Features - The Times Of Central Asia

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Can the Aral Sea Be Saved?

Thanks to cooperation between the Central Asian states, the ultimate demise of the Aral Sea has been prevented. This year, the Northern Aral Sea has significantly replenished its water reserves. The Northern portion of the Aral Sea has received 12.5 times more water this year than the previous year - up to 75 cubic meters per second, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan stated in July. The Syr Darya River delivers 650 cubic meters of water per second to the Kyzylorda Oblast. "Joint work has been carried out with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In particular, approved water supply schedules are being observed,” Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov explained. Formerly the world's fourth-largest lake covering 68,000 km², the destruction of the Aral Sea first dates back as far as the U.S. Civil War, when, finding his supply of American cotton under threat, the Russian Tsar decided to use the sea’s tributaries to irrigate Central Asia and create his own cotton bowl. With 1.8 million liters of water needed for every bale of cotton, the water soon began to run out. From the 1960s onwards, the sea level began to decline rapidly due to water withdrawal from the main feeder rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya. The local population was growing, and fields needed irrigating. In 1989, the sea split into the Northern (Small) and Southern (Large) Aral reservoirs. [caption id="attachment_21020" align="aligncenter" width="591"] The former port of Zhalanash, Kazakhstan; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Since independence, the rate of shoaling and desertification have continued to increase. Up until the late-1990s, the land surrounding the Aral Sea was still cotton fields; but today, it’s largely an expanse of salinized grey emptiness. The desiccation of the landscape has led to vast toxic dust-storms that ravage around 1.5 million square kilometers. Spreading nitrates and carcinogens, these storms – visible from space – used to occur once every five years, but now strike ten times a year. By 2007, the Aral had shrunk to one-tenth its original size. In 2014, the eastern part of the Southern Lake dried up completely, and the sea's area reached a historical low of 7,297 km². Over half a century, the volume of water had decreased 30-fold, and the sea's salinity has risen sharply. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan still manages to preserve the remnants of the once colossal lake; the region's fisheries and farms continue, and rare species of birds still inhabit the lands surrounding the shoreline. Today, most scientists say restoring the Aral Sea completely is impossible, but Kazakhstan is attempting to preserve the Northern portion, sometimes referred to as the "Small Aral Sea." In 1993, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFSAS) was established, which united Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan in this most challenging of tasks. At the time of IFSAS creation, the water area stood at approximately 36,000 km². Over the following decades, it continued to decline, and in 2001 Vozrozhdeniya (Renaissance) Island became connected to the mainland. Vozrozhdeniya contains...

History

Samarkand: The City that Forged a Country’s Nationhood

The city of Samarkand holds great significance in the history of Central Asia. The etymology of the name “Samarkand” has multiple possible origins. One train of thought is that it is derived from Sanskrit and Old Persian words, with “Samar” meaning “war” and “kand,” a “square” or “place.” Another roots it in the ancient Sogdian language with “Samar” interpreted as “stone” or “rock,” and “kand,” as “fort” or “town.” Some foreign toponymists claim the name originated in the Sanskrit word “Samaria,” signifying a gathering or meeting, whilst according to certain historical accounts, it evolved from the name of its king, Samar, and “kand,” the Turkish word for city. Yet another theory involves Shamar, a Yemen royal, who after seizing the town from the Sogdians, reconstructed and renamed it Samarkand. Today’s Samarkand, one of Central Asia’s oldest cities, is a testament to its enduring resilience and indomitable spirit against centuries of numerous conquests. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the city then known as Maracanda, was the capital of Sogdiana prior to its conquest by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. It was subsequently ruled by various groups, including Central Asian Turks, Arabs, the Samanids of Iran, various Turkic peoples, and the Khwārezm-Shāh dynasty, before being ravaged by Genghis Khan in 1220. After a successful revolt against Mongol rulers in 1365, Samarkand rose to the fore as Central Asia’s economic and cultural capital under the reign of Timur (Tamerlane). In 1550, the city was conquered by Uzbeks and integrated into the Khanate of Bukhara. By the 18th century, the city had fallen into serious decline and remained uninhabited from the 1720s to the 1770s, but once again rose from the ashes when in 1887, it became a provincial capital of the Russian Empire and a railroad center. The city then served as the capital of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1924 to 1936. Samarkand is a city of two parts; the first dating back to medieval times, and the second after the Russian conquest in the 19th century. Despite large-scale destruction by the Russians, the old city’s walls, erected in the 11th century and spanning five miles, remain true to their original plan with the streets running from six gates towards the center housing some of the most magnificent monuments of Central Asian architecture. Constructed between the 14th and 20th centuries, these include the Bībī-Khānom Mosque (1399–1404), commissioned by Timur’s favorite Chinese wife, Timur’s tomb, the Gūr-e Amīr Mausoleum, built around 1405, and the late 15th century Ak Saray tomb with its superb interior fresco. The madrasahs (Islamic schools) of Timur’s grandson, the astronomer Ulūgh Beg (1417–20), and those of Shirdar (1619–1635/36) and Tilakari (mid-17th century) flanking the central Registan Square are but the finest of Samarkand’s many historic mausoleums, madrasahs, and mosques. Famously adorned with magnificent portals, vast colored domes, and remarkable exterior decorations in majolica, mosaic, marble, and gold, the city’s awe-inspiring architecture resulted in Samarkand’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001. The newer...

Kazakhstan Looking to Develop Tourism

In recent years the government has made sizeable efforts to develop the country’s tourism industry. Today, more than ten tourist clusters are being developed in Kazakhstan, including the Almaty agglomeration, the resorts of Burabay, Katon-Karagay, and Bukhtarma in the East Kazakhstan Region, the Caspian resort areas in the west of the country, and ancient Turkestan. [caption id="attachment_20746" align="aligncenter" width="479"] @iStock, Charyn Canyon[/caption] A lot has been done, but there is more to do In June of this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting on developing tourism, where he outlined new priorities. “Today, the share of tourism in GDP has exceeded 9%. So, we can say that this indicator is returning to pre-pandemic levels. About 10% of jobs in the world are provided by tourism. Thirty percent of world exports, 7% of investment, and 5% of tax revenues are attributable to tourism services sector. Kazakhstan has everything necessary for the development of all types of tourism: from environmental to business,” he noted. “Almost 90% of foreign tourists in Kazakhstan come from neighboring CIS countries. There are still a few tourists from further abroad. Meanwhile, international research shows that more than 70% of travelers prefer to visit vacation destinations within a four-hour flight. That is, Kazakhstan can be very attractive to tourists from China, India, East Asia, and the Middle East. At the same time, we must take into account specific issues related to the national mentality of foreign tourists, their interests and demands, and not approach all tourists with a single program. This requires qualified cadres and the will to do quality work. Within five years, we can double or even triple the number of tourists. We need to develop air transportation. First of all, we need to expand the presence of low-cost airlines on popular air routes.” As the most promising destinations, President Tokayev cited the mountain cluster in the Almaty Region, Caspian Sea beaches in the Mangistau Region, and the Shchuchinsk-Burabay resort area in Akmola Region. Almaty was singled out as the locus of tourism development in Kazakhstan. The city accounts for a quarter of the country’s total tourist flow, including half of foreign tourists. President Tokayev also noted shortcomings: in some resort areas, there is not enough capacity, logistics need to be developed, and personnel training is lagging. [caption id="attachment_20747" align="aligncenter" width="456"] @borovoe.kz, Burabay resort area[/caption] Higher rankings and higher investment In May, Kazakhstan rose in the World Economic Forum’s latest Travel & Tourism Development Index, jumping 14 spots to rank 52nd out of 119 countries, ahead of Qatar, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Egypt, and Latvia. Kairat Sadvakassov, chair of the state company, Kazakh Tourism, called this a victory. “Our long-term goal is to break into the top 50 of this ranking. Now, we are only two spots away from [achieving] this goal. This became possible thanks to the coordinated work of central government entities and local executive-branch entities, associations, businesses, and universities,” explained Sadvakassov. This year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports expects more than 10 million...

Uzbekistan Flings Open Doors to Tourists, Foreign and Local

A lot of foreign tourists in Uzbekistan head for fabled Silk Road cities such as Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, but some also go to the Alisher Navoi underground station in the Tashkent metro. There, they admire turquoise imagery and a domed ceiling evoking centuries-old Islamic architecture in a Soviet-era transit system used by hundreds of thousands of commuters every day. The subway system in the Uzbek capital is a showcase for Uzbekistan´s internal tourism ambitions, enticing travelers with posters and video advertisements aimed at generating a domestic market alongside international visitors. State and private TV channels pitch trips to historical and pilgrimage sites for local people. [caption id="attachment_20926" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Tourists visit 16th century historical and religious sites in Nurota, an Uzbek town. Photo: TCA, Sadokat Jalolova.[/caption] These are expansionary times for tourism in the Central Asian country, which is loosening visa restrictions and ramping up its image as a leisure destination while Barcelona, Venice and other international tourism heavyweights in Western Europe are under strain. There are challenges: Infrastructure shortcomings, urban pollution, unregulated construction and occasional friction with UNESCO guidelines. Tourism in Uzbekistan is mostly regional, with the vast majority of foreign visitors coming from post-Soviet states. Some 3.5 million foreign tourists entered the country in the first six months of this year, a 13.3% increase over the same period in 2023, according to the national statistics agency. Of those, 3.2 million came from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Smaller numbers came from Türkiye (52,000), China (29,000), India (28,000), South Korea (20,000), Italy (18,000), and other countries. [caption id="attachment_20928" align="aligncenter" width="522"] The Kalon Mosque, Minaret and the Mir-I-Arab Madrasa, Bukhara. Photo: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Gil Stein, a professor of ancient Near Eastern studies at the University of Chicago, led a university-affiliated tourist group to explore “the traditional crafts and foods of Central Asia” for two weeks in June. The group traveled mostly in Uzbekistan, following a brisk schedule that included Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent and the Ferghana Valley – the latter is a fertile, less-touristed region extending into Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan is “preserving cultural heritage as a way of attracting cultural heritage tourism” and the industry caters to “three or four classes of tourist,” including the local market as well as those seeking to visit Islamic holy places and Buddhist heritage sites, Stein said. His group visited workshops, some run by sixth generation artisans, to marvel at weaved silk, hand-forged Damascus steel knives and other products. “Traditional crafts are alive and well” and they are “patronized by modern Uzbeks” as well as foreign tourists, said Stein, who has traveled to Central Asia for years. He described a “broader opening up” in Uzbekistan as it looks to expand international contacts alongside relationships with China and Russia, the big regional powers. Uzbekistan’s tourism revenue was $2.14 billion in 2023, about 2.35% of GDP. Current measures to boost tourism include a $50 million credit line for local tourism organizations, tax exemptions for some industry operators, hotel management courses, and...

Kazakhstan Intensifies Efforts to Combat Extremism

There appears to be a small, but growing problem with terrorism and extremism in Kazakhstan. More than 30 people from regions around the country have been detained in Kazakhstan so far in 2024, and in March, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) killed two Kazakh citizens who were in Russia, allegedly to carry out a terrorist attack. In response, the country’s Committee for National Security (KNB) had conducted dozens of raids. Kazakhstan’s government gave the KNB additional powers to monitor the internet, and authorities are tightening the law on religion. Kazakhstan’s southern neighbors, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, border Afghanistan. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have had problems with the Taliban and other militant groups during the last 25 years. These include domestic terrorist groups, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the Tajik-led Jamaat Ansarullah, both of which have been based in northern Afghanistan. Kazakhstan has largely avoided problems with Islamic radicals. Citizens from all the Central Asian states have gone to Afghanistan and Middle Eastern countries to join jihadist groups, including a small number of Kazakh citizens. Turkey extradited a 22-year-old Kazakh citizen back to Kazakhstan on January 27, 2024. The Kazakh national, according to the KNB, was a “native of the Turkestan region [who] went to Syria in 2020, where he joined one of the armed groups operating there.” The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a propaganda video in November 2014 that showed Kazakh nationals, including children, in a training camp in Syria. The video described them as “some of our newest brothers from the land of Kazakhstan.” A group of some 25 men whom authorities said were Islamic militants staged attacks in the northwestern Kazakh city of Aktobe, near the Russian border in early June 2016. The group robbed two stores that sold hunting rifles and were involved in shoot-outs with the police and soldiers. At least 25 people were killed, most of them the attackers. Deputies in Kazakhstan’s Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, voiced concerns in October 2023 that radical forms of Islam were spreading in Kazakhstan. Controversial MP Yermurat Bapi said followers of these radical Islamic groups were taking over bazaars in the Atyrau, Aktobe, Mangystau, Ulytau, and Almaty provinces. Bapi and 13 other deputies called on the government and KNB to take measures against these groups and stem extremist and terrorist propaganda from being disseminated inside Kazakhstan. On February 17, 2024, the KNB staged a combined 49 raids on eight unspecified religious extremist groups in the Aktobe, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Turkestan, and Zhetysu provinces. The KNB said it detained 23 people and seized weapons, ammunition, religious literature, narcotics, and cash. On April 1, 2024, the KNB detained a man in the Caspian coastal city of Aktau and found material for making explosives. According to the KNB, the suspect was a follower of a “radical religious ideology,” and was planning to carry out a terrorist attack.” At the start of July, five people were detained in KNB raids in the Atyrau and...

Tajikistan-Born Singer, Criticized in Russia, Prepares to Release an Anti-War Song

In 2023, Tajik-Russian singer Manizha Sanghin, harshly criticized in Russia for her public comments on sensitive issues, travelled to the picturesque “Valley of the Forty Girls” in southern Tajikistan to record an anti-war song to be released on Friday. The mountainous location, known to Tajiks as Childukhtaron, derives its name from ancient lore about a group of girls who turned into towering rock formations when an invading force swept through their homeland. Whether the girls-turned-rocks were meant to block the invaders, or simply bear silent witness, depends on the telling. Tajikistan-born Sanghin said she felt an affinity for the girls as standing at the foot of the rock, she recorded ‘Gun’. Written a decade ago, the song was originally about the devastating civil war in Tajikistan in the 1990s but had been put to rest after being abandoned by music producers in Britain. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they talked about the song again and the singer, a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, said in YouTube video, "I thought, I have to release it. Because now, it's not just a song about war in Tajikistan. It's a song about war in Ukraine, in Gaza, and all wars around the globe." Music producer Liz Horsman who described Sanghin as" brave in the face of ongoing investigations into her anti-war stance,” readily agreed to record the song and since the war made travel between Britain and Russia impossible, the pair arranged to meet in Tajikistan. Seven months pregnant with her daughter, Sanghin described her return to her homeland as “very poetic”. Over the years, the singer has sparked a fair share of controversy. In 2021, when she represented Russia at the Eurovision contest with a song called “Russian Woman,” she was condemned for advocating women’s and LGBT rights. She was then denounced online and Russian promoters cancelled many of her concerts after she criticized the invasion of Ukraine. She was further alienated following her comments about the brutal treatment of several Tajik suspects in a terrorist attack that killed 144 people at a Moscow music venue in March. Sanghin condemned the attack but described the abuse of the suspects as “public torture.” “I am a systemic victim of cyberattacks and cyberbullying. Sometimes I have to block thousands of bots a week and sometimes daily... They follow, mass unfollow and report my profile,” Sanghin said on Instagram in May. “Instagram’s algorithm then thinks that I am breaking community rules and doesn’t show my posts to most of my followers. (Sometimes it can last for months).” Sanghin asked followers on the social media platform to leave a comment or just a heart emoji as a possible way to help her “get out of this ‘shadow ban.’”