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Society

Kyrgyzstan Celebrates Independence Day

On August 31 Kyrgyzstan celebrated the 33rd anniversary of its independence. Ala-Too Square in Bishkek hosted a gala concert featuring famous Kyrgyz and foreign artists, while President Sadyr Japarov addressed the nation. “We are a great nation with a strong spirit!", Japarov said. "That is why, on this day, we raise our flag high. Let our country reach new heights, and let the flag wave highly. May our independence never be threatened. I congratulate all of you on our Independence Day!” Japarov also played the komuz, a Kyrgyz string instrument. The centerpiece of the Independence Day celebrations was a drone show. In the sky above Ala-Too Square, drones created images of Kyrgyzstan, and portraits of national heroes and athletes. On August 31 festivities took place throughout the country. [caption id="attachment_22518" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] @president.kg[/caption] On August 31, 1991, Kyrgyzstan officially withdrew from the USSR and declared its independence. Economist Nurgul Akimova said Independence Day is not just a national holiday but a symbol of economic and political independence: “On this day, I reflect on how our country, having become independent, began to build its economic policy, focusing on the needs and opportunities of its people. Economic independence is not just freedom from external control but the ability to independently determine the trajectory of development. In the context of globalization, when small economies often face pressure from more powerful players, preserving sovereignty and independence requires competent management and a deep understanding of how to integrate into the global economic system profitably. This day reminds me of the importance of economic policies aimed at social equity and sustainable development. It prompts reflection on how our country can use its resources and potential to improve the lives of all citizens. Economic independence is not an end but a means to create a just society where everyone can realize their potential. Independence Day reminds us that economic stability and prosperity are impossible without responsible governance and transparent institutions. It is also a reason to consider integrating into global markets. Still, on terms that will contribute to Kyrgyzstan's long-term development, not just short-term gain". [caption id="attachment_22519" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] @president.kg[/caption] Civic activist Mars Cherikchiyev told The Times of Central Asia that Independence Day is about family security and confidence in the future of children. “I liked President Japarov's speech, which talked about Kyrgyzstan's achievements and plans for the future. Good work is being done in all sectors of the economy, and foreign investors see this. We are creating our infrastructure, opening regional airports, building internal roads, and cooperating with neighbors. We are gaining confidence for the future. Improving economic terms and general welfare for citizens is independence,” Cherikchiyev said. [caption id="attachment_22520" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] @president.kg[/caption]

Education

Lessons in Self-Defense for Kindergarten Kazakhs

From September 1, Kazakhstan will introduce “Personal Safety” lessons to the curricula of its kindergartens, schools, and colleges. Developed by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education, the program of 130 training sessions aims to teach children the basics of self-defense and develop a responsible attitude towards their own and others' safety. According to Nasymzhan Ospanova, Chair of the Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights, the lessons are tempered according to the children's age and developmental level to help motivate and support participants. Conducted in batches of weekly ten-minute classes, repeated three times a year, the training courses will include practical tips, games, interactive teaching methods, demonstrations, and videos, making the material accessible and exciting for children of all ages. It is worth noting that over the past three years, the number of children who have committed criminal offenses has increased by 20.3%. In 2023 alone, 1,823 juveniles were convicted. In most cases, crimes are committed by teenagers 16 - 17 years old (80.4%), with about 93.6% of juvenile offenders being boys. Statistics confirm that crime is higher among those with little education and those living in difficult situations. Thus, the share of those who neither study and nor work is 51.9%, the share of those who study in colleges is 26.9%, and in schools, gymnasiums, and lyceums, 20.6%.

Silk Road Treasures

Silk Road Treasures: The Wild Beauty of Mangistau

Under the banner of "Silk Road Treasures", TCA's people -journalists, editors, authors - share their personal experiences of Central Asia and her people, and by listing their favorite places, literature, films, art, architecture and archaeological sites, alongside encounters and customs, provide pointers for readers wishing to visit the region. Aliya Haidar, Journalist Kazakhstan's Mangistau Peninsula (Mangyshlak) is far from fit for human habitation. Fresh water is scarce, the air is filled with dust raised by searing desert winds, huge waves roll over the turbulent Caspian Sea, and only camels can feed on its vegetation. Mangistau is a symbol of the triumph of nature and, simultaneously, a symbol of victorious industrialization. The balance between the two, however, is very fragile, as events on the peninsula have repeatedly confirmed. In 2000, the peninsula's landscape still retained its wild, natural beauty but just a decade later, it was a place plagued by social conflict. The remains of ancient nomadic sites and necropolises of Sufi missionaries illustrates that people have long been determined to tame and develop this remote and barren land but its explosive growth only occurred with the discovery of oil and uranium. In the 1960s, geologists settled in the desert. Within ten years, cities appeared and hundreds of enterprises were established, making Mangistau one of the gems in the Soviet Union's crown. Colossal desalination plants near the regional center of Aktau (former Shevchenko) resembling spaceships, are a legacy of the era of rapid development when the world's first industrial nuclear reactor on fast neutrons, the BN-350, was built on the peninsula. The reactor was shut down after independence in the late 1990s, but conservation is ongoing. Today, few people are allowed into the gloomy catacombs, to the heart of the reactor, but the memory of the power of the atom and the payback has remained. BN-350 is part of the Mangistau Atomic Energy Combine (MAEC), and the giant desalination plants now supply most of the peninsula with water from the Caspian Sea. But there is still insufficient capacity, and the presence of the endless row of desalination plants warns: "Beware, man. You will have to fight for every drop." Even in the regional center of Aktau, water cuts are not uncommon, and intensive farming is out of the question. In the bazaars of Mangistau, most of the products, especially fruit and vegetables, are imported and far more expensive than elsewhere in Kazakhstan where they grow in abundance. And although salaries in the oil industry are higher than the national average, locals pay triple the price for just about everything. Irresistibly attracted by the glitter of “black gold," the population in the peninsula continues to rise. Almost 800 thousand people currently live in the Mangistau region, making it the ninth most populous region in the country. The load on the peninsula's natural resources however, is now so disproportionate that it has become the cause of constant conflicts. But outside the cities, it is easy to forget the harsh reality of the industrial...

Rule of Law

As Kazakhstan Marks Constitution Day, What Does the Occasion Really Symbolize?

Kazakhstan marks Constitution Day on August 30, an event inaugurated by the country’s second and current president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The day has taken on a new meaning since the events of January 2022, when a violent coup-attempt challenged Tokayev’s authority and caused deadly destruction in the nation. Since then, the country has adopted various democratic and economic reforms. Most significantly, key amendments to the country’s constitution were adopted following a national referendum in 2022. One of the main changes was to limit the president’s time in office to a single seven-year term and banning consecutive terms. In 2022, Tokayev was re-elected under the new rules and his presidential term will now expire in 2029. The first constitution of independent Kazakhstan was adopted in January 1993 and was based on the model of a parliamentary republic. It incorporated laws on sovereignty, the independence of the state, the Kazakh language as the state language, the president as head of state, and identified the country’s judicial bodies as the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and Higher Arbitration Court. The current constitution was then adopted on 30 August 1995 through a national referendum. It was amended in 1998, 2007, 2011, 2017, and 2019. The most significant changes, however, took place in the above-mentioned referendum after the mass unrests of January 2022. On May 5, 2022, Tokayev announced a referendum on amendments “to transition to a new state model, a new format of interaction between the state and society … from a super-presidential form of government to a presidential republic with an influential parliament and an accountable government.” The referendum was held on June 5, 2022, and 77% of the people supported the changes. Overall, 33 articles of the current constitution were amended. Today’s celebrations mark this new and improved constitution that represents a significant step in the path forward for Tokayev’s New Kazakhstan

Insurance

Kyrgyzstan Introduces Law on Compulsory Home and Car Insurance

From September 2024, when re-registering cars, owners must provide a contract on compulsory civil liability insurance. The same applies to real estate. The law was adopted eight years ago, but has been delayed under public pressure. According to the State Insurance Organisation (SIO), the introductory amount of car insurance is 1,680 KGS ($20). The final amount will be affected by driving experience, driver age, and engine displacement. The legal department of the State Insurance Organization explained to The Times of Central Asia that a vehicle's insurance policy will be required when it is re-registered with the state authorities. “Employees of the State Insurance Organization are at the places of registration of motor vehicles throughout the country and will issue MTPL insurance policies on the spot. The average amount of MTPL insurance for passenger cars will range from 2,000 to 4,000 KGS ($25-45),” said Ulukbek Nishonov, head of the legal department of the State Insurance Organization. Fifteen private insurance organizations will also insure cars. The law on compulsory car insurance in Kyrgyzstan was adopted more than eight years ago. Nevertheless, no sanctions have been imposed for non-compliance with the law. Most Kyrgyz motorists considered compulsory insurance a “waste of money.” Now, the authorities have figured out how to force everyone to insure their cars, even those without insurance policies or car registration. At the same time, ordinary citizens will not be fined for the lack of insurance. Officials claim that compulsory insurance is a social project. It is worth noting that the law on compulsory real estate insurance also came into force on August 26, 2024. Here, just as in the case of car insurance, citizens will be obliged to insure their property against fire and natural disasters only when re-registering housing. In other cases, it can be done voluntarily. At the same time, the state holds a monopoly on residential property insurance.

Freedom of Speech

Kyrgyzstan’s Culture Ministry Wants to Fine People for Spreading “Disinformation” Online

Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy has proposed issuing fines to people who promote 'disinformation' online. According to the proposed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, citizens who are found to have spread false information through media, websites, or social networks could be fined up to 100,000 KGS (about $1,200). For legal entities, the amount will be 200,000 KGS (about $2,400). The ministry emphasized that in recent years there has been an increase in cases where false information on the internet has led to conflicts and a deterioration in public sentiment. However, this has sparked debate in society and among human rights activists, who fear that such measures could limit freedom of expression and lead to the control of journalists and internet users. The ministry had previously proposed other amendments, which would allow fines to be imposed for libel and slander in the media and online.