Our People > Vagit Ismailov

Vagit Ismailov

Journalist

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

Articles

Transplantation Organs Foreign Patients Health

Kyrgyzstan Weighs Organ Transplants for Foreign Patients

Kyrgyzstan is considering allowing kidney transplants for foreign citizens as part of its efforts to expand medical tourism, Health Minister Erkin Checheybayev announced. Rising Transplant Numbers According to the Ministry of Health, kidney transplants in Kyrgyzstan are on the rise. In 2024, the number of such procedures increased by 36.4% compared to the previous year. “Kidney transplantation is a life-saving operation for patients on dialysis. Developing this field is crucial, as organ transplants ease the burden on the healthcare system and significantly improve patients’ quality of life. We are working on a regulatory framework to ensure sustainable financing and fair compensation for medical professionals,” Checheybayev stated. The ministry is exploring the possibility of offering organ transplants to foreign patients, which could provide additional funding for medical institutions specializing in high-tech surgeries. Challenges Remain Despite these ambitions, Checheybayev previously told parliament that Kyrgyz hospitals are not yet fully equipped to handle organ transplants on a large scale. "Facilities at two medical institutions are being prepared, but the necessary infrastructure is not yet in place. Preoperative and postoperative care must be improved, and cadaveric organ donation must be legalized before we can move forward,” the minister explained.

4 weeks ago

Tajik Women Rukhshona Khakimova Journalists Prison President Rahmon

Tajik Women Unite to Urge Rahmon to Grant Leniency for Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova

A group of 130 women in Tajikistan have appealed to President Emomali Rahmon, requesting leniency for journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, who was sentenced to eight years in prison. A Plea for Mercy In their appeal, the women expressed deep concern over the fate of Khakimova’s two young daughters, one of whom is an infant still in need of breastfeeding. “This verdict has shaken us to the core, but most of all, it has shattered the lives of her two tiny daughters, Shakhnura and Shukrona, who overnight lost the most precious thing a child has, a mother's love, warmth, and care. Ten-month-old Shukrona was deprived not only of her mother’s hands but also of her mother’s milk, which is not just nourishment but the very essence of the mother-child bond. We cannot imagine the pain of these children, who cannot yet speak but already feel the cruel emptiness that nothing and no one can fill,” the letter reads. The signatories emphasized that they were not calling for the sentence to be overturned but rather for clemency. They urged the government to apply legal mechanisms that would allow Khakimova to serve an alternative sentence while remaining with her children. “We believe there are lawful ways to take her motherhood into account and ensure that two young children are not left without maternal care,” the appeal stated. A Controversial Conviction Khakimova was charged with high treason under Article 305 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, with the case initiated by the General Prosecutor’s Office in June 2024. According to sources familiar with the investigation, her prosecution is linked to a survey on China’s influence in Tajikistan. She was sentenced on February 5 during a closed trial at the Dushanbe detention center, alongside other defendants in the so-called “coup d’état case”. Before the verdict, she had been allowed to remain free, albeit with restricted movement, due to her responsibilities as a mother. However, her documents had been confiscated, preventing her from traveling. Following the court ruling, she was taken into custody immediately. International Outcry International human rights organizations have condemned the sentence. The International Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders) has called for Khakimova’s immediate release. Similar statements have been issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), both of which have criticized the court’s decision.

4 weeks ago

Transit Azerbaijan Oil Oil and Gas Decarbonization

Kazakhstan Agrees to Increase Oil Transit Through Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR have agreed to increase the transit of Kazakh oil through the Aktau-Baku-Ceyhan route in 2025. The decision was made during a meeting in Baku between KazMunayGas Chairman Askhat Hasenov and SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf, where they reviewed progress on the 2022 oil transportation agreement. At the end of 2024, the volume of Kazakh oil transported through Azerbaijan reached 1.4 million tons. Under the new plan, this figure is set to increase to 1.7 million tons in 2025. The expansion will enhance the transit potential of both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, while boosting Kazakhstan’s access to global energy markets. Focus on Decarbonization and Energy Cooperation During the talks, the two companies also discussed their strategic partnership on decarbonization, which was formalized at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29) in Azerbaijan. The agreement focuses on: Introducing low-carbon technologies in the oil and gas sector. Reducing harmful emissions from energy production. Additionally, discussions covered joint exploration projects, oil and gas production, investment opportunities, and the digitalization of industrial processes. “SOCAR is a key partner of KazMunayGas. Together, we will continue to contribute to global energy security and the stability of hydrocarbon supplies. This partnership will create new transit opportunities through the Caspian region,” said Hasenov. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan’s Broader Cooperation Beyond oil transit, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan recently signed an agreement to construct an underwater fiber-optic communication line across the Caspian Sea. The deal was finalized during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s recent visit to Baku. This project, along with the expanded oil transit, highlights the deepening economic and strategic partnership between the two Caspian nations.

4 weeks ago

Human rights Rukhshona Khakimova trial concerns journalist Press Freedom Media Freedom

International Human Rights Activists Demand Release of Tajik Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has strongly condemned the sentencing of Tajik journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, calling on Tajik authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally. In a statement issued on March 3, the Observatory asserted that Khakimova’s prosecution is linked to her participation in a politically sensitive poll on China’s influence in Tajikistan. The survey, commissioned by the Kyrgyz NGO Barometer, included interviews with political figures, some of whom belong to the opposition and face pressure from authorities. “Ms. Khakimova is officially charged with ‘high treason’ under Article 305 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code. This charge is part of a broader investigation into an alleged coup attempt, despite the absence of credible evidence. It is being used to suppress critical voices,” the statement said. Concerns Over Due Process and Human Rights Violations Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the secrecy of the trial, closed court sessions, and lack of transparency in the investigation. Activists argue that these factors indicate serious violations of due process. A particularly troubling aspect of the case is Khakimova’s separation from her two young children, who are two years old and nine months old. At the time of her arrest, she was still breastfeeding her younger child. Authorities have denied her mother’s request to bring the infant to the detention center, and her property has been confiscated, exacerbating her family’s financial difficulties. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has urged the Tajik government to: Release Khakimova immediately. Respect her rights as a mother and consider the wellbeing of her children. Ensure a fair and transparent judicial process. International Condemnation Several other human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have also condemned the eight-year prison sentence handed to Khakimova. The 31-year-old journalist was convicted of “complicity in high treason using her official position”, a charge that has sparked public outrage and widespread debate on social media. On February 13, the Chairman of Tajikistan’s Supreme Court acknowledged public criticism of the verdict but defended the decision, stating that Tajik law does not provide for leniency in cases involving “especially grave crimes”. Khakimova’s case has become a symbol of shrinking press freedoms in Tajikistan. With global human rights organizations increasing pressure, the Tajik government now faces growing calls to reconsider her sentence and uphold freedom of the press and due process.

4 weeks ago

Civil Aviation AZAL Plane Crash Aktau Plane Crash Compensation

Russian Insurer Pays Compensation for AZAL Crash Near Aktau

The Russian insurance company AlfaStrakhovanie has completed payments under aviation hull insurance for the Embraer 190 aircraft operated by AZAL Airlines that crashed near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. Additionally, compensation payments to passengers have begun, according to Ilya Kabachnyk, Deputy General Director for Aviation and Space Insurance at the company. "Full payment for the aircraft was made in February," Kabachnyk stated, noting that a significant portion of the risk was reinsured by the Russian National Reinsurance Company (RNPC). While the exact amount of compensation has not been disclosed, industry experts estimate it to be between $25 million and $30 million. Compensation payments to passengers began in January and are ongoing. These payments are being made in accordance with the Montreal Convention of 1999 and Russia’s Compulsory Insurance of Civil Liability of Carriers (OSGOP) law, which provides for compensation of up to 2 million RUB (approximately $22,000) for injury or loss of life. Regarding potential claims for damage to third parties, Kabachnyk said no such claims have been received so far. "If they arise, we will work with the airline accordingly," he added. Investigation and Cause of the Crash The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, during an AZAL flight from Baku to Grozny. There were 67 people on board, 38 of whom died, the majority of them Azerbaijani citizens. According to Reuters, citing an unnamed source, the aircraft was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S missile. Azerbaijani authorities have supported this claim, stating that they have recovered fragments of the missile. In early February, Kazakhstan published a preliminary report on the crash, which described external damage to the aircraft.

4 weeks ago