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'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More
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RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

Radio Azattyq was established in 1953 as part of the Radio Liberty family, and has redoubled its efforts since independence to provide dependable information through intensive on-the-ground reporting and unique perspective. Restrictions on the Kazakh media market and limited airtime have imposed a heavy burden that Radio Azattyq has sought to counter with dynamic programming and stepped-up cooperation -- online and on-air -- with local and regional media.

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Features & Multimedia

It's Not Easy Being An Environmentalist In Turkmenistan

A court in Turkmenistan has overturned a five-year jail sentence handed down last week to a biologist whose environmental organization was shut down by the state in 2003. The case marks the second time in three years that Andrei Zatoka has been sentenced and detained before being released, and highlights the difficulties activists commonly encounter in Central Asia. More

Russia Is Dying To Learn Its Census Data

The news that the next Russian census will be held in 2010 is welcome news indeed. There had been considerable speculation that the census had been delayed largely for political reasons, and it is encouraging to think that the opinions of experts who say the census information is crucially needed were heeded in this case. More

The Best Place In The World To Live? You Might Be Surprised

What's your idea of the best place in which to live? Many people would probably answer that palm trees and a gleaming beach would be a good start to their idea of earthly paradise. But in real life, the country which scores best on a whole range of economic and quality-of-life issues is a good deal colder. More

Is Kazakhstan Fit To Chair The OSCE?

As an international organization that, among other things, promotes human rights, transparent elections, and the rule of law, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is taking quite a gamble by entrusting the chairmanship to a country that is taking steps away from -- rather than toward -- democracy. More

Russia Facing Resistance On CIS's Southern Flank

Representatives of the CIS are holding a summit in the Moldovan capital today, but most of the Central Asian presidents won't be in attendance. The presidents of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan instead sent lower-level delegations. Focusing on the three Central Asian states that make up the CIS's southern frontier, we examine how, by skipping the summit, they might be exhibiting their discontent with Russia. More
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Facts & Stats

Map of Kazakhstan

Population
15.3 million

Ethnic Groups:
Kazakh 53.4%
Russian 30%
Ukrainian 3.7%
Uzbek 2.5%
German 2.4%
Tatar 1.7%
Uyghur 1.4%
Other 4.9%

Religions:
Muslim
Russian Orthodox
Protestant
Other

Languages:
Kazakh (state language) 64%
Russian (official) 95%

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