Politics & pop: Rare UN photos of Dimash & leaders unveiled

The United Nations marks its 80th anniversary / Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

A photo exhibition has opened in Astana to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. The exhibition features 80 historical photographs highlighting key moments in the UN’s work, many of which have never been published or widely seen before.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Among the images are photographs of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, former President Nursultan Nazarbayev and People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Dimash Qudaibergen.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

One photo (below), taken in September 1948, shows the start of construction on the permanent UN headquarters in New York. Acting Secretary-General Benjamin Cohen attended the ceremony and officially launched the project.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Another image from 1980 documents the World Health Organization’s confirmation of the eradication of smallpox, three years after the last known case.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

A 2020 photo shows UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortly after a global emergency was declared.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Kazakhstan’s own UN history is also represented. The country was admitted to the organization on March 2, 1992, becoming the UN’s 168th member state.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Eight other nations joined that year as well: Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and San Marino.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

One photograph shows Akmaral Arystanbekova, Kazakhstan’s first permanent representative to the UN, who presented her credentials to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on June 6, 1992.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

A separate photo shows Arystanbekova presenting a traditional Kazakh shapan to Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1999 as she concluded her term as Kazakhstan’s UN representative.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

The exhibition also includes a photo of President Tokayev speaking online with Secretary-General Guterres in 2021.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

Another 2024 photo, taken in Astana by photographer Ospan Ali, shows Guterres meeting renowned Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen, who serves as a goodwill ambassador for the International Organization for Migration in the region.

Photo: Kursiv.media/Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

The exhibition will run at the Presidential Center in Astana through Dec. 12, 2025. Address: 1A Alikhan Bokeikhan St.