Akkenzhe Abdiyeva plays the dombra during a dinner at home in the former sea village of Bogen, south-western Kazakhstan, April 17, 2017. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

Akkenzhe Abdiyeva plays dombra during a dinner at home in the village of Bogen, south-western Kazakhstan, April 17, 2017. Bogen, populated by some 1,000 people, is a former fishermen's village that used to be on the seashore. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov SEARCH "ENVIRONMENT ARAL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

The International Space Station (ISS) crew member Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin is presented with the Kazakh national costume and musical instrument dombra during a news conference after arrival to Karaganda November 11, 2013. A Soyuz capsule carried an International Space Station crew of three back to Earth on Monday along with an Olympic torch that was displayed in open space as part of Russia's preparations for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY SPORT OLYMPICS)

The International Space Station (ISS) crew member Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano is presented with the Kazakh national costume and musical instrument dombra during a news conference after arrival to Karaganda November 11, 2013. A Soyuz capsule carried an International Space Station crew of three back to Earth on Monday along with an Olympic torch that was displayed in open space as part of Russia's preparations for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY SPORT OLYMPICS)

Men practice Kazakh national string instrument dombra in a park in Almaty June 11, 2013. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SOCIETY)

Cadets play the dombra, a Kazakh national instrument, in front of a poster of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the opening of an exhibition to mark the inaugural Day of the First President in the Central State museum of Kazakhstan in Almaty November 28, 2012. For the first time in its modern history Kazakhstan marks the Day of the First President on December 1 to commemorate the election of Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1991. Picture taken November 28, 2012. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY)

A cadet plays a dombra, a Kazakh national instrument, in front of a poster of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the opening of an exhibition to mark the inaugural Day of the First President in the Central State museum of Kazakhstan in Almaty November 28, 2012. For the first time in its modern history Kazakhstan marks the Day of the First President on December 1 to commemorate the election of Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1991. Picture taken November 28, 2012. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY)

An artist playing the dombra musical instrument, performs during the Orteke puppet festival in Almaty September 18, 2010. "Orteke" is an ancient nomadic stream of puppet art featuring a wooden figurine of a mountain goat, controlled by a single string attached to the finger of the performer while he plays various musical instruments. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SOCIETY)

An artist playing the dombra musical instrument, performs during the Orteke puppet festival in Almaty September 18, 2010. "Orteke" is an ancient nomadic stream of puppet art featuring a wooden figurine of a mountain goat, controlled by a single string attached to the finger of the performer while he plays various musical instruments. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SOCIETY)

An artist playing the dombra musical instrument, performs during the Orteke puppet festival in Almaty September 18, 2010. "Orteke" is an ancient nomadic stream of puppet art featuring a wooden figurine of a mountain goat controlled by a single string attached to the finger of the performer while he plays various musical instruments. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SOCIETY)

An artist playing the dombra musical instrument, performs during the Orteke puppet festival in Almaty September 18, 2010. "Orteke" is an ancient nomadic stream of puppet art featuring a wooden figurine of a mountain goat controlled by a single string attached to the finger of the performer while he plays various musical instruments. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SOCIETY)

An artist playing the dombra musical instrument, performs during the Orteke puppet festival in Almaty September 18, 2010. "Orteke" is an ancient nomadic stream of puppet art featuring a wooden figurine of a mountain goat controlled by a single string attached to the finger of the performer while he plays various musical instruments. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: SOCIETY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Kodekov Zhambyl, 42 year-old Kazakh hunter, sings and plays a dombra at evening before the traditional hunting contest outside the village of Nura, some 140 kilometers east from Almaty, February 10, 2005. Hunters with birds from all over Kazakhstan gathered for the annual two-day competition.

Kazakh hunter sings accompanying on dombra at evening befor traditional hunting contest outside village of Nura. Kodekov Zhambyl, 42 year-old Kazakh hunter, sings and plays a dombra at evening before the traditional hunting contest outside the village of Nura, some 140 kilometers east from Almaty, February 10, 2005. Hunters with birds from all over Kazakhstan gathered for the annual two-day competition. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

Belgian cosmonaut Frank de Winne holds a Kazakh national instrument
dombra inside a tent on the Kazakh steppe about 80 km (50 miles)
northeast of the town of Arkalyk early November 10, 2002. An
international crew consisting of Frank de Winne, Russian cosmonauts
Sergei Zalyotin and Yuri Lonchakov landed safely on Sunday after
completing their 12-day mission to the International Space Station.
REUTERS/Mikhail Grachyev

SZH/CVI/JD

A Kazakh soldier plays the dombra, the national instrument, during rest
after joint Commonwealth of Independent States military exercises near
Almaty, Kazakhstan, June 16, 2002. Russia has recently strengthened
military ties with Central Asian countries following the deployment of
US troops in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

SZH/WAW

Pope John Paul II receives as a gift a traditional Kazakhstani "Dombra"
stringed musical instrument during a concert at the Astana's auditorium
September 24, 2001. The Vatican said on Monday it prefers a non-violent
solution to the crisis spawned by attacks on the United States, but it
would understand if Washington had to resort to force to defend its
citizens from future threats. The 81-year-old Pontiff is on a six-days
visit to Kazakhstan and Armenia. REUTERS/POOL/Paolo Cocco

PC