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Uzbekistan Airways Reroutes Flights to Europe, Avoiding Russia and Belarus

Uzbekistan Airways has altered its flight routes to Europe, bypassing Russian and Belarusian airspace. The airline’s chairman, Shukhrat Khudoykulov, announced the decision at a press conference on January 28, according to local media reports. Flights are now taking a more southern route through Azerbaijan and Turkey. The change took effect on January 20, 2025. Reason for the Rerouting The airline’s press service told Kun.uz that the decision was made based on a recommendation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and was not related to the recent Azerbaijan Airlines crash. “This is a recommendation from the European Aviation Safety Agency since we also serve European passengers,” the airline’s statement said. The change comes in the wake of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash on December 25, 2024. The aircraft, which was flying from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died, while 29 survived. Initial reports suggested that a Russian air defense system may have mistakenly shot down the plane during a Ukrainian drone attack on Grozny. A missile reportedly exploded near the aircraft, damaging its fuselage. Kazakhstan, which initially led the investigation, has transferred the case to Brazil’s aviation safety agency (CENIPA). The findings have been sent back to Kazakhstan and are expected to be released soon. Impact on Flight Times and Costs In response to Repost.uz, Uzbekistan Airways clarified that the change was made as a precautionary measure and also to helps optimize flight routes. The rerouting has increased travel distances. For example, the Tashkent-Munich flight, which previously covered 4,849 kilometers when flying through Russia, now spans 5,156 kilometers. This adds 30 to 40 minutes to flight times and raises operational costs for the airline.

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Tokayev Outlines Economic Reforms and Calls for Revised Energy Contracts

On January 28, Kazakhstan's capital Astana hosted an expanded government meeting led by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The event focused on the country's socio-economic development in 2024, but this year’s discussion carried broader implications, addressing both domestic and international concerns. Addressing Budget Constraints From the outset, Tokayev made it clear that a key issue for his government is the state budget’s financial shortfall. Analyst Gaziz Abishev noted on his Telegram channel that the problem is not just a lack of funds but a long-standing habit - dating back to 2003 - of addressing challenges by simply increasing spending. “There is no longer an oil windfall to revitalize the dry economy as there was 20 years ago,” Abishev wrote. Adding to the uncertainty, Kazakhstan’s oil revenues face potential disruption from Donald Trump’s stated intention to drive down global hydrocarbon prices. Tokayev outlined a range of measures to fill budget gaps, urging his government to take bold, unconventional steps. He called on officials to act in the country’s best interests without fear of pressure from the Anti-Corruption Service or public opinion. He also stressed the importance of depoliticizing economic partnerships, particularly with Russia and China, cautioning against allowing Russophobic or Sinophobic rhetoric to interfere with business deals. “Money must be attracted from abroad, and this is more important than ever. Without investment, we cannot sustain ourselves. Money doesn’t smell, but it disappears. We need to attract investment from all sides - within the law - without falling into populism. The future of the national economy, and to some extent the country as a whole, is at stake,” Abishev commented. Public Reaction to Tax Reforms Although tax reform was only the sixth of eight key points in Tokayev’s speech, it quickly became the most widely discussed issue among the public. Kazakhstan’s value-added tax (VAT) is currently 12%, with a sufficiency threshold of 78 million tenge ($150,937). The government is considering raising the VAT rate to 20% and lowering the sufficiency threshold to 15 million tenge ($29,026). If implemented, nearly all small businesses would become VAT payers, while the increased tax rate is expected to drive inflation. The government maintains that inflation will not exceed 4.5%, but Tokayev’s mention of “belt-tightening” has already led many to expect rising retail prices. To offset the burden on businesses, the government proposes eliminating mandatory employer pension contributions and reducing the social tax. However, Tokayev himself expressed reservations about cutting the social tax, emphasizing that regional governors (akims) need financial incentives. “Think again. I believe it would be wrong to deprive akims of incentives, especially financial ones. After all, the regions are the country. Find a solution. We will meet again to discuss these issues,” he told the government. The tax reforms will also be debated in Parliament, where the lower house is currently reviewing the draft of the new Tax Code. The government will have to negotiate with members of the Majilis and Senate over the VAT rate, sufficiency threshold, and other sensitive issues. Messages to Foreign Partners...

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Wild Arman Sentenced: From Thief-In-Law to Coup Plotter

On January 27, another high-profile trial related to the January 2022 events concluded in Almaty. More than 40 individuals were in the dock, but the main figures in the proceedings were three individuals: former Almaty city council deputy and popular blogger Kairat Kudaibergen, former head of the Fifth Department of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee Ruslan Iskakov, and crime boss Arman Jumageldiev, better known by his criminal nickname, 'Wild Arman.' Harsh Sentences Most of the defendants received short sentences and were released due to time already served. However, for the main figures in the case, the court handed down the following punishments: Kairat Kudaibergen, former deputy and entrepreneur, received eight years in prison. He was also banned from appearing on social media, organizing rallies, debates, and events, and publishing in the media. Ruslan Iskakov, the former head of the Fifth Department of the National Security Committee, was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison. Arman Jumageldiev (Wild Arman) was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was prohibited from participating in organizations, organizing events, and publishing in the media or on social networks. In addition to this trio, two other lengthy sentences were handed down: former financial police agent Talgat Makhatov received 15 years, whilst journalist Berdakh Berdymuratov was sentenced to seven years. During the trial, two of the four charges initially brought against Kairat Kudaibergen were dropped. Meanwhile, Arman Jumageldiev, who was originally charged under eleven articles of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, faced eight charges by the end of the trial. The 40-year-old crime boss, who along with his defense team has long denied his ties to organized crime, will be released close to the age of retirement should his sentence remain unchanged after his appeal. Under Surveillance Senior Prosecutor of the Almaty Regional Transport Prosecutor’s Office, Mukhit Rysbekov, provided detailed comments on the verdict for Wild Arman (Arman Jumageldiev), revealing the defense’s strategy during the trial. "The court deliberated on the case for about a year. During this time, Jumageldiev’s defenders tried to present him to the court and the public as a patriot, a national hero who helped and protected citizens during the tragic January events. Despite the active campaign organized by Jumageldiev and his defense to rehabilitate his image, we managed to prove the opposite. We proved that back in 2016, long before those events, Jumageldiev led a criminal organization, an armed gang, which included the same representatives of the criminal world,” said Rysbekov. Commenting on Jumageldiev’s sentencing, political analyst Daniyar Ashimbaev noted that the trial had addressed one of the key facets in a broader scheme. "It is clear that the National Security Committee (KNB) was ‘tracking’ this organized criminal group (OCG), which during the January events was supposed to take on the role of establishing 'public governance,' subduing looters, presenting 20 pre-captured individuals as instigators, and ultimately calling for power to be handed over to a 'people’s government' led by the coup organizers," Ashimbaev stated. "This was evident as early as the...

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Kazakhstan and the UAE Are Building a Geoeconomic Powerhouse Spanning Asia and the Gulf

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent mid-January visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit, underscores the strategic importance both nations place on their bilateral ties. ADSW is a prominent global platform dedicated to accelerating sustainable development and promoting international cooperation on the global environmental agenda. The 2025 summit — with the theme, “Nexus of Next: Supercharging Sustainable Progress” — was designed specifically to explore advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and innovative sustainability solutions. As leader of the most dynamic of the Central Asian economies, President Tokayev’s presence signaled his country’s ambition to play a more prominent role in addressing environmental challenges at an international level. In his keynote speech, Tokayev addressed environmental issues that are particularly critical for Kazakhstan, including desertification, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and food security. He emphasized his country’s multifaceted approach to these challenges, which includes digital technologies, large-scale infrastructure projects, and the development of nuclear energy as a low-carbon solution. Kazakhstan has recently launched initiatives, such as expanding solar and wind farms and implementing advanced irrigation systems to combat desertification. Tokayev also highlighted Kazakhstan’s commitment to meeting its renewable energy targets, aiming to generate 15% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, in partnership with global leaders in green technology. Overall, the ADSW Summit provided a platform for Kazakhstan to engage with international partners, share its vision for sustainable development, and explore collaborative opportunities to address global environmental challenges. Kazakhstan’s efforts include the development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will have a capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030, and participation in the Space-D programme, which enhances operational performance through nano-satellites. In particular, President Tokayev met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss bilateral relations. The two leaders agreed to focus on a specific economic agenda — focused on trade, investment, and sustainable development — to create positive bilateral trade dynamics. Their Joint Declaration on Strategic Investment Projects in these fields was also highlighted. Kazakhstan and the UAE have developed a dynamic and multifaceted partnership over the past three decades. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1993, the UAE has become Kazakhstan’s leading strategic partner in the Arab world. Early cooperation focused on trade and investment but has since expanded to include sectors such as petrochemicals, energy, transport, logistics, agriculture, and aerospace. Key milestones include the establishment of direct flight routes between the two countries and the signing of long-term investment agreements in the mid-2000s. Tokayev noted that direct investment from the UAE into Kazakhstan more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, placing the country among the top ten largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan. A focal point of their discussion was the goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion. In this context, the Dubai International Chamber has established a representative office in Kazakhstan to boost trade and investment opportunities further still. For several years, the UAE has been expanding its cooperation with the Greater Caspian...

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Kyrgyzstan Cautions Citizens as Trump Targets Chicago in Migrant Crackdown

Kyrgyzstan opened a consulate in Chicago in 2022 because of the growing Kyrgyz population there. A Kyrgyz community center operates in a Chicago suburb. Kyrgyz cuisine can be sampled in the so-called “Windy City” as well. Now the city is a focal point of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans for the mass deportation of migrants that he says are in the country without permission, and Kyrgyzstan is warning its citizens to follow U.S. immigration law and always carry relevant documents with them. Some people in immigrant communities in Chicago had been uneasy in the last week, expecting federal raids and arrests after Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said on Sunday that operations were conducted in the city “to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.” Deportations of Central Asians increased in the last year of former President Joe Biden’s term. It is unclear to what extent Trump’s deportation plan, one of his key election campaign pledges, will affect people from Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries who are in the United States. Many of the people likely to be affected on Trump’s watch are from larger immigrant communities, including those with roots in Latin America. But in an uncertain, fast-moving environment, Kyrgyzstan is warning its nationals not to take any chances. “Due to recent changes in the United States' immigration policy, the country's official authorities are taking measures to stop illegal immigration at the border and identify individuals residing in the country without legal grounds,” the Kyrgyz embassy in Washington said Monday on social media. Kyrgyzstan advised its citizens “currently in the United States or planning to travel there to strictly adhere to the new provisions of immigration laws and to carry all necessary documents confirming their legal status at all times,” according to the statement. It was accompanied by an image of a loudspeaker blaring the words: “Important message!” Chicago officials had promised to protect migrants under a “sanctuary city” policy in which they don’t cooperate with federal deportation efforts, placing the metropolis in the crosshairs of Trump’s plan. Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, with a population of nearly three million. A 2023 commentary in the Chicago Council on Global Affairs quotes Nurdin Mamatzhan, president of the Kyrgyz Community Center, as saying there are more than 10,000 people from Kyrgyzstan in the Midwestern city. The number is several times higher, according to another estimate. --- The Kyrgyz government provided contact details for questions about staying in the United States: Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the United States and Canada 2360 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20008 Email: kgconsulate.washington@mfa.gov.kg Phone: +1 202 256 2924, +1 202 449 9823, +1 202 449 9822 Consulate General of the Kyrgyz Republic in Chicago 100 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1610, Chicago, IL 60602 Email: kgconsulate.chicago@mfa.gov.kg Phone: +1 312 929 3442, +1 312 994 2416

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Bishkek Residents Can Now Monitor Air Quality in Real Time

Residents of Bishkek can now track air quality in real-time, thanks to a new initiative by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision in partnership with Kyrgyztelecom OJSC. Cameras have been installed at strategic locations, including Mount Boz-Boltok, south of the capital, and the Sovmin residential complex in the southern part of Bishkek. The live camera feeds, available at online.kt.kg, provide the public with a real-time view of air quality and smog levels in the city. According to the Ministry, the project aims to raise public awareness about Bishkek’s environmental challenges and encourage environmentally responsible behavior among residents. The initiative also serves a broader purpose by creating a database for environmental monitoring and scientific research. Additionally, the availability of real-time footage helps prevent the spread of misinformation, such as the use of outdated video materials to manipulate public opinion. Air pollution remains a serious issue for Bishkek, a city with over one million residents. The problem worsens during winter, as many households rely on coal for heating, significantly increasing harmful emissions. Bishkek regularly ranks among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on IQAir’s global air quality index. This initiative marks a step toward greater transparency and public engagement in addressing Bishkek’s air quality issues. By providing residents with accessible, real-time data, authorities hope to inspire collective action to combat pollution in the Kyrgyz capital.