Established to advance critical inquiry and practical engagement in the public and private international law, the Research School for Public and Private International Law at Maqsut Narikbayev University serves as an intellectual hub within the MNU Law School. The Research School is committed to fostering rigorous analysis of the contemporary challenges of international law, with a particular focus on its real-world application.

The Research School cultivates an environment where academic reflection and professional practice intersect, bringing experienced practitioners and emerging researchers. It champions research that both deepens theoretical understanding and informs the application and interpretation of international law in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Through this integration of scholarly inquiry and applied engagement, the Research School contributes meaningfully to the evolution of international legal thought and practice.

Although the Research School does not independently administer formal degree programs, its leadership and affiliated researchers actively participate in the MNU Law School’s academic activities, including lectures, seminars, and research supervision. This collaboration ensures that the Research School’s intellectual contributions are closely aligned with the University’s broader educational mission and academic standards.

The Research School hosts a dynamic program of events addressing international legal issues. Regular lectures, seminars, and round-table discussions convene distinguished academics, judges, diplomats, and legal professionals to share insights, debate contemporary developments, and enrich the scholarly community. These activities are complemented by ongoing research projects that produce high-quality publications and core scholarly outputs.

A central priority of the Research School is to support scholarly exchange and international collaboration. Visiting researchers, including doctoral candidates and established academics from around the world, are welcomed for research residencies of varying durations. Visiting scholars engage with the Research School’s intellectual community, pursue independent research, and contribute to collective discourse in an environment designed to stimulate innovation and interdisciplinary dialogue.

Through its research, events, publications, and international partnerships, the Research School for Public and Private International Law at Maqsut Narikbayev University advances excellence in the study and practice of international law, strengthens academic networks, and reinforces the University’s role as a center for Kazakhstani, Central Asian, and global legal scholarship.

Scope of Activities:

Conducting advanced legal research in Public and Private International Law, with an emphasis on doctrinal analysis, comparative perspectives, and contemporary legal challenges;

Developing and implementing research projects that bridge theory and practice, contributing to scholarly publications, policy discussions, and legal reform initiatives;

Providing systematic Moot Court training and academic coaching for participation in leading international competitions, including Jessup, Vis Moot, Pax Moot, the Jean-Pictet Competition, and the AIFC Moot Court, with a focus on legal writing, oral advocacy, and strategic case analysis;

Hosting and facilitating the Lex Fantastica Debate Club as a platform for structured legal debate, critical reasoning, and the development of analytical and argumentative skills;

Organizing academic events, including lectures, workshops, and round-table discussions, bringing together scholars, practitioners, and students to engage with pressing issues of public and private international law;

Promoting international academic cooperation through engagement with visiting researchers, joint research initiatives, and scholarly exchange programs.

The staff of the School:

• Abay Abylaiuly, PhD, Associate Professor. Research interests: Public International Law and Competition Law.
• Nurzhan Eshniyazov, PhD, Associate Professor. Research interests: Private International Law and International Civil Procedure.
• Alberto Pecoraro, PhD, Assistant Professor. Research interests: International Economic Law and International Investment Law.
• Ramazan Kokzhalov, PhD Candidate, Senior Lecturer. Research interests: Public International Law and International Intellectual Property Law.
• Sauryk Abirbek, PhD Candidate, Senior Lecturer. Research interests: Public International Law, Private International Law and Public Administration and Regulatory Activity.
• Zhambyl Alekbai, PhD Candidate, Research Assistant. Research interests: Public International Law and the Law of Treaties.
• Mohammed Abdel Mutalleb, PhD Candidate, Lecturer. Research interests: Private International Law and International Civil Procedure.
• Aizere Arystanbek, PhD Candidate, Research Assistant. Research interests: Public International Law and the Law of Treaties.
• Rakhimbek Konglimkos, LLM student, Research Assistant. Research interests: International Economic Law and Sanctions Law.

• Von Bar Ch., Foundations of Property Law. Translation to Kazakh by N. Yeshniyazov (MNU Press, 2026);
• Abylaiuly A. ed, Treaty Law in Central Asia (Brill, 2026);
• Abylaiuly A., Babajanyan E., Abenova A., Kokzhalov R., IEL Intellectual Property Law Kazakhstan (Wolters Kluwer, 2026);
• Abylaiuly A., ‘On the Necessity of Responding to the Findings of the International Law Commission’ in International Law, Politics and Security in Central Asia-Studies on Transformation and Development in the OSCE Region (Springer, 2026).

• Yeshniyazov N., A Commentary on the Provisions of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Legislation in Private International Law: A Practical and Study Manual (Smart University Press, 2023). Published in Kazakh and Russian;
• Dozhdev D., Roman Private Law. Translation to Kazakh by N. Yeshniyazov (Smart University Press, 2024)
• Yeshniyazov N., Abdel Mottaleb M. IEL Private International Law: Kazakhstan (Wolters Kluwer, 2025). Published in English.
• Abylaiuly A., Kazakhstani Law of Treaties: Commentary and Overview of Practice (Maqsut Narikbayev University Press, 2025). Published in Kazakh and Russian.