Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 7 - 12 of 1638

Child Protection

Turkmenistan Develops First Child Protection Program

The government of Turkmenistan has begun developing its first National Program on Child Protection and Child-Friendly Justice, with technical support from UNICEF, according to a report published on April 15. Officials described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening systems that safeguard children’s rights. The process was formally launched during the first meeting of an interagency working group in Ashgabat. The group, coordinated by the Prosecutor General’s Office, includes representatives from 10 government bodies. Authorities said the program aims to establish a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach, focusing on family-based care for children without parental support, improving child justice systems, preventing violence, and strengthening overall protection mechanisms. “The development of this National Program demonstrates Turkmenistan’s commitment to protecting the rights of every child,” a representative of the Prosecutor General’s Office said. UNICEF’s representative in the country, Jalpa Ratna, welcomed the move, noting that it would help build “a more coordinated, family-oriented child protection system.” The draft program is expected to be completed by the end of the year following consultations with stakeholders, including children, families, and professionals. It will align with national legislation and international recommendations, including those from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Meanwhile, in Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved a series of measures aimed at expanding social protection and improving services for vulnerable groups. The reforms focus particularly on people with disabilities, children, and women affected by violence. Among the new initiatives is the introduction of an “Early Intervention” service for children up to the age of three with developmental disorders, scheduled to begin by June 1. The program will provide specialized educational and therapeutic support through non-governmental organizations. Authorities also plan to launch several new services for adults with mental disabilities, including daycare programs, home-based care, and short-term support options designed to assist families. These services are expected to reach more than 8,300 people in 2026, with up to 600 NGOs and private providers involved. A monthly care allowance will also be introduced for guardians of adults with severe intellectual disabilities starting in September 2026. In addition, Uzbekistan plans to expand the role of its “Inson” Social Service Centers, integrating them into local government structures and strengthening oversight of guardianship arrangements. Further reforms include transforming state-run residential institutions into community-oriented care centers, expanding tax exemptions for families of children with disabilities, and introducing stricter legal measures to protect minors from exploitation.

Animal Rights

Animal Euthanasia in Kazakhstan: Cruelty or Necessity?

In early April 2026, Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis, approved in the first reading amendments to the law “On Responsible Treatment of Animals.” The key proposed change is a shift away from the policy of returning vaccinated and sterilized dogs to their habitats, toward the legalization of euthanasia. The decision has triggered a sharp public divide: supporters cite safety concerns, particularly for children, while critics view the amendments as a rollback of the humane principles enshrined in the 2021 law and an attempt to compensate for institutional shortcomings through the mass culling of stray animals. Background: From Reform to Reversal In 2021, Kazakhstan sought to overhaul its approach to managing stray animal populations, aligning it with international practices. This led to the adoption of a dedicated law, which formalized a transition from culling to the CNVR model (capture, neuter, vaccinate, and return). The reform was presented as a compromise between humane treatment and public safety. The shift was driven by both civic activism and political momentum. In 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described attitudes toward animals as a benchmark of societal development, acknowledging systemic shortcomings in the country. He later emphasized that state protection should extend to both people and animals. The initiative received support both domestically and internationally. Authorities pledged a systemic approach, including the creation of a national animal registry, mandatory microchipping, expansion of shelters, and tighter regulation of pet ownership. The expectation was that these measures would gradually reduce the stray population in a humane and sustainable manner. The Case for the Amendments: Safety and Cost The amendments, introduced in 2024, propose a transition to a no-return capture model. Despite criticism from animal welfare groups, the bill passed its first reading on April 8, 2026, and was forwarded to the Senate eight days later. Lawmakers, including Mazhilis committee chairman Yedil Zhanbyrshin, argue that the CNVR model has failed to deliver results under Kazakhstan’s conditions. They cite an increase in the stray dog population from 207,000 in 2022 to 247,000 in 2023. Another factor highlighted is the unintended consequence of mandatory microchipping introduced in 2023. According to lawmakers, the cost of registration and sterilization, averaging around 27,000 KZT (approximately $54), led some owners to abandon their pets. This, they argue, is reflected in the sharp decline in registered dogs, from 28,000 in 2022 to just 961 in 2024. Public safety remains the central argument. According to the Ministry of Health, Kazakhstan records an average of 105 animal attacks per day. Fiscal considerations are also significant. A full CNVR program is estimated to require annual spending of 14-15 billion KZT (approximately $28-30 million). Against the backdrop of competing budget priorities, including education and healthcare, lawmakers consider such expenditures excessive. They also point to practices in countries such as the United States and Japan, where euthanasia is used as a population control measure. Under the proposed model, captured animals would be held for a limited period, 15 days for unchipped dogs and 60 days for those with identified owners....

Elena Rybakina

Rybakina Wins on Clay in Stuttgart, in Run-up to Roland Garros

World number two Elena Rybakina defeated Karolina Muchova to win the WTA title in Stuttgart, Germany on Sunday, elevating her to the top spot in the points race to qualify for the season-ending championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November. Rybakina’s 7-5, 6-1 victory over Muchova was the Kazakhstani player’s 13th title - and the first repeat title of her career after winning 12 titles in 12 different tournaments. She won in Stuttgart in 2024. In the Stuttgart quarterfinals this year, Rybakina saved two match points against Leylah Fernandez in a three-hour battle. The title on clay in Stuttgart gives the Russia-born player momentum ahead of the French Open, which begins next month. Rybakina won the Australian Open this year and is also the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

TCA Interviews

From From Global Streaming to International Productions: Kazakhstan Filmmakers Go International

Makpal Kursabayeva is a sound engineer whose work has increasingly extended beyond Kazakhstan’s local film industry. Over the years, she has contributed to projects with international teams, from working alongside The Matrix cinematographer Bill Pope to taking part in series produced for global streaming platforms. Her career highlights the expanding role of Kazakhstani professionals in international production and shows that local crews can compete with their Western counterparts. Her work includes on-set recording, post-production, and sound capture in environments ranging from military airbases and nighttime steppes to urban locations. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, she discusses how the industry works and why crews from Kazakhstan are competitive in international productions. TCA: You are a highly experienced sound engineer, but most of your work has been on local projects. Do you think Kazakhstani specialists are competitive in the global market? Makpal: I have no doubt about it, however confident that may sound. Recently, we worked on an international series filmed in Kazakhstan by Turkish filmmakers. Many department heads were Turkish, but I led the sound department. We worked and communicated seamlessly; there were no barriers at all. And that’s always the case. I also worked on a commercial project for Chevron, where the cinematographer was Bill Pope, who shot the legendary film The Matrix, the Ant-Man films, Shang-Chi, and more. TCA: Was the entire crew international as well? Makpal: The second director was American. Playback equipment was brought from Moscow. It was a mix, bringing together the best. The Russian team even said that such sound equipment isn’t available in Moscow. Technically, we are not lagging behind at all. We also have plenty of talented and highly skilled professionals. TCA: Were they at all arrogant? Makpal: Not at all. Bill Pope was great to work with. He’s like a rock star, very open, loves music. We talked about ethnic music; I let him listen to the band Turan. He even asked me to play the dombra. I was a bit nervous because the executive producer was very strict, and I thought she might say I was disrupting the workflow. But he went to her himself and asked, and then she was the one chasing me to make it happen, so the question isn’t whether we can work at a Western level; we already do. TCA: You’ve also worked with German teams on Emir Baigazin’s films, and with French teams on projects by Yermek Shinarbayev and Akan Satayev’s epic Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe? Makpal: Yes. There was an interesting experience with one Western specialist, I won’t say from which country. I thought they had a different school and that I could learn from him. But while he was good on set, he wasn’t very strong in post-production. It even got to the point where I was teaching him, explaining how to properly edit sound and the technology behind it. Sometimes I would suggest something, and the next day those ideas would be presented as his own....

TCA Interviews

How Young Professionals from Central Asia Are Building Global Careers

Beyond opportunity, a new generation of Central Asians is learning how to compete, adapt, and fit into global work environments. “I felt like I would understand what real work is much faster by living in the U.S.,” Ruzana Ileuova says. Many people view building a career abroad as an opportunity. However, for Central Asian professionals, it also entails constantly adapting to new identities and expectations. While logging in to work every day from a location that feels both familiar and unfamiliar, Ruzana learns to trust her abilities and adapt to unspoken expectations. She says that pressure increases when working remotely, as it requires a high level of self-discipline. “I always feel like I have to do more to prove myself,” she says. Despite strong language skills and academic preparation, she describes an ongoing sense of self-doubt, particularly in high-performance environments. “Even the language barrier still gives me imposter syndrome,” she adds. “And I’m the youngest on my team.” Her narrative highlights a crucial aspect of this generation: success overseas requires constant negotiation of confidence, identity, and location, in addition to opportunity. Reinventing the Path For others, the path to an international career begins not with a plan, but with chance. Originally from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Aman Arykbaev did not imagine a global career. His journey began when he was unexpectedly selected for the green card lottery. “I used to think the green card was not a real thing until I saw that I was selected,” he says. His early years were characterized by uncertainty, as he arrived in the United States with little money and no guidance. “I worked almost two years installing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. At that time, my English was very weak,” Arykbaev recalls. After attending a six-month IT boot camp, he was able to enter a new field and land his first tech job in a matter of weeks. “I had several interview stages, and by the end of the week, I got an offer.” Arykbaev, who is currently a senior quality engineer, exemplifies a characteristic of this generation: the ability to change course. Careers are now rebuilt, sometimes from the ground up, rather than fixed. Breaking Into Global Systems The route was more regimented, but no less difficult, for Aldiyar Bekturganov, an Amazon software engineer. He followed a well-known path of internships, networking, and applications after relocating to the U.S. for college. However, the process was anything but easy. “I failed my first interview completely,” he says. That setback accelerated his learning curve. Even after landing a job, entering the workforce was not without its challenges. The shift from university to professional life, he explains, was immediate. “You suddenly realize the work actually matters,” he says. “If something is delayed, people are waiting on you.” Unlike academic settings, where mistakes are part of the process, professional environments demand results that affect teams and timelines. While Bekturganov represents a more traditional corporate trajectory, Dameli Bozzhanova offers a contrasting perspective shaped by entrepreneurship and flexibility. Working in...

Aral Sea

1853 Map of the Aral Sea Published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society

An 1853 map of the Aral Sea, published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, depicts the vast inland water body at a time when it was near its historical peak. The engraving, created by German cartographer August Petermann, was based on findings from a scientific expedition conducted in 1848-1849, according to historical materials referenced in the project. The expedition, led by Russian naval officer Alexey Butakov, produced one of the first detailed studies of the Aral Sea. Researchers measured its depth, mapped its coastline, and documented its islands, providing a comprehensive picture of a body of water that would later become a symbol of environmental degradation. Although widely referred to as a sea, the Aral is in fact a lake. In the 20th century, it ranked as the world’s fourth-largest lake. Scientific evidence suggests it formed around 17,600 years ago as a result of glacial melt. Initially freshwater, it became increasingly saline over time, while its water levels fluctuated over centuries. From the 1960s, however, the lake began to shrink rapidly. Large-scale irrigation projects diverted water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, primarily for cotton cultivation. Over the following decades, the Aral Sea lost more than 90% of its volume, transforming much of the region into desert and salt plains, and severely disrupting ecosystems and local livelihoods. In 1989, the lake split into two separate bodies. The southern part, largely located in Uzbekistan, has almost completely dried up, forming the Aralkum Desert. The northern section has shown some stabilisation, supported in part by infrastructure such as the Kokaral Dam. This transformation, and its historical context, will be explored in Uzbekistan’s cultural exhibition When Apricots Blossom, which draws on archival materials and contemporary interpretation. The exhibition takes its name from a poem by Hamid Olimjon, written in the 1930s, symbolising hope and renewal. According to organisers, the project will combine history, art, and environmental reflection to present the story of the Aral Sea to an international audience. The exhibition will run from April 20 to 26, at Palazzo Citterio in Milan’s Brera district as part of Milan Design Week.