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Tajikistan Elevates Cultural Presence with Permanent Delegation at UNESCO

In a significant move, Tajikistan has taken a stride towards enhancing its international cultural representation by establishing a Permanent Delegation to UNESCO. President Emomali Rahmon, on January 12th, issued a decree formalizing the establishment of this delegation. The decision is expected to bolster Tajikistan's standing in the global community, facilitating active engagement with UNESCO, and providing a platform to advocate for and safeguard the nation’s cultural heritage on the international stage. Tajikistan has already made notable contributions to UNESCO's recognition of cultural treasures. In December, the traditional art of text decoration known as "Tazhib" and the celebration of "Sada" secured places on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Additionally, the craft of producing atlas and adras, as well as cultural elements like chakan, the musical genre "falak," and the observance of "Yaldo night" have earned spots on UNESCO's list. Given the shared cultural heritage of Central Asian nations, certain elements transcend national borders, embodying the essence of regional traditions. For instance, Tajikistan, along with other Central Asian countries, shares intangible cultural heritage items like the Navruz holiday, shashmakom music, silk weaving techniques, and the art of making the traditional dish, plov. Tajikistan is actively pursuing UNESCO recognition for the ancient farmers' festival, Mehrgon, as part of its intangible cultural heritage. Mehrgon, deeply rooted in Tajik history, marks the culmination of the harvest season. Its inclusion in UNESCO's list would represent an acknowledgment of Tajikistan's distinctive cultural traditions. Moreover, Tajikistan has submitted a proposal to inscribe twelve sites of ancient Khuttal on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Register. This collection of sites includes cities, palaces, fortresses, mausoleums, and monasteries, collectively bearing witness to the profound history of the region. If accepted, the inclusion of these sites on the World Cultural Heritage List would contribute to their preservation for generations to come.

Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan Features Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Markets Should Attract More Foreign Tourists in Uzbekistan, Says President

On January 9th, the President Mirziyoyev attended a presentation of prospective designs for new tourism facilities. Mirziyoyev had earlier spoken about the need to effectively harness the country’s great tourism potential and increase the number of tourist sites and accommodations. At the presentation, the head of state examined projects developed in accordance with these objectives. It was stated that the picturesque mountain landscapes of the Shakhrisabz district of the Kashkadarya region and the Parkent district of the Tashkent region attract numerous tourists, especially in the spring and summer seasons. In order to expand amenities to attract tourists, it is planned to build modern recreation centers in Miraki, Shakhrisabz, Nurobod, and Kumushkon in the Parkent region, and to construct hostels on the Maydanak plateau in the Kashkadarya region. Markets, or bazaars, are one of the nation’s main attractions, but today some lack the national flavor necessary to entice foreign tourists, the President had earlier stated when instructing relevant departments to develop a project of complexes which reflect the national culture. The presentation reviewed draft proposals for transforming the markets of historical cities into complexes attractive to tourists. “Markets should be turned into a ‘calling card’ of the country, preserving their unique features. Food, clothing, jewelry stores, gastronomic and entertainment establishments should harmoniously complement each other and attract buyers and tourists,” Mirziyoyev said, noting the importance of studying the experience of Turkey and Arab countries and attracting foreign specialists to design markets. The presentation also provided information about the markets which are slated for construction in such tourist centers as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, with Mirziyoyev emphasizing that each should reflect the colors of its given region.

Turkmenistan Home Turkmenistan Life & Culture Life & Culture Turkmenistan Features Features

President’s First Book Presented in Turkmenistan

A presentation of the first book by President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, entitled “Youth is the support of the Motherland,” took place on January 6th at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chairman of the Central Council of the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, Yazpolat Keriev, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, delivered speeches at the event. As was emphasized in the speeches, as part of the national youth policy of the President, the necessary opportunities and conditions are being created for the fruition of a worthy generation based on traditions inherited from their ancestors, and comprehensive support is being provided to the youth, who represent the future of the country. It was also stated that the literary work of the head of state, dedicated to the activities and achievements of Turkmen youth in socioeconomic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres, is intended to become a reference book for the current and future generation of young Turkmen citizens, the Foreign Ministry reported. At the same time, special emphasis was placed on the implementation of the “Strategy for International Youth Cooperation for 2023-2030,” which aims to contribute to the active involvement of Turkmen youth in international events. From the first years of Turkmenistan's independence, each of the country's leaders has published books they claimed as coming from their pen. The father of the current president, former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is the most prolific author. Since coming to power in 2007, a government portal claims that the “esteemed” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov senior has written over 60 books, including a novel about his father. During the reign of the Berdimuhamedovs, the books of the first President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, were removed from educational curricula and state propaganda, Radio Azadliq reported.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13432" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]Winning the Presidential election of 1992 unopposed, Niyazov declared himself “Turkmenbashi,” meaning Father of the Turkmen. Eager to foster a cult of personality despite his reclusive nature, statues of Niyazov began to sprout across the country. Atop a rocket-shaped monument called the Arch of Neutrality, his twelve-meter-tall golden likeness rotated to face the sun, or as a Turkmen saying had it, the sun revolved to face him. “My countrymen worshiped Lenin, then Stalin,” Niyazov ruminated at the time. “Now it’ll either be Allah or myself. It had better be me.” Despite 58% of his people living below the poverty line, by the time of Niyazov’s death there were 10,000 new statues in Turkmenistan, largely of him and his family. Now, dumped in the outskirts, the Arch of Neutrality stands with the lift upon its marble frame long since out of commission and its ticket booth closed.

Tajikistan Life & Culture Life & Culture Tajikistan Local Politics Tajikistan Features Features

Independent Media Facing Repression in Tajikistan, Says Watchdog

In Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon’s bid to centralize control includes efforts to silence political opponents, human rights activists, and independent voices. Now, Tajikistan’s media is in its “worst state” since the years of the civil war, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a report released on January 4th. In the report, entitled “In Tajikistan, independent media throttled by state repression,” the media watchdog said that seven journalists were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in retaliation for their work in 2022 and 2023. Four journalists - Abdullo Ghurbati, Zavqibek Saidamini, Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, and Khurshed Fozilov - received sentences of seven or seven-and-a-half years, whilst Khushom Gulyam received eight years, Daler Imomali ten years, and Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva twenty years. The harsh sentences are seen by many as a deeply chilling escalation in the years-long constriction of independent media, the report states. Only two significant independent media voices now remain in Tajikistan: privately-owned news agency, Asia-Plus, and the U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s local service, the Czechia-based Radio Ozodi. Both regularly face harassment and threats. Their websites have long been subjected to partial shutdowns by local internet service providers, the CPJ report said. Asia-Plus has been forced to moderate its content, reducing its political coverage following a May 2022 threat from the authorities to shutter its operations. A handful of other outlets either avoid political topics entirely, or barely function due to lack of funding. Several local journalists told CPJ that they were forced to self-censor their reporting, and pointed to a “dramatic fall” in the number of critical articles and an increasing tendency for local media to avoid domestic politics in favor of “safe” topics such as culture, sport, and limited international news. Another big problem the media in Tajikistan faces is its finances. Lacking domestic sources of funding amid a limited advertising market, independent media has been reliant on international donors for years, local journalists told CPJ. Yet in recent times, this source of support has declined significantly, particularly since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Turkmenistan Life & Culture Life & Culture Turkmenistan Features

Turkmenistan Ushers in the Year of Pyragy

Turkmenistan celebrated the New Year with large-scale celebrations held on the capital's Alem Square near the country's main Christmas tree, Turkmenportal reports. Music, songs and dances took place, with the best children's groups and popular local pop singers performing on stage. The traditional New Year's Eve teleconference took place between Ashgabat and the administrative centers of the regions and the new city of Arkadag, during which the president and all citizens of Turkmenistan were congratulated by honorary elders, mothers and hyakims from around the country. The event ended with a live address from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the people of Turkmenistan.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13470" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]Earlier, the Mejlis (parliament) of Turkmenistan had declared 2024 the year of “Magtymguly Pyragy’s Fount of Mind,” in tribute to the great thinker and poet, Pyragy, who is considered the father of Turkmen literature. Preparations are underway for a large-scale celebration in 2024 of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Pyragy, a 60-meter-tall statue of whom stands at the foot of the Kopetdag mountains in Ashgabat. The cultural heritage of Pyragy has been recognized at a global level, including by the permanent council of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY). A collection of Pyragy’s manuscripts has been included in the International Memory of the World List, and the day of celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Pyragy has been added to the UNESCO List of memorable dates to be celebrated in 2024-2025.

Life & Culture Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture Kyrgyzstan Features Kyrgyzstan Features

New Flag of Kyrgyzstan Raised in Ala-Too Square

On January 1st, 2024, the new flag of Kyrgyzstan was raised in Ala-Too Square. Photos of the updated flag were shared by the AKIpress News Agency. On December 22nd, President Sadyr Japarov signed a law “On State Symbols of the Kyrgyz Republic,” which was adopted to improve the country’s flag. In particular, the adopted law changed the shape of the sun’s rays on the flag of Kyrgyzstan from wavy to straight. Earlier, at the People's Kurultai, Japarov had stated that changing the flag was his personal initiative, and also added that the state would not bear the costs.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13481" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]Several rallies protesting the change have been held since the proposal in October. Also on December 22nd, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Kyrgyz authorities to drop all charges against activist Aftandil Jorobekov, and to release him after he was arrested for openly protesting changes to Kyrgyzstan’s national flag and charged with calls for mass disorder and civil disobedience. In a statement, HRW said that the charges brought against Jorobekov “violate his freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly.” The 39-year-old activist was detained on December 7th, a day after he voiced his disapproval of the bill and announced his plan to hold a peaceful protest in Bishkek’s Gorky Park on December 9th. “Criticizing the government and calling for peaceful protest is not the equivalent of stoking mass unrest, and it is certainly not criminal,” Sultanalieva said. “The Kyrgyz authorities should drop this absurd case against Jorobekov, and uphold his right to free speech and peaceful assembly.” Meanwhile, many politicians, activists, and public figures in Kyrgyzstan continue to question the idea to change the national flag. Prominent Kyrgyz athlete and two-time world wrestling champion Jolaman Sharshenbekov wrote on Twitter on December 21st that he will continue raising the country’s old national flag at international tournaments and competitions. The head of the country’s State Committee of National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, immediately commented on Sharshenbekov’s post, threatening unspecified repercussions for athletes who “even try” to raise anything other than the amended national flag at sports events. “The law is adopted, and we, the citizens, must obey,” Tashiev wrote.