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Corruption

Tackling Corruption in Kazakhstan: The Latest Trends

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, anti-corruption efforts are a cornerstone of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s agenda. Court-ordered funds confiscated from corrupt officials have been used to finance public infrastructure: over the past three years, 150 billion tenge have been allocated to build 89 schools. On June 30, Tokayev signed a decree dissolving the country’s standalone Anti-Corruption Agency and transferring its functions to the National Security Committee (NSC), in what officials described as a move to modernize and streamline public administration. A recent analysis by Ranking.kz sheds light on the latest trends, identifying the institutions most often entangled in scandals and criminal investigations. Corruption Reaches Across All Levels Between January and May 2025, the Kazakh authorities charged 640 individuals with corruption-related offenses, representing a 3% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. However, the number of identified offenders rose to 464, up 4.3% from 445 last year. During the same period, 405 individuals were referred to the courts, an increase of 9.2% year-on-year. The largest number of defendants were employees of Akimats and their subordinate departments, totaling 66 individuals, though this figure is one-third lower than in 2024. In addition, 49 police officers, 16 employees from the Ministry of Finance, 11 from the Ministry of Agriculture, and 7 from the Criminal Executive Committee under the Ministry of Internal Affairs were brought to court. Notably, three regional akims were among those referred to court this year, compared to just one in the same period last year. One judge was also prosecuted. In total, 57 individuals from 12 different ministries faced judicial proceedings, up slightly from 54 last year. However, the data does not encompass all divisions; for instance, the figures for the Ministry of Internal Affairs include only selected departments. Bribery Remains the Most Common Offense Bribery continues to be the most prevalent form of corruption, with 167 recorded cases in the first five months of 2025, a 27.5% increase from the previous year. Internal affairs personnel were the most frequently detained for bribery (22 cases), followed by local government officials (13 cases) and employees of the Ministry of Finance (9 cases). In terms of the number of individuals involved, bribery accounted for 99 people. Corruption-related fraud followed, with 71 cases documented, rounding out the top three categories of offenses. Kazakhstan in Global Perspective Kazakhstan ranked 88th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International, scoring 40 out of 100. This position is shared with North Macedonia, Suriname, and Vietnam. The index, based on assessments from organizations such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, ranks countries from 0 (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt). According to the same report, 17% of Kazakhstani citizens who accessed public services in the previous year admitted to paying bribes. By way of comparison, in Denmark and Finland, the top-ranked countries, only 1% of citizens reported such experiences. Within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Kazakhstan ranks third, behind Armenia (63rd) and Moldova (77th)....

Anti-Corruption

Kyrgyz Anti-Corruption Crackdown: Officials Arrested During Live Meeting in Osh

Several officials were arrested during a high-level government meeting in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, as part of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign led by the State Committee for National Security (GKNB). Kamchybek Tashiev, chairman of the GKNB, ordered the arrests during a gathering with the heads of state agencies. Six civil servants were detained on the spot after Tashiev accused them of embezzling state funds and providing false information. Among those taken into custody were the head of the Tax Service in the Uzgen district and the deputy head of the Tax Service in the Kara-Suu district. “Take him out, he’s lying!” Tashiev said, pointing to the deputy head of the Kara-Suu Tax Inspectorate. He also stated that the head of the service had already been transferred to the GKNB’s central office in Bishkek for interrogation. The detentions extended beyond the tax authorities. According to local media reports, two employees from the Cadastral Service in the Nookat district, a representative of the judiciary, and a passport office staff member in Uzgen were also arrested. All face allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. These events in Osh follow a series of high-profile detentions in northern Kyrgyzstan. Over the past month, at least three mayors and several senior officials have been arrested in the Chui and Issyk-Kul regions. They are accused of abuse of office, illicit enrichment, and orchestrating corruption networks. During the meeting, Tashiev reiterated the GKNB’s commitment to combating corruption at all levels of government. He referenced the arrest of former State Tax Service head Altynbek Abduvapov in late 2024 as a prominent example. Investigators claim Abduvapov accumulated approximately $55 million in assets through illegal means. “He never had a business of his own. Employees say they gave him bribes ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 every month. We are confiscating everything. Altynbek Abduvapov will now be a poor man,” Tashiev declared. Political analysts suggest the crackdown indicates both an intensification of anti-corruption efforts and a recalibration of power dynamics between Kyrgyzstan’s northern and southern regions. While critics have accused the authorities of selective justice, GKNB officials maintain that the arrests are supported by solid evidence and reveal systemic governance failures.

State Visit

Kyrgyz President Visits Tajikistan, Opening New Era of Friendship

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov just concluded a two-day visit to Tajikistan. Rarely has the visit of one Central Asian leader to another Central Asian country been as welcome as Japarov’s trip to Tajikistan was. The two countries engaged in brief, but intense and devastating conflicts in late April 2021 and mid-September 2022, the only clashes between the militaries of the two Central Asian countries since the five Central Asian states became independent in late 1991. Judging by Japarov’s warm reception in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, the worst of times have passed in Kyrgyz-Tajik relations. A Year of Firsts Japarov, who has been in power in Kyrgyzstan since late 2020, was making his first state visit to Tajikistan on July 8-9. Japarov traveled to Tajikistan in June 2021, nearly two months after the first outbreak of hostilities along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, to speak with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon about easing tensions along their common frontier. That June, a meeting was hastily arranged as an exercise in damage control, not a state visit, and in any case, the talks between the two presidents failed to head off even worse fighting in September of the next year. This first state visit by Japarov followed President Rahmon’s visit to the Kyrgyz capital in March 2025, the first state visit by Rahmon to Kyrgyzstan in nearly 12 years. During Rahmon’s meeting in March, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed the agreement delimiting the final disputed sections of their border, which both sides hope will end more than a decade of violence and destruction in the border area. That agreement led to the first-ever summit of the presidents of the three Central Asian countries that share the Ferghana Valley. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev joined Japarov and Rahmon on March 31 in the northern Tajik city of Khujand to celebrate the agreement on all three countries’ borders and talk about future cooperation. Pomp and Ceremony Rahmon was at the Dushanbe airport to meet Japarov when the latter arrived on July 8. Tajikistan’s Honor Guard played the national anthems of both countries, followed by a 21-gun salute for Japarov, before the two presidents made their way to the Tajik capital to hold talks. The two leaders also visited a Kyrgyz-Tajik trade exhibit and attended a concert featuring performers from both countries dedicated to “Eternal Friendship.” Moving Forward Ahead of the Japarov-Rahmon meeting, The Times of Central Asia reported that trade between the two nations is starting to increase again. The figure for January-May trade between the two countries this year was a modest $6.35 million, but that is 15 times more than the meager $405,100 of bilateral trade during the first five months of 2024. Less than a decade ago, there were years when Kyrgyz-Tajik bilateral trade topped $50 million. Following the border agreement in March, two border crossings were reopened along the western sections of the Kyrgyz-Tajik frontier. During the meeting between the two presidents, it was announced that a third crossing had opened, the Tajvaron-Karamyk post connecting Kyrgyzstan’s...

Climate Change

How Climate Change Is Damaging Agriculture and Food Security in Tajikistan

Over the past 30 years, cotton production in Tajikistan has dropped by a staggering 56%. Among the many contributing factors are a lack of investment, outdated agricultural technology, and, notably, climate change. While humanity is not yet capable of stopping climate change, there are ways to adapt, prevent or mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, glacier melt, droughts, and to preserve biodiversity. Agricultural GDP is growing — but slowly The agricultural sector is among the most vulnerable to climate change, yet it remains the cornerstone of food security in Tajikistan. Moreover, a significant portion of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. According to official statistics, Tajikistan’s population exceeds 10 million, with more than 7 million living in rural areas. Of the total population, 60% are engaged in agricultural activities, while the official unemployment rate stands at 7.9%. Data from the Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan shows that agriculture contributes approximately 25% of the country’s GDP and accounts for a similar share of exports. The sector also generates 35% of national tax revenues. Beyond food production, agriculture supplies raw materials to various industries, meaning that the livelihoods of countless small and medium-sized enterprises depend directly on its productivity. Despite modest growth in gross agricultural output, the pace remains slow. At the same time, food prices continue to rise on domestic markets, making it increasingly difficult for families to afford a balanced diet. Local farmers and entrepreneurs often attribute price hikes to fluctuations in the U.S. dollar exchange rate, especially given the sector’s reliance on imported fertilizers, machinery, and packaging Food Security at Risk When measured in U.S. dollars, agricultural income has remained relatively stagnant—indicating a lack of real progress and underscoring the need for urgent reforms. Compounding the issue is Tajikistan’s annual population growth rate of 2.7%, which places additional strain on the food system. Without strategic investments in irrigation, land expansion, and climate-resilient technologies, the country risks facing a systemic food shortage in the coming decades. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 60% of Tajikistan’s population suffers from food insecurity—meaning they lack sufficient access to the calories and nutrients needed for a healthy and active life. An Idea in Need of Investment Matlub Rakhmonov, an agricultural specialist, analyzed the impact of climate change on Tajikistan's agrarian sector, particularly in horticulture. “For more than ten years now, in several regions of Tajikistan, some small and medium-sized business owners involved in horticulture have not only failed to secure a full harvest, but have also incurred losses,” says Rakhmonov. “The reason for this is increasingly due to unusually warm days at the end of winter, which cause fruit-bearing trees to bloom prematurely. Then, in late April and early May, sharp cold snaps hit, the blossoms fall, and the resulting crops are destroyed.” Moreover, climate change has led to frequent natural anomalies, causing some traditional tree species to stop responding to seasonal changes. In the past, Tajikistan made widespread efforts to implement intensive orchard...

Human Rights

Torture in Tajikistan: A Systemic Problem Demanding Deep Reform

Despite recent legislative improvements and mounting international scrutiny, torture remains a persistent issue in Tajikistan. Experts warn that without comprehensive reform of law enforcement institutions and the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms, the problem is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Legislative Progress Fails to Translate into Practice Tajikistan has taken some legal steps in recent years to address the issue. Laws have been strengthened, more cases are being investigated, and several police officers have faced prosecution. “In the past two to three years, there has been gradual progress both in legislation and in the review of torture cases,” said Khushbakht Isoev, a torture documentation specialist at the human rights NGO Mir Prava and a member of the Coalition Against Torture in Tajikistan. However, Isoev notes that violent abuse by law enforcement officers, especially during detention, continues to be documented. Most cases never make it to court due to insufficient evidence or pressure on victims to remain silent. 25 Torture Complaints in 18 Months According to data from the Coalition Against Torture, 25 complaints were filed against law enforcement agencies in 2024 and the first half of 2025. The majority, 17 cases, were directed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while others involved the State Committee for National Security, anti-corruption bodies, and drug control agencies. One complaint named employees of the General Prosecutor’s Office. The geographic distribution of these complaints spans the country: 11 came from Sughd Province, six from Dushanbe, and the remainder from Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) and other districts under direct central administration. Human rights defenders assisted 11 victims in securing legal representation and provided legal consultations to 14 others. They also prepared over 70 procedural documents and issued more than 100 oral legal recommendations. Yet, as Isoev points out, criminal charges are rarely pursued. “Torture is denied and rarely substantiated with evidence,” he said. Since January 2024, only six cases involving law enforcement officers have led to criminal proceedings. One of these cases dates back seven years and was only reopened after the accused was located. Some trials have resulted in sentencing, while others remain under investigation. Still, the number of prosecutions remains disproportionately low compared to the volume of complaints. Structural Barriers to Justice In 2012, Tajikistan introduced Article 143(1) into its Criminal Code, criminalizing torture as a distinct offense. This allowed lawyers and activists to move beyond vague “abuse of power” charges and pursue more precise legal accountability. “Introducing a specific article on torture was a critical step, but it has not addressed the systemic nature of the problem,” Isoev emphasized. One of the key obstacles is the inherent conflict of interest in the investigation process: cases of alleged torture are typically handled by the very agencies whose officers are accused. This creates opportunities for evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and coercion of victims into rejecting legal representation. Many detainees and their families are pressured not to file complaints or to forego legal counsel. Torture cases are often delayed without justification, and victims remain fearful...

Border

Kyrgyzstan Advances New Cross-Border Transport Corridor with China via Bedel Pass

Kyrgyzstan is advancing plans to develop a new international transport corridor through the Bedel checkpoint on the Chinese border, aiming to boost cross-border trade and reduce reliance on high-altitude routes that are often impassable in winter. Bedel Corridor Gains Momentum The proposed corridor was a central focus during Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobaev’s July 8 visit to Beijing. Torobaev met with Chinese corporate leaders to discuss the construction of the Barskoon-Uchturfan-Aksu highway, which would link Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Region with China’s Aksu Prefecture in Xinjiang via the Bedel Pass. The Bedel checkpoint, located in a remote mountainous region of southeastern Kyrgyzstan, was first opened under a simplified regime in September 2024. It lies roughly equidistant from Karakol and Aksu and currently operates with temporary infrastructure. According to the Kyrgyz government, the route’s full-scale development, including a modern highway and internationally compliant border facilities, is scheduled for completion by 2027. Bedel will become Kyrgyzstan’s third automobile crossing point with China, alongside the Irkeshtam (Osh Region) and Torugart (Naryn Region) passes. These older routes are frequently disrupted by severe winter weather. The new corridor is expected to offer a more reliable and time-efficient alternative for cargo moving between Xinjiang and Kyrgyzstan, reducing dependence on the longer Kashgar-Torugart-Naryn-Bishkek route. In Beijing, Torobaev and Chinese officials agreed to organize reciprocal business visits and establish joint working groups with representatives from both governments to coordinate the project. The corridor is expected to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s role as a regional transit hub, facilitating the re-export of Chinese goods to third countries. Bilateral trade between Kyrgyzstan and China reached $23 billion in 2024, an eightfold increase in recent years. Progress on China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway During his Beijing visit, Torobaev also attended the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail, where he emphasized the strategic importance of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project. The 523-kilometer line includes 304 kilometers running through Kyrgyz territory. Construction officially began on December 27, 2024, in Jalal-Abad. Once complete, the railway will link China’s Kashgar with the Kyrgyz cities, Torugart, Makmal, and Jalal-Abad, before continuing to Andijan in Uzbekistan. The project is designed to handle up to 15 million tons of cargo annually and carries an estimated investment of $4.7 billion. Torobaev noted that the Makmal transshipment station will serve as the core logistics hub on the Kyrgyz side, featuring customs infrastructure, storage facilities, and multimodal services to ensure smooth cargo transit between China and Uzbekistan. “The CKU railway is the shortest route between East and West,” he said. “It will connect China to European and Middle Eastern markets, forming a vital transport artery.” Torobaev also announced a proposed rail extension between Aksu in China and Balykchy in Kyrgyzstan via the Bedel checkpoint, which would further enhance the regional transport network.