Foreign Observers Cite High Turnout, Smooth Voting in Kazakhstan Referendum

By Aiman Nakispekova in Nation on 15 March 2026

ASTANA – International observers noted relatively high voter turnout and reported no major violations that could affect the outcome of Kazakhstan’s constitutional referendum on March 15. The Central Election Commission accredited 359 observers from 11 international organizations and 38 foreign countries. Representatives of several observation missions shared their assessments after visiting …

Tokayev Addresses Constitutional Reform, Vice Presidency and Foreign Policy at Referendum Briefing

By Ayana Birbayeva  in Editor’s Picks,Nation on 15 March 2026

First-Time Voters, Civic Groups Stand Out to International Observers in Referendum

By Aida Haidar in Nation on 15 March 2026

Voter Turnout at Constitutional Referendum Reaches 37.54% by Noon

in Nation on 15 March 2026

Kazakhstan Referendum Turnout at 64.43% as Some Overseas Stations Open

By Dana Omirgazy in Nation on 15 March 2026

More Than 9,000 Kazakh Citizens Vote Abroad in Constitutional Referendum

By Dana Omirgazy in Nation on 15 March 2026

Most Popular Stories
Day | Week | Month

Videos

Tokayev’s Deals with Pakistan, Rybakina’s Australian Open Triumph, and more | Kazakhstan News Digest

Winter in Astana: How the World’s Second Coldest Capital Stays Active

Development Bank of Kazakhstan on Financing Growth and Strategic Priorities

Kazakhstan Joins Trump’s Board of Peace, New Political Reforms & More | Kazakhstan News Digest

Kazakhstan–Russia Deals, Fintech Breakthroughs, Rybakina’s WTA Finals Win |Kazakhstan News Digest

Meeting with Donald Trump, Trade in Shanghai, QS Asia University Rankings | Kazakhstan News Digest

AI Will Break Capitalism | Brett King Explains What Comes Next

How Do We Rebuild Trust in International System? Insights from Astana Think Tank Forum

More videos

Videos

Tokayev’s Deals with Pakistan, Rybakina’s Australian Open Triumph, and more | Kazakhstan News Digest

Winter in Astana: How the World’s Second Coldest Capital Stays Active

Development Bank of Kazakhstan on Financing Growth and Strategic Priorities

Kazakhstan Joins Trump’s Board of Peace, New Political Reforms & More | Kazakhstan News Digest

Kazakhstan–Russia Deals, Fintech Breakthroughs, Rybakina’s WTA Finals Win |Kazakhstan News Digest

Meeting with Donald Trump, Trade in Shanghai, QS Asia University Rankings | Kazakhstan News Digest

AI Will Break Capitalism | Brett King Explains What Comes Next

How Do We Rebuild Trust in International System? Insights from Astana Think Tank Forum

More videos

Editor's Picks

Tokayev Addresses Constitutional Reform, Vice Presidency and Foreign Policy at Referendum Briefing

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about the goals of Kazakhstan’s proposed new Constitution and answered questions on political reforms...

President Tokayev Casts Vote in Nationwide Constitutional Referendum 

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has voted in the national referendum on the draft of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution at polling...

Kazakhstan Opens Over 10,000 Polling Stations for Constitutional Referendum

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan opened 10,388 polling stations across the country on March 15 for the nationwide referendum on adopting a...

From Knowledge to Leadership: Harvard Business Impact on Future of MBA Education in Kazakhstan

BY Anel Bersimbayeva

ASTANA – Teaching pedagogy, faculty capability and high-quality cases grounded in real leadership dilemmas will define the long-term strength of...

Kazakh Artist Revives Lost Nomadic Material World

BY Assel Satubaldina

ASTANA – For jeweler artist Serzhan Bashirov, a silver coin is rarely just currency. It carries memory and the weight...

Cirque du Soleil Returns to Kazakhstan After Nine Years; Enrique Iglesias Announces Fall Concerts

BY Dana Omirgazy

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to host major international performances this year, as the legendary Cirque du Soleil returns to...

Discover Captivating Cultural Weekend in Astana and Almaty 

BY Fatima Kemelova

ASTANA – Spend the weekend enjoying nostalgic concerts featuring beloved artists or feel the romance of great stories through a...

News Digest: Foreign Media on Middle Corridor, Regional Ecological Summit, Referendum in Kazakhstan and More

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest covers...

Ethnic Kazakhs in Iran Have No Plans to Relocate to Kazakhstan, Says Ambassador

BY Dana Omirgazy 

ASTANA – Ethnic Kazakhs living in Iran have not expressed any intention to move to Kazakhstan, according to Iran’s ambassador...

Geopolitical Shifts Increase Role of Aviation Finance in Central Asia, Experts Say at AIFC

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Geopolitical changes and growing passenger demand are increasing the importance of aviation finance mechanisms in Central Asia and...

Casino in Their Pocket: We Are Losing Generation to Digital Gambling

BY Nursultan Saigarayev

A generation ago, gambling required effort. It meant a trip to a casino, a racetrack, or at least a corner...

Astana to Host Over 200 Events to Celebrate Nauryz 2026

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – More than 200 diverse events and activities will take place in Astana to celebrate Nauryz, the main spring...

More stories

Editor's Picks

Tokayev Addresses Constitutional Reform, Vice Presidency and Foreign Policy at Referendum Briefing

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about the goals of Kazakhstan’s proposed new Constitution and answered questions on political reforms...

President Tokayev Casts Vote in Nationwide Constitutional Referendum 

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has voted in the national referendum on the draft of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution at polling...

Kazakhstan Opens Over 10,000 Polling Stations for Constitutional Referendum

BY Ayana Birbayeva 

ALMATY – Kazakhstan opened 10,388 polling stations across the country on March 15 for the nationwide referendum on adopting a...

From Knowledge to Leadership: Harvard Business Impact on Future of MBA Education in Kazakhstan

BY Anel Bersimbayeva

ASTANA – Teaching pedagogy, faculty capability and high-quality cases grounded in real leadership dilemmas will define the long-term strength of...

More stories

Opinions

Casino in Their Pocket: We Are Losing Generation to Digital Gambling

BY Nursultan Saigarayev

A generation ago, gambling required effort. It meant a trip to a casino, a racetrack, or at least a corner...

International Women’s Day: Eight Actions for A More Equal World

BY António Guterres

Over nearly a decade leading the United Nations, I have seen our world repeatedly tested – by climate shocks, deepening...

Why Central Asia, Not Washington, Must Drive Critical Minerals Cooperation

BY Rassul Kospanov, Vlad Paddack  

Foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries convened on Feb.4 in Washington for the United States’ inaugural...

From Steppe to Spotlight: Kazakhstan’s Cultural Boom

BY Zarina Zhumanova

The night Jennifer Lopez came to Astana, the city was different. The streets were crowded with people from all of...

From Declarations to Corridors: Rethinking Economic Integration In Central Asia 

BY Rafis Abazov

For more than three decades, economic integration in Central Asia has been shaped by ambitious declarations, multilateral communiqués, and periodic...

Addiction to Games: Silent Mental Health Crisis 

BY Temirlan Nurtazin

Gambling looks harmless enough. A spin of the wheel or a quick bet on a football game appear to be...

AI for Inclusive Growth: New Frontier in India–Kazakhstan Cooperation

BY Y.K. Sailas Thangal

India’s hosting of the Artificial Intelligence Summit in New Delhi on Feb. 19-20, 2026, under the theme “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan...

Kuwaiti-Kazakh Diplomacy: Model for Sustainable International Cooperation

BY Abdulhamid Hamid Al-Kba 

In a world accelerating with geopolitical and economic transformations, the relations between Kuwait and Kazakhstan stand out as a unique...

How Central Asia’s Financial Markets Are Quietly Taking Shape

BY Gustavo Pessoa  

For much of the past three decades, Central Asia has been viewed primarily through the lens of commodities, infrastructure and...

Advancing Middle Corridor Integration: Azerbaijan’s Growing Role as Key Trade Gateway

BY Fuad Shahbazov

On November 25, the first meeting of the Eurasian Transport Route (ETR) International Association under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan was...

Between Dollar and Dragon: Geopolitics of Rising Yuan 

BY Sobir Kurbanov, Vlad Paddack

The U.S. dollar still anchors global finance, but the system is evolving at the margins. The Chinese renminbi remains a...

Volunteerism as Way of Life in Kazakhstan

BY Aiman Nakispekova

This year has been designated the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, recognizing the vital role volunteers play in...

More stories

Opinions

Casino in Their Pocket: We Are Losing Generation to Digital Gambling

BY Nursultan Saigarayev

A generation ago, gambling required effort. It meant a trip to a casino, a racetrack, or at least a corner...

International Women’s Day: Eight Actions for A More Equal World

BY António Guterres

Over nearly a decade leading the United Nations, I have seen our world repeatedly tested – by climate shocks, deepening...

Why Central Asia, Not Washington, Must Drive Critical Minerals Cooperation

BY Rassul Kospanov, Vlad Paddack  

Foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries convened on Feb.4 in Washington for the United States’ inaugural...

From Steppe to Spotlight: Kazakhstan’s Cultural Boom

BY Zarina Zhumanova

The night Jennifer Lopez came to Astana, the city was different. The streets were crowded with people from all of...

More stories

Infographics