All quotes

Public activist Max BOKAEV:

- It is necessary to dismiss the present parliament, introduce changes to the law and make attempts to have a parliamentary republic in our country.

(said at the protest action in Atyrau on February 17)

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev:

As I see, business people of Atyrau have no questions.

(said at a meeting with entrepreneurs on February 6)

Aslan Sarinzhipov, RoK Minister of Education and Science:

According to test results in state universities 11% of students have not passed minimum level during evaluation process. The situation is even worse in small private universities – 32% of students couldn’t overcome this threshold. It is high time for the presidents of state universities to ask themselves a question whether they are capable of turning the tide. And the founders of private universities should make up their minds, if their educational facilities are needed by the society. Are they targeted for implementation of common country strategy or for personal gain of founders?

(said on January 31 at the Education Ministry board meeting)

Le Yucheng,  Ambassador of China to Kazakhstan:

– Enriching the content of our relations of comprehensive strategic partnership, we will joint our efforts to implement both “the Chinese dream” and “Kazakhstan-2050” Strategy, aimed at strengthening country’s power and increasing people’s wealth.

(said at the reception on the occasion of the Chinese New Year)

Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan President:

Kazakhstan of the 21st century is a country created “from scratch” in just two decades by talented, hardworking and tolerant people!.. So, the years remained till 2050 we divide by seven to five-years periods, each of the period will resolve an issue of achievement of the common goal - to join the ranks of 30 developed countries.

(from the Address to the people of Kazakhstan 17.01.2014)

Bakhyt ZHOUMATOVA, paranormalist:

- Yes, but only to the rate of 160 tenge. It (dollar) is forced down. In general, the country is nearing the point of currency change. I think, over time in Customs Union there will be a common currency. Those who saved more than 4 million tenge should keep it in banks, otherwise they put themselves at risk to be robbed… Strangely enough, I don't see those games (Olympic Games in Sochi). Therefore, it is hardly that Kazakhstan athletes will come to the top.

(said during an interview to “Megapolis” newspaper)

Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan:

 - We place a high value on contribution of our Orthodox compatriots to the socio-economic and spiritual development of our common motherland – the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 (from the greetings on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas)

Murat Ospanov, Chairman of RoK Agency for regulation of natural monopolies (AREM):

–Until the end of the year we need to consider the issue of tariffs decreasing for entities of small and medium businesses and allocating them into a separate group … Any refusals of monopolies to provide  them technical specifications or connect them to additional capacities should be carefully checked as to their validity and legality.

(said on 26.12.2013 at the AREM board meeting)

Mouftakh Diarov, Academician of RoK National Academy of Sciences:

- Construction of new chemical plants within a few hundred meters from residential area with the view to save financial assets of investors is immoral and unacceptable. Those who allocated land plots for these facilities should be legally accountable. New chemical plants should be located far away from the city limits and built beyond the territory of “Bolashak” plant.

(said with regards to feasibility study of “National Industrial Petrochemical Technology Park” Special Economic Zone) 

Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's President:

- Love for Astana is like son’s feeling for his Motherland. It is the alpha and omega of a new Kazakhstan patriotism.

(said at the meeting on the occasion of the Independence Day)

Bakhtykozha Izmukhambetov, Atyrau Oblast Governor:

– People wake me up, calling at 2-3am at night and complaining that it’s impossible to go to sleep because of a foul smell. We repeatedly brought this issue up. Have you found out where this smell is coming from and who is fouling up the air during the night? I am raising this issue categorically. Find out and stop their work. I will take personal responsibility for that!

(said at the regional government meeting)

Shakirzhan Myrzagaliev, deputy chief of education department of Atyrau Oblast:

– In Atyrau Oblast there are about 500 foreign companies and joint ventures... We don’t cope with their demand for required personnel and, therefore, the import of foreign labor doesn't stop. I am the member of council for foreign labor quota issue and I know that not less than 10 thousand people arrive here to work on an annual basis. One of the disputed issues is that foreign companies announce vacancies, but they don't employ the candidates that we send them from the pool of unemployed local people.

(said at the republican seminar in Atyrau polytechnic college)

Rauan Shaekin, Deputy of the Majilis (lower chamber) of the Parliament:

When, let’s say, a prime minister who committed an offence, is tormented with remorse, ashamed of people’s condemnation and feels suicidal, then it is, at least, not bad.

(said during the briefing at the Central Communication Service under the RoK President)

Pyotr Svoik, an economist:

"Who is responsible for order in provinces? Akims. Who controls provinces through budget, laws and instructions? Government. So it happened the ministry of regional development is swinging somewhere between these 'legs' rendering no significant benefit."

(said on the necessity of a regional development ministry in an interview to Vremya Newspaper)

Majilis Deputy of the Kazakhstan Parliament Aigul Solovyova:

– The government has the budget. Because it is like a mother who keeps the purse and money, and we are like a father who speaks, educates and voices his thoughts that it's necessary to spend money here or there.

(said at the briefing at the Central Communications Service under the RoK President)  

The Head of “Caspian” Transport Control inspection for Atyrau, Samat Gilimov:

I think, in order to overcome “a black streak” of lethal road accidents in the region, we need to eradicate illegal taxi services. In other oblasts local governments allocate grants for shuttle bus services in villages from local budgets. In our oblast the half of tender bids for regional shuttle bus services are considered unprofitable. That is why illegal taxi services are increasing. Because of their greed for gain, local “Schumachers” drive like lunatics and kill people.

(said at the oblast government meeting)

Dossym Satpayev, political scientist, Risk Assessment Group director:

"The authorities need to monitor potential jihadists with utmost diligence to prevent inflow of new radicals... It will be very difficult to return those who have already gone to Arab countries. Kazakh special services should pay less attention to those who emigrated, as we need to fight reasons, not results. The most important in this case is to ensure those radicals can not return to our country to carry out terrorist attacks."

(said in an interview to total.kz)

Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's President:

– In Aktobe the construction of typical schools in one and the same year: budget difference is 130 mln tenge. In Atyrau Oblast the cost difference of construction of typical out-patient clinics is half a billion tenge. The number of visits is same. Where did the money go? Is there nobody but me who should look after the spending of public funds?

(said on October 11 at the extended government session)

Nurlan Kapparov, Minister of Environmental Protection:

"We are placing a question before Russians so to reduce rocket launches from Baikonur using heptyl, which is hazardous to environment and to replace it with a safer fuel. Moreover, as part of discussions with the Russian side, we are demanding to bring our environmental laws in effect inside Baikonur area."

(said on environmental situation in Baikonur)

Azat Peruashev, Leader of Ak Zhol Party, member of Majilis:

"To assume only house area in property taxation is not correct. The number of relatives of Kazakhs is directly proportional to the living space. Talking about a tax for the rich, the government is putting more load on the middle class. Given people who live in 150-square-meter apartments with four children may not be considered wealthy"

(said about draft law on taxation)

Timurzhan Shakimov, governor's deputy for construction:

"The construction of a kindergarten in Zhana Karaton has been stopped at our initiative. A similar kindergarten for 280 children costs 430m tenge under a public program, while TCO spends 1.2bn tenge."

(said at a session in the provincial council September 20)

Grigori Marchenko, Head of National Bank of Kazakhstan:

“The official position of our law enforcement officials is that he (Ablyazov) should be extradited to Kazakhstan. Their position is understandable - they are responsible for their part of the work. But it would be very hard to prove to the international community that his trial will be fair if he is extradited to Kazakhstan.”

(About fugitive ex-head of BTA Bank, Mukhtar Ablyazov)

Vladislav Kossarev, member of Majilis of the Kazakhstan Parliament, a Communist Party representative:

"We are against the draft law aimed to increase a range of taxes. The state should find ways to earn money through raising manpower productivity, expansion of production and use of natural resources instead. The economy needs to be improved now and taxes need to be raised later. We, deputies from the Communist Party, will discuss this and find other methods."

(said during a break in the parliamentary sitting September 2)

Baktykozha Izmukhambetov, Governor of Atyrau Oblast:

"They look like mourning for somebody. What is that they want to demonstrate? They have no knowledge and education to their names. What is their future? This also applies to men who grow beards and shorten trousers"

(about Kazakh girls wearing black hijabs)

Murat Akhmadiyev, member of Majilis of Kazakh parliament:

"Gay rights should not be breached. There is a number of sexual minorities living in Kazakhstan and a red-light on gay relations is unacceptable, it is just gay propaganda that needs to be restrained."

Bissen KUANOV, Head of Water Resources, Ural Caspian Basin Inspection:

"... As the level of water decreases in the Ural, its quality falls down too. People in some settlements along the river drink it without cleaning. Such a situation may cause outbreak of contagious diseases."

(said July 24 at a sitting of the Kazakh-Russian joint commission for use and protection of transborder rivers)

Kazakh oil and gas minister Uzakbai Karabalin:

"The onshore complex is ready, we came to check the preparedness on the islands. Being a world class complex technologic process involving kilometers of equipment, it requires great responsibility, thus no need to hurry. At the same time we have ascertained the contractors are actively working. Equipment test results are encouraging. Hopefully, this year is going to be successful."

(said visiting Atyrau July 17)

Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan:

“People tend to get used to one particular politician and feel uncertain of what might happen after him (…) here in Kazakhstan we have been working to cultivate a truly cultured system of relations among people; the current generation of Kazakhstanis are aware of how the civilized world lives and works. I believe everything will work out OK”

(in response to a journalist's question about succession of power in Kazakhstan, in "Nazarbayev.Live" documentary)

Serikzhan Mambetalin, member of expert council with "Save the Caspian" Foundation:

"Watched BBC News on end for two hours. It broadcasts everything, but not Cameron nor Kazakhstan. British public television doesn't even want to mention the PM's visit."

(a post on a Facebook page)

Zhaksybek Kulekeyev, advisor to the general director of Kazakh Institute of Oil and Gas [KING]: 

"My firm opinion is we have chosen an unsuitable location for the North Caspian Oil Spill Response Base. I openly state that. The north of the Caspian freezes for half a year. If accidents happen in the open sea, nobody can reach there."

(said at the 3rd Annual Caspian Offshore Development Conference in Atyrau).  

Baktykozha IZMUKHAMBETOV, Governor of Atyrau Oblast:

"Today the oblast hosts 34 investment projects worth 1.4 trillion tenge... As a whole, a great work to ensure food security will be done this year. Particularly, the area of potato planting has been expanded from 57 hectares to 958 by now. Total vegetable implantation area has grown from 300 to 1,600 hectares. Upon instruction from the president, farmers are subsidized for sowing every hectare. On top of that, the oblast akimat has signed agreements with farmers on future purchase of food products to maintain food stabilization fund."

(said on June 13 opening a dairy plant in Beibarys village)

Dossym Satpayev, political expert:

“It is necessary to consider dissolving the parliament that approved this unpopular draft law. The President also indirectly criticized the deputies who tried to please the government more than trying to listen to the people"

(said concerning the dismissal of Labor Minister Serik Abdenov)

Dariga Nazarbayeva, member of Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament, suggests suspending public employment program:

“Required normative and legal standards are not prepared in full. Educational institutions are not ready to give good specialists to the country, which sharply needs them. There is no impartial analysis of results and assessment is impossible due to poor information system and lack of accurate statistics. Capital investments and efforts are low effective. No accord in government performing work.”

(said at a government sitting )

Galina Chernova, Chairman, Globus NGO:

"People rarely ask you for help, because you virtually solve nothing... Deputies, themselves, told me that despite sessions take place by a schedule, all papers are prepared half-baked just before every sitting, and they have no chance to deeply understand, analyze and elemantarily get to know the information."

(said on May 22, at a seminar with members of local maslikhats - councils - and NGOs)
 

Daniar Ashymbayev, Kazakh political analyst:

"Kazakh government does not intend to rapidly make a decision on the share of ConocoPhillips in the Kashagan project (...) Talks are being held with Chinese and Indian companies, as well as other foreign corporations. A decision is delayed because most likely, the proposals available in the government's portfolio are not sufficiently attractive."