Articles - The Moscow Times

Support The Moscow Times!

Contribute today

overnight success

Kazakh DJ Imanbek Makes History With First Post-Soviet Grammy

Imanbek's remix of SAINt JHN’s “Roses” went viral on TikTok and racked up over 1 billion plays on Spotify.

international inoculations

Kazakhstan to Launch Production of Russian Vaccine

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan backs Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.

Elementary, Watson

Sherlock Holmes' Baker Street Residence Owned By Former Kazakh Leader’s Daughter

The Times newspaper found the final clue after previous reports had linked Dariga Nazarbayeva to the property.

friendly nation

'Very Nice': Kazakhstan Adopts Borat’s Catchphrase for Tourism Drive

Kazakhstan's lean-in attitude marks a reversal from the confrontational stance it took toward the first Borat movie.

Kazakhstan: Troubled Nazarbayev Grandson Dies Aged 29

The 29-year-old had repeatedly taken to social media to level increasingly outrageous allegations against his family and other elite figures.

Kazakhstan Denies China's Claim of New Deadly Virus

Beijing has warned of a disease with "a mortality rate far higher than Covid-19."

infected leader

Kazakh Ex-President Tests Positive for Coronavirus

“There’s no cause for concern,” the 79-year-old Nazarbayev's press service said.

what's in a name

‘We Don’t Call It Annexation,’ Kazakh Leader Says of Crimea

The comments appeared to address concerns that Moscow could seize parts of Kazakhstan with a sizable ethnic Russian minority.

Former Kazakh President Wants to Arrange Putin-Zelenskiy Summit

Such a meeting, if it took place, would represent a breakthrough in the two countries' strained ties.

Debt forgiveness

Kazakh Leader to Wipe Out Debt of the Poor, End Bank Rescues

The new president will write off bad loans held by as much as a sixth of the population.

hundreds detained

Kazakhstan’s Mass Election Protests, Explained

A timeline of the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Russia’s oil-rich ally.

Russian Ally Kazakhstan Elects Longtime Leader’s Successor

Russia expects "that our old strategic partner will continue to preserve and develop good neighborly relations," a State Duma deputy said.

New Kazakh Leader Vows to Keep Friendly Ties With Russia

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became Kazakhstan's interim president after longtime leader Nursultan Nazarbayev stepped down.

Come Again, Comrade? Russian and Soviet City Name Changes Through the Ages

Politicians in the post-Soviet world seem to love name changes.

Last Soviet Leader Steps Down. And the Story of an American Teacher Detained for 'Drug Smuggling'

This week's most important news stories from Russia brought to you by Moscow Times journalists and expert commentators.

Astana Schmastana

The Best Memes: Kazakhstan Renames Capital to Nursultan in Honor of Glorious Leader

The Russian internet quickly responded to Kazakhstan's decision to rename its capital.

leadership games

Kremlin Wonders If Putin May Follow Kazakh Model to Keep Power

A transition similar to the one under way in Kazakhstan has been actively discussed in Moscow.

Putin Congratulates New President of ‘Brotherly Nation’ Kazakhstan

Kazakshtan is one of Russia's biggest trading partners and has been its key ally in the Eurasian Economic Union project.

opinion Leonid Bershidsky

Kazakh Autocrat Shows Putin How to Keep Power

Both Russia and Kazakhstan have been run by the same leader, continuously “re-elected.”

Long-term leader

President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Resigns After Three Decades

Nazarbayev is one of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies.

View more articles