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Former Kyrgyz Presidential Aide Detained in Moldova

Aidar Khalikov, a former public aide to the president of Kyrgyzstan, has been detained in Moldova under an Interpol warrant on charges of large-scale fraud. Investigative journalist Bolot Temirov was the first to report Khalikov's detention, raising the possibility of his extradition to Kyrgyzstan. The report was later confirmed by the General Inspectorate for Migration under Moldova’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to their statement, the detention was carried out as part of efforts to locate individuals wanted internationally for evading criminal responsibility. Charges Against Khalikov The Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that Khalikov, born in 1965, is being prosecuted under Article 209 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code, which pertains to fraud. He is accused of stealing a significant sum of money from a Kyrgyz citizen identified solely as S.D. Investigators suspect Khalikov may also be involved in other similar crimes. The General Prosecutor’s Office of Kyrgyzstan is now working on his extradition. Background Khalikov was a prominent member of the "Mekenchil" party and played an active role in Kyrgyzstan's political landscape, particularly during the political upheavals of 2020. Following those events, he was appointed as an aide to President Sadyr Japarov. However, in 2024, Khalikov left Kyrgyzstan and began publicly criticizing Japarov and his inner circle. Khalikov’s arrest in Moldova underscores ongoing efforts by the Kyrgyz authorities to track and prosecute high-profile individuals facing criminal charges. His extradition process will likely attract significant attention in both Kyrgyzstan and Moldova in the coming weeks.

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Uzbek Businessman Salim Abduvaliyev Released from Prison Due to Illness

Salim Abduvaliyev, a well-known Uzbek businessman commonly referred to as “Salimboy,” was released from prison on January 12 due to health complications. According to Kun.uz, Abduvaliyev has been battling a serious illness for an extended period. Born in Tashkent in 1950, Abduvaliyev was previously active in Uzbekistan’s sports administration, serving as deputy chairman of the National Olympic Committee and chairman of the Uzbekistan Sports Wrestling Association. Abduvaliyev was detained in early December 2023 on charges of illegal possession of firearms. On March 19, 2024, the Mirabad District Court of Tashkent City found him guilty under Article 248, Paragraph 2 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, which pertains to the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. He was sentenced to six years in prison. His release this week was granted under Article 75 of the Criminal Code, which allows for the early release of prisoners suffering from severe illnesses that make it impossible for them to serve their sentences. While serving his sentence in August 2024, the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan issued an arrest warrant against Abduvaliyev. Reports alleged that he had financed an organized criminal group led by Kamchybek Kolbaev. Kolbaev, a notorious figure linked to heroin trafficking and a member of the international criminal network known as the “Brothers’ Circle” (Bratva), was a wanted individual by the U.S. Department of State. Kolbaev was killed during a security operation in Bishkek in October 2023 at the age of 49.

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Uzbekistan Adds to List of Banned Extremist Content

The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has significantly expanded its list of materials classified as extremist, terrorist, or fanatical, prohibiting their import, production, distribution, and display within the country. Compared to last year’s version, which included over 800 items, the updated list now features 1,389 banned materials in audio, video, and text formats. The list has grown considerably across social media platforms: 203 Facebook pages (up from approximately 150); 713 Telegram channels (almost doubling from 400); 226 Instagram accounts (previously around 100); 135 YouTube channels; 35 Odnoklassniki pages; 44 TikTok pages; 13 websites; and 20 other sources. The identification of these materials is a joint effort by the Committee on Religious Affairs, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Agency for Information and Mass Communications. Legal Framework Under Uzbekistan’s Law on Countering Extremism, the distribution, storage, or demonstration of such materials is strictly prohibited, and access to them must be restricted. Violations of these provisions may result in criminal liability under the nation’s Criminal Code, as they pose a threat to public security and order. Historical Context Uzbekistan has steadily tightened its measures to combat extremist content. In 2018, the government adopted a decree allowing the blocking of media outlets that “promote extremist, propaganda, or hateful content on the Internet”. The following year, the Ministry of Justice published a list of 40 information resources identified as extremist. Subsequent updates to the list have reflected the government’s evolving focus on countering online extremism.

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Four Arrested in Connection with Journalist Inessa Papernaya’s Death

Russian journalist Inessa Papernaya, known for her work with lenta.ru and profile.ru, was found dead in a hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on October 20, 2024. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Papernaya was vacationing in Uzbekistan and staying at the Karaman Palace Hotel with her companion, Maxim Radchenko. Hotel staff discovered their bodies after receiving no response during a package delivery. Another Uzbek citizen was also found dead in the bathroom of a separate hotel room. According to forensic medical examination reports, the deaths were caused by respiratory failure due to acute poisoning from carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide gases. Investigations revealed that the hotel's boilers, which had exceeded their service life, were the source of the carbon monoxide leakage. The boilers also had faulty condensate discharge systems and were improperly connected to the sewage system. A comprehensive forensic investigation conducted by the Republican Center of Forensic Expertise uncovered multiple issues with the hotel’s gas equipment. The boilers were found to be outdated and had been modified in ways that violated safety standards. Key modifications included the removal of the siphon in the condensate discharge system, which allowed the discharge pipe to connect directly to the sewage system, creating hazardous conditions for gas leakage. Additionally, the installation of the equipment did not adhere to technical and safety regulations, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems failed to meet the required standards, further increasing the risk of poisoning. In response to these findings, four individuals were arrested in connection with the fatalities. Khojakulov, the hotel owner, along with Jamoldinov and Yusupov, suppliers of the faulty boilers, and Kurbonov, the plumber responsible for the installation, face charges under Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code for providing unsafe equipment and services resulting in multiple deaths. The suspects remain in custody as legal proceedings continue.

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Indian Students Involved in New Year’s Eve Brawl Deported from Kazakhstan

Six Indian students have been deported from Kazakhstan following their involvement in a mass brawl in Almaty on New Year’s Eve. The students, enrolled at a university in Almaty, were the only individuals implicated in the altercation, with no Kazakh citizens involved. "This was an internal conflict among the students," Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek commented. "The Almaty Police Department is conducting an investigation. We have discussed the matter with the Indian Embassy and reached a joint decision to deport the students." The altercation occurred at a café on Kok-Tobe, a popular mountain destination in Almaty. What began as a quarrel between the students escalated into a violent mass brawl, with video footage showing participants wielding chairs, tables, and batons. The footage quickly circulated online, drawing public attention to the incident. According to the Almaty Police Department, all individuals involved in the fight were identified and taken to the Medeusky District Police Department for questioning.

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Aliyev Takes Aim at Russia in Azerbaijan Airlines Crash

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has intensified his criticism of Russia, accusing it of a “cover-up” over the Azerbaijan Airlines plane which crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25. During a televised address, Aliyev expressed Azerbaijan’s “surprise, regret, and righteous indignation” over what he described as “absurd” explanations for the crash. Departing from protocol, Aliyev delivered his address in Russian, a poignant choice that heightened the gravity of his message. “I can confidently say that the guilt for the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens in this accident lies with the representatives of the Russian Federation,” Aliyev stated. “We demand justice, we demand punishment of the guilty, we demand complete transparency and humane treatment… If the city of Grozny had taken timely measures to close Russian airspace over its territory, if all the rules of ground services had been observed, and if there had been coordination between the armed forces and civil services of the Russian Federation, then this tragedy would not have happened.” On Monday, Aliyev met with the two surviving flight attendants and the families of other crew members who perished, describing them as “heroes”. The Flight Recorders In a related development, Brazil has concluded its analysis of the black boxes from Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243. The Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) confirmed that the findings were handed over to Kazakhstan’s Aviation Accident Investigation Department in line with international protocols for aircraft accident investigations. These results will contribute to the final report on the incident. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia (TCA), the incident led the Commission on Aviation Incident Investigation, headed by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, to decide to send the flight recorders to Brazil’s CENIPA. The investigation was conducted by three Brazilian specialists in collaboration with Azerbaijani and Russian experts. Chronology of the Crash The incident occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau on Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea coast. The plane was flying between Baku, Azerbaijan, and Grozny, Russia. Of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed, and 29 were injured. The passengers included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 6 Kazakhs, 3 Kyrgyz, and 16 Russians. On December 26, video footage showing small holes in the fuselage wreckage sparked speculation about possible external damage. Aviation and military analysts suggested the holes might have been caused by air defense systems, given reports from the Chechen authorities about the shooting down of Ukrainian drones in the area. This raised concerns about the potential for misidentification. [caption id="attachment_27352" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Chechen Pantsir Missile Launcher; image: Vitaly V. Kuzmin[/caption] When asked about the possibility of external fire, Kazakh Minister Marat Bozumbayev emphasized that conclusions would only be drawn after all available evidence had been examined. International Collaboration The Azerbaijani government rejected the idea of a Russian-led investigation, opting instead for an international team of experts, including representatives from Embraer. The black boxes were sent to CENIPA on December 29. The crash also prompted a temporary suspension...