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Water Crisis

Kyrgyzstan Highlights Water Crisis at FAO’s Rome Water Dialogue

Kyrgyzstan requires $1.2 billion in investment to resolve drinking water supply issues in 960 villages nationwide, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev announced during the Rome Water Dialogue 2025. The event took place at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. According to the ministry, Kyrgyzstan has 2,014 villages, but only 796 currently have access to clean drinking water. While pipeline construction is underway in 258 villages, 960 remain without a reliable supply. “If we don’t invest the necessary funds today, restoring the lost potential tomorrow will cost three times as much. It’s time to give water the same level of attention as oil and gas,” Torobayev told the international forum. The minister emphasized that the conservation and rational use of water resources is one of the most urgent challenges in Central Asia. Accelerated climate change and population growth are intensifying water shortages and threatening food security across the region. Torobayev noted that approximately 10 million people in Central Asia still lack access to clean drinking water. He also cited figures showing that 80% of the region’s water infrastructure is outdated, with water losses reaching up to 55%. He underscored the importance of protecting Kyrgyzstan’s mountain glaciers, which serve as critical water sources for major regional rivers that supply neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Another urgent issue, according to the minister, is the declining water level in Lake Issyk-Kul, a body of water with regional environmental and climatic significance. “The tragic example of the Aral Sea shows that the loss of natural resources can lead to irreversible consequences. Water security is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of national and global sustainable development,” Torobayev warned.

Kazakhstan Finds No Violations in Pavel Durov’s Swim in Protected Lake

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology has announced it will not fine Pavel Durov, the founder of the Russian messaging app Telegram, for swimming in Lake Kolsai, a specially protected natural area. According to the ministry, the video Durov posted from the lake serves to promote tourism in the country. Durov arrived in Kazakhstan in early October to participate in the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana. He later visited Almaty, where he published a video on his Telegram channel showing himself swimming in Lake Kolsai, located in a national park in the Almaty region. While the lake is part of a protected area where swimming is only permitted in designated zones, the video went viral and sparked public debate. Following the publication, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs opened an investigation and forwarded the case to the Ministry of Ecology for review. According to Kazakh law, unauthorized activity in protected natural zones can result in fines of up to $72. However, the Ministry of Ecology stated there were no grounds to hold Durov liable. “There were no warning signs prohibiting swimming at the site near Lake Kolsai-2. Therefore, no violation was found. The situation was unintentional and did not affect the ecological sustainability of the area,” the ministry said in an official statement. The ministry also emphasized the importance of improving public awareness among tourists regarding regulations in national parks to help preserve natural ecosystems and promote eco-tourism. “The video material posted on Pavel Durov’s personal channel, which has over 10 million subscribers, was promotional in nature and showcased the natural beauty of Kazakhstan to a global audience. Such exposure is a valuable contribution to enhancing the country’s tourism profile,” the ministry added. During his visit, Durov also announced the launch of a new artificial intelligence laboratory, Telegram AI Lab, at the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana.

Asylum

Tajikistan’s Ombudsman Criticizes Violations of Refugee Rights

Tajikistan’s Human Rights Commissioner has released a 2024 report highlighting ongoing violations of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, including challenges in securing legal status and accessing essential services. According to the report, refugees and migrants face systemic barriers to obtaining official status and temporary registration, as well as difficulties integrating into society, finding employment, and accessing education. As of the end of 2024, 10,753 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Tajikistan, comprising 2,670 families. Among them, 9,424 individuals (2,140 families) held refugee status, while 1,329 (530 families) were awaiting decisions on their asylum applications. The majority, 6,774 people, or 63%, were Afghan nationals. In 2024, 2,280 individuals were issued refugee certificates, and another 2,591 received temporary registration. Four applicants were denied refugee status on grounds of submitting "unfounded or false information." The report did not disclose the nationalities of those denied. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported similar figures for 2024, citing 10,381 registered refugees and asylum seekers in Tajikistan. This marks a decline from 2022, when the UN estimated the number of Afghan asylum seekers in the country at around 14,000. The Ombudsman’s report also noted that several Afghan asylum seekers were expelled from Tajikistan in 2024 for violating residency rules. Cited reasons included wearing a beard “against the rules,” inappropriate clothing, alcohol consumption, and political discussions on social media. Interior Minister Ramazon Rakhimzoda defended the deportations, stating in the summer of 2024 that all actions were taken in accordance with national law. “Although they had legal residence, if they violate the law, they are expelled,” he said, adding that all decisions were made within the existing legal framework. Tajikistan accepted its first wave of Afghan refugees in 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power. At the time, authorities acknowledged that the lack of dedicated shelters posed a major challenge. In August 2025, the head of the Emergency Situations Committee said there was no significant threat of a new mass influx of refugees and that previously accommodated families had been resettled across the country. Most Afghan refugees are currently living in the city of Vahdat and the Jabbor Rasulov district.

U.S. Senate Confirms Julie Stufft as Ambassador to Kazakhstan

On October 7, the United States Senate confirmed Julie Stufft as the new U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, approving her nomination by a vote of 51 to 47, and marking the first new U.S. envoy to Astana under President Donald Trump. A career diplomat and Senior Foreign Service Minister-Counselor, Stufft previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services. During her July 2025 confirmation hearing, Stufft outlined her priorities, citing the security of U.S. citizens, energy cooperation, and critical minerals partnerships as top priorities. “If confirmed, my primary task will be to ensure the safety of all Americans in Kazakhstan, including my embassy and consulate staff,” she said. Stufft emphasized Kazakhstan’s strategic importance as a key U.S. partner in Central Asia, highlighting opportunities for expanded economic cooperation, particularly in energy and critical minerals. “Today, we stand on the threshold of a new era of trade and energy cooperation with Kazakhstan, a world leader in uranium production, a major oil exporter, and a holder of vast reserves of critical minerals,” she said. Stufft added that she intends to collaborate with the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, and the private sector to deepen bilateral economic ties and promote U.S. prosperity. Stufft’s confirmation received some bipartisan support, with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Steve Daines (R-MT) praising her professional experience and diplomatic capabilities. She succeeds Daniel Rosenblum, who retired in December 2024 after 28 years of service in the State Department. Her nomination was formally submitted by the White House and approved by President Donald Trump in the summer of 2025. Stufft is a career diplomat and a member of the Senior Foreign Service. Before her appointment, she served at the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Her previous overseas postings include assignments in Russia, Poland, Ethiopia, Moldova, and Djibouti. She also served on the National Security Council, coordinating efforts to protect Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stufft holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Duke University. She speaks Russian, Romanian, French, and Polish. In 2023, she received the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service and has earned seven State Department awards over her career. “We must actively oppose violence against women and girls,” she said, underscoring her commitment to gender equality as part of U.S. foreign policy. Stufft is a fellow of the International Women's Forum (2021-2022) and participated in the MIT Center for International Studies’ Seminar XXI program (2014-2015).

Kazakhstan Investigates Telegram Founder Pavel Durov for Swimming in Protected Kolsai Lake

Pavel Durov, founder of the Russian messaging app Telegram, may face an administrative fine in Kazakhstan after posting a video of himself swimming in Kolsai Lake, a protected natural area where swimming and fishing are prohibited. Durov arrived in Kazakhstan in early October to participate in the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana, later visiting Almaty. During the trip, he shared a video on his own Telegram channel that showed him emerging from the waters of Kolsai Lake in the Almaty region. The post sparked widespread reaction on social media, given the lake’s status as part of a national park with strict visitation rules. Under Kazakh law, violations of protected area regulations are punishable by a fine of up to $72. The Kolsai Lakes National Park administration confirmed that an official investigation is underway. Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Police Committee, Alexei Milyuk, said the case has been referred to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. “We have collected materials based on media reports and social media posts, registered them, and forwarded them to the appropriate authorities,” Milyuk told reporters. “The question of bringing Pavel Durov to justice is now being considered by the environmental authorities.” He added that penalties may be limited to a warning, with $72 being the maximum fine. Durov later posted a follow-up video showing himself holding a metal rod, stating that he had entered the water to retrieve an object he noticed protruding from the lakebed in an effort to clean the area. During his visit, Durov also announced the launch of Telegram’s AI Lab at the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana.

Nuclear Energy

Tokayev Proposes Regional Nuclear Council in Kazakhstan

At the second Central Asia-Russia summit in Dushanbe, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing a regional council in Kazakhstan focused on nuclear fuel cycle expertise and radioactive waste management. The proposal follows last year’s national referendum in which over 70% of voters supported building a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan. Since then, the government has selected a site for the first plant and announced plans to construct at least two additional facilities. This summer, Rosatom began construction of the first NPP in the Almaty region in southern Kazakhstan. Tokayev has previously emphasized the need for Kazakhstan to develop domestic expertise in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, citing international best practices. He expanded on this vision during the Dushanbe summit. “Cooperation in the nuclear industry will ensure the development of a number of related industries, which is critically important for us,” Tokayev stated. “We propose to establish a Regional Council of Competencies in the field of the nuclear fuel cycle and radioactive waste management in Kazakhstan. It is important to strengthen the modern research base and the system for training qualified personnel. The first step in this direction has already been taken: a branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI has opened in Almaty,” Tokayev said, referring to the Moscow-based institute that has conducted nuclear research since 1953. He added that Kazakhstan intends to continue developing this sector in cooperation with research institutions from both countries. Tokayev also highlighted recent progress in regional energy integration, citing the trilateral gas union between Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan as a key development in ensuring stable gas supplies for both citizens and industry. “An important document on cooperation in the gas sector between Kazakhstan and Russia was signed recently in St. Petersburg,” he said, referencing a memorandum with Gazprom on the construction of a new gas pipeline from Russia to Kazakhstan to support domestic gasification. The president also underscored the strategic role of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which transported approximately 63 million tons of Kazakh oil to Europe in 2024. He noted the increasing significance of the so-called eastern vector for hydrocarbon exports. “Kazakhstan serves as a transit corridor for Russian oil to China, with volumes reaching up to 10 million tons per year. In 2024, deliveries have already surpassed this level. Given this momentum, there is potential to further increase capacity,” Tokayev said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has been awarded contracts to build the second and third nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan.