Kazakhstan

ASTANA, October 12. /TASS/: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the Kazakhstan capital city of Astana with a state visit, where he will participate in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit on October 13. The Turkish leader was met in the airport by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to the presidential press office’s live stream on social media.

BAIKONUR COSMODROME /Kazakhstan/, October 12. /TASS/: A Proton-M carrier rocket with an AngoSat-2 telecoms satellite for Angola blasted off from site No. 81 at the Baikonur spaceport, a TASS correspondent reported from the scene.

The rocket’s head unit comprising a DM-03 booster and the satellite was set to separate from the rocket’s upper stage in 584 seconds after the launch. It will take the booster several hours to deliver the satellite into the designated orbit.

ASTANA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Kazakh authorities on Wednesday rejected a demand from Russia that they expel Ukraine's ambassador over comments about killing Russians, chiding Moscow for what they called an inappropriate tone between "equal strategic partners".

Russia's ties with Kazakhstan and some others of its ex-Soviet allies have become strained during the war in Ukraine, notably over attempts by President Vladimir Putin to renege on post-USSR border agreements in the country's east.

ALMATY, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan, one of Russia's close ex-Soviet partners, will not recognise the possible annexation of Ukraine's eastern regions by Russia through referendums held there, the Central Asian nation's foreign ministry said on Monday.

Voting took place in four Ukrainian regions mostly held by Russian forces, the start of a plan by President Vladimir Putin to annex a big chunk of Ukraine in what the West says is violation of international law that significantly escalates war in the country. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special military operation". 

BAIKONUR /Kazakhstan/, September 18. /TASS/: A US delegation with NASA representatives has arrived at Baikonur, ahead of the first cross flight aboard a Soyuz spacecraft, the Roscosmos press service told journalists on Sunday.

"A US delegation has arrived at Baikonur to participate in the events of the first cross flight aboard a Soyuz spacecraft - they are representatives of NASA and relatives of astronaut Frank Rubio," the press service said. The NASA delegation is led by Kenneth Bowersox, the state corporation specified.

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday started his first foreign trip since the outbreak of the pandemic with a stop in Kazakhstan ahead of a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and other leaders of a Central Asian security group.

Wearing a blue suit and a face mask, Xi was met on the airport tarmac by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and an honor guard, all of whom wore masks.

Xi’s trip underlines the importance Beijing places on asserting its role as a regional leader amid tension with Washington, Japan and India.

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (AP) — Pope Francis begged for an end to Russia’s “senseless and tragic war” in Ukraine as he arrived Tuesday in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan to join faith leaders from around the world in praying for peace.

NUR-SULTAN, September 2. /TASS/: The Zhana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan) group, which was set up in February by some lawmakers of the Majilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), has put forward a proposal to return the former name of Astana to the country’s capital, according to the statement released by the group on Friday.

NUR-SULTAN, September 2. /TASS/: The Zhana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan) group, which was set up in February by some lawmakers of the Majilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), has put forward a proposal to return the former name of Astana to the country’s capital, according to the statement released by the group on Friday.

26 August 2022; AA: Kazakhstan on Saturday suspended exports of weapons and military products for one year.

A defense industry commission meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, the president's office said in a statement.

The proposal by the Industry and Infrastructure Development Ministry to suspend exports of weapons, military equipment and military products until the end of August 2023 was evaluated and it was approved by the commission members.