The interview with Yerdaulet Rakhmatulla explores his journey into nuclear disarmament and advocacy, beginning with a chance involvement in the field during 2021. He discusses the importance of nuclear justice, particularly for Kazakhstan, a nation historically affected by nuclear testing, and emphasizes youth involvement and regional collaboration. Yerdaulet critiques global civil society and organizations like ICAN for Western dominance, advocating for a more inclusive and localized approach. He remains optimistic about the future of Kazakh civil society in addressing nuclear issues but expresses concern about global disarmament challenges and evolving threats such as AI weaponization.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

Alimzhan Akhmetov, a former Kazakh diplomat, became interested in nuclear disarmament issues when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' department for international security issues in 2015. Akhmetov believes nuclear weapons are a destabilizing factor due to the high risks and resources spent on them, and he was disappointed that non-nuclear weapon states agreed too easily to the indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1995. Akhmetov's NGO, the Center for International Security and Policy (CISP), works on nuclear disarmament issues, brings nuclear test survivors to international forums, and collaborates with organizations like ICAN and Soka Gakkai International. Akhmetov expects nuclear weapons to be replaced by other advanced weapons like autonomous systems in the next 50 years, leading to a more secure but unequal world, with proxy wars continuing.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

A letter from Olzhas Suleimenov welcoming participants to the upcoming International Citizens Congress for a Nuclear Test Ban. Suleimenov describes the recent successes of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk Movement and explains that forming a united voice with the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War will lead to future victories.

A pamphlet about the Semipalatinsk Test Site, describing its history of nuclear testing from 1949 to 1989. Detailed information about the radioactive fallout from the tests is provided. The guide also gives information about the physical ailments  nuclear tests rendered on local populations and includes rates of cancer, mental diseases, and infant mortality in the region.

The documents in this collection surround two separate topics. One topic involves the status of Almaz Estekov, a political refugee in the United States who was active in the antinuclear and environmental movements of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The second topic involves children suffering from the effects of nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. The names of these children, the ailments they are suffering, and a proposal to establish a laboratory to help monitor environmental pollution in Kazakhstan are included. 

An interview between Moscow News journalist Yuri Dmitriyev and the founder of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk movement Olzhas Suleimenov. Suleimenov explains the origins and aims of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk movement. He also discusses how official authorities relate to the movement.

A page of logos used during the International Citizens Congress for a Nuclear Test Ban.

A timeline describing the conception and subsequent activities of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk Nuclear Movement. Special attention is given to Kazakh-U.S. cooperation, acts of protest, and nuclear tests carried out by the USSR. The timeline ends with the International Citizens Congress for a Nuclear Test Ban in May 1990.

This shortened program for the International Citizens Congress for a Nuclear Test Ban broadly describes the daily activities of congress participants. According to the program, the congress will include a variety of receptions, working committees, dinners, press-conferences, and speakers.

This pamphlet, written in both English and Russian, describes the Nevada-Semipalatinsk Movement's proposed ethnic and cultural initiative "Peace Migration into the XXIst Century." With the objective to close all nuclear test sites and obtain a moratorium on nuclear tests, the initiative will peacefully migrate from Semipalatinsk, USSR to Nevada, USA, stopping along the way at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Included is a map of the proposed journey.