U.S. Congress Hosted a Briefing on the State of Religious Freedom in Kazakhstan
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The U.S. Congress hosted a briefing to present an independent report on the current state of religious freedom in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The event brought together representatives of Congress, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), media outlets, and NGOs working in the field of religious freedom.
Opening the briefing, LYN Community President Wade Kusack shared positive impressions of the report preparation process and his visit to Kazakhstan. He emphasized the general expert view that cooperation between government institutions, religious communities, and civil society in the country has been steadily strengthening.
The key findings of the report were presented by USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi, who highlighted Kazakhstan’s efforts in the repatriation and reintegration of citizens from areas affected by ISIS, including the "Zhusan" operation, underscoring the importance of educational and social support programs.
Speakers also noted their experience participating in the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, emphasizing the event’s contribution to building trust and fostering interfaith dialogue.
Particular attention was drawn to the remarks of a woman repatriated under the "Zhusan" operation, who shared her personal experience of adaptation and engagement with state support programs.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, during which participants discussed selected recommendations from the report and potential approaches to their practical implementation.
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Kazakh President extends National Day greetings to King of Thailand
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended his congratulations to King Maha Vajiralongkorn on the occasion of Thailand’s National Day, akorda.kz reports.
The Head of State underscored that the relations between Astana and Bangkok, grounded in the bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, rest on a solid foundation and hold significant potential for further development.
The President also expressed confidence that the multifaceted intergovernmental partnership will continue to strengthen for the benefit of both nations.
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Kazakhstan and Austria Agreed to Intensify Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
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During the visit to Vienna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held a meeting with President of the National Council of the Austrian Parliament Walter Rosenkranz, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
During the talks parties discussed the state and prospects of Kazakh-Austrian relations, deepening partnership with the European Union and engagement within the OSCE.
Minister Kosherbayev noted the stable development of bilateral cooperation and underscored the importance of further expansion of ties in various fields.
Austrian side highly appreciated the intensification of political dialogue between Kazakhstan and the EU and Astana’s constructive position on international agenda topics.
The sides agreed to intensify bilateral interparliamentary cooperation and to promote regular high-level engagements.
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US experts characterized Kazakhstan as a leading economy in Central Asia
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Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States Magzhan Ilyassov paid a working visit to New York, during which a series of events took place aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan-U.S. cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The key event of the visit was the roundtable discussion "Bridging Continents: Kazakhstan’s Strategic Role in West-East Trade", which brought together more than 40 representatives of U.S. expert, business, and financial communities. Participants exchanged views on the development of trade and investment cooperation, transit corridors, the supply of critical minerals, and the enhancement of connectivity along the East-West axis.
Ambassador Ilyassov outlined the main outcomes of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent visit to Washington, DC, and the "C5+1" Summit, noting that the agreements reached have elevated bilateral cooperation to a new level, underscored by the signing of more than $17 billion in commercial deals.
American experts characterized Kazakhstan as a leading and rapidly developing economy in Central Asia, recognizing the country’s significant contribution to advancing the Middle Corridor and establishing resilient transport and logistics chains. Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords was received positively, opening new opportunities for cooperation in logistics, agriculture, water technologies, and digital services, while further strengthening the country’s diplomatic role on the international stage.
As part of the visit, Ambassador Ilyassov held meetings with representatives of the U.S. business community to discuss prospects for American companies’ participation in projects related to the extraction and processing of critical minerals, as well as the advantages of Kazakhstan’s investment climate.
Another key engagement was a meeting with Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club, focused on developing international research initiatives and promoting Kazakhstan’s tourism potential.
In addition, Ambassador Ilyassov was honored with the "Diwali Stamp - The Power of One" award, established by Diwali Foundation USA to recognize diplomats who have made significant contributions to promoting peace and international stability.
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Kazakh Ambassador Meets with the Minister of Culture of Moldova
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Kazakh Ambassador to Moldova, Almat Aidarbekov, held a meeting with the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, Cristian Jardan. The parties discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cultural and humanitarian cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The Ambassador congratulated the Minister on his appointment and wished him success in his responsible position, noting Kazakhstan’s commitment to further deepening friendly relations between Astana and Chișinău.
А.Aidarbekov highlighted the positive development of the opening of the Moldovan Embassy in Astana in 2025, which became an important step in strengthening bilateral relations.
The Kazakh diplomat spoke about cultural events organized by the Embassy. In 2023, the Embassy invited the ethno-folklore group Turan. He also emphasized the interest of the Moldovan audience in Kazakh music groups that regularly tour Moldova, including BN Team Orchestra, Tynda Music, Ne Prosto Orchestra, and others.
On November 18, 2025, the Embassy organized a screening of the Kazakh historical drama "Dawn of the Great Steppe" in Chișinău, with the participation of the lead actor, Berik Aitzhanov.
The Ambassador presented the main directions of Kazakhstan’s cultural policy and informed the Minister about ongoing projects aimed at promoting national cultural heritage and strengthening intercultural dialogue.
In turn, Minister Jardan emphasized the importance of strengthening partnership in the cultural sphere. He also confirmed readiness to expand joint initiatives aimed at supporting creative exchanges and organizing cultural events.
C. Jardan outlined the Ministry’s priorities, including modernization of cultural infrastructure, support for creative groups, preservation of national heritage, development of international cultural exchange, and ensuring broad public access to culture. He stressed the importance of expanding partnerships that promote the country’s cultural potential.
Both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further deepening cooperation and maintaining constructive dialogue.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Holds Bilateral Meetings with OSCE Leadership
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Within the framework of the 32nd Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held a series of bilateral meetings with the heads of key institutions of OSCE, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister met with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) MariaTelalian, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Jan Braathu, and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Christophe Kamp.
During the meeting with Secretary General Sinirlioglu, Minister Kosherbayev emphasized the strategic nature of Kazakhstan’s cooperation with the Organization, noting that the development of comprehensive interaction within the OSCE is one of the priorities of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy.
The parties discussed issues related to strengthening regional security, expanding practical cooperation, and jointly implementing initiatives across all three dimensions of the OSCE - politico-military, economic-environmental, and human dimensions.
During the meeting with HCNM Kamp, Minister addressed issues of ethnic diversity, highlighting Kazakhstan’s unique experience in promoting interethnic harmony.
We share the view that a diverse society is a strength. Kazakhstan is a clear example of peaceful coexistence and inter-ethnic cooperation among different communities. While ethnic diversity may often be regarded as a risk factor, for us it is a national asset and a strategic advantage," he stated.
The meetings with Director Telalian and Representative Braathu focused on democratic development, rule of law, freedom of the media, human rights protection, and the strengthening of civil society institutions.
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Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and Northern Europe Countries Held in Vienna
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev participated in the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of Central Asian and Nordic countries that was held within the framework of the 32nd Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.
Representatives of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden attended the regional meeting.
The discussions focused on a number of issues of practical engagement between Central Asian and Nordic countries in such spheres as economy, environment, transport and logistics, education, innovations and promoting regional partnership.
In his speech, Minister Kosherbayev informed about deepening of regional cooperation in Central Asia and highlighted opportunities to promote mutually beneficial engagement at both the bilateral and multilateral level with Nordic countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the readiness to further advance the "Central Asia - Northern Europe" dialogue was reaffirmed, while the importance of regular contacts and experience sharing on key areas of mutual interest was underscored. Kazakhstan expressed its commitment to strengthening the partnership, highlighting the importance of joint efforts to promote sustainable development and reinforce stability across the space of interregional cooperation.
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