Seven possible contenders have passed the mandatory Kazakh language exam and have been approved by the Central Election Commission.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan

He claims his fellow Cossacks do not want to learn the Kazakh language.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan and Russia: Mother calls | The

Even though the Kazakh language has seen something of a rebirth since independence, there is a shortage of talented Kazakh journalists.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan

Many journalists have been appalled by the academics' letter and have spoken out strongly against censorship as a remedy for the difficulties of the Kazakh language.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan

Most private television stations tend to fill their Kazakh-language quota with cheaply-made music videos of Kazakh starlets.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan

As a result, about half of the Kazakhs, who make up about half of the total population, are unfamiliar with their own language or can manage only conversational Kazakh.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan

According to the language law passed in 1997, half the programmes should be in Kazakh.

ECONOMIST: Kazakhstan