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Company in Uzbekistan Sanctioned by UK

British authorities have recently imposed fresh sanctions targeting individuals and entities suspected of aiding the "Russian military apparatus," which notably includes Uzbekistan-based company Mvizion. This expanded sanctions list encompasses 46 entities linked to weapons production or the import of defense goods for Russia, comprising thirty foreign enterprises, among them those from Uzbekistan. A statement from UK authorities outlined, "Today's measures will prevent Putin from outfitting his military through intermediary supply chains in Belarus, China, Serbia, Turkey, the UAE, and Uzbekistan," citing Mvizion's role as an intermediary in supplying spare parts to Russia. Mvizion had previously been sanctioned by the United States in November, linked by the US Department of Commerce to drone production for the Russian armed forces. The Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations shows Mvizion's registration on June 14, 2022, with its primary activity listed as the "wholesale of electronic and telecommunication equipment and related spare parts." Igor Nikolaevich Ievlev is identified as the sole founder and director. David O'Sullivan, the EU Special Envoy for Sanctions, addressed Uzbekistan's efforts to counter the re-export of European goods under sanctions to Russia, emphasizing the significance of economic diversification for the country. "We do not intend to disrupt Uzbekistan's traditional trade relations," he emphasized.

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Recent murder in Kazakhstan draws attention to domestic violence and gender discrimination

A very public tragedy in Kazakhstan put on display domestic violence at its worst. A quarrel in a restaurant in Astana on the evening of November 8th is reported to have resulted in the death of Saltanat Nukenova, the 31-year-old wife of Kuandyk Bishimbayev. Bishimbayev, who served as Minister of National Economy under former President Nazarbayev, was detained on the same day for suspected murder and remains under arrest awaiting trial. On November 11th, Saltanat was buried in Pavlodar. This appalling incident highlighted the urgent need for stronger protections against domestic violence. An authorized rally was held in Almaty in late November. Around 200 participants came out onto the square behind the Sary Arka cinema, holding posters and chanting slogans against domestic violence. The event was organized by a public movement called Zhana Adamdar and the attendees mostly included young people and students from the movement. Relatives of Saltanat Nukenova also took part. The participants wanted to raise awareness about fighting any manifestation of violence against women and children. Most of the attendees were dressed in the same style, and many of them had scarves with the inscription “Say no to the animal world,” which was also the title of the rally. Speakers at the event detailed the most resonant cases of violence in recent times while the organizers of the rally held a small flash mob and arranged an installation with mannequins in cages with animal masks on them. A minute of silence was observed in honour those who died as a result of violence. Progress in protecting women What proceeded this public tragedy hopefully presents a silver lining. A month later, on December 8, Kazakhstan's current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a Decree to strengthen human rights with concrete steps towards preventing violence and promoting gender equality. The Decree instructs Kazakhstan’s government to take systematic measures to promote equal rights and opportunities in all spheres of society, as well as to overcome all forms and manifestations of gender discrimination. The decree also encompasses legislation to deter domestic violence and promotes equal rights and safety for both men and women in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as endorsed by UN Security Council resolution 13251. It further involves legislative measures to tighten criminal liability in cases of domestic violence, which have now been implemented. These measures aim to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that victims can get justice. Additionally, offenders of domestic violence may be required to undergo comprehensive psychological correction as part of their rehabilitation process. The Decree also asks for creating specialized units within the Ministry of Internal Affairs staffed with female officers, who can enhance the effectiveness of combating domestic violence. While the timing of the Decree coincided with the aftermath of Saltanat’s death, there are signs that these steps may have already been in the works. President Tokayev had voiced concerns about domestic violence before the current headlines emerged. At a meeting in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in June 2023, for example, he had affirmed that “comprehensive...

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Uzbekistan to Take Measures for Rational Use of Water Resources in Agriculture

Uzbekistan's President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, led a government session last week focused on strategies for the efficient utilization of water resources. Discussions highlighted that 20% of Uzbekistan's water resources originate within the country, while the rest is sourced from neighboring territories. Ongoing climate shifts are progressively diminishing these water sources, with forecasts projecting potential water deficits of up to 15 billion cubic meters in Uzbekistan by 2030. Despite these challenges, there's notable inefficiency in water usage. A staggering 90% of Uzbekistan's water resources are allocated to agricultural purposes. For instance, irrigating a single hectare of cotton fields consumes 10-11 thousand cubic meters of water yearly, whereas countries with similar climates and soil profiles use 2-3 times less water. The annual expenditure on water management in Uzbekistan amounts to approximately $1 billion, making it the fourth-largest recipient of budget allocations following education, healthcare, and agriculture. Regrettably, due to flawed calculations and persisting outdated methodologies in water resource management, the desired efficacy isn't realized. The president emphasized that the upcoming year will be a transitional phase, shifting toward an emergency mode to conserve water. A primary goal is the concrete lining of canals and ditches. It's estimated that about 14 billion cubic meters, or 36%, are lost annually in natural irrigation systems without yielding any economic benefit. Most significant losses are observed in regions like the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Namangan, Navoi, Khorezm, and Bukhara. The water sector has declared a pivotal year for canal concreting, aiming to concrete 1,500 kilometers next year—four times more than in 2023. By 2025, the target is to concrete at least 2,000 kilometers of canals. Another crucial objective is the adoption of water-saving technologies. Uzbekistan, with 4.3 million hectares under irrigation, has introduced water-saving technologies in 30% of these areas. In these clusters and farms, efficiency gains of 30-40% in water usage alongside increased productivity have been achieved.

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Kazakhstan: Convicted Former Security Chief Massimov Faces New Charges

New charges of money laundering and taking a bribe have been levelled at the imprisoned former chief of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB), Karim Massimov. On November 14th, the KNB's press service said that Massimov is currently in a pretrial detention center in Astana awaiting trial on the new charges. No further details regarding the charges were provided. In April, Massimov, a close ally of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, was sentenced to 18 years over his role in the deadly events which followed unprecedented anti-government protests in January 2022. His deputies, Anuar Sadyqulov and Daulet Erghozhin, were sentenced to 16 years and 15 years in prison in respectively. A court in Astana found all three men guilty of high treason, attempting to seize power by force, and the abuse of their offices and power. Another former deputy of Massimov, Marat Osipov, was sentenced to three years in prison on a charge of abuse of office at the same trial. Massimov's first deputy, Samat Abish, a nephew of Nazarbayev, was dismissed from his post, but did not face any charges. The 58-year-old Massimov was arrested days after the initially peaceful protests turned into widespread violent unrest and coordinated attacks on government installations which left at least 238 people, including 19 law enforcement officers, dead. The protests began in the southwestern town of Zhanaozen early January 2022 over a sudden hike in the price of fuel, before demonstrations quickly spread into broader unrest against corruption, and perceived injustice.

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Kazakh Citizen Sentenced to Over Six Years for Joining Wagner Mercenary Group

The Qaraghandy regional court in central Kazakhstan sentenced a local resident, Aleksei Shompolov, to six years and eight months in prison for joining Russia's Wagner mercenary group and fighting against Ukrainian forces in May in Bakhmut, where he was injured, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported on November 28th. The 34-year-old, who pleaded guilty, was arrested after arriving back in Kazakhstan, where it is a crime to serve as a mercenary abroad. Shompolov's sentence was upheld on November 15th, the court said, adding that his payment from Wagner - 205,590 roubles ($2,300) – had been confiscated.

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“This isn’t Moscow” – Kazakh Oligarchs Scuppered in New York Court

In a tale which reaches from “fraud on an epic scale” in the UK to Donald Trump’s shady former business partners, a long-running case against fugitive banker and oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov and his associates recorded another verdict in the New York Southern District court earlier this month. Yet despite having judgments against him totaling $4.9 billion in Britain alone, over a decade since he fled the UK on a fake passport to avoid three concurrent 22-month sentences for contempt of court, the former Minister for Energy, Industry and Trade in Kazakhstan - who has done business with multiple individuals sanctioned in the West - remains a free man, bemoaning his plight to be a case of “political persecution”. In the early days of Wild West capitalism following the collapse of the USSR, Ablyazov abandoned a career as a nuclear physicist to register a company selling fax machines, photocopiers and computers. By 1998, together with a consortium of investors, Ablyazov acquired a loan to buy Bank Turan Alem - later to become known as BTA Bank - in a privatization auction for a cut-price fee of $72 million. In 2005, he became chairman of the bank following the death of his predecessor, Yerzhan Tatishev, whom Ablyazov has been sentenced in absentia to life in prison in his homeland for ordering the murder of. In May 2019, the District Court of Fairfax, Virginia found Ablyazov’s sister, Gauhar Kusainova guilty of handling over $6 million of assets stolen by her brother from BTA. Already, in September 2018 a UK court had fined Ablyazov’s son-in-law, Ilyas Khrapunov, $500 million for helping him breach an asset freezing order. Ilyas is the son of the former Mayor of Almaty, Viktor Khrapunov, who is accused of embezzlement schemes amounting to at least $300 million and comingling funds with Ablyazov in Trump Organization projects. Viktor and his TV anchorwoman wife fled to Switzerland in August 2008 - allegedly loading up a chartered plane with 18 tonnes of art and antiquities - to join Ilyas, who had established an entity called the Swiss Development Group (SDG) - company slogan: “It’s Good to be Swiss”. By 2014, the Kazakh authorities had identified 58 shell companies and subsidiaries said to be controlled by Ilyas, (that’s nothing compared to Ablyazov’s 1000+) one of which was Triadou SPV. In 2016, Nicolas Bourg, the former Director of Triadou testified the Khrapunovs’ had ordered him to move money out of the US after a California lawsuit was filed against them. “Triadou is a shell entity for SDG,” he said. In the latest round of litigation, seeking to discredit the plaintiff’s witnesses, Mr. Roman for the defense spoke of the “lengths to which BTA Bank was prepared to go to find… Mr. Ablyazov’s allegedly stolen money,” and claimed BTA had paid witnesses, including Ilyas former business partners, Frank Monstrey ($25M) and Felix Sater ($2.7M). Roman argued that “Triadou didn't even know about Ablyazov’s freezing orders in London” and Triadou’s rehabilitation of Flathotel, Cabrini, Syracuse and the Tri-County Mall were not the actions of a shell company. “Triadou doesn't have BTA's money”, he concluded;...