On the UN Day of Nuclear Disarmament Assessing the Impact of January 2022 Unrest on Kazakhstan’s Economy, Politics and Social Order.

On the UN Day of Nuclear Disarmament Assessing the Impact of January 2022 Unrest on Kazakhstan’s Economy, Politics and Social Order. In January 2022, Kazakhstan experienced a wave of protests and unrest that reverberated throughout the country. This significant event had far-reaching consequences, impacting the economy, politics and social order of Kazakhstan. This article aims […]

RIPPLES OF CHANGE IN CENTRAL ASIA

RIPPLES OF CHANGE IN CENTRAL ASIA At the end of 2022 I travelled to Kazakhstan, as Chairman of Eurasian Creative Guild to report on the early Presidential Elections and constitutional reform called by President Tokaev. It was a showcase, multimedia affair, streamed live on TV, a modern ‘progressive’ event to show the world democracy exists […]

THE CONTEMPORARY ART OF BAHKSHI A NEW SOUND OF THE GOLDENHERITAGE OF UZBEKISTAN

THE CONTEMPORARY ART OF BAHKSHI A NEW SOUND OF THE GOLDENHERITAGE OF UZBEKISTAN Uzbekistan is a country wrestling with its past and its future. Ancient historical cities where heroes such as Alexander the Great and Tamerlane walked the same smooth worn pavements as today’s tourists, need preserving, yet the country is also caught up in […]

CAN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SOLVE CENTRAL ASIA’S CHALLENGES?

CAN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SOLVE CENTRAL ASIA’S CHALLENGES? Creating Water Purification Systems for Disaster Response: A Case Study National, state and local governments frequently face complex problems that require cost effective and efficient solutions that are often constrained by both time and fiscal pressures. Government best practices developed and implemented in the US Federal government can […]

KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM KEEPS EVOLVING

KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM KEEPS EVOLVING INTERVIEW WITH ELENA KALASHNIKOVA Elena Kalashnikova was born in 1968 and has had an active and fulfilling life based around her love of travel, alpinism and diving. She graduated from Omsk State Educational Institute (Specialty: mathematics, computer science) in 1992 but realised that tourism was her passion that she wanted to […]

Open Doors to the World of Art

Open Doors to the World of Art: Announcement of the International Festival in Kazakhstan The festival “Voices of Friends: Poetry and Visual Arts” brings together talented authors from different countries, giving them the opportunity to show their creative abilities to a wide audience and to find like-minded people. In 2023, the festival will take place […]

THE ROAD TO BOROVOE

THE ROAD TO BOROVOE For people that live in the beginning of the third millennium, it’s hard to believe that a hundred years ago trips to Borovoe were not so easy and challenging for our ancestors. Now, almost everyone has his own car, there are intercity bus and train services all over Kazakhstan, and finally […]

PEOPLE’S DIPLOMACY IN ACTION AT BURABAY

PEOPLE’S DIPLOMACYIN ACTION AT BURABAY In European countries they have a tradition of taking a “gap year” after college before entering university. Usually this year is devoted to travel and volunteer work, and volunteering in itself is a form of social interaction. Even members of the British royal family are included in this process (this […]

Constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan: a course to continue profound democratic reforms

Constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan: a course to continue profound democratic reforms A national referendum on the law on the new Constitution will beheld in Uzbekistan on 30 April 2023. The updated Basic Law is intendedto consolidate the country’s strategic course for further reform of societyand the state, which has had a positive impact on its […]

The Kazakh Spring

The Kazakh Spring. As I am being driven along the highway from Almaty towards Taldykorgan, the billboard posters have been changed from the usual images of pop stars, safety information and Casinos to an array of big yellow ticks, the number 19 and lots of smiling citizens. Some are in groups representing political parties and […]

THE EVOLUTION
OF BOROVOE VILLAGE

By the middle of the 19th century, the military-Cossack colonisation of the Steppe continued with less stress and risk. In 1849, not far from the Kokchetav mountains, the village of Koturkolskaya village was founded, and a year later its settlement Shchuchinsky arose. Twenty years later, 22 kilometres north of the village of Shchuchinskaya, on the […]

Review: Raisa – What Hurts My Heart

So much of the detail and truth of what the Soviet Union was is absent from discourse in the West and in the FSU countries. There are many reasons for this but first and foremost is the sheer weight of the political, military, economic, technological and sporting history in relation to the wider world and […]

TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS
AS AN INTEGRAL LINK OF THE DIGITAL
ECONOMY IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

The concept of digital economy is an activity directly related to the development of digital computer technologies, which includes services for the provision of online services, the most important of which are: Internet banking, Internet commerce, Internet marketing, Internet games, crowd funding, etc. There are two approaches to the term digital economy. The first approach […]

FROM THE FRONT LINE: THE UKRAINE CONFLICT
INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL SPECKHARD,
CEO CORUS GROUP

The Former Soviet Union has occupied Ambassador Daniel Speckhard’s professional career (and personal interest) since the 1990s. He initially served as director of policy and resources for the Deputy Secretary of State, overseeing and co-ordinating foreign aid funding. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union he was Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large for the new independent […]

Editor Word

Happy New Year! Black swan events are supposed to be unexpected, of large magnitude and consequence, and very rare. Perhaps once a decade or once a generation events even. But recent years have seemingly thrown up one black swan event after another that have impacted the world in far reaching and profound ways. The world […]

The Turkic World: A Concept of Co-operation Between Central Asian Countries

The Turkic World: A Concept of Co-operation Between Central Asian Countries What is the modern concept of co-operation between the Central Asian countries and why is the Turkic world, according to many scientists, a promising concept of such co-operation? We try to understand this issue in this article. Considering historical retrospect, we note that the […]

Economic developments in Kazakhstan

As the world’s economic woes are broadcast across the media and governments and, financial institutions battle the potential recessions some developing nations are seemingly faring better. The Covid pandemic and war in the Ukraine have, undoubtedly, been the cause of many worldwide issues but how are some countries and regions more able to weather the […]

31 YEARS YOUNG UZBEKISTAN: SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS FOR FURTHER PROSPERITY

31 YEARS YOUNG UZBEKISTAN: SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS FOR FURTHER PROSPERITY On september 1, 2022 Uzbekistan celebrated the 31st Anniversary of its Independence. From the very beginning the nation has set an ambitious goal – to become a developed, sustainable, democratic state. In a relatively short period, profound structural and institutional transformations were carried out that laid […]

Freedom of belief

At present, representatives of 130 ethnic groups and 18 religious denominations live in Kazakhstan, among them – Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists. Throughout the country, many mosques and temples are operating and being built, which are actively visited by believers. Religious freedoms in the Republic of Kazakhstan are guaranteed by Article 14 of the […]

At Historic Crossroads

It is going to be exactly 30 years since the state entity called the USSR disappeared from the map of the world. What is interesting about that date? Because there were many historic turning points in this arena that could have thrown a vast area of 22.4 million square kilometers into chaos and affected the […]

NOT EASY BUT BREATHTAKING CREATIVITY

INTERVIEW WITH EKATERINAZGURSKAYA OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / workEkaterina Zgurskaya: My name is Ekaterina Zgurskaya aka Katerina Zver (rus. “The Animal”) – it’s a moniker based on one of my projects, a short animation video about various fantasy creatures. One of the main characters was a strange three-tailed […]

TRANSCENDENTAL ART

INTERVIEW WITH IGOR GUSHCHIN OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / workIgor Gushchin: The sphere in which I work is not only my job but also my life. I can talk a lot about art, this is a phenomenon and a product of human consciousness. What distinguishes a person from […]

NEW UZBEKISTAN BEGINS AT THE SCHOOL DOORSTEP EDUCATION REFORMS ENSURE LONG TERM GROWTH OF UZBEKISTAN

From the beginning of the written history of humankind, Central Asia was at the crossroads of civilisations, cultures and development. Archaeological discoveries show that the first known cities and states were present here for more than five thousand years. Magnificent monuments, temples and government buildings, with the sophisticated structures, prove that this land was full […]

I HAVE AN ARDENT DESIRE TO CREATE AND SHARE MY CREATIVITY

INTERWIEW WITH LIDIYA DROZDOVA OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity.Lidiya Drozdova: I live in Kazakhstan. I create from the beauty around me and give the happiness of creativity to everyone who wants to learn how to paint. I am the worker of Kazakh art, member of the Kazakhstan Designers Union, […]

UZBEKISTAN’S GROWINGINTERNATIONAL CULTURE & ARTS SCENE

International art lovers attending the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale were in for a treat. For the very first time in the history of this prestigious festival, Uzbekistan had a national pavilion, situated within the Arsenale. Titled “Mahalla: Urban Rural Living”, this 1:1 scale model of a house in a traditional Uzbek mahalla (neighbourhood) was curated […]

ACHIEVING SOCIAL INCLUSION THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE IN UZBEKISTAN: WHY ACCESSIBILITY IS SO IMPORTANT

“I really want our society to be inclusive. I think we should start with culture because music and arts do not require interpretation. If we make culture inclusive and accessible, everything else will go by itself, God willing,” said Mirsaid Mukhotorov, a blind student of international law at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. […]

MARGARITA YAGUDAEVA

EVERYTHING THAT IS IMAGINABLE – IS POSSIBLE OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activityMargarita Yagudaeva: I was born in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, grew up there before I went travelling around the world. Recently, I completed my PhD in Linguistics and am now a Doctor of Linguistics.As for my creative […]

A SPRING OF KNOWLEDGE AND BEAUTY:UZBEK AND CHAGATAI COLLECTIONS AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY

Since its creation in 1753, the British Library – formerly the Library of the British Museum – has amassed more than 170 million collection items. A small portion of these are in Uzbek or Chagatai, or related to the territory of the contemporary Republic of Uzbekistan. Despite their small number, the 50-odd Turkic manuscripts from […]

Commitment to international principles

Commitment to international principles The situation in Afghanistan was a real test of the international community’s commitment to democratic values and principles of mutual assistance. One of the first Central Asian states to pass the test was Kazakhstan, which promptly responded to the UN appeal and hosted missions by the international organisation. As the military […]

PEOPLE’S WRITER OF KYRGYZSTAN, PUBLIC FIGURE, SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHTER 80TH ANNIVERSARY SINCE KAZAT AKMATOV’S BIRTH

BIOGRAPHY: Kazat Akmatov is a well-known people’s writer of Kyrgyzstan. He is the author of such wonderful works as “Arhat”, “Munabiya”, “Howl”, “13 steps of Erica Claus”, “Shahidka”, “Sacred Hearth”, etc. The works of K. Akmatov have been translated into dozens of languages and included in the study programme in many countries. They have also […]

GUEST EDITOR’S WORD

Dear Reader It is was a great honor to be asked to be the Guest Editor for this edition of OCA magazine. The magazine is now in its twelfth year and has grown in influence over that time. I have been involved with OCA and the Eurasian Creative Guild for nearly nine years – having […]

EMINESCU – AN ECHO OF LOVE

Love has no boundaries. Anyone can find their favorite poetry through the work of Mihai Eminescu. In Romania, as well as in the Republic of Moldova, children study the poetry of Mihai Eminescu from a young age. He is the most beloved poet for Romanians of all ages. For in his poems we find the […]

ARCTIC: AN INTERCONNECTED CULTURE AND CLIMATE

One of the global problems of our modern world is climate change. The most noticeable process of climate change is observed in the Arctic. There are lots of rallies, actions and campaigns held in support of work on preserving the climate in the Arctic, and on preserving the local habitat and settlements. And against the […]

THE EURASIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY IS BORN HERE

YERLAN SYDYKOVCHANCELLOR OF THE EURASIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITYCHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF RECTORS OF UNIVERSITIES OF KAZAKHSTAN This year, The Eurasian National University (ENU), named after L.N. Gumilyov, will reach over a quarter of a century in age, during which time, its consistent successes across all areas of the educational space, has seen the institution comfortably […]

THE ROAD TO GROWTH

Prior to 2020, Uzbekistan was one of the fastest growing travel destinations in the world, with the surge in visitors arriving beyond even the highest expectations of those within the Central Asia tourism scene. It was an exciting time to be creating product and leading sales of Uzbekistan holidays for a company organising tours for […]

HOW HAVE KAZAKHSTANIS FARED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

From March 2020 and throughout the whole year, the Business Information, Social and Marketing Research Center “BISAM – Central Asia” had been monitoring public sentiments and social situation by tracking changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The information was collected within the framework of international surveys by Gallup International, whose representative in Kazakhstan is BISAM […]

NAVRUZ CELEBRATION IN TAJIKISTAN

Navruz is one of the most ancient of holidays that has survived from the depths of centuries to present day. It is one of the biggest holidays of the Aryan people, including the Tajik people, and other peoples and cultures celebrate it under the same name. Each region in Tajikistan celebrates Navruz with its own […]

SECRETS AND MYSTERY OF BRASLAV LAKES

The largest lake group in Belarus, including more than 50 lakes spanning 130 square kilometres, is located around Braslav. The lakes are connected by numerous, but mostly shallow, rivers and streams with a length of more than 300 km. The most famous of the Braslav lakes are the Drivyaty, Tsno, Nespish, Nedrovo, Potsekh, Voyso, Boloyso, […]

OCA PEOPLE: VLADIMIR TULINOV

At the age of 27, Vladimir began writing poetry and articles, many of which were published in newspapers and magazines. He graduated from two universities,and in 2011 his first book of a journalistic nature with the title “My language is my friend” was published. His other book such as “Guards of Hippocrates” – was highly […]

OCA PEOPLE: VICTORIA LEVIN

COVER STORY   Victoria is a writer, poet born in the Chita region. Graduated from Moscow State Technical University. Bauman. Author of two novels and seven collections of poetry. She has been published in magazines in Israel, Russia, Germany, Bulgaria and others. Also she’s a Winner of the Russian Literary Prize medal. Laureate of several […]

OCA PEOPLE: SULTAN RAEV

INTERVIEW Sultan Akimovich is a writer, playwright. People’s Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic (2011). Laureate of the CIS Interstate Prize. He’s known as an acclaimed playwright and theater director. Author of more than two dozen plays. Performances based on his plays have repeatedly won victories, incl. Grand Prix, at theater festivals in Germany, Tatarstan, Uzbekistan, […]

OCA PEOPLE: SARIYA MAMEDOVA

Sariya Aga Mamad kyzy, graduated with honors from the institute, full-time postgraduate study. Since 1976, candidate of chemical sciences. Editor of the magazine “Society and Woman”. She is the owner of the “Golden Pen” by the Azerbaijani media, 2013. Member of the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan 01.16.1913 Member of the Russian Writers Union (RSP) since […]

OCA PEOPLE: NINA BELOMESTNOVA

Nina Belomestnova is a freelance journalist, historian (anthropologist), writer. Engaged in scientific and ethnic journalism. In journalism, holder of the titles “Journalist of Siberia”, 2016, “Golden Pen of Russia”, 2017. Winner of the Y. Rytkheu International Literary Prize in 2016 for the nomination “small prose”. OCA: Tell us about yourself and your activity / work? […]

OCA PEOPLE: MARINA PODLESNAIA

Marina Podlesnaya was born in Moldova. She’s a poet, writer, museographer of the House-Museum of A.S. Pushkin in Chisinau, member of the Administrative Council of the Writers’ Union of Moldova A. S. Pushkin; board member and member of the ballroom committee of the Center for Russian Culture of the Republic of Moldova; organizer and presenter […]

International media forum

International media forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan and the election of our country as Vice-Chairman of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly was held in Ashgabat   On September 16, 2020, International media forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan and […]

OCA PEOPLE: LENAR SHAEKHOV

Lenar (Lenar Shaekhov), a Tatar poet, children’s writer, translator, publicist. Born on 4 October 1982 in the village of Taktalachuk of the Aktanyshsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia). Graduated from the Menzelinsk Pedagogical College, Department of Tatar Philology and History of Kazan State University, Post Graduate Programme. Chief Editor of the Tatarstan Book […]

OCA PEOPLE: LARISSA PRODAN

Larissa was born in Uzbekistan, her childhood and youth were spent in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. She graduated from university in Kazakhstan. After receiving her PhD, I taught economics in Central Asian and Caucasus countries. At the moment she lives in the USA. She’s a prose writer. Her historical novel “The Fine Thread of […]

OCA PEOPLE: JOHN FARNDON

John is an author, playwright, songwriter and poet, and chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild. He is the author of over thousand books on many topics, and has been shortlisted for the Young People’s Science Book Prize five times. He is also a translator of literature from Russia and Central Asia. He was joint winner […]

OCA PEOPLE: HAMID LARBI

Hamid Larbi is a journalist and poet, born in Algiers, currently lives at Montpellier. He is the author of various essays and poetry collections translated into Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Arabic and Serbian languages. He received the journalism award from the Press Circle of Milan for Giornalistàesterain Milan, Italy.He won the Silver Medal at […]

OCA PEOPLE: GARETH STAMP

Gareth is originally from the UK, with Welsh routes and heritage. He originally trained as a designer and then, over thirty years ago, he found his passion for education, both teaching shared ideas and learning new things every day. He worked in Kazakhstan for nearly nine years in a wide variety of educational settings; from […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELVIRA SVETLOVA

Elvira Svetlova was born in Russia. She graduated from Pedagogical University. After moving to Almaty, Elvira’s articles were published in many media sources. She also wrote several books. She received the title of Doctor of Creative Sciences and Teachings of the Moscow Academy of Sciences. OCA: Tell us about yourself and your creative activity/work ES: […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELENA KORNEEVA

Elena graduated from Ryazan State Pedagogical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography. Elena took part in research expeditions, scientific conferences, won several competitions of poetry and scientific works. She is a laureate of international and all-Russian music competitions of songs for children and teenagers. Her poetry is multifaceted, extending to recitations to music, the […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELENA BOSLER-GUSEVA

Elena is a founder and director of a ‘Premium Group’ company in Kyrgyzstan, a member of the Eurasian Creative Guild, a recent chairman of the Expert Council in the category of “Translation”. Hobbies: literature (writing articles, children’s stories, poems, dubbing texts), foreign languages (individual teaching, drawing up progressive training programs, consulting), painting, travel. OCA: Please […]

OCA PEOPLE: MICHAEL DANIEL SAGATIS

Michael Daniel is a British independent researcher, composer and filmmaker with Baltic & Slavic roots. He created an intergenerational memory project “Józefa’s Letters” that’s been widely exhibited throughout the Eurasian space. In 2019, he made and co-scored the documentary short film “Józefa’s Letters” which has received 9 official film festival selections. Visit: https://vimeo.com/michaelsagatis OCA: Tell […]

OCA PEOPLE: MARGARITA MIKHAILOVA

Born in Russia, Margarita began her studies as a pianist and choral conductor in St Petersburg Academy of Art. Since 2002 she has worked in Norway and gradually extended her repertoire from classical and romantic composers to contemporary music. After completing her Master Degree in Choral Conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music Margarita worked […]

OCA PEOPLE: GULNARA KAPANOVA

Gulnara is a stage movement researcher, professional ballerina – leading soloist of the Kazakhstan Opera House, master of arts (choreography), certified specialist in functional anatomy. Author of documentaries about classical ballet, founder of the “Gift” award for graduates of the Almaty Choreographic School named after Seleznev. Author of a number of scientific articles from the […]

OCA PEOPLE: NURYM TAIBEK

Nurym is a mathematician, business manager, ideologue of general prosperity (through natural market / ‘Islamic’ economic system), scholar of philosophy of religion, theologian, author of scientific works, articles in the press and interviews with major media, blogger, translator. He is an author of dozens of scientific publications on philosophy of religion, appeared in the media […]

OCA PEOPLE: STEPHEN M. BLAND

Stephen M. Bland is a freelance journalist, award-winning author, researcher and editor specialising in post-Soviet territories. His book on Central Asia was released in 2016, and he is currently putting the finishing touches to a book about the Caucasus.  www.stephenmbland.com OCA: Tell us about yourself and your work SMB: My name is Stephen M. Bland; […]

OCA PEOPLE: LAURENT MARGADANT

Laurent has been working in the banking industry. He worked in the accountancy of a private aviation company and I have worked for the TPG Transport Publics Genevois, a State Company for public transport in Geneva twenty years as Manager of the Trolleybus Operations. He has been passionate about Central Asia since 2007, with many […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELENA BEZRUKOVA

Business coach and owner of the “Elena Bezrukova Center” aimed at training and consulting,she is also practicing psychology. Her work experience over 26 years. More than 5000 specialists have been trained by her programm and now they successfully apply learned knowledge. Education: pedagogical, economic, psychological. Elena Bezrukova has Kazakh and international certificates for conducting training […]

OCA PEOPLE: ANATOLY SKARGHIN

Anatoly Skarghin was born in Kyrgyzstan, worked in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1995 went out on pension from the Ministry of Internal Affairs — deputy minister’s position. He is the president of the International Public Association “Generals of the World – for Peace,” the Police Major General. ECG: Tell us […]