Kyrgyzstan Announces Tax Amnesty
The Kyrgyz government has introduced a tax amnesty as part of its efforts to ease the financial burden on citizens and stimulate economic activity. President Sadyr Japarov directed the government to draft the necessary legislation and submit it to the country's Parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, for approval. One key measure...
Four Arrested in Connection with Journalist Inessa Papernaya’s Death
Russian journalist Inessa Papernaya, known for her work with lenta.ru and profile.ru, was found dead in a hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on October 20, 2024. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Papernaya was vacationing in Uzbekistan and staying at the Karaman Palace Hotel with her companion, Maxim Radchenko....
Central Asia Tackles Plastic Pollution with Bag Ban Initiatives
Globally, an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags are used every year. These bags take approximately 1,000 years to decompose in landfills and do not fully break down. Instead, they photodegrade into microplastics, which absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, Central Asian countries...
Uzbekistan Plans to Strengthen Strategic Partnership with the U.S.
Uzbekistan is actively working to deepen its strategic partnership with the United States. The draft state program for 2025, currently under public discussion, outlines several measures to strengthen these ties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Acting Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, is tasked with expanding bilateral cooperation by the end...
Russian or Kazakh? Questions, Security Concerns About Man Detained at U.S. Border
A man who said he is a citizen of Kazakhstan pleaded guilty this week to illegally entering the United States at the southern border with Mexico. But U.S. prosecutors said he was also carrying a Russian passport and that he admitted to being a member of the Wagner Group, a...
Low Revenues Cast Doubt on Kyrgyzstan’s Casino Legalization Efforts
After a decade-long prohibition, Kyrgyzstan legalized gambling - for foreigners - in 2022, anticipating a substantial boost to state revenues. Authorities projected billions of Kyrgyz Som (KGS) in revenue from casinos, betting shops, and slot machines. However, the actual contributions to the state budget have been far more modest, amounting...
Kazakhstan Will Not Impose Quarantine for Metapneumovirus
Aizhan Esmagambetova, head of Kazakhstan's National Center for Public Health, has announced that there is no need for restrictive measures in response to identified cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country. Human metapneumovirus is a respiratory tract infection that can cause inflammation in the upper and lower lungs. Although...
Art Against All Odds: The State Museum of Karakalpakstan’s Tale of Survival and Defiance
Once a flourishing hub of agriculture, Karakalpakstan has been transformed into one of the most perilous environments on Earth. Rampant health crises, including respiratory diseases, typhoid, tuberculosis, and cancer, plague its population. Birth defects and infant mortality rates are alarmingly high. The root of this devastation lies in the deliberate...
Sunkar Podcast
Repatriating Islamic State Fighters and Families: Balancing Security and Humanity
