• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00198 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09152 0%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
12 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 935

U.S. Urges Tajikistan to Enforce Sanctions on Russian Firms Amid Ongoing Compliance Review

The Tajik government has received an official letter from the United States requesting compliance with sanctions against several Russian companies operating in the country, Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State Property Management Sulton Rakhimzoda announced at a press conference on February 11. According to Rakhimzoda, the U.S. has requested clarification on what measures Tajik authorities plan to take regarding the sanctions. “This is a sensitive topic, and it is currently under consideration,” he stated. He added that sanctions against Russian companies are not a new phenomenon and that businesses affected by the restrictions should already have mechanisms in place to adapt. “It is clear that sanctions impact companies to varying degrees. However, as far as I know, they have already developed strategies to operate under these conditions. These issues are also being discussed in negotiations with the government,” Rakhimzoda said. He noted that the Investment Committee does not oversee this sector directly, but that the relevant government agencies are handling the matter. Following the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the U.S. and the European Union imposed strict sanctions on several Russian enterprises. In January 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Gazpromneft Tajikistan along with its parent company, Gazprom Neft. Tajik authorities have stated that the sanctions will not affect oil product imports into the country. However, experts warn that the restrictions could eventually impact other companies cooperating with Gazpromneft Tajikistan.

Kazakhstan to Plant Nearly Half of Its Dried Aral Seabed with Saxaul

By the end of 2025, saxaul forests will cover approximately 40% of Kazakhstan's portion of the dried-up Aral Seabed, according to Azamat Abuov, head of the Department of Reproduction and Use of Forests and Flora at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Afforestation efforts in the former Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest inland body of water, aim to restore the region’s fragile ecosystem. Both public and private entities are participating in the project, which seeks to establish a “green belt” to stabilize the soil and curb the spread of more than 100 million tons of salt, sand, and dust from the exposed seabed to surrounding areas each year. Saxaul has been selected as the primary species for reforestation due to its suitability for the region’s arid conditions. “Currently, work on the Kazakh section has been carried out across 475,000 hectares, with additional efforts focused on natural regeneration. If we consider all initiatives together, afforestation has already covered 612,000 hectares. Plans for 2025 include an additional 428,000 hectares, bringing the total to 1.1 million hectares by the end of the year, ultimately covering about 40% of the dried-up area with saxaul,” Abuov said at a press conference in Astana. He added that approximately 300 local residents are actively involved in the project, collecting and planting saxaul seeds. Ruslan Akhmetov, director of the Almaty branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry, highlighted that planting in the dried-up Aral Sea basin presents challenges due to high soil salinity, making saxaul the optimal choice as a salt-resistant plant. To support the initiative, a nursery has been established at the site to cultivate seedlings adapted to local soil conditions. Alibi Gaziz, general director of the Republican Forest Breeding and Seed Center, announced that two wells will be drilled in the dried seabed. “These will serve as oases, providing watering holes for animals and nurseries nearby. Water will be drawn from depths of 500 - 600 meters, with moderate salinity, making it suitable for irrigating plants and sustaining wildlife,” he explained. According to Gaziz, wildlife has already begun returning to the saxaul plantations in Kazakhstan’s section of the former Aral Sea, with hares, foxes, and gerbils spotted in the area, signaling the ecosystem’s gradual recovery. At its peak in the mid-20th century, the Aral Sea spanned 68,000 square kilometers along the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border. However, large-scale water diversion from its two main tributaries, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, for cotton irrigation in the 1960s triggered its rapid decline. By 2007, the sea had shrunk to just 10% of its original size, marking one of the planet’s worst environmental disasters. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Uzbekistan is also implementing afforestation measures to restore its portion of the dried-up Aral Sea, while broader regional efforts continue to improve water inflow to the Northern Aral Sea.

Innovative Solution Connects Kyrgyzstan’s Most Remote Village to the Internet, Sparking Further Development

Until recently, the village of Zardaly, in the Batken region of southwest Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous area on the border of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, was almost completely cut off from the rest of the world.  There were no road connections and certainly no information highway. That all changed recently, however, when the Kyrgyz chapter of the Internet Society, an international organization aiming to bridge the digital divide, led a project to connect Zardaly to the internet. The project has inverted the arc of the typical development model, with the new technology subsequently sparking investment in more traditional infrastructure such as roads, energy production, and access to government services. [caption id="attachment_28530" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: Internet Society, Kyrgyz Chapter[/caption] The idea of connecting Zardaly to the internet was prompted in large part by the Covid-19 pandemic, the co-founder of the Internet Society’s Kyrgyz chapter Talant Sultanov told The Times of Central Asia. “During the pandemic, we were working on a project to ensure continuing education for kids whose schools were forced to close. The government passed a law mandating the availability of online education for children in the country, but some schools lacked internet connectivity and kids were therefore effectively missing out on education. So, we decided to find the most difficult case in this regard and use it as an example proving that establishing an internet connection can be done anywhere,” Sultanov explained. [caption id="attachment_28531" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: Internet Society, Kyrgyz Chapter[/caption] Zardaly’s remote location presented some steep challenges. The standard solution based on fiber-optic cables was not possible because of the mountainous terrain and extreme weather conditions, while the satellite technology for such a project was only just emerging when the project was originally conceived, and so was also not an option. Instead, Sultanov explained, the project team designed a solution around radio signals. “We basically found the closest internet location and installed radio transmitters,” he said. This kind of solution required direct lines of sight between the connection nodes, however, so hubs had to be built on mountaintops, further increasing the difficulty level. [caption id="attachment_28532" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: Internet Society, Kyrgyz Chapter[/caption] Donkeys Carrying Solar Panels The project’s designers also had to deal with the fact that there was no paved road leading to Zardaly, nor any electricity in the village. So, to get this modern technology up and running, the team turned to the traditional transport mode of donkeys to move the equipment needed to install the network of hubs and towers, which meant traveling along a treacherous unpaved path etched into the mountainside. “Our engineer suffered a broken arm from falling boulders, and another nearly fell off a cliff,” said Sultanov. [caption id="attachment_28533" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: Internet Society, Kyrgyz Chapter[/caption] To overcome the lack of electricity, the team had to bring in solar panels and batteries to store the energy. Sophisticated gel batteries were initially used but later had to be swapped out for traditional car batteries, which locals were more familiar with and able to repair on...

Kyrgyz Citizen Arrested in U.S. for Illegally Exporting Firearms to Russia

A Kyrgyz citizen has been accused of illegally exporting American semi-automatic rifles and pistols from the United States to Russia via Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges on its official website. U.S. federal authorities in Brooklyn have indicted 46-year-old Kyrgyz national Sergei Zharnovnikov, alleging that he orchestrated a criminal scheme to smuggle American firearms to Russia using a front company. “Zharnovnikov traveled from Kyrgyzstan to the United States last month and was arrested on January 24, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, while attending the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show to meet with U.S. gun dealers,” the Department of Justice stated. Zharnovnikov is currently in custody and is set to stand trial in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. According to U.S. prosecutors, Zharnovnikov conspired with others to violate American export control laws by shipping firearms to Russian buyers. He reportedly signed a five-year, $900,000 contract with a Virginia-based arms company to export rifles from the U.S. to Kyrgyzstan. However, the company’s export license explicitly prohibited the resale or re-export of these weapons to Russia. Investigators allege that Zharnovnikov disregarded these restrictions, instead selling the firearms to a front company in Kyrgyzstan, which then transferred them to Russia. U.S. authorities discovered that the Bishkek-based company had signed a $10 million contract with a Moscow-based firm, suggesting the weapons may have been delivered in multiple shipments. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York John J. Durham emphasized the gravity of the case: “The defendant used a complex scheme to circumvent export controls and ship semi-automatic firearms to Russia. Today’s indictment sends a clear message that we will vigorously enforce laws designed to protect U.S. foreign policy and national security.” This is the second high-profile case involving the smuggling of American weapons to Russia. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kyrgyz security services had intercepted attempts to re-export American-made arms and weapons components to Russian organized crime groups.

Uzbekistan Launches Eco-Friendly Program to Reward Green Lifestyles

Uzbekistan has introduced a new initiative to promote eco-friendly habits. A presidential decree has been adopted as part of the state program for implementing the 'Uzbekistan 2030' strategy during the country's 'Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy'. The nationwide movement, One Million Green Families, aims to encourage sustainable living and raise environmental awareness. The program seeks to integrate eco-friendly habits into daily life through advocacy efforts and incentives. The initiative is based on several key principles: Promoting a healthy lifestyle through better nutrition, daily walks, and jogging Encouraging the use of green transportation, such as bicycles Reducing plastic waste Preventing food waste Using water, gas, and electricity more efficiently Sorting waste for recycling To support this initiative, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, along with the Ministry of Digital Technologies, will launch a digital platform in June. This platform will track participation and offer incentives to those who actively adopt eco-friendly practices. Citizens who demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainable living will earn the title of "Eco-Active Citizen". Benefits include a 10% discount on public services and lower interest rates on consumer loans from state-owned banks. Families in which all adults achieve this status will be recognized as Green Families, and will have a chance to win one of 14 electric cars awarded annually through an open competition. The initiative also extends to local communities. Mahallas (neighborhoods) where at least half of the residents qualify as Green Families will compete in the Cleanest Mahalla and Greenest Mahalla contests. Winning communities will receive 500 million UZS ($38,500) to fund local infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs, energy-efficient lighting, playgrounds, green spaces, and waste management upgrades.

Elon Musk Calls for Closure of RFE/RL and VOA: What Would It Mean for Central Asia?

Following recent discussions on the potential closure of USAID, which has already caused concern among journalists and public activists receiving its grants, Elon Musk has weighed in on more U.S.-funded institutions. The billionaire has called for the shutting down of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA) - media organizations funded by the U.S. government. Musk criticized the outlets, labeling their employees as “radical leftist lunatics who talk to themselves while burning through $1 billion a year of American taxpayer money.” However, in Central Asia, RFE/RL's affiliates differ significantly from their European counterparts. They are far from being “radical leftists” and, in general, do not adhere to any particular ideology. Nonetheless, these branches have faced their own controversies and increasing government restrictions. [caption id="attachment_28526" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The headquarters of Voice of America, Washington, D.C.; image: Stierch[/caption] Allegations of Bias and Internal Controversy Concerns about RFE/RL’s editorial independence in Central Asia are not new. In 2019, former Radio Azattyk (RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service) editor Asem Tokayeva publicly criticized the network’s leadership under Abbas Javadi, an Iranian journalist who headed the Central Asian division. Tokayeva accused Javadi and Azattyk editor Torokul Doorov of turning the outlet into a propaganda tool for then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In response, Tokayeva published a series of allegations on Facebook in early 2019, and by April of that year, Javadi was dismissed. Around the same time, Radio Ozodi (RFE/RL’s Tajik service) director Sojida Jakhfarova was also removed from her position following public pressure from the Tajik opposition. Critics accused her of aligning the outlet’s editorial policies too closely with the government of President Emomali Rahmon. Shortly after, the editor-in-chief of the entire RFE/RL media corporation, Nenad Pejic, was also dismissed. Growing Government Restrictions Beyond internal scandals, RFE/RL’s affiliates in Central Asia have faced increasing government-imposed limitations: Tajikistan: Radio Ozodi has been periodically blocked in the country and has been inaccessible since 2021. Uzbekistan: Radio Ozodlik has faced long-standing access difficulties. Kyrgyzstan: In 2022, the Ministry of Culture officially blocked the Radio Azattyk website, citing content that was allegedly against state interests. Kazakhstan: In early 2024, 36 Azattyk journalists were denied accreditation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to alleged national security concerns. RFE/RL leadership had to intervene to resolve the issue. RFE/RL’s Restructuring in Central Asia In 2023, RFE/RL announced plans to restructure its Russian-language editorial operations in Kazakhstan. The media corporation confirmed that instead of maintaining separate Russian and national-language services in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, it would consolidate its efforts into a single Central Asian bureau. “RFE/RL is fully committed to providing independent and impartial news to audiences across Central Asia in national languages and Russian,” said Karin Marie, Director of External Communications at RFE/RL. “We are working to strengthen our ability to cover the most important news in Russian, maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal structures and processes. We will pool our resources and talents to create a new regional unit covering all of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan....