Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Khivan campaign of 1839

2017-04-19T16:14:36Z

R'n'B: Disambiguated: Nicholas I → Nicholas I of Russia

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict = Russo–Khivan War of 1839–1840
|partof = [[Russian conquest of Turkestan]]
|image =
|caption =
|date = 10 October 1839 – June 1840
|place = [[Khanate of Khiva|Khiva]] (present-day western [[Uzbekistan]], southwestern [[Kazakhstan]] and much of [[Turkmenistan]])
|result = Khivan victory
* Russian invasion of [[Khanate of Bukhara|Khiva]] repelled
|combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Bandera de Khiva 1917-1920.svg}} [[Khanate of Khiva|Khiva]]
|combatant2 = {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Russian Empire|Russia]]
|commander1 = {{flagicon image|Bandera de Khiva 1917-1920.svg}} Allah Quli Bahadur
|commander2 = {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]] {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Vasily Perovsky]]
|strength1 = {{flagicon image|Bandera de Khiva 1917-1920.svg}} unknown
|strength2 = {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} 5,000 troops
|casualties1 = {{flagicon image|Bandera de Khiva 1917-1920.svg}} unknown
|casualties2 = {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} 1,054 killed or died of diseases
}}

The '''Russo–Khivan War of 1839–1840''' was a failed Russian attempt to conquer the [[Khanate of Khiva]]. [[Vasily Perovsky]] set out from [[Orenburg]] with 5,000 men, met an unusually cold winter, lost most of his camels, and was forced to turn back after going halfway.

Russians attacked Khiva four times. Around 1602, some free Cossacks made three raids on Khiva. In 1717, [[Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky]] attacked Khiva and was soundly defeated, only a few men escaping to tell the tale. After the Russian defeat in 1839–1840, Khiva was finally conquered by the Russians during the [[Khivan campaign of 1873]].

==Background==

The [[Khanate of Khiva]] was located south of the [[Aral Sea]] in the delta of the [[Syr Darya|Oxus River]]. Here irrigation supported a population of about half a million. The problem was that Khiva was an oasis surrounded by several hundred miles of steppe and desert. The Russians could easily defeat the Khivan army but they first had to move enough troops across the steppe.

[[Image:BrullovKP PtVPerovskogoGTG.jpg|thumb|right|General-adjutant Count V. A. Perovsky. Painting by [[Karl Briulov]] (1837)]]

By about 1743 Russia had established itself on the Orenburg Line about 750 miles north of Khiva. [[Orenburg]] was long the base from which Russia watched and tried to control the steppes to the east and south. Over the next century they gained increasing control over the Kazakh nomads. There were the usual border disputes on a lawless frontier. The Russians complained that the Khan did not do enough to stop raiders although his ability to control them was limited. A second problem was slavery. Khiva kept a large number of Persian slaves which they bought from the Turkomans. A small number of Russians were also taken from the Orenburg Line. From the early nineteenth century an increasing number of Russian fishermen were captured on the Caspian Sea. After other attempts to pressure the Khan had failed, in August 1836 Russia ordered the arrest of all Khivan merchants in Russian territory – about 572 people and 1,400,000 silver rubles in goods. The Khan was told that his subjects would be released when all Russian slaves were released. In late September the Khan said he would release his Russians, but when the caravan arrived there were only 25, almost all old men who had been in slavery for 30 or 40 years. Five more were released in 1838 and 80 more in August 1839. On 24 March 1839 the czar approved an attack on Khiva. The goal was not annexation but, if possible, to replace the current Khan with a Kazakh loyal to Russia. The final plan was approved on 10 October.

{{Location map+ | Kazakhstan
| AlternativeMap = Relief Map of Kazakhstan.png
| width = 300
| caption = Khivan campaign of 1839 Locations of Fort Emba ad Ak Bulak are not exact
| places =
{{Location map~|Kazakhstan|lat=51.78|long=55.10|label=Orenburg||mark=Solid blue.svg|position=top}}
{{Location map~|Kazakhstan|lat=48.11|long=56.88|label=Fort Emba|position=right}}
{{Location map~|Kazakhstan|lat=46.80|long=58.00|label=Ak Bulak}}
{{Location map~|Kazakhstan|lat=41.38|long=60.22|label=Khiva||mark=Solid blue.svg|position=top}}
{{Location map~|Kazakhstan|lat=44.75|long=53.63|label=NovoAlex|position=left}}
{{Location map~|Kazakhstan|lat=46.25|long=48.05|label=Astrakhan|position=right}}
}}

==Preparations==
The land around Khiva has enough grass and water to support a thin nomadic population, but not enough for an army. The troops would have to carry nearly everything with them. As one moves south grass and water diminish, as did Russian knowledge of the ground, an important matter for an army marching from one waterhole to the next. Since the grass died down in summer, spring and fall were the best times for travel. Winter was sometimes preferred to reduce the need for water. Winter snow and cold are not too bad in normal years, but 1839 was not a normal year.

5000 men would be used, 3000 for the actual fighting and 2000 to guard the supply line. Orenburg was chosen as the starting point since this was the main base and had connections to the Russian heartland. Additional supplies would be taken by sea to Novo Alexandrovsk and carried east to the main column. 7750 Bashkir carts were mobilized to haul supplies to Orenburg. 10400 camels and 2000 camel drivers were requisitioned from the Kazakhs. This required military force in the case of one tribe. In June Colonel Heke went south with two companies and 1200 carts to explore the route and establish advanced depots. He reached the [[Emba River]] on 30 June and sent a smaller group forward to establish the next depot. The Ak Bulak River<ref>The locations of Fort Emba and Ak Bulak are estimated from Yuri Bregel, An Historical Atlas of Central Asia, map 31 and a barely legible map on the last page of Anomymous. The Ak Bulak River cannot be found on available maps. The place was also called Chushka-Kul from a rivulet that joined the Ak Bulak there. The first Fort Emba was at the junction of the Emba and the Aty-Yakshi.</ref> 100 miles south was chosen and a fort was built there in August. A large amount of hay was mown and reeds and willows were collected for fuel. For 40 kilometers north of Ak Bulak there were salt marshes with no adequate water or grass. By September a fort had been built on the Emba and hay mown. Fort Emba had a garrison of 634 men and Ak Bulak 399. The forts were unhealthy and by December 93 men had died. On the first of November a caravan of 1128 camels left Orenburg and reached the Emba 24 days later.

==Campaign==
Some officers thought that it was too late in the season<ref>Articles [[Orenburg]] and [[Aral, Kazakhstan]] have climate tables for this part of the world.</ref> but the campaign proceeded anyway. On 26 November the first column left Orenburg. Three more columns left a day or two apart. The first snow fell on 2 December. On 18 December the mercury in the thermometers congealed (minus 35 Fahrenheit). The first snow storm struck on the 19th. They reached the Emba on 31 December with no deaths but numerous cases of frostbite. In the previous 27 days the temperature never rose above 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

On 30 December 2,000 to 3,000 Khivans attacked Ak Bulak. After 2 unsuccessful days they turned their attention to a supply column 17 kilometers away. When this also failed they withdrew. The Russians lost 5 killed and 13 wounded. Eighty Khivan bodies were counted. About this time some of the Kazakh camel drivers staged a mutiny. After two ringleaders were shot the rest returned to duty. Also about this time word was received from the Caspian. The supply ships had been delayed by contrary winds and had become frozen in, only two limping back to Astrakhan. Those frozen near Novo Alexandrovsk were unloaded. Those further away were burnt by a group sent from Khiva. This group then attacked those Kazakhs who were working with the Russians, thereby cutting off the supply of fresh camels. In November Aitov was sent to collect camels to haul supplies from the Caspian to Fort Emba. Returning with 538 camels his camel drivers revolted, returned the camels to their owners and sent Aitov to Khiva. By 13 January there were 202 sick on the Emba and one fifth of the camels were too weak to be used.

In January the columns began leaving Fort Emba, the main one reaching Ak Bulak on 6 February, covering about 100 miles in 16 days. The temperature was well below zero Fahrenheit. Men had to walk in front of the camels to clear a path through the snow. Between the Emba and Ak Bulak 1200 camels died and about 2500 had to be abandoned due to exhaustion. Unnecessary supplies were burnt for fuel. The cold made it impossible to wash or change clothes. In early February Bizyanov was sent about 100 miles south and reported the snow was even deeper. Of the 2750 Orenburg Infantry, who were not used to campaigning, only two thirds were fit for duty and 236 had died. Given the rate of loss of men and camels it was clear that if the army reached Khiva it would be in no condition to fight.
On 13 February <ref>All dates in this article are New Style. Anonymous normally gives both [[Old Style and New Style dates]]. For this (page 156) he gives only 01February. Comparison with other dates shows that was probably Old Style.</ref> Perovsky decided to retreat.

All four columns were back on the Emba by the end of February. The temperature remained below zero Fahrenheit. Roots were dug up for fuel and supplies were burned for heat. Since all the grass around Fort Emba had been consumed and there were many dead camels that would begin to rot in spring, Fort Emba was moved to a new location about 30 kilometers away. Cossacks were sent out to obtain more camels. 500 were secured by negotiation. 700 were sent from Orenburg. Bizyanov attacked the Adaev tribe at mouth of the Emba, killed 450 men, and brought back a large number of camels. By mid-May there were 3480 camels. At this time there were 1130 men sick in camp, 613 with scurvy. The troops began leaving the Emba on 30 May, encountered nothing worse than mud and by late June were dispersed along the Orenburg Line.

'''Results:''' 1054 Russians died out of the original 5000. Deaths of Kazakh camel drivers are not given. Bashkir carters lost 199 men and 8869 horses.<ref>Anonymous, page 123, without explanation. He does not report Bashkirs south of Orenburg.</ref> The expedition cost 1.7 million rubles.<ref>Apparently paper rubles, since the budget, page 69, was 425000 silver rubles and 12000 gold ducats.</ref> Economic losses to the Bashkirs and Kazakhs were estimated at 2.5 million rubles each.<ref>Camels were requisitioned at 3 silver rubles each for 6 months. Anonymous does not report compensation for dead camels</ref> Of the original 10500 camels only 1500 remained alive by April. During the campaign there were 3124 cases of sickness, 608 of them mortal.<ref>Anonymous, pages 170,173,176. This is a contradiction since there were not 400 battle deaths.</ref> It was noted that the death rate for the Ural Cossacks was 1 in 200 and among the Orenburg Infantry 1 in 14, the difference being ascribed to habituation to steppe campaigning. The following year [[Richmond Shakespear|a British agent]] convinced the Khan to free 416 Russian slaves. The Khivan traders and their goods were released. Perovsky retained his command and in 1853 won the battle of [[Kyzylorda|Ak Mechet]]. Khiva was finally subjugated by the [[Khivan campaign of 1873]].

==See also==
* [[Russian conquest of Turkestan]]
* [[Russo-Turkish War (1568–70)]]
* [[Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689]]
* [[Battle of Jao Modo]]
* [[First Anglo-Afghan War]]

==Source and notes==
{{Citation style|date=December 2016}}
*Anonymous, "A Narrative of the Russian Military Expedition to Khiva under General Perofski", Translated from the Russian for the Foreign Department of the Government of India, Calcutta, 1867
*notes:
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khivan campaign of 1839}}
[[Category:The Great Game]]
[[Category:Turkestan]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1839]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1840]]
[[Category:History of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:History of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Wars involving Russia]]

Kanat Saudabayev

2017-03-21T14:42:02Z

R'n'B: Disambiguated: Otan → Order of Otan; fix link

[[File:Kanat Saudabayev.jpg|thumb|Kanat Saudabayev]]
'''Kanat Bekmyrzayevich Saudabayev''' ([[Kazakh language]]: Қанат Бекмырзаұлы Саудабаев, ''Qanat Bekmırzaulı Sawdabayev'') is a [[Kazakhstan]]i politician who was born next to [[Alma-Ata]], [[Kazakhstan]] in 1946. Saudabayev has served as the Secretary of State of the Republic of Kazakhstan since 15 May 2007. On September 4, 2009, he was appointed Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking on the responsibility for spearheading Kazakhstan's preparation for and holding of the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010.

The Secretary of State operates immediately under the leadership of the President of Kazakhstan, and is directly responsible to the President. The Secretary of State develops proposals on main dimensions of domestic and foreign policies for the President. At the request of the President, the Secretary of State represents his interests in international affairs, in relations with the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, state bodies, political parties and other public organizations.

He served as Kazakhstan's [[ambassador]] to the [[United States]] from December 2000 until the [[Kazakhstan political shakeup of 2007|political shakeup of 2007]], when [[President of Kazakhstan|President]] [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] promoted him to the position of the Secretary of State.

In Washington, Saudabayev brought an important contribution strengthening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the USA in the spheres of security, nuclear disarmament, economy and democratic development.

Before his appointment to the U.S., Ambassador Saudabayev had a long career in the fields of government, diplomacy and the arts.

In 1999 and 2000, he served as the head of the Prime Minister’s Office with the rank of Cabinet member.

In the 1990s, he served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the [[United Kingdom]] of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and to [[Turkey]]. During 1994, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Saudabayev worked to implement the developing foreign policy of the young independent state. He was Kazakhstan’s signatory to NATO’s Partnership for Peace agreement.

In the fall of 1991, President [[Mikhail S. Gorbachev]] appointed Kanat Saudabayev as the Soviet Ambassador to Turkey. As he was planning to take up his post, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. Within weeks Kanat Saudabayev was on his way to Turkey again, but as the first Ambassador ever from an independent Kazakhstan.

Working in Moscow from September 1991 through May 1992 as the Plenipotentiary Representative of the [[Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic]] to the USSR, and then, after the Soviet Union collapsed, to the [[Russian Federation]], Kanat Saudabayev was a direct participant in and a witness to many crucial events of that time.

Before entering the diplomatic service, Kanat Saudabayev had a distinguished cultural career, serving as Kazakhstan’s Chairman of the State Committee of Culture with the rank of Minister, Chairman of the State Film Committee, and Deputy Culture Minister. He began his career as a theatrical producer.

Kanat Saudabayev holds degrees from the [[Leningrad Institute of Culture]] and the [[Academy of Public Sciences of the Central Committee of Communist Party of the Soviet Union]]. He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the [[Kazakh State University]] and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the [[Moscow State University]]. His service has been recognized by the orders of [[Order of Otan|Otan]] (Fatherland), Kazakhstan’s highest state award, and [[Order of Kurmet|Kurmet]] (Distinguished Service).{{fact|date=March 2017}}

<ref name=AMBASSADOR>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//chiefs/chiefs91.html Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments] Central Intelligence Agency</ref><ref name=PROFILE>[http://www.homestead.com/prosites-kazakhembus/ambassador.html Kanat B. Saudabayev] Embassy of Kazakhstan to the United States and Canada</ref><ref name=SAUD>[http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11658497 Saudabayev appointed Kazakh Security Council secretary] Interfax</ref>

Kanat Saudabayev is married with three children.<ref name=PROFILE/>

==See also==
*[[Government of Kazakhstan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.homestead.com/prosites-kazakhembus/ambassador.html]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States|before=[[Bolat Nurgaliyev]]|after=?|years=14 February 2001 to 15 May 2007}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saudabayev, Kanat}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dughlats]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Kazakhstan to the United States]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Kazakhstan to Turkey]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Kurmet]]
[[Category:Al-Farabi University alumni]]

Kanysh Satbayev

2017-02-18T11:35:06Z

R'n'B: Disambiguate link to Semipalatinsk Oblast

{{Infobox scientist
| name = Kanysh Satpayev (Kanysh Satbaev)
| image = GUWSatpayev.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Каныш Сатпаев
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1899|4|12}}
| birth_place = [[Semipalatinsk Oblast, Russian Empire]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1964|1|31|1899|4|12}}
| death_place = [[Moscow]], [[USSR]]
| residence =
| citizenship = [[USSR]]
| nationality = [[Kazakhs]]
| ethnicity =
| religion =
| fields = [[Geology]]
| workplaces =
| alma_mater = [[Tomsk Polytechnic University]]
| doctoral_advisor =
| academic_advisors =
| doctoral_students =
| notable_students =
| known_for = First president of the [[Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences]]
| author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Kanysh Imantayuli Satbayev''' or '''Kanysh Imantaevich Satpaev''' ({{lang-kz|'''Қаныш Имантайұлы Сәтбаев'''}}; {{lang-ru|'''Каны́ш Иманта́евич Сатпа́ев'''}}) (April 11, 1899 – January 31, 1964) is one of the founders of [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[metallogeny]], principal advocate and the first president of [[Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences]].

==Biography==
Satbayev was born in what is today [[Bayanaul District]], in [[Pavlodar Region]]. Satbayev's interest in [[geology]] was sparked in childhood by [[Tomsk]] geologist [[Mikhail Usov]]. In 1921, he got admitted to [[Tomsk Polytechnic University|Tomsk Technological Institute]] (now Tomsk Polytechnic University). After completing his studies in 1926, Satbayev returned to [[Kazakhstan]] and became the first qualified Kazakh mining engineer and [[geologist]].<ref name="unesco">[http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17966&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html UNESCO article about Kanysh Satbayev (retrieved on April 1, 2008)]</ref>

He died in [[Moscow]] in 1964, and is buried in [[Almaty]].

==Legacy==
Kanysh Satbayev left after himself more than 640 scientific publications. He created Institute of Geology which became the center of studies of [[Kazakhstan]] mineral resources.
[[File:Satpayev monument.jpg|thumb|Monument in Kanysh Satpayev's honor in front of [[Kazakh National Technical University]] which was named after him]]
[[File:KZ-1999-20tenge-Satbayev.png|thumb|Kazakh coin]]
Named after K. Satpayev:
* [[Satpayev (city)|Satpayev]] city in [[Karaganda Region]]
* Kanysh Satbayev Canal ([[Irtysh–Karaganda Canal]])
* Mineral [[Satpayevite]] ('''6Al (OH)3×3v (O2OH)×2v O(OH)2''')
* [[Kazakh National Technical University]]
* Numerous streets and schools in [[Kazakhstan]].
* [[Asteroid]] [[2402 Satpayev]] (1979 OR13) in [[Asteroid belt|main-belt]]<ref name="unesco"/>

== Bibliography ==
; Publications in English:
* ''Satpaev K.I.'' Program of Kazakh scientists // Moscow News. 1948. 28 Dec.
* ''Satpaev K.I.'' Gigantic strides: (Our party looks into the future) // Moscow News. 1956. 22 Feb.
* ''Satpaev K.I.'' Kazakhstan: Tremendous advances // News. 1956. № 24. P. 21.
* ''Satpaev K.I.'' Kazakh scientists contribution // Moscow News. 1959. 4 Mar. P. 6.

== About him ==
* Satpaev Kanysh Imantaevich // The International who’s who. 1963-1964. 27 ed. London: Europa publ., 1963. P. 937.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.unesco.kz/heritagenet/kz/participant/museum/satpaev_mus/rus/first.htm Kanysh Satpayev Memorial Museum]
* [http://www.unesco.kz/heritagenet/kz/participant/museum/satpaev_mus/rus/biografia.htm Biography of Kanysh Satpayev in Russian]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=President [[Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences|Kazakh Academy of Sciences]]
|before= [[Dinmukhamed Konayev]]
|after= [[Shafik Chokin]]
|years= 1955–1964}}
{{succession box|title=President [[Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences|Kazakh Academy of Sciences]]
|before= First president
|after= [[Dinmukhamed Konayev]]
|years= 1946–1952}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Satbayev, Kanysh}}
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Pavlodar Region]]
[[Category:People from Semipalatinsk Oblast]]
[[Category:Kazakhstani scientists]]
[[Category:Soviet scientists]]
[[Category:Full Members of the USSR Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Tomsk Polytechnic University alumni]]

{{Kazakhstan-bio-stub}}

Central Asian northern desert

2016-02-04T11:15:18Z

R'n'B: Disambiguate link to Anabasis

The '''Central Asian northern desert''' is an [[ecoregion]] in the [[deserts and xeric shrublands]] [[biome]], located in the [[Central Asia]]n countries of [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Uzbekistan]]. The annual precipitation ranges from {{convert|100|to|150|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}, the winters are cold at {{convert|-10|to|-15|°C|°F}} and the summers hot at around {{convert|25|°C|°F}}. There are a range of habitat types including salt flats, clay desert, rocky desert and some sand desert. The vegetation consists of scanty xeric shrubs including ''[[Artemisia (genus)|Artemisia]]'' and ''[[Salsola]]''. The fauna is varied, as well as mammals and birds, there are a large number of reptiles and many species of invertebrate. Some protected areas are included in this [[ecoregion]] but other parts are being [[environmental degradation|degraded]] by conversion to [[farmland]], [[overgrazing]] and [[poaching]].

==Setting==
The Central Asian northern desert occupies southern Kazakhstan and most of Uzbekistan, and largely corresponds with the desert known as the [[Kyzyl Kum]]. This ecoregion experiences a typical [[cold desert climate]]; January mean temperatures range from {{convert|-10|°C|°F}} to {{convert|-15|°C|°F}}, while July means range from {{convert|24|°C|°F}} to {{convert|26|°C|°F}}. On average, precipitation ranges from {{convert|100|mm|in}} to {{convert|150|mm|in}} annually. The topography of this ecoregion is varied, featuring salty "''[[solonchak]]''" deserts with a great number of [[Dry lake|salt flats]], clay deserts, rocky deserts, and a small area of sandy desert in the southern portion of the region.

==Flora==
The vegetation of this ecoregion is dominated by [[shrub]]s and semi-shrubs, with a variety of different species adapted to the different soil types found in it. Clay deserts support communities of ''[[Anabasis salsa]]'', ''[[Salsola]] orientalis'', and the ''[[Artemisia (genus)|Artemisia]]'' species ''A. terrae albae'', ''A. turanica'', and ''A. gurganica''. The stony deserts support mainly ''[[Salsola]] arbusculae formis'' and ''[[Nanophyton]] erinaceum'', while the "''solonchaks''" support the semi-shrubs ''[[Ceratoides]] papposa'', ''Artemisia terrae albae''', var. ''massagetovii'', ''A. santolina'', and ''A. songarica'', shrubs such as ''[[Calligonum]] aphyllum'', ''[[Ephedra]] lomatolepis'' as well as grasses such as ''[[Agropyron]] fragile''.

==Fauna==
Mammals of the Central Asian northern desert include the [[long-eared hedgehog]] (''Hemiechinus auritus''), [[Tolai hare]] (''lepus tolai''), various species of [[gerbil]] and [[jerboa]], [[saiga antelope]] (''Saiga tatarica''), ''steppe polecat'' (''Mustela eversmanni''), [[goitered gazelle]] (''Gazella subgutturosa ''), [[onager]] (''Equus hemonius'') and suslik (''[[Spermophilus]] spp.'').

Birds of this ecoregion include [[wheatear]]s (''Oenanthe isabellina'', ''O. deserti''), [[Asian desert warbler|desert warbler]] (''Sylvia nana''), [[brown-necked raven]] (''Corvus ruficollis''), the endangered [[houbara bustard]] (''Chlamydotis undulata''), [[black-bellied sandgrouse]] (''Pterocles orientalis''), [[golden eagle]] (''Aquila chrysaetos''), [[steppe eagle]] (''Aquila rapax''), [[Egyptian vulture]] (''Neophron percnopterus''), and the [[saker falcon]] (''Falco cherrug'').

Numerous reptiles can be found in this ecoregion, including numerous ''[[Agama (genus)|Agama]]'' lizards, Rustamov's skink gekko (''Teratoscincus scincus rustamovi''), Chernov's snake-lizard (''Ophimorus chernovi''), Ferghana sand lizard (''Eremias scripta pherganensis''), [[desert monitor]] (''Varanus griseus'') and the Central Asian cobra (''[[Naja oxiana]]'').

The [[invertebrate]] fauna of this ecoregion is quite rich, especially in the sandy deserts, supporting a variety of [[grasshopper]]s, [[beetle]]s, [[Butterfly|butterflies]], [[termite]]s and [[ant]]s.

==Conservation status and threats==
The conservation status of this ecoregion is listed as "Vulnerable", and the main threats to its integrity are conversion of habitat to farmland, over-hunting and poaching and the use of plants for firewood and silk production. Protected areas include the Barsa-Kelmes reserve on an island in the [[Aral Sea]], the Kaplankyr reserve, the Ustyurt reserve, and the Altyn-Emel National Park in Kazakhstan.

==References==
*{{WWF ecoregion|id=pa1310|name=Central Asian northern desert}}
*{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=pa1310|name=Central Asian northern desert}}

{{-}}
{{Paleartic deserts and xeric shrublands}}

[[Category:Deserts of Central Asia]]
[[Category:Deserts of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Deserts of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Deserts and xeric shrublands]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Asia]]
[[Category:Geography of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Geography of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Biota of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Biota of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Central Asia| ]]
[[Category:Palearctic ecozone]]

2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan

2015-07-20T15:33:28Z

R'n'B: Disambiguating links to Constitutional Council (link changed to Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan) using DisamAssist.

{{Politics of Kazakhstan}}
The '''2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan''' modified [[Constitution of Kazakhstan|Kazakhstan's basic law]], on May 18, 2007.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/18/asia/AS-POL-Kazakhstan-President.php Kazakh parliament approves amendment to waive presidential term limits], International Herald Tribune, May 18, 2007.</ref> The changes followed the conclusion of the activities of the 'State Commission on Democratization' formed two years previously.

In a speech on May 16 to the [[Joint session|Joint Session]] of the Chambers of [[Parliament of Kazakhstan|Parliament]], President [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] summarized the development of [[Kazakhstan]] since independence in 1991, and outlined his proposed constitutional changes.<ref>[http://www.regnum.ru/english/kazakhstan/828053.html Kazakh president proposes to reduce presidential term from 7 to 5 years], REGNUM, May 16, 2007.</ref>

The main changes proposed by the President were as follows:
*The reduction of the presidential term from 7-years to 5-years, coming into effect after the next election in 2012
*To adopt [[proportional representation]] for the [[Majilis]], or lower Chamber of deputies
*To increase the number of [[Senate of Kazakhstan|senators]] selected by the [[President]], from 7 to 15
*To give to the Senate the power of consultation on the appointment of a President of the National Bank
*To increase the number of Majilis deputies to 107 - 98 deputies elected by proportional representation and 9 deputies representing the Assembly of the Peoples' of Kazakhstan. The total number of the parliamentary deputies will therefore increase by 38 and will amount to 154
*To strengthen the powers of political parties by depriving members of the Majilis of their mandate in the event that they are expelled from their party
*To make the government accountable not only to the Head of State, but to the whole Parliament; by giving the Government a vote of no-confidence. It will be sufficient for the Majilis to have a simple majority of deputies' votes compared with the previously required two thirds of votes, in order to dismiss the government
*To change, the procedure for forming the [[Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan|Constitutional Council]] and the [[Central Election Commission]]. This will occur via the introduction of a law whereby two thirds of the Constitutional Council, the Central Election Commission and Auditing Committee will be formed by Parliament
*To change the procedure of forming the Government, where the [[Prime Minister of Kazakhstan|Prime Minister]] is appointed by the President, so that the approval of such appointments, and consequently that of the entire Government, is delegated to the Majilis
*To introduce a change whereby the composition of the Government shall be formed according to the proposals of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will also represent the parliamentary majority party
*To abolish the constitutional prohibition of state funding of [[NGO]]'s
*To develop a procedure for the partial funding of political parties from the state budget
*To abolish the [[death penalty]] in Kazakhstan<ref>[http://www.kogiguk.com/News/Archive/2007/May/Article3555.htm KAZAKHSTAN MOVES FORWARD ON MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM], Kazakhstan Oil and Gas Interest Group.</ref>

In addition to these proposals the Kazakh parliament passed an additional amendment two days later, lifting the term-limit clause on the first [[President of Kazakhstan]], [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]]. The constitution limits a president to two five-year terms, but this amendment allows the incumbent president--Nazarbayev--to run for an unlimited number of five year terms. Some critics argued this move paved the way for him to become ''[[de facto]]'' [[President for life]].<ref>[http://www.kub.kz/print.php?sid=17539 Nursultan A. Nazarbayev could remain in office for the rest of his life], Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2007.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Government of Kazakhstan]]
*[[Constitution of Kazakhstan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Constitutional amendments|Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Kazakhstani law]]
[[Category:Government of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:2007 in Kazakhstan|Constitution of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:2007 in law|Amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan]]