Perin retired, Ruiz Molina named Mbaïki Bishop

Bishop Guerrino Perin, M.C.C.I. retired and Bishop Jesús Ruiz Molina, M.C.C.I. was named Bishop of Mbaïki, Central African Republic.

Bishop Ruiz Molina had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Bangassou.

Carlassare named Rumbek Bishop

Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare, M.C.C.I. was named Bishop of Rumbek, South Sudan.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Cesare Mazzolari, M.C.C.I. in July 2011.

Sinaga named Sibolga Bishop

Bishop-elect Fransiskus Tuaman Sinaga was named Bishop of Sibolga, Indonesia.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Ludovikus Simanullang, O.F.M. Cap. in September 2018.

Nlandu Mayi resigned as Matadi Bishop

Bishop Daniel Nlandu Mayi resigned as Bishop of Matadi, Congo (Dem. Rep.).

Matjaž named Celje Bishop

Bishop-elect Maksimilijan Matjaž was named Bishop of Celje, Slovenia.

The diocese had been vacant since the retirement of Bishop Stanislav Lipovšek in September 2018.

Vidović named Hvar Bishop

Bishop-elect Ranko Vidović was named Bishop of Hvar (-Brac e Vis), Croatia.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Petar Palić was named Bishop of Mostar-Duvno (-Trebinje e Mrkan) in July 2020.

Grecco retired as Charlottetown Bishop

Bishop Richard John Grecco retired as Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Vanqa named Queenstown Bishop

Bishop-elect Paul Siphiwo Vanqa, S.A.C. was named Bishop of Queenstown, South Africa.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Dabula Anthony Mpako was named Bishop of South Africa, Military in April 2019.

Tsoke named Kimberley Bishop

Bishop Duncan Theodore Tsoke was named Bishop of Kimberley, South Africa.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Abel Gabuza was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Durban in December 2018.

Bishop Tsoke had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Johannesburg.

Krebs named Switzerland and Liechtenstein Nuncio

Archbishop Martin Krebs was named Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland and Apostolic Nuncio to Liechtenstein.

The posts had been vacant since the resignation of Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson in December 2020.

Archbishop Krebs had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Uruguay.

Bou Najem confirmed as Antélias Archbishop

Archbishop-elect Antoine Farès Bou Najem was confirmed Archbishop of Antélias (Maronite), Lebanon.

The archeparchy had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Camille Zaidan in October 2019.

Wojda named Gdańsk Archbishop

Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, S.A.C. was named Archbishop of Gdańsk, Poland.

The archdiocese had been vacant since the retirement of Archbishop Sławoj Leszek Głódź in August 2020.

Archbishop Wojda had been serving as Archbishop of Białystok.

Miles named Togo Nuncio

Archbishop-elect Mark Gerard Miles was named Apostolic Nuncio to Togo in addition to his other posts.

Feudjio named Saint Thomas Bishop

Bishop-elect Jerome Feudjio was named Bishop of Saint Thomas, American Virgin Islands, USA.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Herbert Armstrong Bevard in September 2020.

Escudero Torres retired as Valencia Auxiliary

Bishop Esteban Escudero Torres retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia, Spain.

Ramírez Díaz named Ocaña Bishop

Bishop Luis Gabriel Ramírez Díaz was named Bishop of Ocaña, Colombia.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos was named Archbishop of Tunja in February 2020.

Bishop Ramírez Díaz had been serving as Bishop of El Banco.

Navarro Castellanos retired, Madrigal Gallegos named Tuxpan Bishop

Bishop Juan Navarro Castellanos retired and Bishop-elect Roberto Madrigal Gallegos was named Bishop of Tuxpan, Veracruz, México.

Cirulli named Alife-Caiazzo Bishop

Bishop Giacomo Cirulli was named Bishop of Alife-Caiazzo, Italy while remaining Bishop of Teano-Calvi.

de Castro Homem resigned as Iguatu Bishop

Bishop Edson de Castro Homem resigned as Bishop of Iguatu, Ceara, Brazil.

Comastri retired, Gambetti named Fabric of St. Peter President

Angelo Cardinal Comastri retired and Mauro Maria Cardinal Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv. was named President of the Fabric of St. Peter and Archpriest of the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano {Saint Peter Basilica}.

Sarah retired as Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Prefect

Robert Cardinal Sarah retired as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Howlader named Chattogram Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Lawrence Subrata Howlader, C.S.C. was named Archbishop of Chattogram, Bangladesh.

The archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Moses Montu Costa, C.S.C. in July 2020.

Archbishop-designate Howlader had been serving as Bishop of Barisal.

Kryk retired, Dzyurakh named Germany and Scandinavia Apostolic Exarch

Bishop Piotr Kryk retired and Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, C.SS.R. was named Apostolic Exarch of Deutschland und Skandinavien {Germany and Scandinavia} (Ukrainian).

Bishop Dzyurakh had been serving as a Curial Bishop.

Bíró resigned, Berta named Hungary Military Bishop

Bishop László Bíró resigned and Bishop-elect Tibor Berta was named Bishop of Hungary, Military.

Likolo Bokal’Etumba named Lisala Bishop

Bishop-elect Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba was named Bishop of Lisala, Congo (Dem. Rep.).

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. was named Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro in November 2019.

Janak named San Antonio Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Gary W. Janak was named Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio, Texas, USA and titular bishop of Dionysiana.

Bonnemain named Chur Bishop; Eleganti resigned as Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Joseph Marie Bonnemain, Opus Dei was named Bishop of Chur, Switzerland.

The diocese had been vacant since the retirement of Bishop Vitus Huonder in May 2019.

In addition, Bishop Marian Eleganti, O.S.B. resigned as Auxiliary Bishop.

Aind retired, Hemrom succeeded as Dibrugarh Bishop

Bishop Joseph Aind, S.D.B. retired and Bishop Albert Hemrom succeeded as Bishop of Dibrugarh, India.

Bishop Hemrom had been serving as Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese.

Nugent named Bahrain Nuncio

Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent was named Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain in addition to his other posts.

Lisboa named Cachoeiro do Itapemirim Bishop

Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa, C.P. was named Bishop of Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, Brazil.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Dario Campos, O.F.M. was named Archbishop of Vitória in November 2018.

Bishop Lisboa had been serving as Bishop of Pemba.

Coutts retired, Travas named Karachi Archbishop

Joseph Cardinal Coutts retired and Archbishop-designate Benny Mario Travas was named Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.

Archbishop-designate Travas had been serving as Bishop of Multan.

Bordi retired as El Beni Auxiliary

Bishop Roberto Bordi, O.F.M. retired as Auxiliary Bishop of El Beni o Beni, Bolivia.

Cornejo Monzón and Salaverry Villarreal named Lima Auxiliaries

Bishop-elect Guillermo Antonio Cornejo Monzón and Bishop-elect Juan José Salaverry Villarreal, O.P. were named Auxiliary Bishops of Lima, Peru and titular bishops of Decoriana and Acelum, respectively.

Limachi Ortiz named Corocoro Prelate

Bishop Pascual Limachi Ortiz was named Prelate of Corocoro, Bolivia.

The post had been vacant since then-Bishop Percy Lorenzo Galvan Flores was named Archbishop of La Paz in May 2020.

Bishop Limachi Ortiz had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of El Alto.

Theurillat resigned as Basel Auxiliary

Bishop Denis Theurillat resigned as Auxiliary Bishop of Basel {Bâle, Basilea}, Switzerland.

Sinayobye named Cyangugu Bishop

Bishop-elect Edouard Sinayobye was named Bishop of Cyangugu, Rwanda.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Jean Damascène Bimenyimana in March 2018.

Marín de San Martín named Synod of Bishops Under Secretary

Bishop-elect Luis Marín de San Martín, O.S.A. was named Under Secretary of the Synod of Bishops and titular bishop of Suliana.

Crepy named Versailles Bishop

Bishop Lucien (Luc) Jacques Marie Joseph Crepy, C.I.M. was named Bishop of Versailles, France.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Éric Marie Pierre Henri Aumonier in December 2020.

Bishop Crepy had been serving as Bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay.

Miles named Benin Nuncio

Archbishop-elect Mark Gerard Miles was named Apostolic Nuncio to Benin and Titular Archbishop of Città Ducale.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Brian Udaigwe was named Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka in June 2020.

Assolari retired, Pereira dos Santos succeeded as Serrinha Bishop

Bishop Ottorino Assolari, C.S.F. retired and Bishop Hélio Pereira dos Santos succeeded as Bishop of Serrinha, Bahia, Brazil.

Bishop Pereira dos Santos had been serving as Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese.

Vayalunkal named Tunisia Nuncio

Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal was named Apostolic Nuncio to Tunisia in addition to his other posts.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Luciano Russo was named Apostolic Nuncio to Panama in August 2020.

Yu Soo-il retired, Seo Sang-Bum named Korea, Military Bishop

Bishop Francis Xavier Yu Soo-il, O.F.M. retired and Bishop-elect Titus Seo Sang-Bum was named Bishop of Korea, Military.

Rugambwa named Cook Islands Nuncio

Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa was named Apostolic Nuncio to Cook Islands, Pacific (Oceania) in addition to his other posts.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Martin Krebs was named Apostolic Nuncio to Uruguay in June 2018.

Nhanganga Tyombe named Uije Bishop

Bishop-elect Joaquim Nhanganga Tyombe was named Bishop of Uije, Angola.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Emílio Sumbelelo was named Bishop of Viana in February 2019.

Lucas named Gurué Bishop

Bishop-elect Inácio Lucas was named Bishop of Gurué, Mozambique.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Francisco Lerma Martínez, I.M.C. in April 2019.

Abrass removed as Tyr Archbishop

Archbishop Michel Abrass, B.A. was removed as Archbishop of Tyr (Melkite Greek), Lebanon.

Archbishop Elie Bechara Haddad, B.S. was named Apostolic Administrator.

Beňo named Nitra Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Peter Beňo was named Auxiliary Bishop of Nitra, Slovakia and titular bishop of Amudarsa.

Prieto Fernández named Santiago de Compostela Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Francisco José Prieto Fernández was named Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de Compostela, Spain and titular bishop of Vergi.

Anandarayar retired as Pondicherry and Cuddalore Archbishop

Archbishop Antony Anandarayar retired as Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India.

Printezis retired, Printezis named Naxos, Andros, Tinos e Mykonos Archbishop

Archbishop Nikólaos Printezis retired and Archbishop-elect Josif Printezis was named Archbishop of Naxos, Andros, Tinos e Mykonos, Greece and Apostolic Administrator of Chios (Scio).

Bryl named Kalisz Bishop

Bishop Damian Bryl was named Bishop of Kalisz, Poland.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Edward Janiak in October 2020.

Bishop Bryl had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Poznań.

Bouchard resigned as Trois-Rivières Bishop

Bishop Joseph Luc André Bouchard resigned as Bishop of Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.

Đình Đúc Đao retired, Đo Văn Ngân named Xuân Lộc Bishop

Bishop Joseph Đình Đúc Đao retired and Bishop John Đo Văn Ngân was named Bishop of Xuân Lộc, Viet Nam.

Bishop Đo Văn Ngân had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of the same diocese.

Santucci resigned as Massa Carrara-Pontremoli Bishop

Bishop Giovanni Santucci resigned as Bishop of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli, Italy.

d’Aniello named Uzbekistan Nuncio

Archbishop Giovanni d’Aniello was named Apostolic Nuncio to Uzbekistan in addition to his other posts.

Lopes Dias named Lorena Bishop

Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias was named Bishop of Lorena, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop João Inácio Müller, O.F.M. was named Archbishop of Campinas in May 2019.

Bishop Lopes Dias has been serving as Bishop of Colatina, Espirito Santo.

Dantas Bastos named Jequié Bishop

Bishop Paulo Romeu Dantas Bastos was named Bishop of Jequié, Bahia, Brazil.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop José Ruy Gonçalves Lopes, O.F.M. Cap. was named Bishop of Caruaru, Pernambuco in July 2019.

Bishop Dantas Bastos has been serving as Bishop of Alagoinhas.

Sagastume Lemus named San Marcos Bishop

Bishop Bernabé de Jesús Sagastume Lemus, O.F.M. Cap. was named Bishop of San Marcos, Guatemala.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Carlos Enrique Trinidad Gómez in May 2018.

Bishop Sagastume Lemus had been serving as Bishop of Santa Rosa de Lima.

Cattenoz retired as Avignon Archbishop

Archbishop Jean-Pierre Marie Cattenoz retired as Archbishop of Avignon, France.

Estrada Herrera named Cuzco Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Lizardo Estrada Herrera, O.S.A. was named Auxiliary Bishop of Cuzco, Peru and titular bishop of Ausuccura.

Santier resigned, Blanchet named Créteil Bishop

Bishop Michel Léon Émile Santier resigned and Bishop Dominique Marie Joseph Blanchet, Ist. del Prado was named Bishop of Créteil, France.

Bishop Blanchet had been serving as Bishop of Belfort-Montbéliard.

Ispahan renamed Teheran-Ispahan; Mathieu named Archbishop

The Archdiocese of of Ispahan has been renamed to the Archdiocese of Teheran-Ispahan, Iran.

Archbishop-elect Dominique Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv. was named its first Archbishop.

The jurisdiction had been vacant since the retirement of Archbishop Ignazio Bedini, S.D.B. in January 2015.

Gómez Cantero named Almería Coadjutor

Bishop Antonio Gómez Cantero was named Coadjutor Bishop of Almería, Spain.

He had been serving as Bishop of Teruel y Albarracín.

Nugent named Kuwait and Qatar Nuncio

Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent was named Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Apostolic Nuncio to Qatar.

The posts had been vacant since Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla was named Apostolic Nuncio to Guatemala in April 2020.

Archbishop Nugent had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti.

Bibi named Buéa Bishop

Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi was named Bishop of Buéa, Cameroon.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Emmanuel Bushu retired in December 2019.

Bishop Bibi had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda.

Tomasik retired, Solarczyk named Radom Bishop

Bishop Henryk Marian Tomasik retired and Bishop Marek Solarczyk was named Bishop of Radom, Poland.

Bishop Solarczyk had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Warszawa-Praga.

Njue retired as Nairobi Archbishop

John Cardinal Njue retired as Archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya.

Bessi Dogbo named Korhogo Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Ignace Bessi Dogbo was named Archbishop of Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.

The archdiocese had been vacant since the resignation of Archbishop Marie-Daniel Dadiet in October 2017.

Archbishop-designate Bessi Dogbo had been serving as Bishop of Katiola.

Kondrusiewicz retired as Minsk-Mohilev Archbishop

Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz retired as Archbishop of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus.

Martin named Wellington Coadjutor

Archbishop-designate Paul Martin, S.M. was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand.

He had been serving as Bishop of Christchurch.

Rehmat named Quetta Vicar Apostolic

Bishop-elect Khalid Rehmat, O.F.M. Cap. was named Vicar Apostolic of Quetta, Pakistan.

The vicariate had been vacant since the death of Bishop Victor Gnanapragasam, O.M.I. in December 2020.

Vayalunkal named Algeria Nuncio

Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal was named Apostolic Nuncio to Algeria.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Luciano Russo was named Apostolic Nuncio to Panama in August 2020.

Archbishop Vayalunkal had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and Apostolic Nuncio to Solomon Islands.

Gullickson resigned as Switzerland and Liechtenstein Nuncio

Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson resigned as Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland and as Apostolic Nuncio to Liechtenstein.

Mkude retired as Morogoro Bishop

Bishop Telesphore Mkude retired as Bishop of Morogoro, Tanzania.

Martin retired, Farrell named Dublin Archbishop

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin retired and Archbishop-designate Dermot Pius Farrell was named Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland.

Archbishop-designate Farrell had been serving as Bishop of Ossory.

Stenger resigned as Troyes Bishop

Bishop Marc Camille Michel Stenger resigned as Bishop of Troyes, France.

Scantlebury named Bridgetown Bishop

Bishop-elect Neil Sebastian Scantlebury was named Bishop of Bridgetown, Barbados, Antilles.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Charles Jason Gordon was named Archbishop of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017.

Lyngdoh named Shillong Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Victor Lyngdoh was named Archbishop of Shillong, India.

The archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Dominic Jala, S.D.B. in October 2019.

Archbishop-designate Lyngdoh had been serving as Bishop of Jowai.

Lagho named Malindi Bishop

Bishop-elect Wilybard Lagho was named Bishop of Malindi, Kenya.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Emanuel Barbara, O.F.M. Cap. in January 2018.

Cuttitta resigned as Ragusa Bishop

Bishop Carmelo Cuttitta resigned as Bishop of Ragusa, Italy.

Barnes retired, Rojas succeeded as San Bernardino Bishop

Bishop Gerald Richard Barnes retired and Bishop Alberto Rojas succeeded as Bishop of San Bernardino, California, USA.

Bishop Rojas had been serving as Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese.

Silva Retamales named Valdivia Bishop

Bishop Santiago Jaime Silva Retamales was named Bishop of Valdivia, Chile.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Ignacio Francisco Ducasse Medina was named Archbishop of Antofagasta in June 2017.

Bishop Silva Retamales had been serving as Bishop of Chile, Military.

Gomes Moreira and dos Santos Ferreira named Belo Horizonte Auxiliaries

Bishop-elect Júlio César Gomes Moreira and Bishop-elect Nivaldo dos Santos Ferreira were named Auxiliary Bishops of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil and titular bishops of Thisiduo and Thiava, respectively.

Štironja named Kotor Bishop

Bishop-elect Ivan Štironja was named Bishop of Kotor (Cattaro), Montenegro.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Ilija Janjić retired in September 2019.

Lagnese named Caserta Bishop

Bishop Pietro Lagnese was named Bishop of Caserta, Italy.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Giovanni D’Alise in October 2020.

Bishop Lagnese had been serving as Bishop of Ischia.

González Mariño named Espinal Bishop

Bishop Miguel Fernando González Mariño was named Bishop of Espinal, Colombia.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Orlando Roa Barbosa was named Archbishop of Ibagué in May 2020.

Bishop González Mariño had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Ibagué.

Pizarro named San Isidro Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Raúl Pizarro was named Auxiliary Bishop of San Isidro, Argentina and titular bishop of Ausana.

Kulick named Greensburg Bishop

Bishop-elect Larry James Kulick was named Bishop of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Edward Charles Malesic was named Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio in July 2020.

Aumonier resigned as Versailles Bishop

Bishop Éric Marie Pierre Henri Aumonier resigned as Bishop of Versailles, France.

Silva named São Paulo Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Carlos Silva, O.F.M. Cap. was named Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo, Brazil and titular bishop of Summula.

Coudray retired, Abbo Chen named Mongo Vicar Apostolic

Bishop Henri Coudray, S.J. retired and Bishop-elect Philippe Abbo Chen was named Vicar Apostolic of Mongo, Chad.

Sepe retired, Battaglia named Napoli Archbishop

Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe retired and Archbishop-designate Domenico Battaglia was named Archbishop of Napoli {Naples}, Italy.

Archbishop-designate Battaglia had been serving as Bishop of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant’Agata de’ Goti.

Ważny named Tarnów Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Artur Ważny was named Auxiliary Bishop of Tarnów, Poland and titular bishop of Mazaca.

García Naranjo retired, Ramírez Padilla named Guarenas Bishop

Bishop Gustavo García Naranjo retired and Bishop Tulio Luis Ramírez Padilla was named Bishop of Guarenas, Venezuela.

Bishop Ramírez Padilla had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela.

Garin named Saint-Claude Bishop

Bishop-elect Jean-Luc Garin was named Bishop of Saint-Claude, France.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Vincent Alexandre Édouard Élie Jordy was named Archbishop of Tours in November 2019.

Bonazzi named Albania Nuncio

Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi was named Apostolic Nuncio to Albania.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Charles John Brown was named Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines in September 2020.

Archbishop Bonazzi had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Canada.

D’Souza resigned, Kallupura succeeded as Patna Archbishop

Archbishop William D’Souza, S.J. resigned and Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura succeeded as Archbishop of Patna, India.

Archbishop Kallupura had been serving as Coadjutor Archbishop of the same archdiocese.

Gopep named Minna Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Luka Sylvester Gopep was named Auxiliary Bishop of Minna, Nigeria and titular bishop of Muzuca in Byzacena.

Piretto retired, Kmetec named Izmir Archbishop

Archbishop Lorenzo Piretto, O.P. retired and Archbishop-elect Martin Kmetec, O.F.M. Conv. was named Archbishop of Izmir (Smirne), Turkey.

Buras resigned, Sakmár named Atyrau Apostolic Administrator

Dariusz Buras resigned and Peter Sakmár was named Apostolic Administrator of Atyrau, Kazakhstan.