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In Uzbekistan, 74-Year-Old Pensioner Convicted of Agitating for Return of USSR

Ergashkul Khasanov, a 74-year-old resident of Samarkand, was convicted of conducting propaganda aimed at the restoration of the USSR. Hasanov was actively engaged in disseminating material through the Telegram group, Uzbek SSR/USSR, in which he claimed the collapse of the Soviet Union was illegal and temporary and that the independence of the former republics, including Uzbekistan, was informal and temporary. The court found him guilty of encroaching on Uzbekistan's constitutional order. Khasanov's story dates back to 2021, when he began listening to speeches by Russian citizen, Oleg Turishkin, who argued that the collapse of the USSR was both illegal and unjust. Turishkin suggested that Khasanov register as a Citizen of the USSR, and the Uzbek pensioner duly obtained a certificate of Soviet citizenship through the post office. He subsequently joined a Telegram group where he participated in discussions and published materials arguing that the Soviet Union had not legally been dissolved and that the former Union republics should reunite again. In early 2023, Khasanov traveled to Moscow, where he met with activists who advocated the restoration of the Soviet Union and a return to the constitution and laws from Joseph Stalin's time. They argued that the Union “legally” continued to exist, and prepared for its restoration. After visiting Moscow, Khasanov continued to publish materials claiming that Uzbekistan's independence was superficial and that all former republics should return to the fold of the USSR. In his case, the court considered Khasanov's age, lack of previous convictions, and status as a pensioner. As a result, he was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom. Khasanov is forbidden from leaving his apartment from 22:00 to 6:00, changing his place of residence without the permission of the supervisory authority, and from leaving the Samarkand region. In 2022, the public movement, Citizens of the USSR was included in a list of organizations deemed by the authorities in Russia to be extremist. Believing that the Soviet Union still exists, some supporters of the movement refuse to abide by the laws of modern Russia, obey the current authorities, or use Russian passports.

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International Recognition for the Kazakh Tazy Dog

The Kazakh Tazy, one of the oldest dog breeds, is at last, poised to receive international recognition. The General Committee of the International Cynological Federation (FCI) has officially approved the preliminary recognition of the Kazakh Tazy as a unique breed. The move secures Kazakhstan as the holder of the breed standard and is a significant step towards the breed's global recognition. The next ten years will be devoted to collecting data on the health, characteristics, and registration of Tazy puppies, which will be submitted to the FCI for review. Since 2022, the Presidential Affairs Department (PAD) of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been working on preserving Kazakh dog breeds through scientific research, exhibitions and amendments to legislation regarding breeding. In August 2023, the Union of Cynologists of Kazakhstan, having fulfilled all of its requirements, became a full member of FCI which in turn, allowed the Kazakh Tazy to be declared a national breed. The Kazakh Tazy dog emerged over four thousand years ago and according to recent genetic studies, is unique in terms of genetic diversity, especially in Kazakhstan's southern and eastern regions. Renowned for its outstanding endurance, ability to withstand Central Asia's harsh climate, and skills in hunting hares, wolves, and other animals, the Tazy has long been an essential part of the nomadic people's lives.

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Kazakhstan as an Emerging Middle Power

Earlier this year, the Paris-based Institut Montaigne and the Berlin-based Institute of Security and International Affairs separately published studies identifying Kazakhstan as a significant "middle power". They correctly make the case that Kazakhstan, leveraging its vast natural resources, particularly in energy, and a multi-vector foreign policy, has positioned itself as a key player in regional and global affairs. A middle power is a state wielding significant regional influence and influencing international affairs through diplomacy, economic strength, and strategic alliances, but which is not a superpower. With relatively stable political systems, growing economies, and proactive foreign policies, these states frequently act as mediators or bridge-builders in global conflicts. At the same time, they can pursue their own interests efficiently through a combination of soft power and multi-lateralism to balance relationships amongst external powers. To be a middle power, a nation should also demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to international norms. Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has attracted substantial foreign investment, leveraging its vast energy resources to build a robust economy, and using this to enhance its regional and global influence. Its geographical position makes it a key player in Central Asia. The country's leadership pioneered the "multi-vector" foreign policy that has become a model for many nations seeking to balance relations with major powers. Kazakhstan’s contributions to global nuclear non-proliferation have further solidified its status as a rising middle power. Its foreign-policy strategy deploys a careful balancing act between larger global powers and regional neighbors. Thus, its multi-vector approach allows it to maintain strong ties with Russia, China, and the West, while avoiding over-dependence on any single partner. The country participates in organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Organization of Turkic States while also pursuing relationships with the European Union and the United States. This strategy secures Kazakhstan's sovereignty while enhancing its role as a mediator in international conflicts. Since independence, the country has taken the lead in promoting regional integration, energy cooperation, and security, often acting as a mediator in regional disputes. Its leadership roles in regional organizations and initiatives represent a recognition of its efforts to foster stability and economic development in the region. Kazakhstan’s championing of regional cooperation and the “demonstration effect” of its model of political and economic stability have reinforced its position as a leader in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has actively engaged in various international initiatives that bolster its reputation as a responsible and influential middle power. Notably, the country has played a pivotal role in global nuclear non-proliferation, voluntarily relinquishing its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal and advocating for disarmament through platforms like the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). Kazakhstan has also hosted peace talks, such as the Astana Process for Syria, and contributed to UN peacekeeping missions. These initiatives reflect Kazakhstan’s commitment to global stability, positioning it as a proactive player in international diplomacy and a respected advocate for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Kazakhstan's internal reform agenda is crucial for its continued growth and its evolving role...

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Uzbek President: Global Conflicts Undercut Anti-Terror Efforts

International conflicts and antagonism among the world’s most powerful countries are undermining “the fight against the threats of terrorism and extremism,” Uzbekistan’s president said at a regional anti-terror conference this week in Tashkent. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev didn’t mention any conflicts or countries by name, but he was possibly referring to Russia’s war against Western-backed Ukraine, the Gaza war that has raised fears of a wider Mideast conflict, and tension between the United States and China, the world’s two biggest economies. Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries seek to balance their relations with these major powers, while also trying to address the threat of religious extremism that attracts some recruits from their region. “Unfortunately, geopolitical acrimony and the intensification of conflicts, the lack of mutual trust between the leading countries, the decline of the role of global security institutions have a negative impact on the development of open and effective international cooperation in the fight against the threats of terrorism and extremism,” said Mirziyoyev, who appealed for more dialogue and collaboration to counter the problem. He spoke to counter-terrorism delegates who were meeting under the umbrella of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States, which promote cooperation on economic, security and other issues in the Eurasian region. The two-day meeting in the Uzbek capital, which ends on Thursday, is discussing education and other ways to prevent the spread of radical ideas, as well as how to prevent terrorist financing. In the biggest terror attack in the region this year, gunmen killed about 140 people at the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow area on March 22. The Islamic State group, which is believed to have successfully recruited people from Central Asia, claimed responsibility. The suspected gunmen were Tajik migrants in Russia. Threats in cyberspace are increasing, according to the Uzbek president. “Active work on illegal activities, recruitment and promotion of radical ideas is increasingly carried out through Internet networks and channels that do not recognize national borders and legal norms,” Mirziyoyev said. He warned that online manipulation is directing “relatively weak sections of the population” such as young people and labor migrants toward criminal activity.

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Politicians Discuss the Impact of Afghan Military Aircraft Remaining in Uzbekistan

The Times of Central Asia previously reported that when the Taliban seized power in August 2021, 22 military aircraft and 24 helicopters of the Afghan military crossed into Uzbekistan’s airspace. US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick reported that the US and Uzbekistan had officially agreed that fighter jets and military helicopters will remain in Uzbekistan, whilst The Ministry of National Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in turn, stated that “Any deal regarding the fate of Afghanistan’s helicopters and planes in Uzbekistan is unacceptable.” Dr. Davud Azami, an expert on international politics and security issues, commented: “Until the normalization of bilateral relations, the US will not hand over this aviation equipment to the Taliban, but this is unlikely to happen soon. This makes the matter more complicated.” Regarding the Taliban government’s demand for the return of the equipment to Afghanistan, he explained: “The Taliban wants to strengthen its Air Force with these planes, especially helicopters. They also want to use the aircraft for humanitarian and rescue operations, especially during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. Because buying such planes and helicopters requires money and a partner to sell them, the Taliban is at a huge disadvantage.” Azami stated that the Taliban is waiting for a “favorable opportunity” to exert more pressure on Uzbekistan, and added that the two sides will continue improving their relations despite disagreements over aircraft and helicopters. According to another BBC Uzbekistan interviewee, Uzbek political analyst Farhod Tolipov, this recent Taliban statement is flexible, and referenced the warning of the Taliban's interim Defense Minister that the countries who provided the military aircraft will suffer harmful consequences if the units are not returned. “The Taliban responded by using the phrase ‘good neighborliness’ in the sense that they should not break cooperation. That's why I think that based on what they said, the issue should not take a sharp turn. Because now, neither Afghanistan itself nor its government has become a superpower, and its economy, which is in crisis, needs to be developed. No country in the world has yet recognized them; many problems are ahead. That's why, in my opinion, the probability that they will be obsessed with this one problem is not very high,” said Tolipov. The analyst also expressed his opinion on the construction of the Qoshtepa Canal: “If this project is left unchecked and implemented unilaterally, the environmental consequences will harm Afghanistan itself. Environmental consequences and tragedies know no bounds. It will not be a tragedy for Uzbekistan alone, but also, potentially, for Afghanistan. Therefore, -given an understanding of the risks involved- they should continue work on the project, in coordination, of course, with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.” Recommendations from Daniel Runde, a Senior Vice President at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), on strengthening the USA's relations with Uzbekistan, appeared in previous report by The Times of Central Asia.

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Sri Lanka Explores Deepening Ties with Central Asia

The Diplomat writes that on August 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka and The Geopolitical Cartographer, a Colombo-based think tank, organized a forum on Central Asia. Colombo has been eyeing Central Asia for quite some time and between 2011 and 2021, sent delegations to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Apart from helping strengthen diplomatic ties, little else followed. The recent consultations mark a new phase in Sri Lanka’s relations with the region. Amid the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East and Eurasia, both Sri Lanka and Central Asia are adjusting their foreign policies, and all five Central Asian states are balancing their positions, avoiding outright support for Russia while trying not to upset Moscow. “Given the many parallels in the foreign policies of Central Asia and South Asia, particularly India, does Sri Lanka’s Central Asia gambit make sense? Sri Lanka and Central Asia - seem to be placed in a positive conjuncture, a crossroads in their histories, that has made a strategic alliance both feasible and plausible,” reported Uditha Devapriya, author of the article. At the August meeting, Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry official Sashikala Premawardhane drew attention to critical issues in relations with Central Asia, particularly trade. Sri Lanka’s trade with the region is modest. Between 2011 and 2020, exports to Central Asia only twice exceeded $20 million and surpassed $10 million with a single country just once, in 2014 with Uzbekistan . In contrast, Sri Lanka imported $21 million of goods from Uzbekistan in 2015 alone. P. K. Balachandran, an Indian foreign policy analyst based in Colombo, contends that Sri Lanka needs to stabilize its relations with neighboring South Asian countries, particularly India, before it can consider Central Asia. Rathindra Kuruwita, a Sri Lankan foreign policy commentator and a regular contributor to The Diplomat, voiced his agreement, stating, “India is engaging more constructively with the [Central Asia] region. Whether Sri Lanka can match Delhi’s clout and influence is a big question and at best, highly debatable.” So, how can this island strengthen its relations with the region? Bilateral trade and diplomatic ties are important, but should be complemented by other strategies. One potential avenue could be sport. Central Asia and Sri Lanka share a platform for volleyball, Sri Lanka’s national sport and February 2022, Sri Lanka hosted the Central Asian Volleyball Association. While cultural exchanges can’t replace economic ties, sports like volleyball and Elle (similar to baseball) attract young, open-minded people and according to Pasindu Nimsara Thennakoon, a school volleyball player from Ratnapura, offer a cost-effective way to connect with other regions. Another obvious, if challenging, route to strengthening ties is through Central Asia’s outreach to South Asia: India. Multilateral platforms like the SCO also offer opportunities, albeit dominated by China, Russia, and India, but Sri Lanka’s relationship with India, which has had its share of controversies, entered a new phase after the 2022 crisis. Central Asia is considering energy connections with India. Still, given the backlash, such as the lawsuit against Adani Group’s...