Olzhas Bektenov holds Interdepartmental Commission on Prevention of Offences meeting
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Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on prevention of offences under the Government of Kazakhstan with the participation of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Akims of regions and cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, as well as chairmen of agencies for financial monitoring, regulation and development of the financial market, primeminister.kz reports.
The meeting considered measures to combat Internet fraud and prevent the emergence of financial pyramids, ensuring public order and prevention of offences among minors.
Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov reported that in the framework of countering fraud special groups "Cyberpol" solved more than 2.5 thousand crimes, as a result, 962 million tenge of damage was recovered. 914 criminals were detained. 58 million calls from substitute numbers were blocked. 19 SIM-boxes and more than 6 thousand unregistered SIM-cards were seized in 5 cities of the country. As part of the work of the "anti-fraud centre", 400 million tenge was blocked at the stage of withdrawal abroad. To strengthen the measures, a number of legislative amendments on voluntary cancellation of loans, as well as write-off of loans issued without the participation of the victim are being studied.
According to the data voiced by the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on financial monitoring Dmitry Malakhov, this year in the Internet identified 43 financial pyramids, closed 266 chat rooms in messengers. This prevented further financial losses of almost 2 million citizens. The Cybernadzor system has blocked more than 8,000 fraudulent websites. A Telegram bot has been launched, allowing citizens to independently check companies and their Internet resources for signs of financial pyramid schemes. To date, over 9,000 such applications have been reviewed.
Since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Culture and Information has restricted access to 12,000 materials and links with unlawful content in the course of monitoring the information field for Internet fraud, online casinos and pyramid schemes advertisements. As a result of measures to develop a culture of cyber security, the level of public awareness of threats increased to 80.4%.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted that fraudulent schemes are improving, modern hacker programmes are used, allowing to obtain all the necessary data. In this regard, it has been instructed to strengthen work in a number of areas. Thus, to solve the problem of the protracted process of registration of criminal cases of this category, it was instructed to develop and approve a clear mechanism for determining the signs of financial pyramids.
The Head of State has instructed to strengthen measures to counter Internet crimes with a focus on their early detection and suppression. The majority of Internet frauds related to online loans and theft of bank savings are committed from abroad. The stolen money is cashed out with the help of so-called "droppers", these are mostly unemployed citizens who want to earn ‘easy’ money quickly. The legislation does not provide any liability for the "droppers". Moreover, people who "leak" databases to the network or to fraudsters are not punished in any way. Therefore, it is necessary to work out the issue of introducing liability for deliberate transfer of other people's bank accounts, accounts, cards, ID card data, phone number databases to unauthorised persons," Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
In addition, in order to prevent the issuance of loans to fraudsters, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen the information security system when applying for online loans. Here it is instructed to revise the procedures for personal identification when applying for an online loan. Also, the they will consider the issue of insurance of online loans from fraudulent encroachments.
The Interdepartmental Commission considered the issues of ensuring public order, including countering vandalism and hooliganism. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a 4% decrease in the number of criminal offences committed in public places, a 2% decrease in robberies, a 14% decrease in robberies and an 18.5% decrease in thefts of other people's property. About 13,700 such offences have been solved by outdoor units. According to the principle of "zero tolerance" about 9.4 million offences were detected, which is 45% higher than last year's figures. Within the framework of the action "TAZA KAZAKSTAN" 856 unauthorised dumps were revealed. With the help of video cameras 6.5 thousand crimes and 435 thousand administrative offences were revealed. In general, as a result of measures taken for the last 3 years the number of criminal offences has been reduced almost 2 times.
However, there is an increase in crimes committed on the streets. Head of the Government has listened to akims of a number of regions and instructed to strengthen measures to ensure security.
Experience shows that there are few offences where there are video surveillance cameras. Their presence disciplines. Application of new technologies in the sphere of road safety shows good results. Now this work should be developed in the sphere of public order. It is necessary not only to expand the network of video surveillance cameras, but also to make the transition to digital intelligent systems with good resolution and the possibility of personal identification. In this regard, regional akimats should organise work to increase the number of CCTV cameras in public places, in courtyards of residential buildings and in places of mass stay of citizens," Olzhas Bektenov said.
Head of the Government focused the attention of the participants of the Government session on the case that occurred on the bypass road of Astana near the village Kyzylsuat. Earlier it was reported that drivers of heavy trucks in pursuit of profit tried to deliberately disrupt the automated system of weighing vehicles. This measure, in turn, is aimed at ensuring the safety of roads and preventing their destruction. Taking into account the facts of refusal to pass transport control and hiding from the place of detention, the Ministry of Transport together with the Ministries of Interior, Culture and Information was instructed to strengthen the relevant explanatory work and ensure effective control over the passage of heavy vehicles. The Ministry of Transport, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Culture and Information, has also been instructed to strengthen its work in preventing damage to public amenities and the creation of illegal dumps, etc.
In some regions, insufficient attention is paid to the creation of infrastructure and conditions for waste removal and storage. This year we have registered facts of creation by private enterprises of illegal landfills for storage of solid domestic waste near the forest belt of Koyandy settlement in Akmola region. Often we see how in cities due to untimely removal of rubbish is stored along motorways. Especially such a picture is observed in the private sector. This is unacceptable," Prime Minister stressed and gave a number of instructions to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on waste management and strengthening of mechanisms of control over the activities of waste disposal organisations.
After considering the issue Prime Minister stressed that to ensure safety it is necessary to react even to the smallest offences. General order in the streets, public places plays a decisive role and affects the overall level of crime and offences. According to the theory of "broken windows", condoning even minor offences leads to an increase in the number of crimes, including serious ones. Prime Minister noted that the central role in countering hooliganism is given to local executive bodies and instructed to strengthen the work in the regions.
The issue of prevention of offences among minors was considered on the agenda .
In order to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of minors, the legislation has toughened responsibility for violence. In particular, reconciliation has been ruled out, and only life imprisonment (previously 20 years' imprisonment) is provided for the rape of minors. Criminal liability has been introduced for sexual molestation and advocacy of suicide. Measures to prevent bullying and violence among children have been strengthened as part of efforts to combat juvenile delinquency. A methodology has been adopted for early identification and assistance to minors who are victims of violence, bullying and cyberbullying.
This academic year, pilot anti-bullying Kiva programmes have been launched in 110 schools in cooperation with Intellectual Schools, and the DosballLike programme has been launched in 50 schools. Based on the results, a decision will be made on rolling out the programmes to other schools. This year, 70 criminal cases have been brought for neglecting child-rearing duties. More than 84,000 parents have been prosecuted for keeping their children out of their homes at night. Pedagogical support centres for parents have been opened in 6,500 schools. In view of the importance of the role of class teachers, the possibility of increasing the amount of additional pay for class teachers is being studied. In addition, 1,700 informal leaders with a negative influence on their peers have been identified and monitored. In general, over the past 5 years, juvenile delinquency has been reduced by 30%, and this year by 5% compared to last year.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed to develop a set of additional measures to further reduce juvenile crime. It is instructed to expand the functionality of the Digital Family Map to strengthen measures to identify families in need of necessary support. It is also necessary to strengthen the work of the psychological services of educational institutions to develop new approaches to detect child abuse and suicidal behaviour. The Ministry of Finance has been instructed to step up efforts to prevent the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors. In addition, the issue of developing an application to restrict access to illegal content that harms the psychological and physical development of children will be worked out.
Summarising the results of the meeting Olzhas Bektenov stressed that the Head of State in his Address the strategic priority was to ensure the safety of citizens. The Government will take all measures to strengthen the work to ensure a comfortable and safe life for the people of Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been instructed to implement new approaches to consolidate efforts and create a new and effective system of prevention of offences.
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Kazakh PM holds operational meeting over situation in Ukraine
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Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held an operational meeting today to fulfill the tasks of the Head of State to take urgent measures in order to ensure security at the key military and civilian objects over the situation in Ukraine involving the Defence, Interior, Emergencies, Foreign Affairs, Healthcare, Transport, Energy, Industry and Construction, National Economy, and Finance Ministries, Kazinform news Agency learnt from the Government’s press service.
Kazakh Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov reported on the work to ensure the protection of the strategic and infrastructure objects. The Prime Minister set tasks to enhance the work of state bodies. Maintenance of stability, law and order, transport communication and critical infrastructure safety were prioritized at the meeting.
The Prime Minister assigned authorities to keep the execution of the Kazakh President’s tasks under control, to ensure security and to report on developments.
As earlier reported, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave the Prime Minister, the head of the Presidential Administration, heads of national security, defence and law enforcement agencies, and governors a task to take urgent measures to ensure the security of the basic military and civilian objects over the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
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Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and Belarus discuss trade and economic cooperation issues
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Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko held talks in Minsk. They discussed the implementation of agreements reached at the level of the Heads of State on the development of trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Attention was paid to industrial cooperation, agriculture with emphasis on projects on deep processing of wheat, construction industry, transport, IT-sector, tourism, primeminister.kz reports.
The volume of mutual trade between Kazakhstan and Belarus for 8 months of this year amounted to $600 million. Flour products from Kazakhstan (10.2% share in exports), etc. are in demand in the Belarusian market. Positive dynamics is also observed in the sphere of road transport: for 9 months of this year the volumes increased by 19% and reached 450.6 thousand tonnes.
The governments of Kazakhstan and Belarus are working together to develop industrial cooperation. The total pool includes 14 projects worth $277.5 million with the creation of 1.8 thousand jobs. Of these, 11 joint ventures have already been launched in the regions of Kazakhstan for more than $200 million and 1.6 thousand jobs have been created. The factories assemble tractors, grain and forage harvesters, and trailed agricultural machinery. Three more projects are under implementation.
Special attention was paid to the export potential of Kazakhstani companies that manufacture railway products and have an opportunity to supply to Belarus the fasteners of sleepers with rails, fitting platforms, railway wheels, units and assemblies.
The talks resulted in the signing of a number of bilateral documents, including: Roadmap between the governments of Kazakhstan and Belarus on the development of trade and economic cooperation for 2025-2029, aimed at replenishing the pool of joint projects and establishing closer ties between the business community; Agreement on cooperation between JSC NC Kazakh Tourism and the National Agency for Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, providing for the exchange of experience in the field of ecological, skiing, rural, medical and children's tourism; Plan of measures for interaction in the field of cultural and humanitarian cooperation n
A visit to the Hi-Tech Park was also held in Minsk, where Olzhas Bektenov was presented digital projects being implemented in the areas of cloud technologies, cyber security, financial sector, etc.
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Central Asia is facing multiple climate-related risks, President Tokayev
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President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the World Leaders Climate Action Summit held within the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Akorda reports.
Kazakh leader Tokayev was the first to take the floor following the opening of a plenary session at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit.
In his speech, the Kazakh President reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to global climate agenda and highlighted the importance of international cooperation in the fight against climate change, recalling the country’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
President Tokayev pointed out that in order to achieve the tasks set it’s necessary to ensure access to predictable financing and latest technologies. The Kazakh leader stated that under the New Collective Quantified Goal it is important to draw special attention to regions, that are most vulnerable to climate change, including developing countries with no access to the sea.
Despite the fact that Central Asia is responsible for a mere 1% of total global emissions, the region is facing multiple climate-related risks. In order to increase the efficiency of the measures taken to address climate change, it is important to actively use advanced technologies such as AI, satellite monitoring as well as other digital instruments, allowing for early prevention and greater management of water and land resources, said the President.
Earlier it was reported that at the opening of the COP29 Climate Action Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a powerful message on the urgency of climate action.
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President Tokayev arrives at Baku Olympic Stadium to attend COP29 World Climate Action Summit
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived at the Baku Olympic Stadium to participate in the COP29 World Climate Action Summit, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Akorda press service.
The Head of State was greeted by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary General António Guterres.
The Kazakh President will be the first to address the plenary session of the COP29 Summit, the press service of Akorda notes.
Recall that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Baku on November 11 for a working visit, to participate in the COP29 World Climate Action Summit ongoing under the aegis of the UN Climate Change Conference.
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Head of State meets ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has met today President of the Asian Development Bank Masatsugu Asakawa who arrived in Astana to participate in the 23rd Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Akorda press service.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Masatsugu Asakawa on the 30th anniversary of the Kazakhstan-ADB fruitful cooperation.
The President said that Kazakhstan highly appreciates strategic character of interaction with the ADB and its contribution to the implementation of major infrastructure projects and strengthening the national financial system.
From 1994 to 2024, the ADB has financed $7 billion worth projects in Kazakhstan. In particular, the ADB was involved in the construction of the Western Europe- Western China international transport corridor and reconstruction of Aktobe - Kandyagash highway.
The Head of State emphasized the importance of further joint activity in the new priority areas. According to him, Kazakhstan continues working on economic liberalization, improvement of investment climate and creation of conditions to unlock the country’s economic potential. Decarbonization of the economy was named by the President as one of promising areas.
In turn, Masatsugu Asakawa said that the ADB welcomes Kazakhstan’s success in economic reforms and sustainable development. He assured that the ADB is ready to continue close cooperation, including participation in major projects, aimed at infrastructure modernization, social sphere improvement and investment climate strengthening.
An agreement on financing the Kyzylorda-Zhezkazgan highway construction project is set to be signed during the ADB President’s visit to Kazakhstan.
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Olzhas Bektenov discusses investment cooperation with ADB head and representatives of CAREC countries
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On behalf of the Head of State, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov took part in the 23rd Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Programme (CAREC), held in Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan. The goal is to expand interaction among the Programme's member countries and international financial institutions in shaping the integrated and sustainable development of the Central Asian region, primeminister.kz reports.
The CAREC Program is an initiative of the Asian Development Bank and is implemented in partnership with leading international financial institutions. The conference was attended by Asian Development Bank President Masatsugu Asakawa, CAREC Institute Director Kabir Jurazoda, European Commission Director for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Péteris Ustubes, representatives of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and other financial institutions, as well as government delegations from South Korea, Japan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Interaction of the states in the field of economic and financial stability, infrastructure development, trade, energy, water resources, decarbonisation, etc. was discussed.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted the relevance of the Programme for the Central Asian region. For more than 20 years, about $51 billion has been invested in the region, of which over $9 billion has been directed to projects in Kazakhstan.
We will continue to work closely with international financial institutions and CAREC member countries to achieve common objectives. We aim to develop the agro-industrial complex with a focus on deep processing and increasing the share of processed products, actively changing the structure of exports and increasing their volumes. We are also interested in implementing large-scale infrastructure projects to ensure transport connectivity and energy sustainability of the Central Asian states. I urge the countries of the region and international financial organisations to join efforts to implement joint projects," Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
In turn, President of the Asian Development Bank Masatsugu Asakawa noted that CAREC sees taking decisive action to combat climate change, building a sustainable infrastructure with early warning systems, as well as the development of digital transformation and innovation among the priorities.
The conference focused on initiatives aimed at developing human capital and improving the quality of life of the population.
At the end, an agreement on the CAREC Climate and Sustainable Development Project Preparation Facility was signed.
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Tokayev meets Russian FM Sergey Lavrov
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President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in Astana for a working visit, Akorda reports.
Greeting the Russian Foreign Minister, Tokayev highlighted the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation in a spirit of friendship, good-neighborliness and strategic partnership. As was noted, this is largely due to the regular political dialogue at the highest level as well as the coordinated work of the governments and parliaments of both countries.
During the meeting, special attention was attached to the preparation for the upcoming visit of Russian President Putin to Kazakhstan.
We’re seriously preparing for this visit. We believe that this is a landmark event in our interstate relationships. Our relations are exemplary and evolving dynamically. The upcoming visit is to give an additional impetus to our strategic partnership and alliance, said the President.
In turn, Lavrov reassured that all the key issues of multifaceted cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, including the agenda of the upcoming visit, are being elaborated in detail at the level of governments and foreign ministries of both countries.
The Russian Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to President Tokayev for holding the scientific and practical conference in Astana, marking 80 years since the establishment of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), which drew a wide response in diplomatic circles and media.
The interlocutors discussed the current issues of regional and international agenda, including interaction within multilateral structures and integration associations.
Earlier it was reported Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Astana on a two-day working visit.
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