Kazakhstan Expands Powers of Labour Ministry
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The Kazakh government has expanded the powers of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the relevant government resolution, No. 704, on August 10, 2026.
A number of amendments have been made to the regulations governing the ministry. In particular, it will now be responsible for certifying the accessibility of construction projects for people with limited mobility.
The ministry has also been given additional responsibilities in the areas of civil protection and mobilisation preparedness. It will develop civil defence plans, take part in preventing emergencies and fires at organisations under its jurisdiction, maintain stocks of civil defence equipment and supplies, and prepare response plans for major emergencies.
In addition, the ministry will oversee issues related to mobilisation reserves in the labour and social welfare sector. Its responsibilities will include placing orders for the supply of material resources, arranging their storage and replacement, and signing contracts with organisations to fulfil mobilisation orders.
Another new responsibility will be monitoring compliance with labour legislation by government institutions and quasi-public sector entities through a digital human resources system. The ministry will also approve standards governing the network of organisations providing specialised social services.
Most provisions of the resolution took effect on the date it was signed. Different effective dates have been set for certain provisions - August 13, 2026, and January 1, 2027. Some provisions will remain in force until January 1, 2027.
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Tokayev Arrives in New Delhi for BRICS Summit
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, the Akorda presidential press service said.
The president was welcomed at the airport by Indian government officials.
During his visit, Tokayev will address an Outreach/BRICS Plus plenary session and hold a series of bilateral meetings.
The BRICS Summit is being held in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13.
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Major Reservoir Nears Completion in Kazakhstan’s Turkistan Region
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Construction of the 68 million-cubic-meter Baidibek Ata reservoir is nearing completion in Kazakhstan’s Turkistan Region, the government press service said.
The project is 86% complete and is expected to be finished by the end of 2026.
The new reservoir will collect spring runoff from the Bogen River. The water will be channeled into the Bogen Reservoir and used for agricultural irrigation during the growing season.
Once operational, the reservoir will provide additional water for 9,700 hectares of irrigated land. It will cover 220 hectares and have a 3.9-kilometer dam.
Construction of the Karakuyis reservoir in the Tolebi district was also completed this year. The facility, with a capacity of 1.2 million cubic meters, will supply irrigation water to 500 hectares of farmland.
Three more reservoirs are planned in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank: Akmola in the Zhambyl Region, Karaozek in the Kyzylorda Region and Ulken Ozen in the West Kazakhstan Region. Tender procedures for the projects are underway.
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Kazakhstan Appoints New Heads to Key Security Council Departments
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed the heads of four departments within the Security Council Office, Akorda reported.
Under presidential orders:
- Alexander Sukhanov was appointed head of the Analytical Department of the Security Council Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan and relieved of his previous post;
- Rasul Urazgulov was appointed head of the Department for Current Security Issues and relieved of his previous post;
- Marat Aimashev was appointed head of the Military Security and Defence Department and relieved of his previous post;
- Yerlan Baitukbayev was appointed head of the Secretariat of the Security Council Office.
Kazakhstan previously announced plans to establish a dedicated Security Council Office.
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Tokayev to Outline Kazakhstan’s Priorities in October Address
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will deliver his State of the Nation Address in October, he announced at an awards ceremony honoring the winners and medalists of the sixth World Nomad Games.
"In October, in accordance with Article 46 of the Constitution, I will deliver an address to the people of Kazakhstan outlining the goals and objectives for the coming period," Tokayev said.
Discussing the reforms underway in Kazakhstan, Tokayev said the country’s key state institutions were being modernized as part of a broader transformation.
The president also addressed efforts to improve public health and develop human capital. He said more than 500 sports facilities had been built across the country over the past seven years, while several others had been renovated.
More than 220,000 children attended state-funded sports clubs free of charge last year, Tokayev said. The number of people regularly participating in sports and physical activity has exceeded 8 million.
The president said Kazakhstan’s sporting reputation was stronger than ever, citing Elena Rybakina’s rise to world No. 1 in tennis as one of the country’s latest achievements.
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Kazakhstan Disrupts 85 Human Trafficking Cases, Deports 145 Foreigners Linked to Radical Ideologies
Kazakhstan has disrupted 85 cases of human trafficking since the beginning of the year, dismantled nine illegal migration networks and identified and deported 145 foreign nationals linked to radical ideologies, the Interior Ministry said following a meeting of interior ministers from the Organization of Turkic States in Astana.
The meeting focused on combating transnational crime, extremism, terrorism, human trafficking and illegal migration.
According to the ministry, criminal groups use sham employment, fraudulent residence registrations and forged invitations to legalize migrants’ status.
"Criminal groups use various schemes to legalize migrants, including sham employment, residence registration and forged invitations. Such schemes often extend beyond the borders of a single country, so they must be tackled through joint efforts," Kazakh Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov said.
Cooperation with other countries has also produced results. A religious extremist linked to several crimes was detained in Baku at Kazakhstan’s request. Another suspect, wanted for promoting terrorism and participating in an organized criminal group, was detained in Uzbekistan, while a person wanted for inciting social discord was arrested in Kyrgyzstan. Turkish law enforcement authorities also helped solve the murder of a Kazakh citizen in Istanbul.
The heads of delegation signed a joint communique following the meeting. The countries agreed to accelerate the exchange of operational information and strengthen direct cooperation between relevant agencies.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye also signed a readmission agreement setting out procedures for returning people who have no legal grounds to remain in either country.
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Tokayev Approves Regulations Governing Kazakhstan’s Security Council and Its Office
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree approving regulations governing Kazakhstan’s Security Council and its office and defining the powers of the council’s deputy chair, the Akorda presidential press service said.
The Security Council and its office are tasked with conducting comprehensive analyses of global threats and challenges, as well as current domestic developments.
The deputy chair’s responsibilities include overseeing the full implementation of the council chair’s directives and instructions, including decisions made at operational meetings. The deputy chair will also coordinate government agencies and organizations on national security, defense, law enforcement and public order.
The role also covers information security and cybersecurity, including the use of artificial intelligence, personal data protection, anti-corruption efforts, economic crime prevention and civil protection.
In addition, the deputy chair will coordinate the work of government agencies and organizations in these areas, oversee international cooperation and coordinate the activities of the Security Council Office.
The office will operate as an independent government body directly subordinate and accountable to the president.
Its work will focus on strengthening national security risk management, ensuring the resilience of public administration, providing institutional support and implementing decisions made by the Security Council and its chair.
The measures are intended to strengthen the protection of Kazakhstan’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national interests abroad and constitutional order.
Aida Balayeva was previously appointed deputy chair of Kazakhstan’s Security Council, while Murat Baimukashev was named head of its office.
Gizat Nurdauletov was dismissed as secretary of the Security Council.
Tokayev thanked Nurdauletov for his dedicated service to the country, presidential press secretary Aibek Smadiyarov said.
The president said Nurdauletov had used his professional expertise and experience to protect the state’s interests and strengthen its stability. He also highlighted Nurdauletov’s significant contribution to advancing government policy and implementing wide-ranging reforms.
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Central Asian Journalists Learn How to Report Responsibly on Gender-Based Violence
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Journalists, editors and media experts from across Central Asia have gathered in Almaty for regional training on accurate and ethical reporting of gender-based violence, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry Office in Almaty.
The training-of-trainers workshop, titled "Accurate and Ethical Reporting of Gender-Based Violence in the Media," is being held at UN Plaza. Rashid Yerishev, deputy head of the ministry’s Almaty office, attended the opening ceremony.
Participants also include Jeren Güven Güres, a representative of the UN Women country office in Kazakhstan, as well as journalists, editors and media experts from Central Asian countries.
Yerishev outlined the measures Kazakhstan is taking to prevent gender-based violence and protect women’s rights. He also highlighted initiatives aimed at empowering women.
Participants will discuss professional and ethical standards for media coverage of gender-based violence.
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