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Media Freedom

Sentencing of Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova Draws Outrage in Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has convicted journalist Rukhshona Khakimova of high treason and sentenced her to eight years in prison. Her lawyer criticized the ruling, noting that the court failed to take into account her status as a mother. Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s journalistic community has condemned the sentence as "excessively harsh" and "shocking." Khakimova’s relatives plan to appeal the verdict. The court’s decision was announced on February 5 during a closed hearing held at the Dushanbe detention center, alongside other verdicts in the “coup d’état case." Khakimova is the niece of Shokirjon Khakimov, the first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Khakimova was first charged seven months ago but was allowed to remain free due to her responsibilities as a mother of two young children. However, her documents were confiscated, preventing her from leaving her place of residence. Following the verdict, she was immediately taken into custody inside the courtroom. Tajikistan’s journalistic community has raised serious concerns about the fairness of the trial, particularly due to the lack of transparency surrounding the case. The authorities have refused to comment, citing state secrecy. Khakimova’s prosecution is believed to be linked to her investigation into China’s influence in Tajikistan. As part of her research, she reportedly interviewed several defendants in the coup case, including former MP Saidjafar Usmonzoda, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison. The prosecution had initially sought a 17-year prison sentence for Khakimova, but the court reduced it to eight years under Article 63 of the Criminal Code. However, lawyer Turob Dilayev noted that the court failed to consider the legal provision allowing for sentence postponement for women with young children. As a result, Khakimova’s two children — a two-year-old and a nine-month-old — have been placed in the care of relatives. The court also seized the family's savings, originally intended for buying a home. The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan has strongly criticized the ruling. Its head, Nuriddin Karshiboyev, stated that journalists had hoped for justice but were left “shocked” by the harsh sentence. Khurshed Atovullo, director of the Centre for Journalist Studies of Tajikistan, called the ruling excessive, arguing that conducting a survey should not be grounds for criminal prosecution. Gulnora Amirshoeva, head of the Coalition of Women Journalists of Tajikistan, expressed outrage, particularly over Khakimova’s separation from her children. She voiced hope that the case would be reviewed and that the execution of the sentence would be suspended. International human rights organizations have also condemned the verdict. Siynat Sultonalieva, Human Rights Watch’s representative for Central Asia, stated that Tajikistan continues to persecute journalists and human rights defenders. She noted that Khakimova is the ninth journalist to receive a long-term sentence and called on authorities to end the pressure on the press.

Crime

Abenov Among Kazakh Deputies Targeting Bride Kidnapping

Kazakhstani parliamentarian Murat Abenov has proposed introducing a specific article in the Criminal Code to criminalize bride theft, suggesting prison terms of up to ten years. While some lawmakers support his initiative, others believe existing laws are sufficient to address such crimes. Proposal to Address Bride Theft According to Abenov, three crimes against women have been recorded this year under Article 125 of the Criminal Code, which covers “Kidnapping.” However, Abenov believes the actual number of such cases is significantly higher. For instance, over the past three years, 214 women filed complaints related to bride theft, but only ten cases went to trial. Abenov has proposed a separate article in the Criminal Code to specifically address bride theft, with penalties designed to reflect the severity of the crime. His proposal includes: A minimum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of 2,000 monthly calculation indices (MCI), equivalent to 7.8 million KZT ($15,000), for kidnapping a woman to force her into marriage; If the abducted woman is under 18, if force is used, or if the crime involves multiple perpetrators, the penalty would increase to a fine of 5,000 MCI (19.6 million KZT or $37,800) or three to five years in prison; and In cases where unintentional harm to the victim’s health occurs during the abduction, the sentence could be up to ten years in prison. "If a woman is held against her will and subjected to psychological or physical pressure, the law must protect the victim," Abenov emphasized, confirming that the proposal has already been submitted to a working group for consideration. Debate Among Lawmakers This is not the first time the issue of bride theft has been raised in Kazakhstan’s parliament. In December 2023, another Mazhilis deputy, Yedil Zhanbyrshin, introduced a similar initiative, which was supported by Mazhilis Speaker Yerlan Koshanov. However, that proposal was not formalized into legislation. Some deputies argue that existing laws, such as Article 125, are sufficient. This article provides for imprisonment of four to seven years for kidnapping, regardless of the victim’s identity. "We already have articles in the Criminal Code addressing illegal detention and kidnapping. I’m not convinced we need to specify that it’s a fiancée. What’s the difference? Whether I kidnap a child, an adult, or a senior citizen, it is already a criminal offense," said MP Aidos Sarim. Bride Theft in Central Asia As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, 18 criminal cases of bride theft were initiated in Kazakhstan in 2023. Six of these cases occurred in the country’s largest city, Almaty, while one was recorded in the capital, Astana. Circumventing the bride price, alyp qashu – “take and flee” - is a ritual form of bride-snatching endemic throughout much of Central Asia. With the Soviets having destroyed swathes of local identity, debate rages as to the ethnographic roots of the practice, but what is certain is that it was on the increase in the 2010s. Most prevalent regionally in Kyrgyzstan, where it is known as Ala...

AZAL Plane Crash

In Azerbaijan, Anger Toward Russia Simmers After Plane Crash Report

Commentators in Azerbaijan have reacted to a preliminary report on the Dec. 25 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane with another round of scathing criticism of Russia, which Azerbaijan accuses of accidentally firing on the aircraft from the ground. The report that was released on Tuesday by Kazakhstan, where the passenger plane crashed after diverting from a planned landing in Russia, did not clear up whether Russia had fired on the plane, saying only that objects that were not part of the plane had struck it and caused significant damage. While a full report is in the works, that could take many more months, during which time tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia are likely to stew or escalate unless Azerbaijan gets the full apology and accountability that it demands. Some analysts in Azerbaijan are already fuming about what they characterize as an evasive statement by Russian civil aviation authority Rosaviatsiya about the preliminary report on the crash that killed 38 out of the 67 people on the plane. The Russian statement on Telegram noted that the report “does not contain conclusions about the causes of the incident” and acknowledged that the plane was damaged by external impacts. “However, the report does not indicate that the Kazakh side identified foreign objects inside the aircraft, while the Russian Federation has not yet had the opportunity to examine these elements, as they have not been handed over for expert analysis,” Rosaviatsiya said. The statement also notes that the crew of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane on the Baku-Grozny route “independently” decided to divert to Aktau, Kazakhstan, even though Russian air traffic controllers had proposed other Russian airports for landing. Lastly, it says the pilots of the Embraer 190 aircraft told Russian air traffic controllers that there had been a bird strike and an oxygen cylinder explosion on the plane, theories that have been widely attributed to the pilots’ confusion at the time and have since been almost entirely discredited. “This means that the Russian side is still clinging to the crew's assumptions as a lifeline. While Baku does not accuse Moscow of deliberately downing the aircraft, it is strongly urging Russia to take responsibility,” Samir Veliyev wrote in an analysis on Caliber, a Baku-based news organization. “The situation as it stands today clearly shows that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Russian side to deny its involvement in the incident. So why drag this out? Baku will not back down from its already stated position, which is based on irrefutable facts,” Veliyev wrote. Another news outlet in Azerbaijan, aze.media, said Russia knew about the investigation results in advance and could have acknowledged its alleged role. “But instead, the Kremlin, as always, chose the ‘we know nothing’ tactic and decided to simply ignore the obvious,” aze.media said in an opinion piece. Numerous aviation and security specialists have said damage to the plane’s fuselage is consistent with shrapnel marks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, in a phone conversation. However, the...

Bilateral Relations

Kyrgyzstan Raises First Sovereign Bond to Mitigate China’s Growing Influence

On February 4, Kyrgyz president Sadyr Japarov embarked on a four-day state visit to China, visiting Beijing and the northern city of Harbin for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asian Winter Games. The visit comes against a backdrop of increasing engagement between Bishkek and Beijing. Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, says that certain groups within the government are worried about an overreliance on China. “This is the problem of the current political leadership,” Umarov says. “They want to do more with China … they want to have more investment from China, but they have this debt that they inherited from the previous administrations.” Indeed, 36.7% of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign debt is now owed to the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank), Beijing’s state-run lender which traditionally deals with foreign investments. China is also responsible for 46% of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade. With Russia hemorrhaging influence in the region amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, accessing new sources of investment has risen up the agenda in Bishkek. The Name’s Bond A key plank of these diversification attempts was put forward on January 13, when the Minister of Economy and Commerce, Bakyt Sydykov, announced plans to raise $1.7 billion through the sale of ten-year sovereign bonds in Hong Kong. “The country intends to tap into the international market for the first time,” Sydykov said. “We want to use Hong Kong’s role as a financial center to attract more potential investors, probably more diversified investors.” For Iskender Sharsheyev, an economist, this turn to the global markets cannot come soon enough. “This should have happened thirty years ago,” he says. Sharsheyev notes that the groundwork has been laid over the last few years, with ratings agency Moody’s reaffirming its B3 credit rating last year and projecting a “stable” outlook for the country. The yield of these bonds has yet to be announced, although Sharsheyev expects it to be reasonably high. “We expect that [the yield] will be worse for our country than for other countries, because, firstly, we are just entering. Secondly, the new flow of cash into the country could create risks; it can also spur inflation.” However, the high yield and the risk is seen as worth the cost. “The bond offering is an example of how Kyrgyzstan is trying to balance out its debt portfolio and have diversified ties with different creditors,” says Umarov. He notes that this mirrors a trend seen across Central Asia, where bonds have not traditionally been used as a means of fundraising but have become increasingly popular over recent years. In October 2024, Kazakhstan issued its first dollar-denominated Eurobond since 2015, the 10-year bond raising $1.5 billion with a yield of 4.714%. Sharsheyev believes that some of the proceeds of the bond sale will be used specifically to head off debts to Beijing. “China is the main [source of] pressure. To maintain sovereignty, we have begun to service the external debt. Our country has spent an average of $400-500 million on paying...

Economy

Trump’s Trade Wars and Kazakhstan’s Economic Jitters

U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing his country's economic challenges with aggressive trade policies, threatening tariff barriers and demanding concessions from major economies. The Times of Central Asia explores whether these actions could deepen economic challenges in Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region. A New Round of Trade Wars In early February, the United States officially announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, alongside a reduced 10% tariff on Canadian energy resources. Additionally, a 10% tariff was imposed on all Chinese imports. The justification given was to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. While Mexico and Canada managed to delay the new tariffs through negotiations, China responded swiftly with retaliatory measures. According to China's Ministry of Finance, Beijing imposed a 10% tariff on U.S. oil and agricultural machinery imports, and a 15% duty on coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Additionally, Chinese regulators launched an antitrust investigation into Google, further escalating tensions. Despite these developments, a resolution remains possible, though seemingly ever more distant. On February 3, Trump announced plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but that call was then canceled following China's retaliatory measures. In a further escalation, on February 5, the US Postal Service said it has stopped accepting parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong until further notice. Meanwhile, Trump has also signaled plans to impose new duties on goods from the European Union. As of November 2024, China was the third-largest U.S. trading partner, accounting for 11.3% of total U.S. foreign trade. Mexico (15.4%) and Canada (13.8%) ranked first and second, respectively. In contrast, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations do not rank among the top 15 U.S. trading partners. Domestic Issues Outweigh External Pressures According to economist Aidarkhan Kusainov, Trump's trade policies are unlikely to have a direct impact on Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Speaking to The Times of Central Asia, Kusainov argued that domestic economic challenges far outweigh the influence of global trade wars. "Our economy faces significant internal distortions, making global trade wars a relatively minor factor. Inflation in Kazakhstan is not caused by external pressures but by rising fuel and utility costs, tax policies, and discussions about increasing value-added tax (VAT). Within a short period, the tenge’s exchange rate against the U.S. dollar has shifted from 490 to 530," he said. Kusainov further emphasized that if Kazakhstan's inflation rate were around 2%, any impact from global factors would be worth analyzing. However, with official inflation at 9% - and real inflation likely much higher - domestic issues are the primary concern. "Our economy is so small compared to the world's leading economies that its presence in the global market is nearly imperceptible. By economic volume, we are smaller than some Chinese provinces. Other Central Asian countries are even less integrated into global trade," Kusainov noted. He warned that only a large-scale global crisis could significantly impact Kazakhstan’s economy, potentially exposing internal vulnerabilities that the government can no longer mitigate. Inflation Risks Inflation remains a pressing concern in...

AZAL Plane Crash

“Mayday! Mayday!” Kazakhstan Releases Report on AZAL Plane Crash

A preliminary report on the Dec. 25 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Kazakhstan contains details that could be consistent with widespread assertions that the aircraft was damaged by ground fire during an earlier attempt to land as planned in Russia. But the report, released on Tuesday by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, leaves many questions unanswered about the crash that killed 38 out of the 67 people on board the plane and sharpened tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. [caption id="attachment_28337" align="aligncenter" width="923"] Image: Department for Investigation of Accidents and Incidents in Transport preliminary report[/caption] An investigation is ongoing and a final report will be prepared on the disaster just outside the Kazakh city of Aktau, meaning that more information could emerge on Russia’s alleged culpability in the case. While the preliminary report helps to fill out a picture of the chaos and confusion that unfolded on the Embraer 190 plane on the Baku-Grozny route, it is unlikely to satisfy Azerbaijan, which accused Russia of a coverup and demanded accountability. The report on the politically sensitive case says its purpose is to focus on aviation safety and not to establish anyone’s guilt. Assigning blame could come in criminal cases that were opened by Azerbaijani and Kazakh prosecutors, though holding those responsible to account, especially if they are in Russia, will be a challenge. [caption id="attachment_28338" align="aligncenter" width="851"] Image: Department for Investigation of Accidents and Incidents in Transport preliminary report[/caption] The report says parts of the plane were hit by objects from outside the plane and photos show portions of the fuselage riddled with holes, but the analysis doesn’t confirm that they were the result of missile shrapnel as some security and aviation analysts have said. “The initial inspection of the surviving fragments revealed numerous through and non-through damages of various sizes and shapes in the tail section of the fuselage, vertical stabilizer and stabilizer, elevator and rudder. Similar damages were found on the left engine and left wing of the aircraft, as well as on the units and components of the aircraft. In some places, the damages have a regular rectangular shape,” the report said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, in a phone conversation. However, the Russian leader did not acknowledge that the aircraft had been accidentally hit by Russian fire before diverting to Aktau. Russia has said the area was under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time. Kazakhstan has led the investigation, which includes representatives from Azerbaijan, Russia and Brazil. The Canada-based International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency that oversees aviation safety, is also involved. The preliminary report provides a picture of the flight and subsequent crash that is consistent with past accounts of survivors and other sources of information, though it also offers gripping detail from the data and cockpit voice recorders that were recovered and analyzed in Brazil, where the plane model is made. At one point, the sound of a boom is recorded. Citing the...