Konstantin Syroezhkin had pleaded not guilty to spying charges but would not appeal the sentence, as he understood ‘his punishment was a command from the top’, said a Kazakh rights activist.

New stock exchange in Kazakh capital backed by Shanghai and Nasdaq exchanges and Goldman Sachs – but analysts unconvinced it can tap international investor money.

Serikjan Bilash strikes plea deal in Kazakhstan, saying he ‘had to do this’ for family and children.

Popular campaigner has helped put the spotlight on alleged rights abuses perpetrated against Turkic minorities in China’s far western region.

They make up a fraction of the city’s 18,000 non-local students, and recent political turmoil has left some fearing for their safety

Launch of the three astronauts in December was the first since a Soyuz rocket failed just minutes after blast-off, forcing an emergency landing.

Hundreds arrested after opposition supporters urged boycott of ‘fixed election’ at protests across the country.

The former president’s hand-picked successor is all but certain to win this weekend’s election. And even in retirement, his 78-year-old predecessor will continue to pull the strings.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev assumed the presidency last month in line with the constitution when Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned after running the former Soviet republic for almost three decades.

Leader for nearly 30 years Nursultan Nazarbayev stepped down in March and called for vote next year, but interim president now says it will be in two months.

The protests were organised by opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov

There is speculation that she may succeed her father as president

The surprise resignation of Kazakhstan’s president after three decades in power appeared to be the first step in a choreographed political transition that will see him retain considerable sway.

In shock announcement, Nazarbayev said remainder of his presidency will be served by chairman of the senate, loyalist Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.