Kazakhstan
Pause in the Heart of the Steppes
A herd of horses crosses a remote road in the vast Kazakh steppes. A typical rural scene where animals roam freely. Credits: Tommaso Aguzzi (@tomaguzzi, Italy) Find… [...]
Handsome as a bus shelter
Portrait of a former Soviet Union bus stop in the village of Chingistay, Katon-Karagay district, Kazakhstan. Credit : Balzhan & Axel Monse, @infoshymkent (Germany) Find… [...]
Plowing on the Slopes of the Karatau
A tractor is preparing the field at the slopes of the Karatau mountains near the village Turar Rysqulov in the Turkestan region in Kazakhstan. Credits: Balzhan & Axel Monse,… [...]
The nan lady
A tandyr nan seller at the entrance to the Shygys Bazaar in Karagandy. She’s there every day, in all weathers, always wearing her headscarf. In the background, invisible… [...]
Snow over Burabay
Snow has fallen on the Burabay mountains and lake. Very popular with city dwellers in summer, but rather neglected in winter, the Burabay State National Nature Park was created… [...]
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By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We're independent and we need your help to stay that way!Bogdanovich Glacier: A Frozen Spectacle
At specific times of the year, you can trek from Shymbulak to the foot of the Bogdanovich Glacier in Kazakhstan, where surreal ice formations await. As sunlight filters through,… [...]
Abai Qunanbaiuly, the Soul of Kazakh Culture
This mural in Aktau, Kazakhstan, commemorates the 175th anniversary of Abai Qunanbaiuly, a poet, philosopher, and key figure of Kazakh culture. The artwork features Abai alongside his writings,… [...]
The Lexicon of Kazakh Decolonisation
Over thirty years after the Soviet Union’s collapse, colonial influences persist in Kazakhstan. Russian remains widely spoken and serves as the primary language for interethnic communication. As language is a… [...]
Cosmonauts in Karaganda
A shiny Yuri Gagarin stands tall in the city center of Karaganda. This monument dedicated to cosmonauts has been erected in 2014 to coincide with the 80th birthday… [...]
When Freedom of Speech Is a Joke: Author of a Satirical News Outlet Detained in Kazakhstan
Temirlan Yensebek, creator and author of “Qaznews24,” an agency of satirical news, has been detained on Saturday in Almaty. He is expected to stand trial under accusations of incitement of… [...]