The Times Of Central Asia

02 Apr 2026

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Poems by the Kazakh Poet Abay Recited in Paris in Nine Languages

April 2, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

The legacy of the Kazakh poet Abay Kunanbayev recently brought together representatives of different nations in Paris. His works were recited in Kazakh, French, Russian, Chechen, Buryat, Kalmyk, Ingush, Tuvan, and Yakut. The Association of Kazakh Women in France, “QazElles,” thus supported the recently announced proposal to include Abay’s work Words of Admonition on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

“As you know, UNESCO’s headquarters are in Paris, so the news that one of Kazakhstan’s most significant literary monuments could officially become part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List is very personal to us. How can we support this? By bringing together those who are not yet familiar with Abay’s work and introducing them to his major poetic masterpieces.

This year, Abay’s works will be presented in the languages of various diasporas living in France with whom we are friends,” said Madina Kulmanova, president of the “QazElles” association, in an interview with The Times of Central Asia.

QazElles photos archive

The monument to Abay, located in the Poets’ Square of the French capital, has become a regular meeting place for admirers of his work since its unveiling in 2021. For Kazakhs living in France, it has become a tradition to hold the “Abay Readings” annually at the poet’s bust to promote the legacy of the founder of Kazakh written literature.

This time, Abay in Paris brought together not only Kazakh and French people, but also representatives of the peoples of the Caucasus, as well as Buryat and Kalmyk associations in France.

Said Musa Batyrgereev, a representative of the Chechen diaspora: “I am here representing the Association ‘Guardians of Mountain Cultures in France’ and as a representative of the Chechen people. Today we have gathered at the monument to Abay Kunanbayev to honor his memory. Abay was a great poet and a wise man who taught kindness, respect, and humanity. And today I would like to thank the Kazakh people from the bottom of my heart for the help and support they provided to the Chechen people in 1944. We will never forget this.”

Representatives of the “Peuple du Baïkal” association, which unites representatives of the peoples of Russia’s Baikal region, thanked the “QazElles” association for the invitation to the annual readings of Abay Kunanbayev’s poems.

In the poem they chose to read, “Quiet Night Under the Moon” (“Jelsiz tünde jaryq ai”), the poet lovingly describes the beauty of nature and the tenderness of relationships.

QazElles photos archive

Radmila Boyer, a representative of the association, noted that listening to Abay’s poem immerses one in a world of beauty and love.

“This poetic morning brought us, different peoples, closer together, gave us a wonderful mood, the joy of communication, and inspiration for future joint cultural projects,” she said.

Tulips were laid at the Abay monument in honor of the readings. This served as a reference to another project by the “QazElles” association, which, with the support of the Shymkent city authorities, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in France, and the City Hall of Paris’s 17th arrondissement, organized the planting of Kazakhstani tulips on Place Wagram. This spring, Shymkent tulips bloomed in Paris for the first time.

As a memento of these readings, representatives of the diaspora were presented with copies of Abay’s works in French. One of these copies was left on a bookshelf in the Poets’ Square so that Parisians, while strolling past the monument to the Kazakh poet, could also become acquainted with his work.

02 Apr 2026

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India–Central Asia: Connectivity, Security, and Sustainable Partnerships in a Multipolar World

April 2, 2026
By Javier M. Piedra

A widening conflict in West Asia is forcing India and Central Asia to reassess trade routes, diplomacy, and regional security, with key projects such as Iran’s Chabahar port now facing growing uncertainty. These risks framed discussions in New Delhi on March 25–26, where experts gathered under the banner of “India–Central Asia: Connectivity, Security, and Sustainable Partnerships in a Multipolar World,” with The Times of Central Asia in attendance.

The conference unfolded against the backdrop of two active Eurasian wars—the Russo-Ukrainian and the Israel/U.S.-Iran conflict. Central Asian and Indian participants agreed that the West Asian crisis is widening, putting not only ports and logistics routes but also economies across the globe under serious threat. India’s Chabahar link to Afghanistan and Central Asia is now a high-risk, uncertain investment, weakening overall continental strategic thinking across Eurasia, including efforts to consolidate new trans-Caspian trade corridors. If the conflict cripples or destroys Chabahar, years of progress, hard-won partnerships, and millions in strategic investment would be erased.

On the sidelines, some participants suggested that India could help cool what’s becoming a dangerously global conflict. Unbeknownst to them, India had already held an all-party meeting on March 25 on the West Asia crisis. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s message: India will not mediate. The revelation surprised some participants—others, not at all. In any event, Central Asian states, in principle, have backed any diplomatic push for peace.

With West Asia in turmoil and platitudes in abundance, conference participants emphasized the need to rethink geopolitics, trade, security, and cultural ties beyond stale frameworks at a time of conflict. Four themes defined the Central and South Asian moment: the dangers of bloc politics, even as regional organizations continue to evolve and expand their influence, the ascendancy of national interests over external pressure, and the emergence of a firm refusal to pick sides in the midst of frictions between competing global pressures.

Dr. Raj Kumar Sharma, a member of the India Central Asia Foundation, stated: “The conference provided an important platform to move beyond theoretical discussion and toward practical engagement. With Central Asia’s ambassadors to India present, we focused on exploring concrete mechanisms to promote peace through sustained diplomatic efforts. Despite the proximity of the conflict in West Asia to both Central Asia and India, participants expressed confidence that dialogue and restraint – buttressed by trade and investment – will ultimately guide outcomes, with particular concern for civilians and those enduring hardship. Notably, the crisis did not overshadow the conference’s primary agenda or its scholarly contributions. Overall, the gathering can be seen as a constructive step in reinforcing diplomatic initiatives dedicated to peace and stability in a conflict-affected region.”

The conference witnessed the release of three significant publications on India–Central Asia relations: India – Kazakhstan Partnership in a Changing Geopolitical Order (eds. Ramakant Dwivedi, Lalit Aggarwal, Kuralay Baizakova), Manas: Kirgiz Vir Gatha Kavya by Ramakant Dwivedi & Hemchandra Pandey and India and Central, East and Southeast Asia: Enhancing the Partnership (eds. Ramakant Dwivedi & Lalit Aggarwal).

(L-R): Dr Anita Sengupta, Dr Arvind Gupta, Dr Pramod Kumar, Ambassador Irina Orolbaeva, Dr Rachael M. Rudolph, Dr Beena & Dr Raj Kumar Sharma, who all spoke on the role of regional institutions in Central Asian development; image: TCA

Geopolitics in Flux – Central Asia and the Emerging Multipolar Order

At the conference, a clear theme emerged: Central Asia holds an increasingly important place in an emerging multipolar world due to its geography and resources. As conflicts and power plays intensify, especially in West Asia, countries in the region must work to reshape security, trade, and diplomacy to better promote economic development through peace.

For Central Asia and India, understanding these geopolitical shifts is key to navigating risks and maintaining stability. The conference speakers emphasized that, confronted with shared threats, India and Central Asia need even deeper collaboration with Afghanistan through intelligence sharing, training, and joint mechanisms to bolster resilience and sustain regional stability within a complex global environment – this applies equally to the Afghan-Pakistan conflict currently unfolding. All participants underscored the importance of patience, peace, and sober foreign policies, while preserving sovereign autonomy and national interests within a multi-dimensional approach to diplomacy.

The Role of Regional Institutions in Central Asian Development

The participants highlighted that there are many regional institutions in Central Asia, most of which reflect the ideas, interests and needs of external powers. The Central Asian countries need to enhance regional cooperation mechanisms among themselves so that they become the real arbiters of their aspirations and development. Dr Raj Kumar Sharma and Dr Beena, Assistant Professor at MERI Centre for International Studies, highlighted that the Central Asian countries should focus on cooperative climate governance in the region and move towards a green transition collectively. Dr. Sharma called on Central Asia and India – with the agreement of all – to unite in advancing enduring peace and sustainable progress across the region.

Trade, Connectivity and Infrastructure – Challenges and Prospects for Regional Cooperation

Without stronger connectivity, Central Asia will never reach its full potential, conference participants concurred. Central Asian participants expressed their willingness and support for further integration through active multi-vector foreign policies in order to deal with their connectivity and infrastructure challenges. Turkmenistan’s position of maintaining its non-aligned status reflects its geo-economic priorities over geo-political gamesmanship.

Unsurprisingly, the Russo-Ukraine war has reconfirmed certain vulnerabilities of Central Asian countries given their dependence on transportation limitations and longstanding external links, necessitating a reexamination of trade routes, with all options on the table. In addition, sovereign autonomy means greater intra-regional self-reliance.

Since 2018, Consultative Meeting of Heads of States in Central Asia has become the main advisory mechanism for regional cooperation. Early signs of regional cooperation include agreements on joint border management and customs simplification, discussions on shared water and energy resource management, and coordinated positions in international forums. Both Central Asian and Indian participants highlighted that India should continue to reach out to all parties to the conflict in West Asia to safeguard their economic interests in Iran – this applies immediately to Chabahar Port and to oil exports in the first instance.

On the education front, participants noted that with visa barriers going up in America and elsewhere, Indian students are looking for alternative educational markets; Central Asia, in many ways, is ideal for many because it is geographically closer to India and the fees are relatively low. Indian students have become the largest group of international students in Kazakhstan, with nearly 10,000 to 12,000 enrolled as of 2025, marking a massive 211.9% increase from 2022 levels.

India – Central Asia: Historical and Cultural Ties

The organizers stressed that centuries of trade, migration, and cultural exchange have created lasting bonds between India and Central Asia—bonds that will drive future cooperation. India and Central Asia’s ancient economic ties—forged through the Silk Road and the Kushan Empire (which linked northern India with modern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan)—were fractured by 19th‑century colonialism. Now, experts urge a clear path forward: reconstruct the geo-cultural bridge through education, joint publications, think tank outreach, and media collaboration.

01 Apr 2026

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Olimjon Toshkenboyev, Uzbek Tightrope Master and Cultural Figure, Dies

April 1, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

Olimjon Toshkenboyev, an acrobat from a family dynasty of performers who promoted the Uzbekistani tightrope walking art known as dorbozlik, has died at the age of 81.

In a condolence message to Toshkenboyev’s family, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Culture said he was “a famous representative of Uzbek circus art” who made big contributions to national heritage and was a mentor to many students.

“Under his leadership, the ‘Uzbekistan Dorbozlari’ group successfully showcased their art in many foreign countries, including Poland, Germany, Egypt, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and others,” the ministry said on Telegram on March 28.

Toshkenboyev, whose son and daughter participated in dorbozlik programs, was also the director of Uzbekistan’s state circus association. The Tashkent circus is housed in a landmark Soviet-era building that some observers have compared to a flying saucer.

Dorbozlik has a storied history in Uzbekistan. Some accounts say ropewalkers participated in shows in the palace of Amir Temur, the 14th-century Central Asian conqueror who is also known as Tamerlane.

“Dorbozes skillfully demonstrated their stunts (running back and forth; jumping; walking with knives and trays tied to their legs; dancing on one or paired ropes blindfolded and with a sack on their heads, etc.) by holding langar (a balancer or long balancing pole) on a rope, which was installed at the height of 25-30 m,” says a website listing Uzbekistan’s “intangible cultural heritage.”

Ropewalkers’ performances were combined with those of strongmen, illusionists, dancers, comedians and musicians, according to the account. As the folk art evolved, performances moved from fairgrounds and market squares to indoor circuses, wire replaced ropes, metallic poles replaced wooden ones, and safety belts were introduced.

At a UNESCO meeting in Namibia in 2015, a committee noted that boys and men were the traditional practitioners of ropewalking in Uzbekistan, and girls were increasingly getting involved. It said there were more than 40 ropewalking troupes in Uzbekistan and that skills were transmitted from generation to generation within families.

However, the committee did not accept Uzbekistan’s proposal that the art be included on the U.N. cultural agency’s list of intangible cultural heritage. It raised concerns about the danger, particularly to children, of ropewalking, as well as questions about the originality of the art, since other countries have similar types of performance.

01 Apr 2026

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U.S. Extends Sanctions Exemption for Transit of Russian Oil Through Kazakhstan

April 1, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

The United States has extended a sanctions exemption allowing the transit of Russian oil to China through Kazakhstan until March 2027, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy.

The license was issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control under the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is valid until March 19, 2027.

“Following negotiations with OFAC, the term of the license for the transit of Russian oil to China has been extended. Cooperation on this issue will continue,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that Kazakhstan and Russia are discussing the possibility of increasing supply volumes. At present, transit continues under existing sanctions exemptions. Kazakhstan transports approximately 10 million tons of Russian oil to China annually under an intergovernmental agreement valid until 2034.

Earlier, Islamdaut Akubaev, a representative of KazTransOil, said Kazakhstan had received notification from OFAC regarding an extension of the transit permit until April 2026.

01 Apr 2026

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From a Vanishing Sea to Milan’s Spotlight: When Apricots Blossom, a Lost Sea Speaks

April 1, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

From April 20 to 26, 2026, Uzbekistan will present one of its most ambitious cultural projects to date at the Milan Design Week. Titled When Apricots Blossom, the exhibition will take place at Palazzo Citterio in Milan’s Brera district, transforming the historic space into a multi-layered exploration of craft, memory, and environmental change.

Organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the exhibition is commissioned by its chairperson, Gayane Umerova, and curated by architect Kulapat Yantrasast, founder of WHY Architecture. Bringing together twelve international designers and Uzbek artisans, the project explores how traditional knowledge can help societies respond to environmental crises.

At its core lies Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region in northwestern Uzbekistan that has experienced one of the world’s most severe ecological disasters.

A Story Rooted in Loss and Resilience

The exhibition takes its name from a poem by Hamid Olimjon, written in the 1930s as a reflection on hope and renewal. Today, that symbolism carries renewed relevance.

For decades, the Aral Sea has been shrinking. Once one of the largest inland bodies of water in the world, it has lost more than 90% of its volume since the 1960s, largely due to irrigation policies that diverted its feeder rivers. The result is a transformed landscape of desert, salt plains, and fragmented ecosystems, with communities forced to adapt to rapid environmental change.

Moynaq. Aral Culture Summit 2025; image courtesy of Iwan Baan and ACDF

Rather than focusing solely on loss, When Apricots Blossom highlights how communities continue to live, create, and adapt.

Visitors enter through a façade transformed by a large textile installation by British designer Bethan Laura Wood, created in collaboration with Uzbek artisans. Drawing on decorative elements used in nomadic yurts, tassels, ribbons, and woven patterns, the work creates a vivid and tactile threshold.

Inside the courtyard, an installation of apricot trees by Uzbek floral artist Ruben Saakyan sets the tone. The apricot, both a symbol of hospitality and a key Uzbek export, also reflects resilience, continuing to grow even in the harsh conditions of the Aral Sea region.

Further inside, a “deconstructed yurt” designed by WHY Architecture serves as a central gathering space, reflecting the adaptability of nomadic shelter traditions.

Craft as Knowledge, Not Decoration

For Umerova, this distinction is central.

“Craft in Karakalpakstan is more than tradition, it is a system of knowledge,” she told The Times of Central Asia. “It has evolved over centuries in close relationship with the land.”

Handwoven textiles on a traditional loom at “When Apricots Blossom”; image: ACDF

Umerova notes that materials such as wood, silk, felt, ceramic, and reed reflect a deep understanding of local ecosystems. These practices are passed down through generations, carrying both technical skills and cultural knowledge.

In the context of the Aral Sea crisis, this knowledge takes on renewed importance.

“The communities there have long developed ways of adapting to changing environments,” she told TCA. “Their craft traditions embody this resilience.”

For Umerova, sustainability is as much cultural as it is technological.

“Sustainability is not only a technological question but also a cultural one, about memory, responsibility, and continuity.”

Throughout the exhibition, objects are presented not merely as artifacts, but as expressions shaped by necessity, environment, and history.

Beyond the Exhibition: A Long-Term Vision

When Apricots Blossom forms part of a broader strategy aimed at supporting long-term regeneration in the Aral Sea region.

Alongside the installations, the exhibition introduces initiatives such as the Aral School and the Aral Culture Summit, as well as development projects in Nukus.

“Environmental recovery is essential, but cultural and educational investment is equally important,” Umerova said.

The Aral School is envisioned as a platform for young designers, artists, and researchers to explore new approaches to environmental and cultural challenges.

“The aim is not only to preserve traditions, but to reinterpret them,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Aral Culture Summit brings together designers, architects, scientists, and policymakers to develop integrated solutions.

“This transdisciplinary approach is essential. It allows us to connect culture with science, data, and policy.”

The exhibition will also present an architectural model for a redevelopment project in Nukus, where an old hangar is being transformed into a community and cultural center.

Bringing the Aral Sea to the World

Presenting the exhibition at Milan Design Week is a deliberate choice aimed at drawing global attention to the region.

“The Aral Sea is a cautionary tale,” Umerova said. “But it can also offer a blueprint.”

By placing Uzbek artisans alongside international designers, the exhibition highlights both the global relevance of traditional knowledge and the environmental realities that shape it.

Designing Everyday Experience

Yantrasast, the founder of WHY Architecture, approached the project by focusing on the fundamentals of daily life.

“The exhibition centers on shelter, sustenance, and clothing,” he said. “These are not just necessities, they are the essential arts of living.”

By grounding the exhibition in familiar elements, food, textiles, and structures, the project makes complex environmental narratives more accessible.

“Resilience is not abstract,” he added. “It is embedded in everyday life.”

He also emphasized the importance of reframing perceptions of the region.

“Many people know the Aral Sea only as an ecological disaster. But the communities there demonstrate remarkable ingenuity.”

Collaboration Across Cultures

A central feature of the exhibition is collaboration between international designers and Uzbek artisans.

Twelve designers were invited to create bread trays and stamps; objects rooted in everyday Uzbek culture. Bread, or non, carries deep symbolic meaning, representing hospitality and continuity.

An artisan demonstrates embroidery techniques; image: ACDF

Dutch designer Sanne Visser described the process as one of constant exchange.

“It’s a dialogue,” she said. “The materials guide the design, but so does the artisan’s expertise.”

Environmental realities also shaped the work.

“There are limited resources and a rapidly changing climate,” she noted. “This affects how crafts are practiced.”

For example, traditional materials used in yurt-making are becoming less available, prompting artisans to adapt with alternatives.

“These changes show how traditions evolve,” Visser said.

Rethinking Karakalpakstan

Uzbek architect Bobir Klichev said the project challenged common perceptions of Karakalpakstan.

“It is often seen as a desert with a vanished sea,” he said.

Closer engagement revealed a more complex landscape, including canals, agricultural areas, and ecological diversity.

“This diversity became central to my work,” Klichev said.

A Different Way of Looking

At Palazzo Citterio, the exhibition is designed to encourage close attention to materials and textures. In the main gallery, an installation of reed-like structures evokes the Aral Sea landscape. A specially commissioned film, Where The Water Ends, explores how communities preserve memory amid environmental change.

Together, these elements create a narrative that moves between past, present, and future.

More Than an Exhibition

Ultimately, When Apricots Blossom is not only about design, but about how people respond to change.

It suggests that solutions to global challenges may lie not only in new technologies, but also in knowledge embedded in everyday practices.

By bringing these stories to Milan, Uzbekistan is not only presenting its culture; it is also inviting a broader reconsideration of how resilience and knowledge are understood.

As Umerova put it, the goal is to connect past and future through practice, demonstrating that even in the face of loss, creativity continues to endure.

01 Apr 2026

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Kyrgyzstan Develops Territories Received from Tajikistan

April 1, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

The Kyrgyz authorities have adopted a resolution that transfers into state ownership land and real estate received from Tajikistan under the agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border.

According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the State Agency for State Property Management must register the transferred assets on its balance sheet, after which they will be handed over to local administrations in the Batken and Leylek districts of Batken region.

District authorities are expected to distribute the property among citizens who lost their homes and assets as a result of the border agreement, as well as those whose properties were demolished during the construction of border infrastructure.

The government has also instructed the State Agency for Land Resources, Cadastre, Geodesy, and Cartography to conduct an inventory of land plots in the region, while the Ministry of Construction will develop master plans for settlements in the transferred territories.

The resolution notes that the list of real estate assets may be revised as the border line is refined during the demarcation process.

The border agreement was reached following negotiations between the two countries’ presidents, Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon, and was subsequently ratified by the parliaments of both countries. Under its terms, the sides exchanged territories, including previously disputed areas.

Following the agreement, Kyrgyzstan began constructing barriers along the new border line. Authorities in both countries expect that completing the demarcation process will help stabilize the situation and prevent further conflict.