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Anton Chipegin

Anton was born and grew up in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He worked as a television correspondent, editor and TV presenter on the main television channels of the republic, such as NTS and MIR 24, and also as an economic observer at international news agencies and other media resources of Kyrgyzstan.

Articles

Kyrgyzstan Reports Price Increases for Consumer Goods

According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, prices for meat, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products have risen significantly. The largest price increases were observed in Bishkek and the Issyk-Kul region. “Prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, food products, and tariffs for services rendered to the population have increased. At the same time, prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages decreased,” Deputy Chairman of the Statistical Committee Baktybek Shokenov told a press conference in Bishkek. He said prices fell for fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, raw milk, eggs, and vegetable oil in the first eight months of 2024. On the contrary, prices for meat, fish, potatoes, salt, rice, cottage cheese, flour of the highest grade, pasteurized milk, sugar, and butter increased significantly. Kyrgyz people have recently complained about a sharp rise in meat prices. Some reports say they have risen by 100 KGS ($1.2) per kilo in six months. The main reason for the sharp rise in meat prices is increased exports; because Kyrgyz meat prices abroad are higher than domestic prices, domestic prices are also rising. Most meat products are exported to neighboring Uzbekistan. Today, a kilogram of beef costs about 650-680 KGS ($8) in the bazaar, although half a year ago, it cost 550-600 KGS ($6-6.5).

2 months ago

Kyrgyzstan Hosts CSTO Exercises

According to a statement from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), troops from five of the organization's six member states -- Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Tajikistan -- have convened this week at the Edelweiss military training ground in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul region for training. The joint exercises involve over five thousand people and 900 units of military equipment, with only Armenia not represented. “The tasks of the exercise include improving mechanisms for making and implementing decisions on the use of forces and means, as well as increasing coherence between the armies of the allied countries and the interoperability of military formations in preparing and conducting joint operations,” said Andrei Serdyukov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff. The exercises combine various training components. The maneuvers include special exercises with intelligence forces, and logistics exercises. The Interaction-2024 command-staff exercise is aimed at preparing for a joint operation to resolve a potential armed conflict. [caption id="attachment_22933" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @TCA. A.Chipegin[/caption] The CSTO press service said that one of the exercise's priorities this year is to improve the deployment of the collective forces, including managing the transit of military contingents through allied countries. Observers from nine countries are present at the Edelweiss ground: Algeria, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. Also observing the exercise are representatives of the UN Secretariat, the SCO Secretariat, the CIS Executive Committee, and the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center. “In our dynamically changing world, security is becoming paramount, and this requires new approaches, effective coordination, and clear solutions... Our countries have become direct participants in the beginning reshuffle of forces in the world,” Lieutenant General Baktybek Bekbolotov, Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Defense, commented at the opening of the exercise. According to Bekbolotov, the main threats to the countries of Central Asia are terrorism, separatism, and extremism, as well as the arrival of radical groups from the Middle East to the region's borders. “With a global threat, the efforts of one country are not enough. There are regional organizations for this purpose; in our case, the main one is the CSTO,” Bekbolotov stressed.

2 months ago

Kyrgyzstan Forecasts Five-Year Budget Surplus

The Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan has published a forecast of total revenue for the next five years, indicating that by 2029, the country's state budget revenue will grow to KGS 655 billion ($7.8 billion). At the end of 2024, Kyrgyzstan's state budget surplus will amount to KGS 11.2 billion ($131.7 million), while revenue this year amounted to KGS 414 billion ($4.8 billion). As  previously reported by TCA, the introduction of cash registers and the fight against crime have impacted on growth. Another contributing factor was mentioned by Head of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, who stated, “In fiscal policy, we are adopting technology that is fit for the times. Taxpayers are pleased with these changes. They no longer have to wait in queues; they can quickly file reports and receive the necessary documents online.” He also commended the promotion of domestic and foreign investments and the development of Kyrgyzstan's industrial sector which facilitate the growth of the republic's economy and, in turn, state budget revenue: “Since the beginning of 2024, 29 enterprises have been put into operation. Major projects are being implemented, such as constructing the Kambarata hydroelectric power plant and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad. There are plans to develop the tourism sector." The Kyrgyz Finance Ministry said in a report that the annual growth in state budget revenue will provide a surplus which will be used to repay public debt.  The state budget is currently projected to receive KGS 414.5 billion ($4.8 billion) in 2024, KGS 465 billion ($5.4 billion) in 2025, KGS 505 billion ($5.9 billion) in 2026, and KGS 655 billion ($7.7 billion) in 2029. In a statement to TCA, the Finance Minister explained, “Large expenditures are projected for the medium term to pay down public debt. The projected budget surplus will be used for expenditures related to activities of economic orientation and covering the state's liabilities."

2 months ago

Kyrgyzstan’s First President Akayev Wants to Restore His “Former President” Status

Kyrgyzstan's first president, Askar Akayev, has sent a letter to the country's parliament (Jogurku Kenesh) asking for his status as a former leader of the republic to be restored. Having served as president from 1991 until 2005, this title was removed from Akayev in 2010. According to law, the status of former president gives a citizen several social and legal guarantees. The ex-president is granted state protection on the republic's territory, a state dacha for life, and a monthly allowance equal to three-quarters of the Kyrgyz president's salary. The head of the country's parliamentary committee on constitutional legislation, Cholpon Sultanbekova, has said that Akayev's appeal had already sparked discussions in society. According to Sultanbekova, Akayev wrote a letter on July 30 to the speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, but only now has the letter been sent to the deputies for consideration. “The issue will not be immediately put on the agenda. First, it will be considered by the factions and deputies. It will be put on the agenda only after that,” Sultanbekova said. On March 24, 2005, after the coup d'état (Tulip Revolution), Akayev fled to Moscow, fearing for his life. In 2010, after the April Revolution, when Kyrgyzstan's second president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was overthrown, Akayev was stripped of his presidential status by a decree of the interim government. Edil Baisalov, deputy head of Kyrgyzstan's cabinet of ministers, has commented that Akayev has ex-presidential status from a legal standpoint. “There is no doubt that Askar Akayev continues to possess the title of ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic. If anyone wants to deprive him of this status, there should be a full impeachment procedure, which so far has only taken place against Atambayev in 2019 (the third President of Kyrgyzstan),” Baisalov wrote. Kyrgyzstan's current president, Sadyr Japarov, also spoke out about the matter. He noted that he had not discussed the issue with Akayev. “This is a matter for the parliament. How the Jogorku Kenesh will decide whether it will or will not give its consent is the legal right of the parliament. Whether to deprive the status of 'ex' or to restore it is also decided by parliament. Of course, there were many negatives during Akayev's rule. But along with that, there were positive moments in the years when the country gained independence,” the president said. Japarov said Askar Akayev could make such a request to parliament, unlike other fugitive presidents, Bakeev and Atambayev, who have criminal cases pending in Kyrgyzstan. “There were human casualties in the cases of Atambayev and Bakiyev. Therefore, I think it is wrong if the parliament restores them to the status of ex-president,” Japarov said.

2 months ago

Kyrgyzstan Tightens Gambling Regulations

New rules and requirements for casinos have recently been introduced in a decree signed by Head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, “On gambling activities in Kyrgyzstan.” In accordance with the document, all transactions taking place within casinos are to be recorded on video cameras installed at cash, currency exchange and registration desks, and all activities in gambling establishments must be filmed in real-time. Recordings must be accessible for at least one month and can be stored for up to three months. Under the new rules, slot machines can only be installed in casinos and gaming zones must be at least 200 square meters. The decree also states: “Bookmaker offices and totalizators can be opened based on a license to organize and conduct gambling in betting offices or totalizators located only in the casino." Gambling establishments have been banned in Kyrgyzstan since 2012. The situation then changed in 2022, when new authorities permitted  the reintroduction of casinos, albeit confined to places designated for foreign citizens.

2 months ago