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Social Security

Turkmen Pensioners Endure Long Queues to Prove They Are Alive

At the start of each year, elderly citizens and benefit recipients across Turkmenistan are forced to endure long hours in line at social security offices, as part of a biannual process requiring them to prove they are still alive. This routine formality has become a grueling ordeal, especially amid growing discontent over the government’s refusal to adjust payments as it had in previous years. Twice annually, in January and July, pensioners and beneficiaries must appear in person at local offices to receive a stamp in their pension books, confirming eligibility and the amount of payment for the next six months. Failure to do so results in an immediate suspension of payments. While retroactive disbursements are promised upon eventual reappearance, surviving without income for six months is an impossible burden for many. Reports of queues have emerged from across the country. Beneficiaries point out that the process could be easily streamlined with scheduled appointments or structured lists. However, no such measures are being implemented. Instead, in freezing cold or scorching heat, elderly people, women with young children, and individuals with disabilities must wait for hours. In the city of Turkmenbashi, residents expressed particular frustration. Many pensioners reportedly held out hope until the last moment for the traditional 10% increase in payments and were shocked to find it canceled this year. For those in rural areas, even an extra $2.50 to $3 per month can make a significant difference. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the cancellation of the 2026 pension and benefit indexation triggered sharp discontent among older residents. Many only learned of the decision during their January visits and openly expressed their anger. The move stems from a position voiced in the fall of 2025 at a parliamentary session. Honorary elder Yazmyrat Atamyradov proposed a complete freeze on wage, pension, benefit, and scholarship growth, claiming the standard of living for Turkmenistan’s “happy people” was rising sufficiently.

History

Family Album of 20th Century Kazakh Leader Mustafa Shokay Added to National Museum

The National Museum in Astana has acquired a rare and historically significant family photo album belonging to Mustafa Shokay, a leader of the Alash Orda political movement of the 1920s that strove for Kazakh autonomy, and his wife, Maria Shokay. The original album was formally donated to the museum by Shokay’s relative, Gulbarshyn Zairova. For decades, the album was safeguarded by the distinguished violinist Alim Almat (born Galymzhan Absalyamov), who survived wartime imprisonment with the help of Mustafa Shokay and later became a spiritual son to Maria Shokay. Almat eventually entrusted this valuable heirloom to Shokay scholar Bakyt Sadykova, who in turn passed it on to Zairova in 2022. [caption id="attachment_41949" align="aligncenter" width="225"] From the Shokay family archive[/caption] Reflecting on the importance of the donation, Zairova said: “This artifact was preserved for many years by Alim Almat, the first violinist who survived captivity during the war thanks to Mustafa Shokay and who was taken under the care of Maria Shokay after the war. Following Kazakhstan’s independence, Alim Almat returned to the country and entrusted Mustafa Shokay’s typewriter, three seals used during the publication of the Yash Turkistan newspaper, the couple’s wedding portrait, and this album to Shokay scholar Bakyt Sadykova. In 2022, the album was entrusted to me, and on December 25, 2025, marking the 135th anniversary of Mustafa Shokay's birth, it found its permanent home at the National Museum in Astana. Honoring history means safeguarding the future.” [caption id="attachment_41950" align="aligncenter" width="225"] From the Shokay family archive[/caption] Mustafa Shokay was a statesman who dedicated his life to the struggle for the freedom and equality of the Kazakh people. Born in 1890 in the Syr Darya region, he showed remarkable intellectual ability and a passion for learning from an early age. [caption id="attachment_41951" align="aligncenter" width="226"] From the Shokay family archive[/caption] He studied law in St. Petersburg and was fluent in Kazakh, Russian, Turkish, and French. Equipped with deep knowledge and a strong sense of justice, Shokay devoted himself to defending the rights of his people. [caption id="attachment_41952" align="aligncenter" width="225"] From the Shokay family archive[/caption] Amid the political transformations of 1917, Shokay emerged as a leading advocate for the future of Turkestan. He played a central role in the establishment of the Turkestan Autonomy, envisioning a homeland where Kazakhs and other Turkic peoples could live freely and with equal rights. [caption id="attachment_41953" align="aligncenter" width="226"] From the Shokay family archive[/caption] Although this vision was never fully realized, Shokay continued his mission in exile following the rise of Soviet power. Living in Europe, he remained deeply connected to his homeland, publishing newspapers and journals, writing influential works, and drawing international attention to the struggles of the Turkic world. Mustafa Shokay passed away in 1941, yet his ideals of freedom, dignity, and national self-determination continue to resonate today.

Sports

Turkmenistan’s Arkadag to Face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in AFC Champions League

Turkmenistan’s Arkadag football team has drawn Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, one of the favorites to win the AFC Champions League, in the round of 32. The Riyadh-based club features global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. The play-off stage draw was held on December 30 in Kuala Lumpur. Arkadag could have faced Jordan’s Al-Hussein or the UAE’s Al-Wasl, but the outcome proved more challenging. Al-Nassr, widely considered a top contender for the title, will now travel to Ashgabat for a critical away match. Cristiano Ronaldo has been with the Saudi club for three seasons but has yet to play a match in Central Asia. In both 2023 and 2025, Al-Nassr shared a group with Tajikistan’s Istiklol. However, in each case, the matches in Dushanbe occurred late in the group stage, with Al-Nassr having already secured qualification, prompting the club to rest its key players. The upcoming encounter may break that pattern. As the first match of a two-legged tie, Al-Nassr is unlikely to underestimate its opponent. Arkadag, the reigning AFC Challenge League champion, has established itself as a formidable home team, maintaining an unbeaten record since its founding. In last season’s Challenge League playoffs, Arkadag defeated India’s East Bengal 2-1 and Kuwait’s Al-Arabi 3-0 on home turf. In this season’s AFC Champions League, the team has continued its strong form, securing a 1-0 win over Bahrain’s Al-Khalidiya and drawing 1-1 with both Uzbekistan’s Andijan and Qatar’s Al-Ahli. For Al-Nassr, the match represents an away challenge against a little-known but dangerous opponent. Arkadag's home advantage, unwavering support from local fans, and spotless home record make the team a serious threat, even for a club boasting global superstars. The first-leg match is scheduled for February 10 or 11 in Turkmenistan, with the return leg set for February 17 or 18 in Saudi Arabia. Arkadag is Central Asia’s sole representative in the AFC Champions League round of 32. However, the region will also be represented in the AFC Challenge League playoffs, with Kyrgyzstan’s Muras United advancing to the next stage. The Ashgabat fixture may become not only the highlight of Turkmenistan’s football winter, but also a rare opportunity for Central Asian fans to witness one of the world’s greatest players compete on regional soil.

Livestock Farming

Kazakhstan Considers Lowering Retirement Age for Shepherds and Herders

Kazakhstan is developing a package of social measures aimed at attracting and retaining personnel in the livestock industry, including a proposal to lower the retirement age for shepherds and herders. The initiative was discussed during a meeting of the Public Council under the Ministry of Agriculture, which reviewed the draft Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Agribusiness in the Livestock Sector for 2026-2030. The plan is designed to increase production, improve productivity, and enhance the sector’s export potential. A key focus of the draft is addressing staffing shortages in rural livestock farming, which the ministry has identified as a systemic challenge. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the proposed support measures include reducing the retirement age for shepherds and herders, providing deferrals from military service, and prioritizing educational grants for their children. Specific retirement age parameters have not yet been disclosed. Currently, men in Kazakhstan retire at 63 and women at 61, with a gradual equalization planned from 2031. At present, certain groups, including mothers of large families, workers in hazardous occupations, military personnel, law enforcement officers, and victims of nuclear testing, are eligible for early retirement. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Amangali Berdalin also announced plans to launch long-term preferential loans at 6% per annum for the purchase of breeding stock for all types of farm animals. Additionally, 5% interest loans are planned to support working capital without sector-specific limitations. These funds can be used for purchasing feed, fuel and lubricants, veterinary drugs, and covering other ongoing production expenses. To reactivate underused pastures, a unified loan product at 6% is being developed to support transhumance livestock farming. All loan programs will be backed by state guarantees. The expansion of social and financial support for livestock farming comes amid rising export performance in the industry. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh meat producers exported more products in the first ten months of 2025 than in all of 2024.

Orthodox Christians

Orthodox Christmas in Central Asia Highlights Faith, Tradition, and Tolerance

On January 7, Orthodox Christians in Central Asia and around the world celebrate Christmas. In the region, the holiday has become a symbol of religious and ethnic tolerance. Christmas is one of the most significant holidays for believers and is also cherished by many who are not religious. It is celebrated by billions globally. However, the majority of Orthodox Christians and Catholics do not observe Christmas on the same day. While Christmas falls on January 7 for millions of Orthodox Christians in Central Asia, the holiday is marked not only by church services but also by official recognition, public celebrations, and interfaith messages—underscoring the region’s emphasis on religious coexistence. In the early centuries of the Christian era, the Julian calendar was used universally, but, over time, astronomers found that the Julian calendar miscalculated the solar year’s length. As a result, it was replaced by the more accurate Gregorian calendar, which is now followed in most of the secular world. However, many Orthodox churches did not adopt the Gregorian reform. Consequently, many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas not on December 25, but 13 days later, on January 7. Some interpreters of church law argue that the Julian calendar is sanctified by centuries of tradition. The Russian Orthodox Church, in particular, maintains that transitioning to the Gregorian calendar would violate canonical norms. A Bright Holiday in Kazakhstan In Kazakhstan, the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty is filled with worshippers on Christmas Eve. The cathedral is a spiritual, historical, and cultural landmark of the country. [caption id="attachment_41873" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] The Zenkov (Ascension) Cathedral, Almaty; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] This year, Metropolitan Alexander, head of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, conducted the divine liturgy at the cathedral, urging people to mark the holiday through acts of kindness. “It would be wrong to celebrate Christmas if we do not share this joy with our neighbors, especially those in need of comfort and support. Let us strive to make this festive season truly bright and solemn for all of us, through good deeds, words of comfort and encouragement, compassion, and mercy. Let us extend a helping hand to those who mourn, encourage those who are discouraged, visit those who are sick, and remember those who are lonely,” said Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. In Astana, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, administrator of the Metropolitan District, offered Christmas greetings and led a service at Uspensky Cathedral. Orthodox Christmas is a public holiday in Kazakhstan. Representatives of various faiths have emphasized that the day symbolizes peaceful coexistence among people of different nationalities and religions. Christmas Carols and Religious Freedom In Uzbekistan, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, led the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tashkent. The Orthodox community in Uzbekistan is estimated to number between 600,000 and a million. Religious observers note that the public celebration of Orthodox Christmas across Central Asia increasingly reflects a broader emphasis on social stability, interfaith dialogue, and...

Healthcare

The Dental Mafia in Kazakhstan: How Pension Funds Were Siphoned Off

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) is continuing its investigation into one of the country’s most high-profile financial crimes in recent years: the large-scale embezzlement of pension savings through fictitious dental services. Authorities allege that millions of dollars were siphoned from the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) via a sprawling criminal scheme involving dozens of dental clinics. According to the FMA, the investigation is ongoing and centers on clinic managers and their accomplices. The alleged scheme involved the withdrawal of pension savings from the UAPF through formal contracts for dental procedures, backed by forged medical documents. “For such ‘assistance,’ the organizers of the scheme received illegal remuneration amounting to 10% to 20% of the withdrawn funds,” the agency said. In total, 42 dental clinics are implicated. Investigators estimate that more than $390 million was illicitly funneled through these entities. The funds were reportedly used to acquire luxury real estate and other high-value assets, as well as to open new dental clinics registered under front persons to obscure the identities of the real beneficiaries. Some of the fabricated diagnoses were blatantly implausible. In one instance, a 21-year-old was diagnosed with “complete edentulism” (total tooth loss) and simultaneously prescribed both teeth cleaning and braces. In response to the violations uncovered, Kazakhstan suspended the use of pension savings to pay for dental services as of September 15, 2025. The measure, though temporary, signals a tightening of regulatory oversight amid public outcry. The program allowing partial use of pension savings for medical services was first introduced in 2021. It enabled citizens to access funds exceeding the so-called “sufficiency threshold” to pay for treatments, including expensive dental procedures such as prosthetics and implants.