Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country mostly in Central Asia, with a part in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbekistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest, with a coastline along the Caspian Sea. Its capital is Astana, while the largest city and leading cultural and commercial hub is Almaty. Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country by land area and the largest landlocked country. It has a population of 20 million and one of the lowest population densities in the world, at fewer than 6 people per square kilometre. Ethnic Kazakhs constitute a majority, while ethnic Russians form a significant minority. Officially secular, Kazakhstan is a Muslim-majority country with a sizeable Christian community.

Some of the key events about Kazakhstan

1931
A severe famine caused by Soviet collectivization policies resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Kazakhs
1949
The first Soviet nuclear test was conducted at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan
1954
The Virgin Lands Campaign led to widespread ecological damage and soil erosion in Kazakhstan
1986
Protests in Almaty against Soviet leadership were violently suppressed
1991
Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet Union
1991
The Semipalatinsk Test Site was officially closed after decades of nuclear testing
1993
The national currency, the tenge, was introduced
1995
A new constitution was adopted, establishing Kazakhstan as a presidential republic
1997
The capital was moved from Almaty to Astana (now Nur-Sultan)
1997
The capital was moved from Almaty to Astana (now Nur-Sultan), causing economic difficulties for many residents
2000
Oil was discovered in the Kashagan Field, one of the world's largest oil fields
2006
Kazakhstan launched its first communications satellite, KazSat-1
2010
Kazakhstan chaired the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
2011
Oil workers' strikes in Zhanaozen ended in violent clashes with police, resulting in at least 14 deaths
2012
The Baiterek monument in Astana became a national symbol and tourist attraction
2013
A major bank collapse led to significant financial losses for many Kazakhs
2017
Astana hosted the International Exposition (EXPO 2017) focused on "Future Energy"
2019
The capital city Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan
2019
The first president's resignation led to protests and calls for political reform
2022
Widespread protests over fuel price hikes resulted in violent clashes and a state of emergency declaration

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.