History Archives

Abai and Semey

Two men walk by the entrance of the Abai Theater of Semey. The theater, built in a typical Soviet modernist style, is named after Abai Qunanbaiuly, or simply… [...]

The Burana tower, former Balasagun - credit : Zoé Toulouse

Another fairy tale …

The Burana Tower, located in the Chüy Valley on the outskirts of Bishkek, is a minaret that forms part of the remains of the city of Balasagun (9th… [...]

Collage of red yurts, the emblem of the NKVD, a Soviet officer pointing a gun and, on the right, a pamphlet titled

“Islands of Soviet power on the steppes”

Out on the Kazakh steppe, in the early days of Soviet rule, so-called red yurts tried to bring the USSR and its communist ideals to those that were most inaccessible… [...]

The president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, gives a speech during the official opening ceremony of the 2022 Nowruz festivities in Almaty.

Beyond fun and games – the politics of Nowruz

In Central Asia, the beginning of spring is traditionally marked by Nowruz, also known as ‘Persian New Year.’ Typical holiday celebrations include horse games, family visits, and large feasts. But… [...]