Turkistan City Designated as Spiritual and Historical Capital
The Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, has approved a draft law granting Turkistan the special status of the spiritual and historical capital in its first reading. This decision was made during a plenary session on Dec. 18, as reported by the Mazhilis’s press service.
The main goal of this legislation is to preserve Turkistan’s historical appearance by establishing a reserve of archaeological monuments. This includes implementing restrictions on construction near the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum to protect its unique features. Specifically, buildings taller than seven meters or not compatible with historical monuments in terms of scale, color, or materials will be prohibited within 100 meters of the mausoleum’s security zone.
Furthermore, the bill provides support to artisans in national handicrafts by reimbursing a percentage of their costs from the local budget. This initiative is expected to cost approximately 88.5 million tenge (US$167,387) annually and aims to assist the more than 30 artisans currently working in Turkistan.
In the development of this draft law, Kazakhstan looked to the practices of countries such as England, Italy, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan for guidance on preserving historical monuments.
While some members of the Mazhilis suggested limiting alcohol sales near sacred sites, Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov clarified that a total ban on alcohol in Turkistan is not being considered. He emphasized that the city aims to develop not only religious tourism and that any restrictions on alcohol sales would only apply to the most visited and revered locations. Baibazarov affirmed the importance of catering to the preferences of visitors, including foreigners, while also ensuring designated spaces for relaxation.
