It's a Guy Thing

Kazakhstan Enters the Global Stage: Timur Turlov and Tatler Asia Launch a New Era

In early December 2024, the iconic glossy magazine Tatler, synonymous with luxury and high society, launched its first issue in Kazakhstan. This milestone marked a significant moment for the country’s cultural and social landscape, ushering in a new era for the national media industry and reinforcing its influence in Central Asia.

Tatler Kazakhstan is more than just a glossy publication; it is a visionary project aimed at supporting Kazakhstan’s creative industries and elevating its cultural prestige on the global stage. The magazine is owned by Turlov Private Holding Ltd., led by prominent businessman Timur Turlov, who also serves as the chairman of the supervisory board of Tatler Kazakhstan.

Timur Turlov is one of the most successful businessmen in Kazakhstan and the founder of Freedom Holding Corp., a Nasdaq-listed international holding company that operates in 22 countries. He is an active supporter of various cultural and social projects. One of these initiatives is Qalam, a project that promotes literature, history and education in Kazakhstan. The businessman is also the president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) and a founder of the Freedom QJ League, which facilitates the development of youth football in the country. The launch of Tatler highlights Turlov’s aspiration to promote the creative and media potential of Kazakhstan.

“We take great pride in the fact that Tatler, a publication with one of the most distinguished legacies in the global magazine industry, has specifically selected our team and Kazakhstan, entrusting us with oversight of such a significant region as the four countries of the Turkic world. This decision undoubtedly recognizes the exceptional talents of the people of Kazakhstan, who have demonstrated their professionalism and readiness for leadership in the Turkic region’s media sphere. We firmly believe in Kazakhstan’s potential as a trendsetting nation, poised to become one of the world’s premier centers for creativity, fashion, lifestyle standards and cultural influence,” Timur Turlov said.

According to Michel Lamunière, the chairman and CEO of Tatler Asia, the partnership with Timur Turlov marks a significant milestone in the history of Tatler Asia and its expansion across the continent. In turn, the businessman revealed that he is looking forward to launching Tatler in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan next year.

Zhamilya Abilova, PR and creative director in the abr. network of restaurants, has been appointed editor-in-chief of Tatler Kazakhstan. Nikolay Uskov, a prominent journalist, historian and media manager with experience working at GQ and Forbes, has become editorial director. Marina Gazizova-Yakovleva, who worked as a journalist, headed the PR department of one of the country’s leading banks and runs a communications agency, has been appointed CEO of Tatler Kazakhstan.

The debut issue of Tatler Kazakhstan was devoted to two topics: The Best of Kazakhstan and The Most Influential of Kazakhstan, featuring stories about well-known representatives of Kazakhstan’s culture, fashion and business, as well as other influential people, including politicians.

The issue focused on:

  • Philanthropists and businessmen: In its first issue, the magazine presents stories of successful entrepreneurs, including Nurlan Smagulov, who revealed his plans to launch the Almaty Museum of Arts.
  • Gastronomy: Restaurants, chefs and restaurateurs of Kazakhstan are featured in a separate section devoted to the local culinary scene.
  • Fashion: A study of trouble spots and key figures in the industry by Tim Ilyasov concludes that “Wearing Kazakhstan-made clothes is a sign of upscale style.”
  • Culture: This section presents a set of articles about talented directors, musicians and actors in Kazakhstan, including interviews with actor Daniyar Alshinov and DJ Nazira Kassenova.
  • Cover of the issue: The face on the magazine’s cover is Bibisara Sharipova, a Kazakhstani fashion model working in New York. In the issue, she shares her experiences in The Big Apple and her career on the global fashion stage.

The first issue of Tatler Kazakhstan was officially presented on Dec. 4 at an event attended by more than 200 representatives from business, culture and fashion. A specially designed entertainment program for the event included a theater production with Kazakhstani and international actors, and stage performances by opera singer Aigerim Sharipbek and Sharon Kovacs from the Netherlands, who closed the event with her vivid performance.

Kazakhstan is the 10th international market for the Tatler brand. The editorial team currently plans to prepare 10 issues of the magazine per year and launch an online version of Tatler Kazakhstan available in Kazakh and Russian. Tatler Kazakhstan is set to be an interlink between local and international audiences, enhancing Kazakhstan’s position as a cultural hub in Central Asia.