Thousands of Almaty Residents Gather for Cultural Evening Dedicated to Abai
Images | gov.kz
Ahead of Abai Day, thousands of Almaty residents gathered for a cultural evening dedicated to the legacy of the great poet and educator, the city administration’s press service said.
"Thousands of spectators watched the documentary Alğashqy kitap (The First Book) on an open-air stage before taking part in a programme of music, poetry and live performances. The documentary Alğashqy kitap," the statement said.
According to the city administration, the docudrama tells the story of the poet’s first book, published in 1909 in St Petersburg by the Ilyas Boragansky publishing house.
"The filmmakers tell the story of how Abai’s works were collected and prepared for publication, who was involved in publishing the book, why it was published in St Petersburg and what difficulties had to be overcome before its release. The screening was followed by a musical and poetry programme organised by Almaty’s Department of Culture," the city administration said.
The cultural programme continued with the Almaty Summer Fest. The event concluded with an open-air performance of Abai’s songs, with more than a thousand spectators joining the artists.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Kazakhstan Considers QazETA for All Visa-Free Travellers
Kazakhstan is developing the QazETA electronic registration system for foreign nationals, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhanbolat Usenov told a media briefing.
He said similar systems are used in various countries and allow authorities to register foreign nationals entering without a visa.
"We are currently considering the possibility of introducing this system for citizens of all countries with which Kazakhstan has a visa-free regime - in other words, for citizens of countries whose nationals can enter Kazakhstan without a visa," Usenov said.
He noted that the specific parameters of the system have yet to be determined. The mechanism for how it will operate is expected to be finalised by the end of this year or early next year.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said the system is being developed by the Interior Ministry.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakh Citizens Warned of New Employment Rules in Georgia
Since Sept. 1, 2026, foreign nationals who work without authorization required under Georgian law may be deported from the country, Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhanbolat Ussenov said at a briefing.
Kazakh citizens will continue to enjoy visa-free entry and may remain in Georgia without a visa for up to one year.
The Foreign Ministry stressed, however, that visa-free entry only grants the right to enter and stay in Georgia and does not authorize employment.
Foreign nationals who perform paid work without the required authorization may face administrative penalties and deportation. Those deported may also be banned from re-entering Georgia for two to five years.
Kazakh citizens planning to work, conduct business or engage in any other paid activity in Georgia are strongly advised to ensure they have the right to work under Georgian law before beginning such activities.
The ministry urged citizens to comply strictly with Georgia’s laws and immigration rules, check the applicable requirements in advance based on the purpose of their visit and avoid violations that could result in fines, deportation or restrictions on future entry.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Japan to Introduce New Visa Application System in Kazakhstan
The Japanese Embassy in Kazakhstan will introduce a numbered ticket system for visa applications from September 23, according to the embassy’s consular section.
Applicants will be able to obtain a ticket in the embassy’s waiting area from 9:30am on the day they submit their documents. After receiving a ticket, applicants will not be required to remain in the building and may return to the service window at any time before noon.
The ticket will give applicants the right to submit a visa application, but documents will still be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets will be valid only on the day they are issued. They will not be required when collecting completed documents.
The embassy also warned that Mondays and Fridays tend to be particularly busy and advised applicants, where possible, to visit on other working days.
Documents will be accepted without a ticket in three cases: for visa applications based on invitations from the Japanese government or government institutions, for medical visas, and for applications submitted under a note verbale.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Air Astana Plans to Launch In-Flight Internet in October
Air Astana aircraft offering internet access could begin operating as early as October, Damir Seisembekov, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Telecommunications Committee, said at a government briefing.
"Air Astana has plans to launch internet services on its aircraft. On our side, certain legislative amendments have been adopted, and a presidential decree was issued in June. So it is now possible - there are no barriers to launching in-flight internet. We are actively working on the issue with Air Astana and expect the first aircraft with internet access to appear as early as October," Seisembekov said.
It is not yet clear whether internet access will be included in the price of an airline ticket or whether passengers will have to pay separately for the service.
According to the committee chairman, that decision falls within the airline’s remit.
"As for payment, it would probably be better to check with Air Astana. According to their statements, they have bonus programmes and loyalty schemes. That is not a matter for us," Seisembekov said.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakh State Circus performers win gold and silver at international festivals
Images | Akimat of Almaty
Performers from the Kazakh State Circus have won gold and silver awards at international circus arts festivals in St Petersburg and Moscow, the Almaty city administration’s press service said.
"During a single festival season, representatives of the Kazakh State Circus received two international awards - gold in St Petersburg and silver in Moscow," the statement said.
At the Without Borders 2026 International Circus Festival in St Petersburg, the Kazakh State Circus’s Nomad troupe won a gold medal for its equestrian acrobatic act.
The troupe also received a special prize from the Russian State Circus Company and an invitation to take part in the IDOL 2027 international festival in Moscow.
Meanwhile, the fourth Artist International Festival was held at the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard in Moscow, bringing together performers from 17 countries.
Kazakhstan was represented by Kazakh State Circus performer Eleonora Kanakhina with her Lunaria act, a wire-balancing performance. She won a silver award following the competition programme.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Thailand to Cut Visa-Free Stay for Kazakh Citizens to 30 Days
Images | Image created using AI
Thailand will reduce the visa-free stay for Kazakh citizens from 60 to 30 days starting on 15 September, the Kazakh Embassy in Thailand said.
The changes follow a decision by Thailand’s Cabinet, which takes effect on 15 September 2026. From that date, Kazakh citizens will be subject to the visa exemption agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Thailand for holders of national passports.
"Under the agreement, Kazakh citizens will be able to stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 calendar days from the date of entry. Their total stay must not exceed 90 calendar days within any 180-day period," the statement said.
Travellers planning to visit Thailand have been advised to take the changes to the country’s immigration rules into account. Those intending to stay for more than 30 days should obtain the appropriate visa in advance.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
No New Information on Kazakh Women Missing After Nepal Floods - Foreign Ministry
There is still no new information about the Kazakh women who went missing after flooding in Nepal, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry told Kazakhstan Today.
More than two weeks have passed since the floods. Responding to a question from the news agency about the search operation, a ministry representative said the situation remained unchanged and no new information was available.
It was previously reported that a search was under way for three Kazakh nationals who went missing in Nepal following the floods.
The devastating flooding struck border areas of Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on 26 August.
Citizens of more than 20 countries are among those reported missing.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakhstan MP Proposes Tougher Penalties for Harmful Livestreams
Images | Depositphotos
A Kazakh lawmaker has proposed introducing a legal definition of "trash streaming" and tougher penalties for livestreams featuring violence, dangerous pranks, insults and deliberate provocations.
Kurultai deputy Zharkynbek Amantayuly made the proposal in a parliamentary inquiry addressed to Culture and Information Minister Arman Kyrykbayev and Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov.
According to the lawmaker, social media platforms have seen a growing number of livestreams featuring obscene language, insults and humiliation, as well as dangerous pranks and provocations.
Some content creators deliberately produce such material to attract views and likes, receive donations and generate advertising revenue.
"As a result, unlawful acts in some cases become a means of making money," the parliamentary inquiry said.
Amantayuly noted that the Interior Ministry had already brought a number of social media users to administrative liability for distributing unlawful content.
The inquiry also focused on protecting people who appear in livestreams without their consent. The lawmaker said stronger mechanisms were needed to protect their honour and dignity.
"We are not proposing restrictions on freedom of speech. On the contrary, we need to clearly define the boundary between freedom of speech and responsibility," Amantayuly said.
The lawmaker therefore proposed introducing a legal definition of "trash streaming" and tougher penalties for broadcasting violence, dangerous pranks, insults and deliberate provocations during livestreams.
He also proposed working with TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms to develop a mechanism for quickly identifying and blocking unlawful livestreams and establishing the identities of those behind them.
In addition, Amantayuly called for a unified state system to monitor unlawful content on social media and for the results of this work to be published regularly.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.