REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL ROUND TABLE DEDICATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS

On August 29, 2025, an International Round Table dedicated to the International Day against Nuclear Tests was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty.

The date was chosen symbolically – on August 29, 1949, the first nuclear explosion took place at the Semipalatinsk test site, and on the same date in 1991, by decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the site was officially closed. The round table was also dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the Faculty of International Relations.

The round table was organized by the UN Academic Regional Information Center at the Faculty of International Relations of Al-Farabi KazNU in cooperation with the UN Department of Global Communications Office in Almaty and the public foundation “Polygon 29 August.” The event gathered representatives of the diplomatic corps, the academic community, experts in international security, as well as young scholars and students.

With a welcoming speech, the Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of Al-Farabi KazNU, Professor Zhuldyz Talgatovna Sairambayeva, emphasized the importance of nuclear disarmament for Kazakhstan and the global community.

Speakers at the round table included:

• Assel Oralbayeva, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in Almaty;
• Alexander Fyodorovich Belyaev, Consul-Advisor of the Russian Federation in Almaty;
• Lü Yi, Deputy Consul General, who stressed the importance of international cooperation in nuclear security;
• Assel Kozhakhmetovna Nazarbetova, Head of the Almaty Office of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Particular attention was drawn to the speech of Nurlan Keshirimovich Boztaev, Head of the “Polygon 29 August” public foundation, who shared the results of the foundation’s work and emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory about the consequences of nuclear tests.

A significant contribution to the work of the round table was made by young scholars and students, including activists of the UN Academic Regional Information Center, who presented their research projects and proposed new approaches to advancing anti-nuclear initiatives.

The discussion allowed participants to exchange views on current challenges and prospects in the field of nuclear disarmament. It was also emphasized that this work is directly linked to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (in particular, SDG 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”), highlighting the importance of international cooperation in building a safe and peaceful future.

The event concluded with a group photo and a friendly coffee break.

Responsible organizers – Leila F. Delovarova; Nurlan Keshirimovich Boztaev, and the team of activists of the UN Academic Regional Information Center.