Oil tanker damaged by blast weeks after visiting Russian ports
According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), the vessel belongs to Russia's shadow fleet, used by Moscow to evade sanctions.
Kazakhstan
OPEC+ to accelerate oil output, potentially lowering oil prices despite Russian reliance, Reuters reports
OPEC+, which includes Russia, agreed to a large oil production hike in June, Reuters reported on May 4, citing five unnamed sources.
Russia concerned with weakening sway over allies amid Western pressure, FT reports
Russian officials are concerned that the Western sanctions are undermining Russia's economic influence over countries in its close neighborhood and the Global South, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 10, citing a leaked government report.
Azerbaijani airliner that crashed in December struck by Russian Pantsir missile, source tells Reuters
The Azerbaijani airliner that crashed in Kazakhstan in December after diverting from the Russian airspace was struck by a Russian Pantsir air defense missile, an undisclosed Azerbaijani source told Reuters in comments published on Feb. 4.
Black box from Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash sent to Brazil for investigation
The black box from the Azerbaijan Airlines crash in Kazakhstan, believed to have been caused by Russian air defense, is being sent to Brazil for investigation, Kazakh authorities reported on Dec. 29.
Azerbaijan Airlines crash highlights Russia's failure to close airspace amid war
The Dec. 25 Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, likely caused by Russian air defense, shines light on a glaring issue the Kremlin has long swept under the rug. By unleashing its war against Ukraine, Russia has made its airspace a dangerous place. While Ukraine banned civilian flights over its territory hours
Russian air defense missile caused plane crash over Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources claim
A Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources reportedly confirmed on Dec. 26. The missile was fired from a Pantsir-S air defense system.
Azerbaijani Airlines plane en route to Russia crashes in western Kazakhstan
According to Kazakhstan's Transport Ministry, the plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines had 37 Azerbaijani passengers, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz, along with five crew members on board.
Druzhba pipeline disruption halts Russian, Kazakh oil shipments to Europe, Reuters reports
Russian and Kazakh oil shipments to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany via the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since Dec. 19 due to technical issues at a Russian pumping station, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.
Kazakh companies supply electronic warfare equipment to Russia despite sanctions, media reports
Several companies in Kazakhstan are playing a significant role in helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions by supplying equipment for the development of electronic warfare (EW) systems, according to The Insider, the Russian independent investigative outlet.
Kazakhstan won't seek BRICS membership 'in the foreseeable future'
Kazakhstan's president has "carefully considered" proposals to join BRICS but Astana will not seek to join the group "in the foreseeable future," a government spokesperson told Tengrinews.kz in an interview published on Oct. 16.
'Russia cannot be defeated,' Kazakh President Tokayev says
"A further escalation of war will lead to irreparable consequences for the whole of humanity and above all for the countries involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict," Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev added.
Kazakhstan 'won't blindly follow' sanctions against Russia, deputy PM says
Kazakhstan will review its approach to enforcing sanctions against Russia, prioritizing its economic interests, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Serik Zhumangarin said in an interview with Bloomberg on Aug. 16.
Xi, Putin to participate in Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Astana
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who skipped Ukraine's peace summit in June, is expected to participate in the event in Astana as well, the U.N. in Kazakhstan reported on X.
Kazakh opposition activist dies in Kyiv after assassination attempt
Kazakh opposition activist and journalist Aidos Sadykov died in Kyiv on July 2, two weeks after being wounded in an assassination attempt, said his wife, Natalya Sadykova.
Ukraine to demand extradition of suspects accused of attempting to assassinate Kazakh journalist
The Prosecutor General's Office is preparing to request the extradition of two suspects accused of attempting to assassinate the Kazakh opposition activist and journalist Aidos Sadykov in Ukraine.
Suspect in attempted murder of Kazakh opposition activist in Kyiv reportedly surrenders in Kazakhstan
Altai Zhakanbayev, one of the two suspects in an assassination attempt of Kazakh opposition activist and journalist Aidos Sadykov in Ukraine, was detained in Kazakhstan after surrendering to the local police on June 21, Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General's Office reported.
Ukraine suspects 2 Kazakhs in assassination attempt on compatriot opposition activist in Kyiv
Two residents of Kazakhstan, Altai Zhakanbayev and Meiram Karatayev, crossed the border into Moldova on June 18 and were put on an international wanted list, Ukraine's National Police said.
Kazakh opposition activist injured in assassination attempt in Kyiv
An unidentified person opened fire in Kyiv on June 18 on Aidos Sadykov, a Kazakh opposition activist and journalist based in Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.
Reuters: Russia asks Kazakhstan to resupply gasoline in case of shortages, sources say
Russia has asked Kazakhstan to be ready to supply the country with 100,000 tons of gasoline in case of Russian gasoline shortages caused by an increase of Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries, three sources told Reuters on April 8.
Investigation: Belarusian timber enters Poland under false documents, bypassing EU sanctions
Belarusian timber enters the EU market despite sanctions, being supplied to Poland under false documentation passing it off as Kazakh wood, a joint media investigation published on March 26 said.
Russian court arrests ex-Ukrainian ambassador to Kazakhstan in absentia
Talking to a Kazakh blogger about Russia's war in an August 2022 interview, Vrublevskyi said: "We are trying to kill as many of them as possible. The more Russians we kill now, the less of them our children will have to kill."
WSJ: US chips flow to Russia from China via Central Asian routes
Russia is increasing imports of sanctioned dual-use goods like drones or U.S.-made computer chips from China via Central Asian trade routes, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on March 4.
Kazakh government resigns, President Tokayev appoints new PM
The reason for the government's resignation was not immediately clear.
Russia, West fight for Kazakhstan as Astana plays both sides
On the surface, Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Kazakhstan on Nov. 9 exuded an air of business as usual. The Russian leader was met at dawn on the tarmac of Astana airport by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev before being greeted by an official guard of honor. The trip coincided
Power Lines: From Ukraine to the World — Bonus Ep: Extended interview with Bektour Iskender
This week’s bonus episode is an extended interview with Bektour Iskender, a journalist and co-founder of Kloop, an NGO and leading news publication in Kyrgyzstan. Through his work with Kloop, Bektour trains young journalists to cover politics and investigate corruption, while also reporting on the most significant stories happening
OCCRP: How Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev controls vast assets through charitable foundations (INVESTIGATION)
Editor's note: The following is an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The Kyiv Independent is republishing it with permission. A private jet worth over $100 million. Banks and TV channels. Billions in cash. Some of Kazakhstan’s most luxurious hotels, multiple shopping centers, and a golf
After long silence, Ukraine makes first tepid statement on violence in Kazakhstan
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry put out a statement on Jan. 10 condemning the violence in Kazakhstan over the past week, surprising many with the communiqué’s cautiousness and lateness. The statement came three days after that made by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and two days after that
Top ally of ex-President Nazarbayev arrested amid Kazakh uprising
The Kazakh authorities on Jan. 8 arrested an influential ally of ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev as an uprising continued in the country. The National Security Committee said that Karim Masimov, the committee’s now-dismissed head, had been arrested on treason charges amid violent protests, one of the aims of which is
Activists allege Ukraine’s SBU has launched crackdown on opponents of Kazakh regime (GRAPHIC)
Human rights activists have accused the State Security Service (SBU) of launching a crackdown on Kazakh opposition activists in Ukraine. Lyudmyla Kozlovska, a human rights activist at the Open Dialogue Foundation, wrote on Facebook that several men in plainclothes and claiming to be SBU agents visited and beat up Zamanbek
Kazakh government regains control with Kremlin's help amid uprising
Kazakh government forces appear to have gained the upper hand in their standoff with protesters, but the uprising in the country continued on Jan. 7. According to Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry, 26 armed protesters and 18 government troops had been killed during clashes nationwide since the beginning of the uprising.
Timothy Ash: What Kazakhstan's protests mean for the global economy
Editor’s Note: The following are the analytical notes that Timothy Ash, senior strategist at Bluebay Asset Management, distributes to his subscribers. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. It seems that “order” will be restored in Kazakhstan, but only with the help of Russian/CSTO (Collective Security Treaty
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