Kazakhstan
End of an era of USSR dictators (or not?)
Kazakhstan’s ruler of 30 years Nursultan Nazarbayev has gone. Only he’s not gone. And ordinary Kazakhs who’ve lived through three “Soviet-groomed” decades don’t hold out much hope a handpicked successor will change much about their lives.
CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Hope and darkness in Nazarbayev’s Kazakhstan
The last three decades have been a remarkable but flawed exercise in nation building.
Kazakh parliament votes to rename Astana as Nursultan to honour departing president
Day also sees resigned leader’s daughter made Senate speaker but there’s considerable doubt that she will turn out to be the true presidential successor.
Nazarbayev steps down after three decades as president
Matters have been arranged, however, to ensure the septuagenarian remains the power behind the Kazakh throne.
Nearly all the countries of Eastern Europe made progress in improving the rule of law
World Justice Project's annual rule of law index shows improvements, but drilling into the subfactors big disparities persist.
CEE/CIS countries outperform income peers in terms of gender equality at work
Disastrous demographics and tightening labour markets will keep up the pressure on governments across the region to encourage women to enter and remain in the workforce.
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Kazakh president appoints new prime minister
Move follows abrupt firing of cabinet for failing to improve living standards and lack of progress in diversifying economy away from dependence on oil exports.
Kazakh president sacks cabinet
Nursultan Nazarbayev blames the government for failing to reduce the Kazakh economy’s over-reliance on commodities exports, and promises social programmes to support ordinary citizens.