A Polish diplomat shares his passion for the Kazakh language, reading Kazakh literature, and key areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Poland.
Michal Labenda, city — Astana, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Poland in the Republic of Kazakhstan, @plinkazakhstan
About myself
I was born in the west of Poland, in the city of Jelenia Góra, where I also completed school. After graduation, I came to Kazakhstan and enrolled at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, studying there from 1993 to 1999. I lived in a dormitory with ethnic Kazakhs from Mongolia, China, and Iran who spoke pure Kazakh without Russian borrowings. Since my first year was dedicated to studying Kazakh, living in such an environment greatly aided my learning. Ultimately, I graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies in the Kazakh language.
I am fluent in nine languages and can communicate in three or four more. I know English, German, French, Russian, Arabic, Karakalpak, Uzbek, Esperanto, and Kazakh, which is particularly close to me.
Living in Kazakhstan, I believe everyone has the right to speak Kazakh, so I make an effort to use it. It brings me great joy. For me, the ideal situation is being able to address others in Kazakh, and they can reply in whatever language is comfortable for them — Kazakh, Russian, or otherwise. For example, in Belgium, where there are two official languages, it’s customary for superiors to address subordinates in their language. This is a great practice.
About my work
As a child, I never dreamed of becoming a diplomat. Back then, it was almost impossible to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without connections. After university, I worked as a translator for our embassy for a while. There, I learned that the Ministry recruits staff annually through competitive exams. I submitted my documents, highlighting my knowledge of Kazakh and Arabic, and passed all the exams. At the time, there were 14 applicants per position, so I didn’t have high hopes and found another job. Later, I received a letter informing me I had been accepted. Thus, in 1999, my diplomatic career began.
Over 25 years, I’ve worked in Japan, the USA, and served as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea. In 2024, I came to Kazakhstan.
About working in Central Asia
The friendly relations between our countries have deep historical roots. In the past, many Polish researchers exiled during Tsarist times contributed significantly to studying Kazakh folklore, music, and culture. In 1991, Poland was among the first nations to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence.
Economically, our countries enjoy growing investments and trade. This year, we plan to hold an intergovernmental commission on economic issues, and I hope companies from various regions of Kazakhstan will participate, including those in construction, heavy industry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical equipment, and agriculture.
We also place great emphasis on education. More than 500 Kazakh students study in Poland, either in Polish or English.
We offer many non-governmental scholarship programs, which are detailed on our page. For example, the Stefan Banach Scholarship is for students of physical and mathematical sciences, while the Lane Kirkland Scholarship is for those studying a wide range of political sciences in Poland. Additionally, there are winter schools allowing students to conduct research for one or two months. Agricultural internships are also available for students from Pavlodar and Petropavlovsk.
Cultural initiatives are equally important. Soon, we plan to hold the Chopin Piano Competition in Kazakhstan. This prestigious event, organized every five years by the National Chopin Institute, will highlight the strong cultural ties between our countries.
We prioritize supporting the study of Polish. Currently, about 30,000 ethnic Poles live in Kazakhstan. Every year, Poland sends 20 teachers to teach Polish here. This education is available to anyone interested in learning the language. In Almaty, there is a Polish class at School No. 23, and Polish is also taught at three universities: Nazarbayev University, the Eurasian National University, and Kazakh National Pedagogical University.
About Central Asia
I first visited Astana, then Akmola, in the 1990s and returned 25 years later — the transformation is incredible. Back then, it was a small town on the right bank. Today, it’s a beautiful capital with wide, clean streets.
Astana’s cultural life is vibrant. My family and I enjoy attending the Opera and Ballet Theatre, which boasts excellent acoustics and a beautiful interior. I was impressed by the performance of Aisulu, the first Kazakh comic opera. I also admire Bibigul Tulegenova’s work; we recently attended her 95th-anniversary concert, which left a profound impression on us.
When I left Kazakhstan, translations of world literature into Kazakh were just beginning. Today, this process is well-established. As an embassy, we have published and supported the translation of works by Polish Nobel laureates into Kazakh. These include the poetry of Czesław Miłosz and Wisława Szymborska, laureates of 1981 and 1996, respectively.
Kazakhstan has a wealth of literature I enjoy. I’ve moved away from classics, as I read them while learning Kazakh. The Path of Abai is a valuable book for developing language skills and understanding Kazakh culture. Now, I prefer contemporary works. Recently, I purchased Dauys, a collection by young writers born in the 1990s. I also read The War by young author Yesimkhanov.
