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Vagit Ismailov

Journalist

Vagit Ismailov is a Kazakhstani journalist. He has worked in leading regional and national publications.

Articles

Wildlife Conservation Environmental Awareness Nature Reserve

Thousands of Red-listed Birds Released in Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan's Karakalpakstan, 2,680 Wigglers (Chlamydotis macqueenii), have been released in the wild. The rare birds, on the verge of extinction and listed in the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, were released on October 11 on the Ustyurt Plain in the Kungrad District. Authorities are now planning the annual release of 2,000 and 3,000 birds to support the population and promote the recovery of one of the rarest bird species in Central Asia. The Wiggler, a member of the bustard family, is so-called on account of the way it darts from side to side. Males grow to a length of 65-75 cm and weigh between 1.8 and 3.2 kg, while females are slightly smaller at 55-65 cm and 1.2-1.7 kg, respectively. Their upper plumage is sand-coloured, and white below, with a distinctive gray crest and elongated white feathers with black tips on the sides. During the mating season, the bird shows off its decorative feathers by raising its collar and making an “hrrrr” sound.

13 hours ago

Finance Russia Sanctions Stock Market Financial Market

Moscow’s MOEX No Longer a Stakeholder in Kazakhstan’s Stock Exchange

Marking a significant move for the country's financial market, Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) has announced the withdrawal of Moscow Exchange PJSC (MOEX) from its shareholders. An updated list of shareholders, available on the official site of the Exchange, shows that as of October 11, 2024, the main shareholder of KASE remains the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a 47% stake. . According to reports, the conclusion of its cooperation with MOEX, KASE marks the end of a collaborative phase that began on October 10, 2018, following the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the exchanges. During this period, several key projects implemented to advance Kazakhstan's exchange market included modernizing trading and clearing systems, introducing central counterparty services across all trading segments, and launching new financial instruments, such as repo transactions with clearing certificates of participation. On September 30, 2024, Vladimir Krekoten, representative of MOEX, resigned from the KASE Board of Directors, having applied for early termination of his position. The Exchange expressed gratitude to MOEX for its contribution in realizing strategic tasks to expand the exchange market opportunities and create new products. KASE remains the leading exchange in Central Asia, providing universal opportunities for trading in corporate and government securities, currency transactions, derivatives, and bonds of international organizations. The Exchange is a member of the International Federation of Exchanges (WFE) and the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS) and actively participates in the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative. In June, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the National Settlement Depository, and the National Clearing Center of the Russian Federation, after which, representatives of the exchange said they would consider continuing business relations with the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), subject to the restrictions on sanctions. On July 15, 2024, KASE Chairman of the Board Alina Aldambergen spoke out about the buyout of the Kazakh exchange's stake from the Moscow Exchange (MOEX).

15 hours ago

Legislation Crime Social Media Women's rights Children Rights

Uzbek Blogger Prosecuted for Post about Daughter’s Birth

A criminal case has been opened against Kashkadarya-based blogger Sardor Safarboyev, aka 'Sardor Gangster', on account of his statement on TikTok that he does not want to have a daughter. “I'm not having a daughter. If a daughter is born, I'll throw my wife out. I don't need a daughter... if it's a girl, I'll throw it straight into the dustbin. I don't need a daughter. Even if I go to hell, I will [have] a son,” Safarboyev said on air. Following heavy criticism from social media users and activists, the blogger apologized, saying that his words had been provoked by live comments on air. A girl who participated in the broadcast also spoke in Safarboyev's defense, stating that users of the site had deliberately provoked him. Iroda Rasulova, head of the press service of the Kashkadarya Oblast Department of Internal Affairs, announced that the Nishan District Department of Internal Affairs had opened a case under Article 140, Part 2 of the Uzbek Criminal Code. This article deals with insults published in the media or on the internet and provides for punishments such as a fine, community service, or correctional labor. Investigative work into the case is ongoing. Prior to TikTok being blocked in Uzbekistan, Safarboyev had over 700,000 followers on the platform and over 500,000 on Instagram. This recent incident is not the first time the blogger has been condemned. As recently as February, Safarboyev was arrested for ten days after being found guilty of petty hooliganism and manufacturing, possession, or distribution of materials propagandizing national, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred. In Uzbekistan, the preference for the birth of sons persists due to traditional attitudes and gender stereotypes. This problem, characteristic of many Asian countries, is deeply rooted in cultural and social norms. According to reports by international organizations such as UNFPA, the preference for sons leads to gender imbalance, limits women's rights, and is an issue frequently raised in international forums concerning the combating of gender discrimination.

4 days ago

Science Archaeology Cultural Heritage History Turkic Alphabet

Scientists Attempt to Unlock the Secrets of Turkic Runes in Altai

Russian scientists have started deciphering unique Turkic runic inscriptions in Altai, dating back to the VI-X centuries AD. Speaking at the International Conference “Mountain Altai - the ancestral home of the Turks,” Alexander Vasiliev, head of the Oriental History Department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that whilst some 120 such texts have been identified, a significant number has yet to be deciphered due to a lack of "keys". According to Vasilyev, problems in evaluating inscriptions arise as a result of the different graphic systems used by Turkic peoples in various historical periods. Hence, researchers face a difficult task in making these texts accessible and determining the exact nature of the archaeological objects found. Historians also note that with the emergence of Mongolian vertical writing, the influence of the Turkic writing system began to weaken. Previous attempts to decipher these texts using Iranian and Finno-Ugric languages, proved unsuccessful. Assuming that the key to understanding the inscriptions lies in one of the ancient Turkic languages, scientists are now focusing on the Chuvash language, which retains ancient features, or the Kypchak language group. The decipherment of Turkic runic inscriptions began with the discovery of the famous Orkhon-Yenisei texts in Mongolia in the 19th century. In 1893, Danish scholar Wilhelm Thomsen was the first to successfully decipher these ancient texts using analogies to ancient Turkic words such as “tengri” (sky). These inscriptions, dating from the 7th to 10th centuries, recount the lives of the Turkic kagans and their victories. In addition to the Orkhon texts, significant inscriptions have been found in the Yenisei Valley and the Altai Mountains. An international conference in Manzherok, in the Altai Republic, brought together scholars to discuss not only the problems of deciphering the Turkic script but also the formation of the Turkic civilization and the history of cultural interaction between the Turks and other peoples, including Slavic cultures.

4 days ago

Labor Stock Market Regulation Share Offering Human development

Employees in Uzbekistan to be Rewarded with Company Shares

Uzbekistan is to introduce an initiative to reward employees with shares in companies, under a regulation developed by The National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP). According to the NAPP, the transfer of shares to employees, as part of additional incentive programs, including bonuses, will help increase employee interest in the company's sustainable development and improve labor relations. The main goal of the initiative, modelled on ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) successfully applied in other countries, is to improve the population's welfare and develop the domestic capital market. Although joining in the Stock Ownership Plan will be voluntary, its development will be mandatory for joint stock companies with more than 50% state participation. The presidential decree on capital market development, issued in September 2023, envisioned the implementation of ESOP. Funds of up to one month's salary used to purchase shares will not be subject to personal income tax.

5 days ago