 - 1748) was leader of the Kazakh Little Horde in present-day western Kazakhstan. ...

[edit] Russian Empire

In the nineteenth century, the Russian Empire began to expand, and spread into Central Asia. The "Great Game" period is generally regarded as running from approximately 1813 to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 a second less intensive phase followed. The tsars effectively ruled over most of the territory belonging to what is now the Republic of Kazakhstan. The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... The Great Game is a term, usually attributed to Arthur Connolly, used to describe the rivalry and strategic conflict between the British Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia. ... The blue areas were to be Russian controlled, while the southeast pink region was to be British. ... For other uses, see October Revolution (disambiguation). ... Tsar (Bulgarian, Serbian and Macedonian Ñ†Ð°Ñ€, Russian , in scientific transliteration respectively car and car ), occasionally spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English, is a Slavonic term designating certain monarchs. ...

The Russian Empire introduced a system of administration and built military garrisons and barracks in its effort to establish a presence in Central Asia in the so-called "Great Game" between it and the United Kingdom. Russia enforced the Russian language in all schools and governmental organizations. Russian efforts to impose its system aroused the resentment of the Kazakh people, and by the 1860s, most Kazakhs resisted Russia's annexation largely because of the disruption it wrought upon the traditional nomadic lifestyle and livestock-based economy. The Kazakh national movement, which began in the late 1800s, sought to preserve the native language and identity. The Great Game is a term, usually attributed to Arthur Connolly, used to describe the rivalry and strategic conflict between the British Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia. ... Kazakh (Qazaq) people, or Kazakhs, is Turkic ethnic group that lives mainly in Kazakhstan, but also in Russia & China(East Turkistan). ...

From the 1890s onwards ever-larger numbers of Slavic settlers began colonising the territory of present-day Kazakhstan, in particular the province of Semirechye. The number of settlers rose still further once the Trans-Aral Railway from Orenburg to Tashkent was completed in 1906, and the movement was overseen and encouraged by a specially created Migration Department (Переселенческое Управление) in St. Petersburg. In politics and in history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a geographically-distant state (or city, in ancient times). ... Semiryechye (Семиречье, also written Semirechie, Semireche, Semirechiye, Semirechye) is a historical name of a part of Russian Turkestan, which corresponds to the South-Eastern part of modern Kazakhstan, known as Zhetysu (Jetysu, Jity-su, Жетысу, &#1044... A view from the train while traveling along the path of the Trans-Aral Railway. ... Orenburg (Russian: ) is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast in the Volga Federal District of Russia. ... Tashkent (Uzbek: , Russian: ) is the capital of Uzbekistan and also of the Tashkent Province. ...

The competition for land and water which ensued between the Kazakhs and the newcomers caused great resentment against colonial rule during the final years of Tsarist Russia, with the most serious uprising, the Central Asian Revolt, occurring in 1916. The Kazakhs attacked Russian and Cossack villages, killing indiscriminately. The Russians' revenge was merciless. A military force drove 300,000 Kazakhs to flee into the mountains or to China. When approximately 80,000 of them returned the next year, many of them were slaughtered by Tsarist forces. During the 1921-22 famine, another million Kazakhs died from starvation. ... For other uses, see Cossack (disambiguation). ... <nowiki>Insert non-formatted text hereBold text</nowiki>A famine is a social and economic crisis that is commonly accompanied by widespread malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality. ...

[edit] Soviet Union

Although there was a brief period of autonomy during the tumultuous period following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Kazakhs eventually succumbed to Soviet rule. In 1920, the area of present-day Kazakhstan became an autonomous republic within Russia. An autonomous (subnational) entity is a subnational entity that has a certain amount of autonomy. ... â€œCCCPâ€ redirects here. ... The Russian Federation is divided into 88 federal subjects (constituent units), 21 of which are republics. ...

Soviet repression of the traditional elite, along with forced collectivization in late 1920s–1930s, brought mass hunger and led to unrest. Between 1926 and 1939, the Kazakh population declined by 22%, due to starvation, violence and out-migration. Soviet rule, however, took hold, and a communist apparatus steadily worked to fully integrate Kazakhstan into the Soviet system. In 1936 Kazakhstan became a Soviet republic. Collective farming is an organizational unit in agriculture in which peasants are not paid wages, but rather receive a share of the farms net output. ... <nowiki>Insert non-formatted text hereBold text</nowiki>A famine is a social and economic crisis that is commonly accompanied by widespread malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality. ... This article is about extreme malnutrition. ... For other uses, see Violence (disambiguation). ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... Soviet Union administrative divisions, 1989 In its final decades of its existence, the Soviet Union consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR), often called simply Soviet republics. ...

Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of millions exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and 1940s; many of the deportation victims were deported to Siberia or Kazakhstan merely due to their ethnic heritage or beliefs, and were in many cases interned in some of the biggest Soviet labor camps. (See also: Population transfer in the Soviet Union, Involuntary settlements in the Soviet Union.) The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) contributed five national divisions to the Soviet Union's World War II effort. In 1947, two years after the end of the war, the Semipalatinsk Test Site, the USSR's main nuclear weapon test site was founded near the city of Semey. Exile (band) may refer to: Exile - The American country music band Exile - The Japanese pop music band Category: ... Deportation is the expelling of someone from a country. ... Gulag ( , Russian: ) was the government body responsible for administering prison camps across the former Soviet Union. ... Not by Their Own Will. ... Involuntary settlements in the Soviet Union took several forms. ... State motto: Барлық елдердің пролетарлары, бірігіңдер! Official language None. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) was the primary testing venue for the Soviet Unions nuclear weapons. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 kilometers (11 mi) above the hypocenter A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions of fusion or fission. ... Preparation for an underground nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site in the 1980s. ... NASA satellite photo of Semey Semey, in Eastern Kazakstan Semey (Kazakh: ; also transliterated as Semij or Semei, and known by its Imperial Russian name of Semipalatinsk (Ð¡ÐµÐ¼Ð¸Ð¿Ð°Ð»Ð°Ñ‚Ð¸Ð½ÑÐº)) is a city in Kazakhstan, in the northeastern province of East Kazakhstan, near the border with Siberia, around 1,000 km north of Almaty...

The period of World War II marked an increase in industrialization and increased mineral extraction in support of the war effort. At the time of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's death, however, Kazakhstan still had an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy. In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the ambitious "Virgin Lands" program to turn the traditional pasture lands of Kazakhstan into a major grain-producing region for the Soviet Union. The Virgin Lands policy, along with later modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, accelerated the development of the agricultural sector, which remains the source of livelihood for a large percentage of Kazakhstan's population. This article is about mineral extraction. ... Josef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Georgian: , Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jughashvili; Russian: , Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili) (December 18 [O.S. December 6] 1878[1] â€“ March 5, 1953), better known by his adopted name, Joseph Stalin (alternatively transliterated Josef Stalin), was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Unions Central Committee from... Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: , Nikita SergeeviÄ ChruÅ¡Äiov; IPA: , in English, , or , occasionally ); surname more accurately romanized as Khrushchyov[1]; April 17 [O.S. April 5] 1894[2]â€“September 11, 1971) was the chief director of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. ... Virgin Lands by Fedor Malaev, a romanticised view of the Campaign The Virgin Lands Campaign was an initiative by Nikita Khrushchev to open up vast tracts of unused (virgin) steppe in the northern Kazakh SSR and the Altai region of the Russian SFSR, started in 1954. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (Russian: , Leonid IliÄ BreÅ¾nev) December 19, 1906 [O.S. December 19, 1906] â€“ November 10, 1982) was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (and thus de facto ruler of the USSR) from 1964 to 1982, serving in that position longer than anyone...

Growing tensions within Soviet society led to a demand for political and economic reforms, which came to a head in the 1980s. In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs, later called Jeltoksan riot, took place in Almaty to protest the replacement of the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Kazakh SSR Dinmukhamed Konayev with Gennady Kolbin from the Russian SFSR. Governmental troops suppressed the unrest, several people were killed and many demonstrators were jailed. In the waning days of Soviet rule, discontent continued to grow and find expression under Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost. Jeltoqsan (Kazakh: ; English: December) riot of 1986 was a spontaneous nationwide[1] revolt that took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan in response to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachevs dismissal of Dinmukhamed Kunayev, the First Secretary of the Kazakh SSR and an ethnic Kazakh, and the subsequent appointment of outsider Gennady Kolbin... Map showing Almatys location in Kazakhstan Almaty Orthodox church Mosque Almaty (ÐÐ»Ð¼Ð°Ñ‚Ñ‹; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Vernyj, Vyernyi (Ð’ÐµÑ€Ð½Ñ‹Ð¹) in Imperial Russia) is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 1,185,900 (2004) (8% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... Dinmukhamed (Dimash) Akhmeduly Konayev (Kazakh: ; Russian: ), born 12 January 1912 [ O.S. 31 December 1911] in Verny, now Almaty, died 22 August 1993, was a Kazakh Soviet Communist political figure. ... Gennady Kolbin (Геннадий Колбин, 1927-1998) was the first secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Kazakh SSR from December 16, 1986 to June 22, 1989. ... State motto: Russian: ÐŸÑ€Ð¾Ð»ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ñ€Ð¸Ð¸ Ð²ÑÐµÑ… ÑÑ‚Ñ€Ð°Ð½, ÑÐ¾ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ð½ÑÐ¹Ñ‚ÐµÑÑŒ! Translation: Workers of the world, unite! Capital Moscow Official language Russian Established In the USSR: - Since - Until November 7, 1917 November 7, 1917 December 12, 1991 (dissolution) Area - Total - Water (%) Ranked 1st in the USSR 17,075,200 kmÂ² 13% Population - Total - Density Ranked 1st in the... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; (born 2 March 1931) is a Russian politician. ... // (Russian: IPA: ) is politics of maximal openness, transparency of activity of all official (governmental) institutes, and freedom of information. ...

[edit] Independence

Caught up in the groundswell of Soviet republics seeking greater autonomy, Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty as a republic within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in October 1990. Following the August 1991 abortive coup attempt in Moscow and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991. It was last of the Soviet republics to declare independence. â€œSovereignâ€ redirects here. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

The years following independence have been marked by significant reforms to the Soviet-style economy and political monopoly on power. Under Nursultan Nazarbayev, who initially came to power in 1989 as the head of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and was eventually elected President in 1991, Kazakhstan has made significant progress toward developing a market economy. The country has enjoyed significant economic growth since 2000, partly due to its large oil, gas, and mineral reserves. This article is about the economics of markets dominated by a single seller. ... Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (Kazakh: ÐÒ±Ñ€ÑÒ±Ð»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ Ó˜Ð±Ñ–ÑˆÒ±Ð»Ñ‹ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [NÃ»rsÃ»ltan Ã„bÃ®shÃ»lÃ¢ Nazarbayev]; Russian: ÐÑƒÑ€ÑÑƒÐ»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ ÐÐ±Ð¸ÑˆÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [Nursultan Abishyevic Nazarbayev] (born 6 July 1940 in Chemolgan, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union) has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the Fall of the Soviet Union and the nations independence in 1991. ... The Communist Party of Kazakhstan (Qazaqstan Kommunistik Partiyasi) is a political party in Kazakhstan. ... A market economy (also called a free market economy or a free enterprise economy) is an economic system in which the production and distribution of goods and services take place through the mechanism of free markets guided by a free price system. ...

But, democracy has not improved much since 1991. "In June 2007, Kazakhstan's parliament passed a law granting President Nursultan Nazarbayev lifetime powers and privileges, including access to future presidents, immunity from criminal prosecution, and influence over domestic and foreign policy. Critics say he has become a de facto "president for life."^[2]^[3] Over the course of his ten years in power, Nazarbayev has repeatedly censored the press through arbitrary use of "slander" laws^[4], blocked access to opposition web sites (9 November 1999), banned the Wahhabi religious sect (5 September 1998), drawn criticism from Amnesty International for excessive executions following specious trials (March 21, 1996) and harsh prison conditions (13 August 1996), and refused demands that the governors of Kazakhstan's 14 oblasts be elected, rather than appointed by the president (April 7, 2000)." is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Wahhabism (sometimes spelled Wahabbism or Wahabism) is a movement of Islam named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792). ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

[edit] Politics

Nursultan Nazarbayev

Main article: Politics of Kazakhstan

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (705x1014, 147 KB) Summary Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, during a visit to the Pentagon on November 17, 1997. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (705x1014, 147 KB) Summary Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, during a visit to the Pentagon on November 17, 1997. ... Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (Kazakh: ÐÒ±Ñ€ÑÒ±Ð»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ Ó˜Ð±Ñ–ÑˆÒ±Ð»Ñ‹ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [NÃ»rsÃ»ltan Ã„bÃ®shÃ»lÃ¢ Nazarbayev]; Russian: ÐÑƒÑ€ÑÑƒÐ»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ ÐÐ±Ð¸ÑˆÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [Nursultan Abishyevic Nazarbayev] (born 6 July 1940 in Chemolgan, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union) has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the Fall of the Soviet Union and the nations independence in 1991. ... Politics of Kazakhstan takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Kazakhstan is head of state and nominates the head of government. ...

[edit] Political system

Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic. The president is the head of state. The president also is the commander in chief of the armed forces and may veto legislation that has been passed by the Parliament. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Ministers and serves as Kazakhstan's head of government. There are three deputy prime ministers and 16 ministers in the Cabinet. Karim Masimov has served as the Prime Minister since 10 January 2007. Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... A Commander-in-Chief is the commander of a nations military forces or significant element of those forces. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... Karim Kajymqanuly Masimov (Kazakh: ; Russian: ) born in 1965 in Tselinograd, Kazakh SSR now Astana, Kazakhstan)[1] has served as Prime Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan since 10 January 2007. ... is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Kazakhstan has a bicameral Parliament, made up of the lower house (the Majilis) and upper house (the Senate). Single mandate districts popularly elect 67 seats in the Majilis; there also are ten members elected by party-list vote rather than by single mandate districts. The Senate has 39 members. Two senators are selected by each of the elected assemblies (Maslikhats) of Kazakhstan's 16 principal administrative divisions (14 regions, or oblasts, plus the cities of Astana and Almaty). The president appoints the remaining seven senators. Majilis deputies and the government both have the right of legislative initiative, though the government proposes most legislation considered by the Parliament. A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the demesne in The Keys to the Kingdom series, see The House An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. ... The seat of Roman Senate in the Roman Forum, Rome A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

[edit] Elections

Elections to the Majilis in September 2004 yielded a lower house dominated by the pro-government Otan party, headed by President Nazarbayev. Two other parties considered sympathetic to the president, including the agrarian-industrial bloc AIST and the Asar party, founded by President Nazarbayev’s daughter, won most of the remaining seats. Opposition parties, which were officially registered and competed in the elections, won a single seat during elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. Fatherlands Ray of Light (Nur-Otan) is the largest political party in Kazakhstan, led by Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov with over 762,000 members. ... AIST-Abujas Official Logo The African Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) is a university system concept developed by the Nelson Mandela Institution aimed toward bringing the highest level of technical learning facilities to the continent of Africa. ... Asar (All Together) was a political party in Kazakhstan. ...

In 1999, Kazakhstan applied for observer status at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. The official response of the Assembly was that Kazakhstan could apply for full membership, because it is partially located in Europe, but that they would not be granted any status whatsoever at the Council until their democracy and human rights records improved. Anthem Ode to Joy (orchestral) ten founding members joined subsequently observer at the Parliamentary Assembly observer at the Committee of Ministers official candidate Seat Strasbourg, France Membership 47 European states 5 observers (Council) 3 observers (Assembly) Leaders - Secretary General Terry Davis - President of the Parliamentary Assembly Rene van der Linden... The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is one of the institutions of the Council of Europe. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

On December 4, 2005, Nursultan Nazarbayev was reelected in a landslide victory. The electoral commission announced that he had won over 90% of the vote. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concluded the election did not meet international standards despite some improvements in the administration of the election. Xinhua News Agency reported that observers from the People's Republic of China, responsible in overseeing 25 polling stations in Astana, found that voting in those polls was conducted in a "transparent and fair" manner. [3] Furthermore, Western governments were muted in their criticism of the election. is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (Kazakh: ÐÒ±Ñ€ÑÒ±Ð»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ Ó˜Ð±Ñ–ÑˆÒ±Ð»Ñ‹ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [NÃ»rsÃ»ltan Ã„bÃ®shÃ»lÃ¢ Nazarbayev]; Russian: ÐÑƒÑ€ÑÑƒÐ»Ñ‚Ð°Ð½ ÐÐ±Ð¸ÑˆÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ°Ð·Ð°Ñ€Ð±Ð°ÐµÐ² [Nursultan Abishyevic Nazarbayev] (born 6 July 1940 in Chemolgan, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union) has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the Fall of the Soviet Union and the nations independence in 1991. ... Front gate of the main building of Xinhua News Agency in Beijing For other uses, see Xinhua (disambiguation). ... Coordinates: Government - Mayor Askar Mamin Population (estimated) - City 600,000 Time zone BTT (UTC+6) This article is about the capital of Kazakhstan; for the article on the palace in Sarawak, see Astana (Sarawak); for the professional road-cycling team see Astana Team; for the Iranian city, see Astaneh-e...

On August 17, 2007, elections to the lower house of parliament were held with the ruling Nur-Otan coalition winning every seat with 88% of the vote. Opposition parties made accusations of serious irregularities in the election.^[5]^[6] is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Fatherlands Ray of Light (Nur-Otan) is the largest political party in Kazakhstan, led by Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov with over 762,000 members. ...

[edit] Kazakh Intelligence Services

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) was established on 13 June 1992. It includes the Service of Internal Security, Military Counterintelligence, Border Guard, several Commando units, and Foreign Intelligence (Barlau). The latter is considered by many as the most important part of KNB. Its director is Major General Omirtai Bitimov. is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ...

[edit] Provinces and raions

Main articles: Provinces of Kazakhstan and Raions of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is divided into 14 provinces (облыстар) and two municipal districts (қалалар)*: Almaty (Taldykorgan), Almaty*, Akmola (Kokshetau), Aktobe, Astana*, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan Province (Oral), Mangystau Province (Aktau), South Kazakhstan Province (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Karaganda, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, East Kazakhstan Province (Oskemen), North Kazakhstan Province (Petropavl), Zhambyl Province (Taraz). Kazakhstan is divided into 14 provinces oblystar (singular - oblys): Note: in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of... The provinces of Kazakhstan are divided into raions. ... Kazakhstan is divided into 14 provinces oblystar (singular - oblys): Note: in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of... Almaty is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Taldykorgan (Kazakh:Taldyqorghan) is a city in Kazakhstan. ... Map showing Almatys location in Kazakhstan Almaty Orthodox church Mosque Almaty (ÐÐ»Ð¼Ð°Ñ‚Ñ‹; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Vernyj, Vyernyi (Ð’ÐµÑ€Ð½Ñ‹Ð¹) in Imperial Russia) is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 1,185,900 (2004) (8% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... Map of Kazakhstan showing Aqmola province. ... Kokshetau or KÃ¶kshetau{Also known as Kokchetav} is the administrative center of Aqmola Province, northern Kazakhstan. ... Image:Biz-Center 1, Aktobe. ... Coordinates: Government - Mayor Askar Mamin Population (estimated) - City 600,000 Time zone BTT (UTC+6) This article is about the capital of Kazakhstan; for the article on the palace in Sarawak, see Astana (Sarawak); for the professional road-cycling team see Astana Team; for the Iranian city, see Astaneh-e... Atyrau is a province of Kazakhstan. ... West Kazakhstan (Batys Qazaqstan) is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Oral on the map of Kazakhstan. ... Map of Kazakhstan showing Mangystau province. ... Aktau is a city in Kazakhstan and a seaport to the Caspian Sea. ... South Kazakhstan (OngtÃ¼stik Qazaqstan) is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Shymkent (Kazakh: , Russian: ) or Chimkent, is the capital city of Ongtustik Qazaqstan (South Kazakhstan) Province, the most populated region in Kazakhstan. ... Map of Kazakhstan showing Pavlodar province. ... Karagandy is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Map of Kazakhstan showing Kostanay province. ... The Syr Darya River, in Qyzylorda. ... East Kazakhstan (Shyghys Qazaqstan) is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakh: Өскемен, Russian: Усть-Каменогорск) or Öskemen, is the capital of the Shyghys Qazaqstan (Eastern Kazakhstan) Oblast. ... North Kazakhstan (Soltustik Qazaqstan) is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Petropavl (Kazakh: ), also known as Petropavlovsk (from Russian: , not to be confused with Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) is a city by Ishim River in Northern Kazakhstan close to the border with Russia, about 350km west of Omsk along the Trans-Siberian Railway. ... Zhambyl is a province of Kazakhstan. ... Taraz (formerly Zhambyl or Dzhambul) is a city and a center of the Zhambyl oblysy in Kazakhstan. ...

Note: Provinces have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of twenty years an area of 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq. mi); enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the city of Baikonur. Recently, the lease of Baikonur facilities was extended through 2050.^[7] Map showing the location of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan The Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakh: Ð‘Ð°Ð¹Ò›Ð¾Ò£Ñ‹Ñ€ Ò“Ð°Ñ€Ñ‹Ñˆ Ð°Ð¹Ð»Ð°Ò“Ñ‹, BayqoÃ±Ä±r ÄŸarÄ±ÅŸ aylaÄŸÄ±; Russian: ÐšÐ¾ÑÐ¼Ð¾Ð´Ñ€Ð¾Ð¼ Ð‘Ð°Ð¹ÐºÐ¾Ð½ÑƒÑ€, Kosmodrom Baykonur), also called Tyuratam, is the worlds oldest and largest operational space launch facility. ...

Each province is headed by an Akim (provincial governor) appointed by the president. Municipal Akims are appointed by oblast Akims. The Government of Kazakhstan transferred its capital from Almaty to Astana on December 10, 1997. is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

The provinces are subdivided into raions. A raion (or rayon) (Russian and Ukrainian: ; Belarusian Ñ€Ð°Ñ‘Ð½; Azeri: rayon, Latvian: rajons, Georgian: , raioni) is one of two kinds of administrative subdivisions in languages of some post-Soviet states: a subnational entity and a subdivision of a city. ...

[edit] Geography

Map of Kazakhstan

Main articles: Geography of Kazakhstan and List of cities in Kazakhstan

With an area of 2.7 million square kilometers (1.05 million sq. mi), Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world and the largest landlocked country in the world. It is equivalent to the size of Western Europe. It shares borders of 6,846 kilometers (4,254 mi) with Russia, 2,203 kilometers (1,369 mi) with Uzbekistan, 1,533 kilometers (953 mi) with the People's Republic of China, 1,051 kilometers (653 mi) with Kyrgyzstan, and 379 kilometers (235 mi) with Turkmenistan. Major cities include Astana (capital since December 1997), Almaty (the former capital), Karaganda, Shymkent (Chimkent), Semey (Semipalatinsk) and Turkestan. Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Kazakhstan Geography of Kazakhstan ... Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Kazakhstan Geography of Kazakhstan ... Map of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is a landlocked country situateed in Central Asia, northwest of China. ... The following is a list of cities in Kazakhstan: Ak-mechet (Kyzyl-Orda, Perovsk) Aktau Aktobe Almati (Alma-Ata, Verny) Aral Astana - capital of Kazakhstan Atirau Ayaguz Beyneu Baikonur Chapayev Chu Ekibastuz Emba Karaganda Khorogos Kizilyar Koksetau Kostanay Oktyabrsk Oral Oskemen Pavlodar Petropavl (Petropavlovsk) Rudni Saryshagan Semey (Semipalatinsk) Chimkent... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Landlocked countries of the world. ... A current understanding of Western Europe. ... A kilometer (Commonwealth spelling: kilometre), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 metres (from the Greek words Ï‡Î¯Î»Î¹Î± (khilia) = thousand and Î¼ÎÏ„ÏÎ¿ (metro) = count/measure). ... â€œMilesâ€ redirects here. ... Coordinates: Government - Mayor Askar Mamin Population (estimated) - City 600,000 Time zone BTT (UTC+6) This article is about the capital of Kazakhstan; for the article on the palace in Sarawak, see Astana (Sarawak); for the professional road-cycling team see Astana Team; for the Iranian city, see Astaneh-e... Map showing Almatys location in Kazakhstan Almaty Orthodox church Mosque Almaty (ÐÐ»Ð¼Ð°Ñ‚Ñ‹; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Vernyj, Vyernyi (Ð’ÐµÑ€Ð½Ñ‹Ð¹) in Imperial Russia) is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 1,185,900 (2004) (8% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... Statue of Nurken Abdirov in downtown Karaganda Karaganda (Russian: ÐšÐ°Ñ€Ð°Ð³Ð°Ð½Ð´Ð°) or Qaraghandy (Kazak: ÒšÐ°Ñ€Ð°Ò“Ð°Ð½Ð´Ñ‹) is the capital of Qaraghandy Province in Kazakhstan. ... Shymkent (Kazakh: , Russian: ) or Chimkent, is the capital city of Ongtustik Qazaqstan (South Kazakhstan) Province, the most populated region in Kazakhstan. ... NASA satellite photo of Semey Semey, in Eastern Kazakstan Semey (Kazakh: ; also transliterated as Semij or Semei, and known by its Imperial Russian name of Semipalatinsk (Ð¡ÐµÐ¼Ð¸Ð¿Ð°Ð»Ð°Ñ‚Ð¸Ð½ÑÐº)) is a city in Kazakhstan, in the northeastern province of East Kazakhstan, near the border with Siberia, around 1,000 km north of Almaty... The Mazar of Shaikh Ahmad Yasavi in the town of Turkestan. ...

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