The time zones of Kazakhstan have changed recently. I sent an e-mail to the tz list on May 20, summarizing the evidence then available, which was contradictory. I received an e-mail today from an informant in Astana, Branislav Kojic, explaining the current time zone situation in Kazakhstan. If he is right, Asia/Aqtau and Asia/Oral should be on UTC+5. The tz database still shows them in UTC+4. He has given me permission to quote him. He writes: "I read your page on the time zones in Kazakhstan, and also your invitation to suggest improvements. I have been living in Kazakhstan for over a year now, and I can sympathize with the feeling of confusion that Kazakhstani government can cause among the members of diplomatic community and other foreigners with their lousily translated and contradicting information. Rather than losing myself in analyzing the meaning of their decisions on changes in the DST policy and related issues, I wish to inform you of the situation as it actually is now, as advised by my local colleagues and friends. "In reality, what happened was that the former Kazakhstan Eastern time zone was "blended" with the Central zone. Therefore, Kazakhstan now has two time zones, and difference between them is one hour. The zone closer to UTC is the former Western zone (probably still called the same), encompassing four provinces in the west: Aqtöbe, Atyrau, Mangghystau, and West Kazakhstan. The other zone encompasses everything else. This is pretty much how you describe it in the end, except that the difference is one hour, not two. "Regarding the actual time zones (in reference with UTC), I can tell you that we are now 3 and 4 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET) in our two time zones in Kazakhstan respectively. I am making that reference because CET is my native time zone, here in Astana I am now 4 hours ahead of my HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and my home in Belgrade, Serbia&Montenegro. If the government here does not make more changes, we will fall back to 4 and 5 hours ahead of CET respectively when the DST switches in Europe (in October, if I'm not mistaking). I guess that would make Kazakhstan time zones de jure UTC+5 and UTC+6 respectively. "Hope I got all this right, and hope it was of some help. "Best regards Branko Astana, Kazakhstan" -- Gwillim Law