Free Republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin is being mocked online for flubbing the name of the president of Kazakhstan during a formal meeting with the ally. -snip- videos posted on social media have centered on Putin, who has been a focus of controversy regarding his purported health issues, and his mispronunciation of Tokayev's name. Putin, surrounded by delegates at a large table and broadcast on Russian television, can be seen stuttering during introductory remarks. "Putin had a hard time pronouncing the name of the President of Kazakhstan," wrote Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs, on X, formerly Twitter. "This...

Relations between Kazakhstan and Russia, have deteriorated since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022... "Kazakhstan has unambiguously stated that it will follow the sanctions regime," Tokayev said following talks during an official visit to Berlin to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Timothy Ash, an economist and associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at British think tank Chatham House, said the statement was significant and shows Moscow is losing influence. "Wow, huge move. Just shows weakening grip across region of Russia because of Putin's idiotic invasion of Ukraine. He lost Armenia in recent weeks on Russia's...

In a rare show of dissent, protests reached the authoritarian country’s biggest city, Almaty, after officials lifted price caps on liquefied petroleum gas. ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted the government’s resignation on Wednesday, his office said, after violent protests set off by a fuel price increase rocked the oil-rich Central Asian country. Police used tear gas and stun grenades late on Tuesday to drive hundreds of protesters out of the main square in Almaty, the former Soviet republic’s biggest city, and clashes went on for hours in nearby areas. The protests shook the former Soviet republic’s image...

On President Bush's 60th birthday, he met wtih Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the White House and held a joint press conference with him. They discussed a range of bilateral and global issues, and areas with opportunities to deepen bilateral ties and advance a shared global agenda. (With Harper's election, and now an apparent victory for the conservative, Harvard-educated candidate for president in Mexico, things appear to be looking up for North America's political climate.) He also received Iraq's Ambassador to the US, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the 2006 March of Dimes National Ambassador, five-year-old Alexa Ostolaza. Secretary of State...