On 1–2 October 2026, the VII Congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC) was held in Samarkand under the theme “Constitutional Justice in the Context of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.”
The international forum brought together the heads of constitutional and supreme courts from more than 20 countries, representatives of international organizations, and leading legal experts.
The Kazakhstan delegation was headed by Bakyt Nurmukhanov, Deputy Chairperson of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the first plenary session, dedicated to the digitalization of constitutional justice, he presented Kazakhstan’s experience and approaches to the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the field of constitutional review. Bakyt Nurmukhanov spoke about the practical application of digital solutions in the work of the Constitutional Court, including audio and video recording of court hearings, remote participation of parties to constitutional proceedings, electronic document management, and the “e-Otinish” platform, which enables citizens to submit applications to the Court electronically.
“Digitalization of constitutional justice is a strategically important area of development. However, given the special role of a constitutional court as a guarantor of human rights and the stability of the legal order, the introduction of new technologies should be accompanied by the proactive improvement of the legal frameworks governing their use. Artificial intelligence can become an effective tool for improving access to constitutional justice; however, responsibility for decisions taken must remain exclusively with humans. Technology should assist judges and applicants, but should not replace them,” Bakyt Nurmukhanov emphasized.
During the Congress, participants discussed the independence of the judiciary in the context of digital transformation, the protection of human rights and the rule of law in the digital environment, the legal limits of the use of artificial intelligence, personal data protection, cybersecurity, and procedural safeguards.
The event concluded with the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration, aimed at further improving constitutional justice, strengthening the protection of human rights and the rule of law, and expanding international cooperation among constitutional jurisdiction bodies in the context of digital and technological transformation.
On September 30, 2026, Talgat Sharipov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, received Mergali Sembiev, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the regions of Kazakhstan and the Samarkand region.
With the assistance of the Consulate General, Mergali Sembiev met with Khurshidbek Samiev, Deputy Khokim of the Samarkand region and Head of the Department of Investment and Foreign Trade.
During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on the development of trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as expanding interaction between business representatives of the two countries.
Particular attention was paid to the prospects for implementing joint investment projects, developing interregional cooperation,
and creating favorable conditions for establishing direct contacts between Kazakh and Uzbek entrepreneurs.
The parties discussed opportunities for further cooperation, taking into account the investment potential of the Samarkand region, as well as the interest of Kazakh businesses in developing business ties.
Furthermore, the Consulate General facilitated meetings between a representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the management of major enterprises in the Samarkand region, including the «Azia Metall Prof» JV LLC, the «Sharq Sanoat» concern, and «Sam Coal Energy Group» LLC.
On September 29, Talgat Sharipov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, attended the closing session of the Fifth Samarkand Forum on Human Rights, held at the Mirzo Ulugbek Madrasah in Samarkand.
The event was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the International Covenants
on Human Rights and the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. The main part of the program—plenary sessions and seven thematic sessions—was held on September 28 in Tashkent, with the closing session taking place in Samarkand.
The forum was organized by the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, jointly with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Center for Development and Justice.
Over 200 representatives of international, regional, and national organizations, human rights institutions, research centers, civil society, the media, and the business community participated in the Fifth Samarkand Forum on Human Rights. Participants included representatives of ten international and eight regional organizations, eight foreign national human rights institutions, and over 30 experts.
At the final meeting in Samarkand, the key findings of the seven breakout sessions were presented. Participants discussed civil and political rights, economic, social, and cultural rights, the protection of the rights of children, women, and persons with disabilities, climate justice, the impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and the prevention of statelessness.
Participants also reviewed six decades of experience in the application of the International Covenants on Human Rights, the right to development, international solidarity, and the interaction of national and international human rights institutions. The main outcome of the forum was the adoption of the document "Samarkand Vision 2040," which defines long-term directions for international cooperation in the protection of human rights, human dignity, equality, and sustainable development.
The Samarkand Forum is held every two years. Its history began in 2018 with the first Asian Forum on Human Rights. Subsequent meetings focused on youth rights, human rights education, and, in 2024, on environmental threats and their impact on human rights.
On September 28, 2026, Talgat Sharipov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, attended the opening ceremony of the new academic building of the private university «ZARMED University».
In his welcoming remarks, the Consul General noted the rapid development of the higher education system in Uzbekistan and emphasized the importance of private academic initiatives. The diplomat emphasized the importance of training qualified personnel for the Central Asian region, including in the medical, engineering, economic, and humanitarian fields, which the university is actively developing.
During the visit, the management of «ZARMED University» introduced the guest to the educational and production facilities of the new academic building, innovative teaching methods, and discussed prospects for attracting applicants and professors from Kazakhstan to strengthen good-neighborly academic ties.
This event marked an important step in developing the region's educational infrastructure and strengthening humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, opening new horizons for bilateral cooperation, including prospects for joint research platforms and academic exchange programs between higher education institutions of the two countries.
On 26-27 September, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand Talgat Sharipov took part in the closing events of the 46th World Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand.
During the events, the Consul General congratulated the Kazakhstan women’s and men’s national teams on the conclusion of the Olympiad, highlighting the high level of preparation, professionalism and determination demonstrated by the Kazakh chess players. Special appreciation was extended to the athletes, coaches and all representatives of the Kazakh chess community who contributed to the teams’ strong performance on the international stage.
The Kazakhstan women’s national team won the silver medal, finishing in second place overall at the Olympiad. This result demonstrated the high level of chess development in Kazakhstan and represented a significant achievement for Kazakh sport. The Kazakhstan men’s national team also delivered a strong performance, finishing in 25th place with 15 team points.
Talgat Sharipov emphasized that the achievements of Kazakh chess players are significant not only for Kazakhstan but also for the entire Central Asian region. The athletes’ strong results contribute to strengthening the region’s international standing and demonstrate its growing potential in the development of chess. In this regard, the hosting of the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand was an important event for promoting chess and strengthening humanitarian ties among the countries of Central Asia.
The Consul General also congratulated Timur Turlov on his election as President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). He noted that the election of a representative of Kazakhstan to head the world’s largest international chess organization was a landmark event for Kazakh sport and reflected the growing international recognition of Kazakhstan’s achievements in chess.
Timur Turlov became the eighth President of FIDE and the first representative of Kazakhstan to lead the international chess organization. Talgat Sharipov expressed confidence that his election would contribute to the further development of the chess movement, the expansion of international cooperation and the strengthening of Central Asia’s role in the global chess community.
The 46th World Chess Olympiad, organized under the auspices of FIDE, was held from 15 to 27 September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Olympiad was historic as it was held in Central Asia for the first time. Hundreds of teams took part in the competition, with medals contested in the Open and Women’s sections.
The importance of preserving the shared historical and cultural heritage was highlighted as a key factor in further strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
On September 17, 2026, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, Talgat Sharipov, participated in the Central Asian Civil Society Forum entitled “The Importance of Civil Society Institutions in Democratic Development: The Experience of Uzbekistan and Central Asian Countries,” held to mark the International Day of Democracy.
During the thematic sessions, participants discussed prospects for expanding cooperation among civil society institutions of the Central Asian states, mechanisms for implementing joint projects, as well as the development of cross-border expert networks and associations of non-governmental organizations. Particular attention was paid to the development of permanent dialogue platforms, the exchange of social innovations, and the dissemination of effective practices of the non-governmental sector at the regional level.
The presentations by the Kazakh delegates attracted considerable interest from the audience. Kaisha Atakhanova, Director of Regional Programmes at the Association for Civil Society Development “ARGO,” presented a report entitled “From Global Goals to Local Solutions: The Role of Civil Society in Achieving the SDGs – Kazakhstan’s Experience,” highlighting the cross-border nature of climate-related challenges. In turn, Lyudmila Sengirbayeva, Head of the “Yermensai” Public Association, presented a successful case study on the development of a three-tier “government – civil society – local self-government” model aimed at effectively addressing local social challenges.
The conceptual approaches proposed by the Kazakh side were highly appreciated by international experts, who expressed practical interest in expanding the application of Kazakhstan’s experience in cooperation between government institutions and civil society organizations at the local and regional levels.
Overall, the outcomes of the Forum demonstrated sustained mutual interest among the Central Asian states in the practical exchange of experience in the development of civil society institutions.
On September 14, 2026, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand Talgat Sharipov held a meeting with Jurabek Suyunov, Head of the Tourism Department of Samarkand Region, and Tolib Dzhakhangirov, a prominent entrepreneur, Director General of “Shahrezada Sam Star Tour” tourism company and a member of the Samarkand Regional Council of People’s Deputies.
During the meeting, the sides held a detailed discussion on ways to improve transport connectivity. Particular attention was paid to the possibility of supporting existing regular flights connecting Samarkand with Kazakhstan’s major cities, Astana and Almaty, as well as to expanding the practice of launching new air routes.
The sides also held a substantive exchange of views on the further development of pilgrimage, ecotourism, cultural and historical tourism, and medical tourism. Particular attention was also given to the prospects for developing joint tourist routes for travelers from third countries.
The participants noted that the development of direct transport links and the introduction of flexible tourism products would significantly facilitate travel between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for citizens of both countries, while creating new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Following the talks, the sides agreed to implement joint practical measures to promote the tourism potential of their respective regions in the markets of both countries and to organize a series of reciprocal familiarization tours for tour operators and specialized media outlets.
On 14 September 2026, Talgat Sharipov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, attended the official opening ceremony of the 2026–2027 academic year at the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.
In his welcoming remarks, the Consul General congratulated the university’s administration, faculty and students on the beginning of the new academic year and wished them every success in their academic and research endeavours. Talgat Sharipov highlighted the high level of relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which are founded on centuries-old friendship, good-neighbourly ties and shared cultural and historical values. He also emphasised the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation in science, education, tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The Consul General also noted that citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan enrol in the university’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes every year. According to him, this serves as clear evidence of the deepening educational ties between the two countries and the university’s growing reputation among young people in Kazakhstan.
Following the official ceremony, Talgat Sharipov held a meeting with Kazakh citizens studying at the university. During the meeting, the participants discussed in detail matters relating to the educational process, living conditions and students’ adaptation. Kazakh undergraduate and postgraduate students were also provided with comprehensive information about the activities of the Consulate General and the procedure for seeking the necessary consular and legal assistance. At the conclusion of the meeting, the head of the consular mission wished the young people every success in their studies and further achievements, encouraging them to represent their homeland with dignity while abroad.
Participation in the official ceremony and the meeting with fellow citizens formed part of the Consulate General’s ongoing efforts to strengthen educational and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as to provide comprehensive support to Kazakh citizens studying abroad.
On September 13, 2026, the regular meeting of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Joint Commission on International Road Transport was held in Samarkand, co-chaired by Maksat Kaliakparov, Vice Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Mamanbiy Omarov, First Deputy Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Talgat Sharipov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Samarkand, also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the Parties discussed key issues related to the further development of international road transport between the two countries, increasing freight and passenger transportation volumes, improving the permit system, digitalizing transport procedures, developing transit potential, as well as prospects for moving towards an unlimited exchange of transport permits and establishing a “seamless” transport and logistics system.
The protocol signed following the meeting recorded the agreements reached by the Parties and outlined further areas of partnership. One of the key practical outcomes of the meeting was the resolution of issues related to the additional exchange of permit forms for international transport operations for the current year, 2026.
The talks held in Samarkand reaffirmed the high level of strategic and good-neighborly cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The meeting was held in a constructive, businesslike and friendly atmosphere.
Overall, the work of the Joint Commission is aimed at removing administrative barriers, enhancing the transparency of procedures, and creating favorable conditions for the sustainable growth of freight flows between the two countries.