Our People > Sadokat Jalolova

Sadokat Jalolova

Journalist

Jalolova has worked as a reporter for some time in local newspapers and websites in Uzbekistan, and has enriched her knowledge in the field of journalism through courses at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Amsterdam on the Coursera platform.

Articles

USA Ecology health security Army Military Information Public health Military Service Uranium

Justice for Veterans: U.S. Acknowledges Cancer Cases Tied to Service at Uzbekistan’s K2 Base

Thousands of American veterans who served at Uzbekistan’s K2 airbase have reported rare cancers and diseases - but only now, more than two decades later, is the U.S. government taking steps to address their dire situation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to include bladder, urinary tract, and genitourinary cancers as conditions presumed to be linked to service at Uzbekistan’s Karshi-Khanabad airbase, known as K2. In 2001, the U.S. military moved into K2, a former Soviet airbase, to support a series of operations named “Enduring Freedom” which were purportedly aimed at tackling terrorism and Al-Qaeda in the wake of 9/11. However, in addition to the threat of terrorism, the troops faced another danger: the toxic environment. Reports from the base describe exposure to chemicals and radioactive materials. Soldiers recalled an underground “black bubble,” glowing lakes, and a chemical odor lingering in the air. [caption id="attachment_26149" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Image: Stronghold Freedom Foundation[/caption] The Karshi-Khanabad airbase was heavily used by the Soviet military during its operations in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, when it served as a site for producing, storing, and testing various weapons, including chemical weapons. The base also stored fuel, solvents, and other harmful substances. Additionally, it became a dumping ground for toxic waste, asbestos, enriched uranium, and other hazardous materials. Spills of these substances were frequent, leaving lasting environmental damage. Before the U.S. occupied K2, the destruction of Soviet-era missiles left some soil contaminated with low-level radioactive depleted uranium. The destruction of Soviet missiles was part of disarmament obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. A 2001 survey found traces that could be harmful if inhaled, and a 2002 assessment confirmed small amounts of uranium, identified as non-U.S. depleted uranium, outside Camp Stronghold Freedom’s perimeter. The affected area was covered with clean soil, fenced off, and marked as off-limits in November 2001. Furthermore, approximately 392 chemical compounds were found at the K2 Air Base. Thousands of military personnel who served in K2 suffered from severe illnesses, including rare forms of cancer, associated with their time at the base. However, over the years, the U.S. government and the VA have delayed recognition of the link between service in K2 and these health issues, leaving many veterans without adequate support. [caption id="attachment_26150" align="aligncenter" width="1140"] Image: Stronghold Freedom Foundation[/caption] According to the Stronghold Freedom Foundation, K2 veterans are 500% more likely to get cancer than other veterans - 75% of U.S. service members deployed to Uzbekistan alone have developed at least one type of K2-related illness. On November 11, President Joe Biden announced an expansion of the PACT Act (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act), a law he signed in August 2022 to improve healthcare for veterans exposed to toxins. President Biden stated that the act has already helped over a million veterans and their families access benefits. Under new efforts, the VA will add bladder cancer, ureter cancer, multiple myeloma, and certain types of leukemia to the list of presumptive conditions. This expansion applies...

1 month ago

Mass Media Media Freedom incident internal affairs journalist

Russian Journalist Pivovarov Detained After Filming Cotton Fields in Karakalpakstan

Alexey Pivovarov, a Russian journalist and YouTuber, was detained in Nukus, the capital of the autonomous Uzbek republic of Karakalpakstan. He was questioned by authorities along with the photography team for his project, Redaktsiya (Editorial), and Feride Makhsetova, a journalist from the local news portal Hook. Their arrest was initially reported by Hook. The journalists were detained "for an interview", supposedly following a complaint by an unidentified citizen. Authorities confiscated the visual material collected by the team, who, according to Pivovarov on his Telegram channel, had been filming in one of the region's cotton fields. The Karakalpakstan branch of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications claimed that the detentions occurred because the journalists were not accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, Pivovarov, Makhsetova, and their team were released by the Nukus Department of Internal Affairs. They subsequently traveled to Tashkent without the materials they had filmed in Karakalpakstan. The Russian Embassy in Uzbekistan addressed the incident, stating that it had contacted Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would provide support to the Russian citizens involved. In a message on his Telegram channel, Pivovarov described the officials in Nukus as “friendly and polite.”

1 month ago

Food Security International Cooperation Sustainable Development reduce poverty

Uzbekistan Joins Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

The Republic of Uzbekistan has officially become a member of the Global Alliance to Combat Hunger and Poverty, marking a significant step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing global efforts to improve food security. This decision reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to addressing pressing challenges related to hunger, poverty, and inequality on a global scale. By joining the alliance, the country gains access to valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, international investment, and collaboration on joint programs with other nations and organizations. To date, over 100 countries have joined this initiative. Earlier, on October 9, the United States announced the delivery of 131 tons of food aid to Uzbekistan through USAID. The package, valued at over $435,000, includes vegetables and legumes intended to support more than 33,000 people across 145 facilities, including tuberculosis centers, orphanages, and psychiatric institutions. “At USAID, we collaborate with our partners to deliver life-saving food assistance to the most vulnerable communities in Uzbekistan. By addressing malnutrition and ensuring access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food, we empower individuals to lead healthy, productive lives and build a more stable and resilient world for everyone,” said Anjali Kaur, deputy assistant administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Asia.

1 month ago

International trade WTO Government International Cooperation economic

Uzbekistan Completes Key Step in WTO Accession with China Agreement

Uzbekistan has successfully concluded bilateral negotiations with China regarding its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Azizbek Urunov, Special Representative of the President for the WTO, announced this milestone in a LinkedIn post. “[It was a] very short but productive visit to Beijing! Yesterday, we completed bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO with the People’s Republic of China,” Urunov wrote. He expressed gratitude to China’s Ministry of Commerce, Deputy Minister Li Fei, Director Li Defeng, and their teams for their cooperation. “[It is] very important at [the] year-end to finish negotiations with the two biggest global trade players – the United States and China. Twenty-two countries are there, a few left!” The Times of Central Asia reported that this achievement follows Uzbekistan’s recent finalization of WTO accession negotiations with the United States, Uzbekistan’s WTO accession is a cornerstone of the country’s ongoing economic reforms, which aim to integrate its economy into the global trade system. Johanna Hill, WTO Deputy Director-General, praised Uzbekistan’s progress: “Uzbekistan has been one of the most active acceding governments of late. It has pushed ahead with economic reform in the strategic region of Central Asia, with WTO accession very high on the government’s agenda.” Hill referenced a WTO report indicating that countries implementing market reforms during WTO accession experience growth rates 1.5% higher than those without such reforms. With negotiations with major economies like the United States and China now complete, Uzbekistan is edging closer to its goal of WTO membership, a move poised to boost its global trade prospects and economic development.

1 month ago

Russia China Agriculture Grain Agricultural Export EAEU Grain export

Kazakhstan Limits Re-Export of Russian Grain to Uzbekistan and China

Kazakhstan has imposed restrictions on the re-export of Russian grain to Uzbekistan and China, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced. The move aligns with Kazakhstan’s ban on wheat imports from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, which will remain in effect until the end of 2024. The restriction was outlined in Bektenov's response to a parliamentary inquiry. He explained that the decision aims to protect Kazakhstan’s domestic agricultural market, citing concerns about maintaining local production. During a meeting of the Kazakhstan-Russia intergovernmental commission, Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s federal agricultural oversight agency, raised issues related to the restrictions. The commission recommended that authorities expedite the removal of these measures, highlighting their impact on bilateral agricultural trade. Bektenov noted that these restrictions were critical to safeguarding Kazakhstan’s domestic market. “To protect the domestic market, Kazakhstan banned wheat imports from EAEU countries until the end of 2024. This ban limits the re-export of Russian grain to Uzbekistan and China,” he stated. In addition to the re-export ban, Kazakhstan has raised unified tariffs for the transit of goods across its territory for EAEU countries. Notably, the tariff for transporting Russian grain to Kyrgyzstan through Kazakhstan has doubled this year, further impacting regional trade dynamics.

2 months ago