Kassenova

How Will U.S. Policy toward Central Asia Look under the Biden Administration?

(Davis Center) The United States made an important contribution to the independence of Central Asian states—perhaps the largest of all the powers seriously involved in the affairs of the region.…

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Kassenova: Kazakh officials downplay the plight of ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang while increasing visas for ethnic Kazakhs from China

(VOA) Sairagul Sauytbay, who said she faced torture in the Chinese detention camps in the Xinjiang region, never thought her story of survival would gain international attention one day. The 43-year-old…

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Kassenova: Kazakh authorities have purged the domestic political life so thoroughly that they’re confused how to proceed

(Al Jazeera) Leaders and would-be delegates of the founding congress of an opposition party have been arrested in Kazakhstan ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections, raising concerns about democratic participation in the…

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Kassenova: Pompeo’s visit gave a boost to U.S.-Kazakhstan and U.S.-Uzbekistan relations, albeit his strong verbal attacks on China were most likely not appreciated

(Nikkei Asia Review) ALMATY, Kazakhstan — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took advantage of his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan last week to lambast China over its treatment of its…

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Central Asia and the EU Connectivity Strategy: Rising to the Good Governance Challenge

(PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo) The EU connectivity strategy for Eurasia, adopted by the European Council in October 2018, is the Union’s response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its…

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Kassenova: Nazarbayev’s exit resembles the semi-departure of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew

(Forbes) It’s probably safe to say that few would equate Kazakhstan (KZ) with the kind of modernity akin to something straight out of a science fiction novel. Two years ago, following…

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Kassenova: The succession process has shown that Kazakh society is changing and those running the country are out of touch with their own people

(FP) NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan—For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan has a new president. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the interim president and hand-picked successor of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Central…

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Nargis Kassenova on Kazakhstan in Transition

(The Diplomat) As Kazakhstan undergoes its first power transition, the awakening of public politics is inevitable. It’s been a wild few months for Kazakh politics, starting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s resignation on…

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Kassenova: Shallow progress in linking the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative indicates that it’s mostly rhetorical, but signals Russian and Chinese intentions

(The Diplomat) “Synergizing” China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) remains in the rhetoric of both sides, most recently while Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was…

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Kassenova: Astana has raised, very diplomatically, the issue of ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang re-education camps

(The Diplomat) In early 2017, reports began to emerge that Chinese authorities in Xinjiang were ratcheting up security, flying in troops, and parading police convoys through the region’s cities. Chen Quanguo, appointed…

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PONARS Eurasia Podcast

How Will U.S. Policy toward Central Asia Look under the Biden Administration?

Kassenova: Kazakh officials downplay the plight of ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang while increasing visas for ethnic Kazakhs from China

Kassenova: Kazakh authorities have purged the domestic political life so thoroughly that they’re confused how to proceed

Kassenova: Pompeo’s visit gave a boost to U.S.-Kazakhstan and U.S.-Uzbekistan relations, albeit his strong verbal attacks on China were most likely not appreciated

Central Asia and the EU Connectivity Strategy: Rising to the Good Governance Challenge

Kassenova: Nazarbayev’s exit resembles the semi-departure of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew

Kassenova: The succession process has shown that Kazakh society is changing and those running the country are out of touch with their own people

Nargis Kassenova on Kazakhstan in Transition

Kassenova: Shallow progress in linking the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative indicates that it’s mostly rhetorical, but signals Russian and Chinese intentions

Kassenova: Astana has raised, very diplomatically, the issue of ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang re-education camps