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Diplomatic Protest

Iranian Embassy Posts on Samarkand’s Persian Heritage Spark Uzbek Protest

Uzbekistan has lodged a diplomatic protest with Iran over social media posts describing Samarkand's architecture as part of Persian civilization. The posts targeted United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On October 23, Uzbekistan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromjon Aloyev met with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Ali Eskandari, who was handed a diplomatic note of protest. Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry described posts published by Iranian diplomatic missions on X as a one-sided and politicized interpretation of Samarkand's history. Tashkent demanded that the posts be removed and that similar incidents be avoided in the future. The dispute followed Rubio's visit to Samarkand on October 19, when he recorded a video in Registan Square highlighting the city's historical role in international trade. Iran's embassy in Armenia described the site where Rubio stood as part of Persian civilization. The embassy in Zimbabwe called Registan's arches a "hallmark of Iranian-Islamic civilization," accusing Rubio of seeking to destroy that heritage. Iran's embassy in Bulgaria also criticized Rubio for disparaging Persian civilization while standing in front of monuments bearing its influence. Earlier, during an October 7 speech in Athens, Rubio recalled the destruction of the Acropolis by the forces of Persian King Xerxes in 480 BCE. He also attacked Iran's current clerical rulers, accusing them of promoting a "cult of death." Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry said that the heritage of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and other historic cities reflects centuries of statehood and cultural development among the Uzbek people. Tashkent objected to the use of the country's history in political disputes between other states. Samarkand has deep ties to the Persian-speaking world. Before the Arab conquest, it was one of the centers of Sogdiana, whose inhabitants spoke a language belonging to the Iranian language family. Persian later became widely used in Central Asian cities, including in literature and scholarship. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, Samarkand was the capital of Timur's empire. Craftsmen from various regions, including Iran and the historic region of Khorasan, participated in the construction of its monumental buildings. The Registan architectural ensemble was built between the 15th and 17th centuries, combining local artistic traditions with those of the wider Islamic world. The concept of Persian civilization encompasses a cultural area much larger than modern Iran. UNESCO describes Samarkand as a crossroads of cultures, reflecting influences from successive civilizations. The Iranian embassies did not make territorial claims against Uzbekistan; their posts concerned cultural and architectural history. Samarkand's heritage has also been a subject of debate within Central Asia. During the Soviet redrawing of Central Asia's internal borders in 1924, Samarkand and Bukhara became part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Both cities historically had substantial Persian-speaking populations, and Tajik continues to be spoken there today. Historians have also documented Soviet-era pressure on Tajik residents to register as Uzbeks, contributing to longstanding disputes over the cities' ethnic composition. The dispute occurred amid increased U.S. diplomatic engagement in Central Asia. During his visit, Rubio attended a C5+1 meeting with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries. The talks focused on expanding economic...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team looks at Kyrgyzstan carrying out a new round of arrests in the run-up to the country's upcoming presidential elections, including the son of a former president; new immigration and foreign-worker quotas being introduced in the country; increasingly ominous warnings from Russia's foreign minister toward the region; and a renewed outbreak of fighting along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border that is already creating serious problems on both sides. We'll also be looking at an almost unprecedented wave of resignations and replacements across the senior ranks of Central Asia's military and security establishments, as well as Kazakhstan moving to dismiss a significant portion of its Supreme Court. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be speaking with one of the region's most prominent human rights activists, fresh from a major international human rights conference, about some increasingly dire warnings for the future of rights and political freedoms across Central Asia. Special guest: Leila Nazgül Seiitbek (Freedom for Eurasia)

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

SCO Economic Ambitions Outpace Agreement

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) renewed calls for a development bank at its October 20 heads of government meeting in Dushanbe, but the institution remains under negotiation more than a year after members reached political agreement on its creation. Participants adopted a joint communiqué and decisions on economic cooperation, including joint manufacturing and transportation. Financing those ambitions remains a central challenge. Members backed the bank at their September 2025 summit in Tianjin. A year later, the Bishkek summit ended without a founding agreement or capital commitments, and no launch date was set. The SCO brings together ten countries whose economic priorities differ sharply. China and India are among the world's largest economies, while Russia and Iran face Western sanctions. For Central Asian members, the organization offers another route to investment, but agreement on shared goals has yet to produce a common financing institution. Different Priorities Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda reported that SCO countries accounted for 70% of Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover in January–August 2026. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment from member states amounted to just $350 million for the whole of 2025. "These figures demonstrate the enormous untapped potential of our investment cooperation, which significantly lags behind the dynamics of trade relations," Rasulzoda said. Iran has different concerns. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref called for wider use of national currencies in trade, alongside export insurance and investment protection. Tehran has long sought to reduce its foreign trade dependence on Western financial infrastructure. Sanctions make this an urgent priority, but Iran's interests in international settlements differ considerably from those of India or China, for example. Beijing and New Delhi conduct extensive trade with Western countries, so a single financial model for all SCO members is unlikely to satisfy everyone. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin encouraged joint manufacturing projects using Russia's special economic zones and investment protection agreements. Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, is seeking investors for the Tamchy special investment and financial territory, established in July 2025 in the Issyk-Kul region. First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiev invited SCO partners to develop joint projects there. Financing the Bank A development bank could provide a common source of funding for such projects. In Dushanbe, Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin renewed calls to accelerate its establishment. "We consider it fundamentally important that this institution become a multilateral development bank with a unique mandate, providing access to long-term investment financing without political conditions," he said. Kyrgyzstan also supported establishing the bank. Amangeldiev urged members to draw on existing financing channels, including the SCO Interbank Consortium, while negotiations continue. Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov confirmed Astana's willingness to host the bank's headquarters. Bishkek had already put forward its candidacy at the September summit. Choosing a headquarters is only part of the task. Members must agree on their financial contributions and how the bank will operate, including who decides which projects receive loans. China has far greater financial resources than most of its SCO partners, giving it the potential to become the bank's principal...

NVIDIA

NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang Receives Honorary Judo Black Belt in Astana

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang received an honorary black belt from the International Judo Federation (IJF) in Astana on October 23. The federation said the award recognized his contributions to technology and innovation and the values he shares with the sport. The presentation came during Huang’s visit to Kazakhstan for talks on the country’s AI development. Following the World Judo Championships in Baku, IJF President Marius Vizer traveled to Astana to assess preparations for the 2027 championships, which the city will host. During his visit, Vizer presented Huang with the belt, according to NVIDIA’s account of the ceremony. Timur Kemell, the federation’s director of promotion and development and an Executive Committee member, then presented Huang with the Code of Judo. Its eight values include respect, courage, modesty, and self-control. [caption id="attachment_59188" align="alignnone" width="300"] From left: IJF Executive Committee member Timur Kemell, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, and IJF President Marius Vizer at Huang’s honorary black belt ceremony in Astana. Image: IJF[/caption] The honorary black belt is a symbolic distinction rather than a rank earned through judo training and technical grading. The IJF has made similar awards to prominent figures outside competitive judo, including Pope Francis in 2022 and Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti in 2024. Vizer described Huang’s award as “a symbol of respect, commitment and belonging to the international judo family.” NVIDIA also promoted the award through its Newsroom account on X on October 24, publishing a photograph of Huang alongside Vizer and Kemell. “The black leather jacket wasn’t the final form,” the company wrote, referring to Huang’s familiar attire. Huang discussed martial arts during NVIDIA’s AI Summit in Mumbai in October 2024. In a conversation with actor and martial artist Akshay Kumar, he said both of his children held second-degree black belts. “When you’re good at anything, it gives you confidence to do everything else,” Huang said. Kazakhstan’s traditional wrestling sport, qazaq kuresi, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016. At the 2024 Paris Games, Yeldos Smetov became Kazakhstan’s first Olympic judo champion, following silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at the Tokyo Games.

Huang Backs Kazakhstan’s AI Plans as NVIDIA Expands Partnerships

NVIDIA is expanding its partnerships in Kazakhstan as the country draws on its energy resources, engineering talent, and industrial base to develop AI computing facilities and deploy advanced technology in mining, manufacturing, robotics, and other industries. Kazakhtelecom has already installed NVIDIA processors, while much larger projects involving Firebird and Freedom Holding are under development. On October 23, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang made his first visit to Kazakhstan, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev. Huang met President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and discussed computing investment, robotics, and technology development with government and business leaders. “I commend you for declaring your nation an AI nation,” Huang told Tokayev during their meeting at the Akorda presidential palace. Tokayev described AI and digitalization as national priorities, noting that 2026 had been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. He said Huang’s visit would strengthen cooperation with NVIDIA and welcomed its partnership with Higgsfield, a San Francisco-based AI video and image-generation company co-founded by Kazakh entrepreneur Yerzat Dulat. Huang highlighted partnerships with Kazakhtelecom and Firebird AI KZ and proposed developing Kazakhstan as a global hub for physical AI. Tokayev awarded Huang the Order of Dostyk, First Class, a senior state honor also conferred on former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Robotics and Industrial AI At Astana’s alem.ai center, Huang joined Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev for a fireside discussion on the country’s AI strategy. Madiyev said Kazakhstan’s energy resources, industrial base, and engineers could support the development of physical AI, which enables robots and autonomous machines to operate in the real world. He said Kazakhstan wanted to test and deploy these systems in industrial settings and build companies capable of competing internationally. In an earlier TCA interview, Madiyev said operational data from Kazakhstan’s mines and factories could be used to develop industrial AI systems. “Instead of just exporting energy, in the future, you could transform energy into intelligence and export intelligence,” Huang said. Madiyev also emphasized AI that understands the Kazakh language and cultural context. Freedom Holding presented plans for digital replicas of Almaty and Astana that could be used to train and test autonomous robots in simulated city environments using NVIDIA technology. Separately, inDrive, Pony.ai, and NVIDIA signed a memorandum of understanding to explore autonomous ride-hailing in Kazakhstan. Astana is the proposed first market, subject to feasibility assessments and an agreement with the Kazakh government. AI Computing Infrastructure Freedom Holding CEO Timur Turlov met Huang at alem.ai to discuss the company’s infrastructure plans. Turlov said Freedom was placing an order for its first NVIDIA B300 computing cluster, with a public GPU cloud for businesses and developers planned for 2027. The Turlov-backed Akashi data center campus in Astana is under construction, with a planned capacity of up to 100 megawatts and first-phase commercial operations scheduled for 2027. On October 19, the Eurasian Development Bank announced that it had signed an agreement with AKASHI Data Center PLC to...

Tselinny Center

Tselliny HIMOYA Exhibition: Women’s Memory, Protective Amulets, and Colonial Legacies

Kazakh protective amulets incorporating family photographs are among the works on display at HIMOYA: Matrilineal Energies, Oracular Kin at the Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture in Almaty. Elsewhere, a pregnant bird-woman stands at the boundary between life and death. Artists from Central Asia and beyond explore how inherited beliefs and women’s experiences help preserve cultural identity. The exhibition opened on October 15, 2026, and runs through April 4, 2027. It features more than 20 artists and is curated by Natasha Ginwala, who has previously worked on international projects, including the Gwangju and Sharjah biennials. [caption id="attachment_59058" align="aligncenter" width="682"] From Natasha Ginwala’s personal archive.[/caption] The title HIMOYA evokes protection across several linguistic traditions. In the participating artists’ works, that includes preserving ancestral memory. Speaking at the center, Alima Kairat, Tselinny’s artistic director, said the exhibition’s concept had developed over several years. “For Tselinny, HIMOYA is the culmination of a conversation that began in 2021. We gradually explored questions of maternal memory, rituals, protection, inherited ideas about shame, and care. These themes are deeply rooted in life in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, where ancestral knowledge continues to influence the present and helps us imagine the future in new ways,” she said. Female Figures and Ancestral Memory Ginwala’s curatorial concept centers on women’s experiences and knowledge passed down through generations. The artists draw on folk narratives and religious practices, including pre-Islamic steppe beliefs, to reconsider ideas about women’s roles and power. “During conversations with the artists as we prepared the project, different female figures emerged – nurturing and powerful figures, as well as ‘monstrous’ beings from folk tales, steppe mythology, and pre-Islamic cosmologies,” Ginwala said. In Kazakh tradition, genealogy is closely linked to the concept of zheti ata, the knowledge of seven generations of ancestors on the paternal side. The custom also served as the basis for prohibitions on marriage between close relatives. HIMOYA turns to another line of inheritance: the maternal one. The grandmother holds a particularly important place as a guardian of family memory. This theme intersects with the history of colonial and Soviet pressure on local beliefs. The artists explore how traditions once dismissed as backward or superstitious have survived through family practices and acquired new meanings in contemporary art. The Bird-Woman Between Two Worlds One of the exhibition’s central works is Gatekeeper by Rajni Perera, an artist born in Sri Lanka and based in Toronto. Her work draws on South Asian folklore and fantasy to explore migration and motherhood, including questions of reproductive rights. [caption id="attachment_59059" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] “Gatekeeper” by Rajni Perera. Image: Theo Frost.[/caption] The life-size sculpture was first presented at the 2025 Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates. It depicts a pregnant woman with features of a hornbill and a crow. Its surface is decorated with motifs inspired by azulejos, painted ceramic tiles widely associated with Portugal and shaped by Islamic decorative traditions. “When I was creating this figure, I was thinking about the umbilical cord because she is pregnant. She seems to pull life out...