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Search of Alisher Usmanov’s Home Ignites Criminal Case in Germany

Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has filed a complaint alleging a violation of his rights by officers of the General Prosecutor’s Office in Frankfurt am Main. A criminal case has been opened against two prosecutors, according to the German newspaper, Bild.

In 2022, Usmanov was accused of money laundering, prompting law enforcement to search his villas on Lake Tegernsee in Germany, his apartment near Frankfurt am Main, and his yacht, Dilbar, then moored at the port of Bremen. In 2023, a Frankfurt am Main court ruled that the authorities’ actions were illegal. The court ordered the return of property confiscated during the search to Usmanov, but this has not been fulfilled. Currently, a preliminary investigation is underway as per Usmanov’s complaint.

According to Forbes, Alisher Usmanov ranks eighth among Russian billionaires, with a net worth estimated at $14.4 billion. The oligarch has been under EU sanctions since 2022, and is suspected of money laundering and tax evasion. Usmanov appealed the EU sanctions, saying they will lead to the bankruptcy of major Russian companies in which he holds large stakes – MegaFon, Metalloinvest and Udokan Copper, noted The Wall Street Journal.

Sanctions have also been imposed on Usmanov’s cronies. In particular, the U.K. has previously imposed restrictions on the billionaire’s sister, Saodat Nurziyeva. It was reported that around ten accounts in the Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, with assets in excess of $2 billion were registered under her name. Another sister of the billionaire, Gulbahor Ismailova, and his adopted son, Nathan (Anton) Wiener, were also included in the sanctions lists.

Earlier this year, the Russian newspaper, RBC reported that Usmanov has said he plans to stop doing business and resign from the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. According to Usmanov, after this, he intends to engage in philanthropy.

Aktobe flooding; Image: TCA, Aleksandr Potolitsyn

Major Storms Cause Injuries and Disruption Across Swathes of Central Asia

 

Storms accompanied by heavy winds hit parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on the evening of March 28th. Heavy flooding in parts of western Kazakhstan forced the evacuation of at least 1,000 people, including hundreds of children, and a state of emergency has been declared in some areas.

Military helicopters evacuated people in distress and rescuers even used rubber dinghies to ferry camels to safety in the Shalkar district of the Aktobe region. Flooding caused widespread disruption after a river overflowed in the city of Aktobe, which has more than half a million residents.

Aktobe’s airport was forced to stop operations. In recent days, the flooding has damaged hundreds of buildings, submerged roads and caused power outages.

Video on social media showed people wading through water in the city streets and water sloshing across the floor of a bus filled with passengers. Aerial images showed some buildings completely surrounded by floodwaters in more isolated areas.

Fifty schools were prepared as temporary evacuation points in the city of Aktobe and rescue teams include volunteers, police officers and military personnel, regional emergency officials said on Instagram.

In Almaty, meanwhile, wind speeds of 24 meters per second were recorded, with the storm felling dozens of trees and tearing roofs from buildings.

“[There] was a very strong dust-storm and then a downpour with a thunderstorm. For our region at this time of year, this is an extremely rare phenomenon,” Almaty resident Arai Batkalova told the Times of Central Asia. “People were filming videos en masse and posting them on social media.”

In Bishkek, strong winds damaged eleven schools and eight kindergartens, and near-hurricane-force winds tore the roofs off at least fifteen residential buildings. Local residents reported dozens of fallen trees, some of which destroyed parked cars.

Bishkek; image: mchs.gov.kg

 

Emergency public-safety regimes were imposed in Bishkek and the Chui region. In these areas, storms damaged 154 buildings, and 24 local residents (including two children) were admitted to medical centers, according to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations. Four people were hospitalized with fractures and head injuries. “In order to study dangerous areas on the ground and determine the consequences, mobile groups of civil defense services were organized. It was ordered to involve all available utilities and special equipment as soon as possible,” rescuers noted.

Kyrgyz authorities are still calculating the damage from the storm. Utility workers spent all night repairing the storm’s aftermath: clearing roads, removing fallen trees, and repairing power lines.

“On the line of the municipal enterprise, Bishkeksvet, [by] morning [workers repaired] eight cases of broken power lines, as well as other consequences of the bad weather. Brigades continue [working]. By evening, the breaks [of power lines] will be repaired throughout the city,” Bishkek City Hall promised.

According to the Kyrgyz hydrometeorological center, strong winds were also observed in the south of the country in the Osh region, where wind speeds reached 15 meters per second.

Strong winds were also recorded in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, where its speed reached 17 meters per second. Authorities also reported fallen trees and roofs torn from buildings.

@president.tj

Tajikistan’s Rahmon Wants Government Staff to Speak Three Languages

Tajikistan’s president Emomali Rahmon has instructed all government officials in the country to master two foreign languages at a high level within a year, according to a report by Turkmenportal.

The Tajik head of state commented that knowledge of two foreign languages at the same level as Tajik is vital for them to work effectively. From April 1, employees of state bodies, local state authorities and state organizations will be enrolled in compulsory foreign (Russian, English or others) language courses for a year and a half, according to a report by Interfax-Kazakhstan. “This initiative is being implemented in order to strengthen the professional skills, political outlook and language skills of the employees of state bodies, local government authorities and management bodies,” reads the report.

@shutterstock

Central Asia’s Hospitality Market Showing Significant Growth

In 2023, the hospitality industry in the countries of Central Asia, Belarus and parts of the Caucasus seemed to rise to the challenge of the times following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as they experienced a wave of change leading to astonishing growth.

According to news portal infoline.spb.ru, all of the above countries’ hospitality sectors recorded double-digit growth in their local currencies. For example, Kazakhstan (25%), Uzbekistan (12.6%), and Kyrgyzstan (24.9%), as well as Armenia (25.4%) and Azerbaijan (12%), showed steady growth both due to the natural evolution of the industry and the increasing share of legal business. Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, in particular, attributed their dynamics to a sheer increase in the number of customers — the inflow was provided by both tourists and migrants from Russia.

The hospitality industry in Central Asia is still in its formative stages, but the prospects for its development look extremely promising. This is due to several factors:
–The demographic factor. The population of Kazakhstan, for example, has grown by 18% over the last 13 years, which is the main driver of demand for catering services;
–New players in the market: the emergence of new chain restaurants from different countries provides an additional impetus;
–Growth in tourism. Inbound tourism to Central Asia is growing strongly, with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan attracting significant flows of foreign tourists, creating a huge demand for catering services;
–Transformation of the Russian market. The Russian hospitality market — due to the war in Ukraine and international sanctions — is undergoing a period of significant transformation despite its size and maturity. Since the beginning of 2022, major international chains such as McDonald’s, KFC and Starbucks have ceased operations in the country, creating ruptures and opportunities in the industry.

In this context, Russian restaurant chains are showing increased interest in the Central Asian market, recognizing its potential for growth and development. Brands such as Shokoladnitsa, Yakitoria, Osteria Mario, Shvili and others have announced plans to expand into Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, as well as Azerbaijan and Armenia. They are targeting increased revenue and profits due to low rent, material costs and the lower level of competition in these countries.

The revolution in the world of hospitality that’s sweeping Central Asian countries is opening new horizons for the industry. Rapid growth and transformation is creating unique opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs in the sector.

Former Minister of the Economy, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a suspect in the death of his wife, Saltanat Nukenova. Image from court session, March 27, 2024

Trial of Former Minister Bishimbayev Charged with Murdering Wife Begins

On March 27, the trial of former Minister of the Economy, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, who is accused of murdering his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, began in Astana. A live broadcast of the trial was available on the YouTube channel of the Supreme Court.

Preliminary hearings in the case against former Minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev had begun on March 11, with the indictment being read out and the defense filing a motion asking for a jury trial.

In court yesterday, the prosecutor, Aizhan Aimaganova read out a long list of injuries sustained by Nukenova as revealed during her autopsy: “Closed craniocerebral trauma, multiple abrasions, facial bruising, splinter fracture of the nasal bones, wounds to the chin area, hemorrhage in the soft tissues of the face, head, and occipital area, and acute subdural hematoma. When analyzing Nukenova’s internal organs, no narcotic, medicinal or psychotropic substances were found,” Aimaganova added.

“Kuandyk Bishimbayev is accused of causing physical and mental suffering by means of systematic beatings or other violent actions committed against a person who was financially dependent on the perpetrator,” the prosecution stated.

Following the prosecutor’s speech, the judge asked the defendant for his plea, to which Bishimbayev replied “not guilty” before explaining the reasons for his response.

“I didn’t have a chance to tell my story at the pre-trial investigation, not anywhere. At all. Everything read out by the prosecutor are largely fabrications, for which there is no confirmation or evidence. According to Article 110, I have not committed such a crime at all. Therefore, I do not admit my guilt,” Bishimbayev stated, adding that he hoped for an opportunity to express himself thoroughly.

To the next count, namely article 99, part 2, paragraph 5, “Murder committed with particular cruelty,” Beshimbayev also pled not guilty, stating that “I did not commit the premeditated murder of a human being with particular cruelty.”

Also in court accused of concealing a serious crime, Bakhytzhan Baizhanov, the director of BAU’s Gastro-center where the crime allegedly took place, said he was not sure if he had committed this crime.

“I confess that I asked to delete the video recordings [from the surveillance cameras] and asked to take Saltanat’s phone home [to hide the geolocation]. I don’t know if I committed a crime. At that time, I didn’t know whether Saltanat was dying or dead,” Baizhanov said.

The next session in the case is scheduled for March 29.

 

What Bishimbayev is accused of:

Article 110, part 2, paragraph 1, item 1 of the Criminal Code: “Causing physical and mental suffering by systematic beatings with violent actions committed against a person who is materially dependent on the perpetrator”;

Article 99, part 2, paragraph 5: “Murder committed with particular cruelty”;

Article 14, paragraph 2 – according to the prosecution’s version, Bishimbayev’s actions are considered a dangerous recidivism of this crime. The law states that “Dangerous repetition of crimes shall be recognized as commission by person.”

@akorda.kz

Tokayev Celebrates Kazakh-Chinese Economic Ties at Boao Forum

Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev was feted as guest of honour at the 23rd Boao Asian Forum (BFA) : “Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Common Responsibility.”

He was joined at the opening ceremony of the plenary session in the Chinese province of Hainan by: Chairman of the BFA Board of Directors Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, President of Nauru David Adang, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit, Chairman of the international non-governmental organization “Council of Elders” Mary Robinson, Secretary General of the OECD Matthias Kormann, and Director General of the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Daren Tang.

In his address to the forum, Tokayev made reference to the fact that against the backdrop of escalating world conflicts, there is tension in international trade and an assumption that the growth rate of global GDP will be the lowest in the past 30 years. However, Asia’s role in this sphere is increasing, and the region is projected to provide 60 percent of global GDP growth this year. Global trade giants located in Asia are now attracting more and more foreign investment on account of Asia being home to the world’s leading technology centres, responsible for 70 percent of patent developments.

“Of the expected $30 trillion growth in middle-class consumption by 2030, only $1 trillion is expected to come from Western economies. Collectively, all these factors point to the so-called ‘Asian Renaissance,” stated Tokayev.

He then emphasized the role of the current forum to demonstrate the advanced achievements of the region: “Kazakh-Chinese relations are based on an effective partnership that has made Kazakhstan China’s main trade and economic partner in Central Asia. Kazakhstan accounts for half of Chinese trade and investment in the region. Last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China reached a historic record of $41 billion. In 2023, the volume of cargo traffic between our countries increased by 22% to almost 30 million tons.”

The Kazakh president also mentioned that 80 percent of all land transportation between China and Europe is carried out through Kazakhstan, noting the role of the “One Belt, One Road” project in the creation of modern multimodal, environmentally safe and sustainable infrastructure in the region.

With regard to the economic success of the Kazakh Republic, he drew attention to the fact that the country’s economic growth of 5.1 percent last year almost exceeds the projected growth rate of the world economy twofold. Plans were outlined for further developments in the field with reference to an open-door policy, abundant resources, and liberal market reforms, aimed to create a favourable ground for mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

Tokayev reported that his country is becoming increasingly attractive to investors due to measures to improve the fiscal and monetary system, market reforms, and a price-competitive economy. He also called on the world community to ensure equal opportunities for all countries: “The huge Asian bond market with its huge market capitalization has high potential to support many development projects. The Eurasian Development Bank is planning to carry out the first issue of panda bonds as a new financial investment instrument. It may become critical for financing global infrastructure projects.”

On the issue of expanding transit and transportation cooperation between Asian countries, based on both the expansion of existing routes and the creation of new alternative ones, he opined, ” The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) plays a special role here, as the volume of cargo transported along the TITR doubled last year, amounting to three million tons.”

Noting the important role of information technologies for the development of the world economy, Tokayev voiced his support of the Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence Management put forward by China.

Furthermore, the President cited the extraction of critical raw materials as another promising area of cooperation, saying, “Rare earth metals have become a critical component for a wide range of technologies. They are essential for achieving a zero-emissions balance, as well as in strategic sectors such as industry, digital technology, space and defense. We continue to work with international partners on the most efficient ways to develop our large deposits of uranium, lithium, titanium and other rare-earth elements.”

Concluding his speech, Tokayev once again emphasized the role of Asia in the global economy and hailing the Boao Forum for Asia and the Astana International Forum (AIF) key platforms for fruitful dialogue, invited those present to a gathering of the latter scheduled for 13-14 June 13-14 this year.