VIDEO: Rustem Abdrashov's expedition along Genghis Khan's path kicked off in Almaty

Expedition of Kazakhstan film-maker Rusten Abdrashov called Along the path of Genghis Khan. Almaty-Karakorum started on June 29 in Almaty, Tengrinews.kz reports. The group of ethnographers, scientists, film-makers and artists will pass the route of the great commander. After the expedition Abdrashov will start shooting a documentary about Genghis Khan. The film-maker is accompanied by turcologist Napil Bazylkhan who is an expert in Old Turkic language, turcologist and expert in Arab studies Robert Ermers, fine art instaurator Krym Altynbekov who participated in excavation of ancient burial mounts in Kazakhstan, Russia, France and Mongolia, ethnographer and musician Yerlan Sabitov, Kobyz (Kazakh national musical instrument) player Abulkhair Abdrashov, rock-singer Assem, photographer Rustem Rakhimzhan and Tengrinews.kz journalist Zhuldyz Seisenbekova. The group is planning to drive over 4,000 km in 15-17 days along the route Almaty – Gorny Altai (Russia) – Bayan-Ulgii (Mongolia). "There is a Kazakh ethnic community in Kosagash village in Gorny Altai that we are planning to visit. Around 50 thousand ethnic Kazakhs reside there. Mongolian Kazakhs live in Bayan-Ulgii. They have preserved traditions of the ancient Abak-Kerei family. In particular, they managed to preserve the art of hunting with golden eagles. These people always win in hunters’ tournaments held annually. This makes the expedition very interesting from ethnographic point of view,” Abdrashov said. After Bayan-Ulgii the expedition will go to burial grounds of VII A.C. (the period of Turkic Kaganate), visit Karakorym that used to be the capital of the Mongol Empire. Ulaanbaatar will be the final destination of the expedition. The World Mongols’ Forum will be held in Ulaanbaatar in July. The expedition’s diaries will become the basis for the documental series. The first episodes will hit the screens in the fall of 2011.