ALMATY, 10 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - A new guide on civil society in Kazakhstan issued with assistance from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is gaining popularity among journalists in the Central Asian state, bridging the gap between the two sectors. Full report

ASTANA, 13 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - 6 January - Warm weather caused the Syrdarya river to burst its banks in southern Kazakhstan on Tuesday, although no settlements in the area were affected, the emergency agency of Kazakhstan said on Thursday. "Currently the situation is under control and routine water discharge [from the Chardara reservoir upstream], which is now 700 cu m per second, is under way," Kayrat Tarbaev, a spokesman for the emergency agency, said from the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Thursday. According to the emergency agency, unexpectedly warm weather caused ice to melt and water to wash away banks of the Syrdarya river - one of the major water sources in Central Asia - in Karmakshin, Zhalagash and Syrdarya districts of the southern Kzyl-Orda province. "The washing away of banks was caused by water flowing over the ice cover," Tarbaev explained. Full report

ASTANA, 11 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - There were few major surprises in oil-rich Kazakhstan this year, where Central Asian expects correctly predicted an easy win for incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the 4 December presidential election.Full report

ANKARA, 5 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Despite improvements in the election process prior to Sunday's presidential polls in Kazakhstan, the elections failed to meet international standards for democratic elections, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observation mission said on Monday.Full report

ANKARA, 14 Nov 2005 (IRIN) - The mysterious death over the weekend of an outspoken critic of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has prompted calls for an independent investigation, less than a month before the country's upcoming presidential elections. Full report

ALMATY, 25 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - Press freedom is under pressure in Kazakhstan in the run-up to presidential elections slated for early December, according to media freedom groups. Full report

ALMATY, 19 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has deployed an observation mission to monitor presidential elections in Kazakhstan on 4 December. The mission, comprising more than 40 observers, has been sent by the OSCE’s Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Full report

ANKARA, 12 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - The Organization for Security and Cooperation's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has announced a three-day needs assessment mission to Kazakhstan. Full report

ANKARA, 8 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - A decision to join the Bill Clinton Foundation's initiative in fighting HIV/AIDS may give people in Kazakhstan living with the virus access to affordable anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs). Full report

ANKARA, 6 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - In the run-up to the presidential election expected in December, a group of local human rights defenders, journalists and sociologists have banded together to form what could be the first genuinely independent election monitoring group in Kazakhstan.Full report

KAZAKHSTAN: Year in Brief 2005 - Chronology of key events

KAZAKHSTAN: Year in Review 2005 - Energy brings growth and stability

KAZAKHSTAN: The challenge of sustaining returnees

KAZAKHSTAN: Interview with UN Resident Coordinator, Yuriko Shoji

KAZAKHSTAN: Interview on Almaty earthquake preparedness

KAZAKHSTAN: Interview with new opposition leader

KAZAKHSTAN: Interview with participant at controversial Euroasian Media Forum