Kazakhstan and the UNICEF Compared Notes on Topical Issues of Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation
Kazakhstan and the UNICEF Compared Notes on Topical Issues of Bilateral and Multilateral CooperationThe Opening of Operaliya Will Take Place in the Astana Opera’s Anniversary Year
Images | astanaopera.kz
The Operaliya International Festival will open on June 20 at the Astana Opera Grand Hall. The event will take on a colossal scope: celebrities on the red carpet, a performance art event in the foyer and a constellation of ballets by the iconic contemporary choreographer Jiří Kylián presented on the same stage on the same day, Astana Opera press office reports.
“The theatrical tradition has developed in such a way that it is customary to open festivals with something new and interesting. When forming the program of the international festival, we came up with the idea to combine three productions – Sechs Tänze, Falling Angels – a performance of the Astana Ballet theatre and the recent premiere of our opera house Petite Mort – into one evening of ballets. I think that the audience that is interested in art, and that is sometimes forced to travel to another country or another city to see such rare productions, since they are not available everywhere, will have an opportunity to watch three ballets at the same time at one venue. This really makes the opening of the festival unique,” the world ballet star Altynai Asylmuratova, the artistic director of the Astana Opera Ballet Company, said.
All three productions, Sechs Tänze, Falling Angels, Petite Mort, are part of the Black and White series of ballets. Falling Angels will open the first part. It is the result of a symbiosis of Jiří Kylián’s choreography and Steve Reich’s drum composition. The performance is a delightful flight of eight ballerinas. Both other ballets will be performed in the second part. They also have a plotless basis, but have been created to Mozart’s music. The viewers invariably laugh and cry over these brilliant works of the master, because they see the deep meaning of human existence in these productions.
“I would like for people to strive to attend every performance of the Operaliya festival featuring star artists, because the opportunity to watch them does not come about every day, they need to be seen here and now,” Altynai Asylmuratova concluded.
It is worth noting that the Operaliya International Festival has a long and rich life, approaching the twenty-year milestone. This year it is held in the Astana Opera’s tenth anniversary season. Every year the theme of the festival changes, each has its own bright, unique colors. The singularity of Operalia-2023 lies in its wide range that covers modern and classical art, presented in different musical genres: opera, ballet, symphony and concert.
This year, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, guest artists and conductors from 12 countries of the world will take part in Operaliya: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Italy, Bulgaria, Mongolia, China, South Korea, Germany, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Overall, 4 grand operas will be shown at the festival: Verdi’s Don Carlos and Aida, Puccini’s Turandot and the premiere of Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri. We would like to emphasize that each opera will be performed twice with different casts of soloists. 2 ballets were also prepared for the audience’s attention: Prokofiev’s Cinderella in Raimondo Rebeck’s choreography and An Evening of Ballets by Jiří Kylián, and 4 concerts: the musical evening Serpin of the Folk Music Ensemble of the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Gala Opera featuring guest soloists from the SCO countries, The Twelve Seasons chamber music concert as well as the Symphony Concert for the closing of Operaliya and the 10th anniversary season of the Astana Opera, in which a symphonic suite on themes from the opera Qurmanghazy by Akhmet Zhubanov and Gaziza Zhubanova will be presented for the first time.
The festival will last exactly one month. It is expected that the celebration of high art will become an exciting page in the cultural life of our capital.
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Guilty of murder and torture: Kuandyk Bishimbayev sentenced to 24 years in prison
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The trial of ex-economy minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev ended today, May 13. He was convicted guilty of torture and murder of his wife Saltanat Nukenova and sentenced to 24 years in prison. Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, was sentenced to 4 years in prison, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports from the courtroom.
Kuandyk Bishimbayev will serve his sentence in a maximum security institution. Bishimbayev was charged under clause 1, part 2, Art. 110 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (torture) and paragraph 5 of Part 2 of Art. 99 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (murder).
The second defendant, Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, was found guilty of concealing a crime. He will serve his 4-year sentence in a medium security colony. The sanction of Article 110, Part 2, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code provides for imprisonment for a term of 4 to 7 years. He disagreed with this decision implying that an innocent man was sentenced to "For what?" as Baizhanov asked the judge.
Court took into account the presence of minor children as mitigating circumstances against defendants Bishimbayev and Baizhanov. Also, the court recognized a dangerous recidivism of crimes, as well as the commission of a criminal offense while intoxicated, as a circumstance aggravating Bishimbayev’s criminal liability and punishment. Kazinform News Agency reminds that his first arrest was in 2017, and then a conviction for bribery on a particularly large scale: $2 million. He was pardoned by the first president, his sentence was reduced from 10 to 4 years. Bishimbayev’s second conviction, presented today, makes him a dangerous recidivist.
Judge Aizhan Kulbayeva came to a resolution by the court with the participation of a jury. Among the asked questions were: Has it been proven that, under the circumstances described in the first question, the victim Nukenova was consciously and intentionally caused death by inflicting targeted numerous blows to the head? Has it been proven that the defendant Bishimbayev committed this act? Is the defendant Bishimbayev guilty of committing this act?
The guilt of the defendants was proven in full in court. The jury returned their verdict. The issue of the amount of punishment was also decided by the jury and the judge by open voting, by a majority vote. The jury also decided on the sentence for the second defendant.
Aitbek Amangeldi, Saltanat Nukenova’s brother, agreed with the sentencing, stating that, "This was one of the options in which we waited for this term. In principle, we will stop at this point. It's enough. In 24 years he will already be 68 years old. It's practically lifelong." As the verdict was announced he, Saltanat’s family and lawyers couldn’t hide their emotions, tearfully celebrating the decision and thanking the jury afterwards.
Bishimbayev will have an opportunity for an early release after 16 years of his sentence said Alma Yessymova, judge-coordinator for media relations: "For a particularly serious crime, for which Bishimbayev is now convicted, the period when he has the right to file such a petition is after 2/3 of the punishment, this is somewhere in 2039-2040." However, in order for this to happen an agreement from the victim’s side is needed as confirmed by prosecutor Aizhan Aimaganova.
The court’s verdict has not yet entered into legal force.
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54 755 flood victims return their homes
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
54,755 people have returned their homes in flood-hit regions, according to the Ministry of Emergencies, Kazinform News Agency reports.
5,291 people including 2,239 children are staying in evacuation centers. Water has been pumped out from 11,205 residential buildings and 3,516 household territories. 7.8 million tons of sandbags and 1.5 million tons of inert materials have been used.
Meanwhile, the situation in western regions remains tense. The peak of flooding in Atyrau is expected within 4 or 5 days. Vice Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev inspected flood relief efforts and operation of two channels in Atyrau.
More than 300 people are pumping out water in Inderbor village in Atyrau region, with a dam being built there. Electricity was partially turned off in the village to ensure safety of flood relief efforts.
Water level on the Zhaiyk River has exceeded the danger point in Inderbor village.
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Police open criminal case against ex-counselor at Kazakh embassy in the UAE after his wife's allegations of violence
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On May 6 Karina Mamash, wife of the counselor at the Kazakh embassy in the UAE, Saken Mamash, provided pictures and video proof of abuse by her partner through a social media post published on the page of fund for victims of violence NeMolchi.kz. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan brought the accused back to Kazakhstan. Today, the Astana Police Department announced the initiation of a criminal case against Saken Mamash, Kazinfrorm News Agency correspondent reports.
The press service of the Astana Police Department commented: "A criminal case has been opened. Expertise has been ordered and an investigation is underway. Other information is not disclosed in the interests of the investigation."
Earlier, on May 7, with the assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Karina was provided with an opportunity to safely get home and, most importantly, she reunited with her children. Karina’s mother shared her gratitude with the fund through social media.
Now, Karina Mamash is located in a crisis housing, which serves as a shelter for the victims of domestic abuse, in Astana. She is being questioned by the police and has been provided with a lawyer, helping her with the next necessary legal actions.
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54,276 flood-hit Kazakhstanis return to their homes
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations
Water was pumped out from 451 homes and 43 household plots in North Kazakhstan. 784 homes and 364 household plots are still inundated, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry.
255,512 cubic meters of water have been pumped away so far.
43,181 cubic meters of water was pumped away in Kulsary town, Atyrau region.
2,100 sandbags and 240 tons of inert material were laid in Irgiz district, Aktobe region for the past 24 hours.
17,637 cubic meters of meltwater were pumped out from 10,470 homes and 3,258 household plots. 54,276 people returned their homes.
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Counselor at Kazakh embassy in UAE to be recalled due to assault allegations made by his wife
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A social media post with pictures and video proof of abuse provided by Karina Mamash, the wife of the counselor at the embassy in the UAE, Saken Mamash, was posted today on the page of fund for victims of violence NeMolchi.kz. The fund requested urgent response by the authorities in ensuring the safety of Karina and taking necessary actions against the diplomat. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan responded by recalling the accused to back Kazakhstan, Kazinfrorm News Agency correspondent reports.
We are urgently recalling this employee to Kazakhstan. Now law enforcement agencies will deal with his case," the Ministry said in a statement regarding the situation with violence against the diplomat’s wife.
Karina reached out to the foundation NeMolchi.kz (Don’t be silent) with a message and provided evidence of the abuse, which, according to her, has been going on for 10 years.
Dina, hello! I am Mamash Karina Gosmanovna. I declare that I have been subjected to violence for 10 years. I want my husband to be deprived of his diplomatic status and put in prison for all the abuses that he committed against me. Physical, sexual, emotional, economic, domestic, domestic violence", she said in the message.
The recent law on domestic violence against women and children signed by the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on April 15, is yet to come into power.
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Over 50,000 flood victims return their homes after floods
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Water pump-out works are ongoing around-the-clock in Kulsary town of Atyrau region, city of Petropavlovsk and Kyzylzhar district of the North Kazakhstan region after devastating floods hit ten regions of the country, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Ministry of Emergencies.
Bank protection works are underway in Kuilys, Belsher, Zhaissanbay villages of Irgiz district in Aktobe region. Water level on the Torgai river is monitored hourly. The situation is under special control," Official Spokesperson of the Emergencies Ministry Askar Sharip said at a briefing.
Floodwater was pumped out from 9,445 residential buildings and 3,186 household territories. More than 50,000 people returned their homes. 5,568 people are staying in the temporary evacuation shelters," Askar Sharip added.
Flood relief efforts involve 11,502 people, 1,298 specialized vehicles, 329 pieces of water pumping equipment, 68 boats and six aircraft.
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Kostenko mine worker awarded Yenbek Danky Order, III Degree
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Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev decreed to award underground electrician of the Kostenko mine of the Qarmet JSC Aibar Kossanov the Yenbek Danky Order, III Degree, Kazinform News Agency cites the Akorda press service.
As earlier reported, 187 workers have been evacuated from the Kostenko coalmine in Karaganda due to a fire that broke out on the 4th conveyor drift of K3 coalbed.
Aibar Kossanov managed to extinguish the smoke formation using emergency fire extinguishing equipment.
Smoke spread was eliminated at 07:45 pm. Despite that, a decision was taken to evacuate 194 miners who were underground at the moment.
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