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Shchuchinsk Cafe Fire

Death Toll in Cafe Gas Explosion in Kazakhstan Rises to Nine

A cafe owner in northern Kazakhstan is under arrest for alleged negligence after a gas explosion and fire that killed nine people. The explosion occurred at the Plov Center cafe in the town of Shchuchinsk in Akmola region, outside the capital Astana, early on February 27, killing seven people, including six cafe workers and the 16-year-old daughter of one of the employees, city officials said. Two injured people later died, according to the city. It attributed the death toll to the regional health department. More than two dozen people were injured, and about half of them were hospitalized, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The café is attached to a five-story residential building. The owner was arrested on Monday for suspected violation of fire safety regulations. After the disaster, workers from the emergency situations ministry conducted fire safety checks at cafes, restaurants and dormitories in northern Kazakhstan. They checked that gas cylinders were correctly positioned, fire extinguishers were on hand and evacuation routes were accessible. The ministry is leading a high-level investigation of the causes and circumstances of the gas explosion.

Animal Rights

Why Tajikistan Lags Behind Global Animal Welfare Standards

While animals are legally recognized as sentient beings and, in some countries, effectively regarded as family members, their legal status in Tajikistan remains ambiguous. The absence of a dedicated animal protection law, the continued shooting of stray animals, and illegal wildlife trade point to a systemic issue that extends beyond animal welfare. Tajikistan has not adopted a specific law on animal protection, despite ratifying the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1997, which calls for the protection of wild and domestic fauna. In practice, regulation of stray animal populations often consists of culling by shooting. At the same time, other forms of cruelty reportedly persist. Although dog fighting is officially prohibited, activists say such events continue to take place. Cases of mass poisoning and other acts of violence against animals are frequently reported, but rarely result in publicized prosecutions. The country has no state-run animal shelters. The few private shelters that operate rely primarily on donations. Experts have also raised concerns about the condition of zoos, which they argue do not meet international animal welfare standards. Additional alarm has been triggered by reported incidents of illegal wildlife trade, including cases involving lion cubs. Despite public outcry in some instances, such cases have seldom led to broader legislative reform or sustained enforcement efforts. Sociologist and animal rights activist Malika Abdulvasieva argues that a weak legal framework contributes to a culture of impunity. “Unpunished cases of cruelty, from mass poisonings to shootings by housing and utilities employees, gradually normalize cruelty in society. This has a particularly negative impact on young people and generally leads to an increase in aggression and violence,” she said. One of the key priorities for activists remains the advancement of a comprehensive animal protection bill. However, even establishing a formally registered animal rights organization reportedly involves complex administrative procedures. In the absence of a unified state strategy, civil society groups and private businesses are attempting to fill the gap. Representatives of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation are expected to visit Dushanbe this year, and a large-scale free sterilization and castration program for stray animals is being planned in cooperation with German partners. However, activists emphasize that isolated initiatives cannot substitute for a coherent national policy framework.

Healthcare

Psychological Support in Kazakhstan: Growing Demand, Changing Stigma, and the State’s Move Toward Regulation

Just a few years ago, conversations about psychotherapy in Kazakhstan were conducted in hushed tones, as if acknowledging “weakness” or personal failure. Today, mental health is gradually entering the public sphere: teenagers seek support, parents attend training sessions, and adults increasingly view therapy as a practical tool for emotional self-regulation. Alongside this cultural shift, the support infrastructure is expanding. At the same time, the state’s role is growing, with authorities publicly emphasizing quality control, from creating a registry of specialists and setting educational requirements to introducing digital tools for early risk detection in children. Normalization as a New Stage The most significant change in recent years has been in public perception. Psychotherapy is increasingly regarded not as a “last resort,” but as a routine service, comparable to consulting a doctor or lawyer, but focused on emotions and behavior. Seeking professional help is gradually ceasing to signal a crisis and is becoming part of everyday self-care. This shift has been gradual. For many years, the psychological support market developed spontaneously through private practice and online consultations, without unified standards or regulatory oversight. At the same time, public attitudes evolved from caution and stigma in the post-Soviet period to a more pragmatic and open approach to mental health. Changes are particularly visible where access to support has become less accessible. On December 1, 2024, schools introduced a system of anonymous text appeals via QR codes. By February 2025, 25,000 messages from teenagers had been recorded. Similar dynamics are observed at the “111” contact center. While 17,000 calls from children were received in 2024, since the beginning of 2025, 110,999 appeals have been registered, most submitted via QR codes. The increase in these figures reflects not only the scale of existing problems but also a lower threshold for seeking help. When support is accessible anonymously and quickly, teenagers are more likely to take the first step. Simplified access is becoming a key driver behind the emerging “normalization” of psychological assistance. Statistics and Personal Experience: Changing Attitudes Toward Therapy Growing demand for psychological support reflects broader social pressures and the prevalence of mental health conditions. According to the World Health Organization, globally, depression affects approximately 4% of the population, with regional variations. Kazakhstani analytical publications referencing international comparisons have cited comparable or slightly higher estimates, suggesting that depressive disorders may affect up to 4.4% of the population, approximately 732,700 people nationwide. System capacity indicators also highlight pressure on services. Data from mental health centers indicate that more than 300,000 individuals are registered in such institutions. Public statements have drawn attention to staffing shortages among psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Official workload standards reportedly provide for one psychiatrist (including narcology specialists) per 20,000 registered residents and one child psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychologist, or social worker per 60,000 people. Children represent a particularly sensitive category. According to data from the Ministry of Health published by Kazinform, 204,408 people are registered with mental disorders (excluding psychoactive substance use), including 44,781 minors. A diagnosis of schizophrenia is recorded for...

Pharmaceuticals

EBRD Provides €20 Million Loan to Expand Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Production

Uzbekistan is taking further steps to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system through new investment and sector reforms aimed at reducing reliance on imported medical products. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to €20 million to its long-term client Samarkand England Eco-Medical (SEEM) and its sister company, Bayan Medical. Both companies produce intravenous solutions, including sodium chloride, glucose, and amino acid infusions, as well as generic and specialized medicines in tablet and capsule form. The financing will support the installation of new production lines at SEEM, enabling the company to expand manufacturing of in-glass intravenous solutions, antibiotics, syrups and suspensions, medical-grade water, nasal sprays, suppositories, and ointments. Part of the funds will also be allocated to modernizing Bayan Medical’s facilities, including energy-efficiency upgrades and the installation of a blow-fill-seal ampoule production line and other specialized equipment. The companies are also expected to restructure their balance sheets as part of the project. The investment comes at a time when approximately 75% of medical goods used in Uzbekistan are imported. Expanding domestic production capacity is intended to promote localization, strengthen supply security, and align manufacturing standards with international requirements. The project also includes social and workforce components. Bayan Medical plans to introduce internship opportunities for university graduates, expand professional training programs for employees, and create new jobs, including positions accessible to people with disabilities. To date, the EBRD has invested nearly $6.9 billion (€5.8 billion) in Uzbekistan across 205 projects, the majority of which have supported private sector development. Uzbekistan has been the largest recipient of EBRD funding in Central Asia for six consecutive years, reflecting sustained economic reforms and investor engagement. Healthcare indicators point to broader structural progress. According to the 2024 Health Care Index published by CEOWORLD magazine, Uzbekistan ranks first in Central Asia and 64th globally, with a score of 36.26. Kazakhstan ranks 78th, and Turkmenistan 95th. Data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank indicate that Uzbekistan’s Universal Health Coverage service index rose from the mid-50s in 2000 to the mid-70s by 2021, suggesting expanded access to essential medical services. Authorities aim to further increase coverage by 2027 while reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending through strengthened primary care systems and clearer guarantees of publicly funded services.

UNESCO World Heritage List

Two Architectural Monuments from Kazakhstan Included in UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List

Two landmark architectural monuments in Kazakhstan, the Zharkent Mosque and the Ascension Cathedral, have been added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The announcement was made by State Counselor of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin. Inclusion on the Tentative List is a mandatory preliminary step before a site can be formally nominated for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Only properties included in the Tentative List may proceed to the full nomination process. The Zharkent Mosque is located in the city of Zharkent in the Zhetysu region. Built in 1895 to the designs of Chinese architect Hong Pique, the structure was constructed without the use of nails. It represents a distinctive synthesis of Islamic architectural principles and East Asian design traditions, including elements commonly associated with Buddhist temples. This architectural fusion reflects the historical cultural exchanges among the peoples of the region and the cross-border influence of architectural schools. Since 1982, the mosque has been under state protection as a monument of architectural and historical significance at the national level. The Ascension Cathedral, situated in Almaty’s Park of the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, was constructed between 1904 and 1907 as the cathedral of the Turkestan diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Rising to a height of 54 meters, it is considered one of the tallest wooden Orthodox churches in the world. Built from Tien Shan spruce, the cathedral’s wooden framework, reinforced with metal fastenings, allowed it to withstand several major earthquakes. Today, it is listed as a historical and cultural monument of Kazakhstan. According to Karin, the inclusion of both the mosque and the cathedral on the Tentative List marks an important step toward preserving and promoting the country’s cultural heritage. If the nomination process is successfully completed, the sites could obtain full World Heritage status, granting them enhanced international recognition and protection, as well as potentially increasing tourism. The joint nomination of Islamic and Orthodox religious monuments also underscores Kazakhstan’s cultural and religious diversity and reflects the historical coexistence of different faith traditions in the region. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that an updated UN Action Plan for the Protection of Religious Sites Worldwide was presented in Astana during the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Anar Burasheva

From Africa to Antarctica: How Kazakh Mountaineer Anar Burasheva Conquered Seven Continents

Mountaineer Anar Burasheva is the first Kazakh woman to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and has already summited three of the world’s fourteen eight-thousanders. Her path is demanding and dangerous, yet, as she notes, it is achievable with discipline and preparation. On some summits, she can remain only for a few seconds, as lingering would be unsafe; on others, she is able to pause briefly, take in the view, and absorb the scale of the landscape. Above 8,000 meters, however, one rule always applies: descend on time. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Burasheva discusses why the mountains erase distinctions of gender, why turning back can be the wisest decision, and how extreme altitude reveals a person’s true character. TCA: You are in high demand right now. Is that because you are one of the few women engaged in such an extreme sport? Burasheva: That plays a role, but I think the main reason is that the approach to covering such achievements has changed. In the past, women’s accomplishments in our society did not receive sufficient attention. Now the opposite is true, and that’s good; it creates role models for young girls. TCA: You are currently in Ridder, in East Kazakhstan. Is that your hometown? Is that where your love of mountaineering began? Burasheva: Ridder is where my mother lives. I was born in Serebryansk, also in East Kazakhstan, but our family moved to Ridder long ago, and from there I later moved to Almaty. Yes, the region is mountainous. Our peaks are not as high as those near Almaty, but they are wilder, two- and three-thousand-meter mountains. From certain points in Serebryansk, you can clearly see Mount Belukha, about 4,500 meters high, with its snow-white summit covered in glaciers year-round. TCA: Have you climbed it? Burasheva: Not yet. Even though it is lower than the eight-thousanders I have climbed, it still requires serious preparation. It’s a difficult peak. I hope to climb it this year or next. My love for the mountains began in childhood in East Kazakhstan, but my passion for high-altitude mountaineering developed in Almaty. TCA: You became the first Kazakh woman to complete the Seven Summits. What did you feel standing on the final summit? Burasheva: Pride and gratitude that everything worked out despite the difficulties. But emotions depend on the summit and the weather. On Denali, the highest peak in North America, we stayed on top for just 11 seconds. We took photos and immediately descended because of strong winds. One person in our group showed signs of frostbite; the tip of their nose turned white, so we had to leave quickly. TCA: And on Everest? Burasheva: We stayed about half an hour. Conditions were more favorable. But Everest is above 8,000 meters, the so-called death zone, and you cannot remain there long because oxygen is limited. On Aconcagua, by contrast, it was so warm that I was even able to rest briefly at the summit while waiting for...