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Kyrgyzstan Seeks Legalization of Traditional Medicines and Practices

Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry has devised an initiative to legalize traditional folk medicine. A draft decree of the Cabinet of Ministers on the procedure for training specialists has now been submitted for public discussion. Proposed by Minister of Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, the initiative concerns the study of traditional healing methods such as phytotherapy, massage, acupuncture, apitherapy, and hippotherapy, conducted through specialist training programs. He has also mooted the establishment of a research institute or Academy of Traditional Kyrgyz Medicine offering courses in theoretical and practical skills taught by professionals in the field, alongside the foundation of a dissertation council for the defense of academic degrees in the discipline. Central to the project, is the introduction of a budget for traditional medicine specialists, such as acupuncturists and physiotherapists, in all medical institutions of the country. There are also plans to open a research institute to test the efficacy of medicinal plants and conduct clinical trials. In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers has proposed the implementation of medicinal herb plantations for the subsequent production of related medical drugs. It is worth noting that in both several former Soviet Union and countries worldwide, traditional medicine has been legalized and integrated into state healthcare systems. For example, Russia and Belarus practice traditional treatments, including phytotherapy, acupuncture, alongside modern medical procedures. Traditional Chinese medicine is widely practiced in China, Japan, and Korea, and Ayurveda and Yunani are actively being developed in India. The World Health Organization also supports the development of traditional medicine by helping countries develop recognized international standards.

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Citing Obstacles, Polling Group ‘Central Asia Barometer’ to Stop Work

Central Asia Barometer, a non-governmental group that surveys public opinion in Central Asia with the help of international partners, said on Monday that it faces insecurity and challenges to “academic freedom” and will temporarily suspend all operations on December 1. “This long-planned decision is due to the growing insecurity and challenges in conducting ethical survey research in the region, which has significantly impacted our ability to continue our work,” Kasiet Ysmanova, director of the Central Asia Barometer, said in a statement. The group is based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. While Ysmanova did not go into details about the problems that the Central Asia Barometer was encountering, rights groups have long pointed out that advocates for freedom of expression and other democratic principles can face persecution in a region steeped in authoritarian traditions. Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan´s passage of a law tightening control over non-governmental organizations that receive foreign funding raised more concern about the erosion of such rights, though the government there alleges that some of the groups are corrupt and has urged international critics to stay out of its internal affairs. In April, the Open Society Foundations criticized the law as restrictive and ill-defined and said it was closing its national foundation in Kyrgyzstan. Maximilian Hess, founder of Ementena Advisory, a political risk company based in London, said on X that the Central Asia Barometer was “long a valuable resource to researchers such as myself” and that its suspension of operations was a “very worrying development.” The Central Asia Barometer says its mission is to provide data that helps institutions make informed decisions for the benefit of people in the region. Its website lists 18 partners, including the U.N. International Organization for Migration, Sunway University in Malaysia, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Germany and Abu Dhabi-based TRENDS Research & Advisory. American partners include D3 Systems, Inc. and the Central Asia Program at George Washington University. The Central Asia polling group says it gets funding from research grants, paid subscriptions to survey data, omnibus surveys and contract work for research. Last year, the Central Asia Barometer conducted research on attitudes in Central Asia toward Russia's war in Ukraine, and Central Asian perceptions of Turkey and other countries. In addition, Ysmanova, the director, wrote an article about awareness in Central Asia of discrimination against labor migrants for a book about human rights in the region. The group has also surveyed people about the economy, the environment, public health and other issues. The group said that it will maintain a small team to answer emails and other requests after ceasing operations on December 1. “We hope that the situation regarding academic freedom in the region improves, allowing us to resume our activities in the future,” Ysmanova said.

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Former Prosecutor General Beknazarov Detained in Kyrgyzstan

A former member of the Provisional Government and former Prosecutor General, Azimbek Beknazarov, has been detained in Kyrgyzstan. The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) said he is suspected of embezzling significant sums of money. The money in question was seized in April 2010 from bank boxes and the Government House during the revolutionary events. The investigation found that Beknazarov, then a member of the Provisional Government, was involved in the theft of these funds through the purchase of expensive real estate in Kyrgyzstan, including in Issyk-Kul, Bishkek, and the Chui and Jalal-Abad regions. “On September 12, 2024, A. Beknazarov was detained and placed in the temporary detention facility of the SIZO of the SCNS KR on suspicion of committing a crime under Article 222 part 3 p.3 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (Legalization, laundering of criminal proceeds in large amounts),” the SCNS said in a statement. According to the investigation, the funds were allegedly seized from several bank boxes with the permission of the Bishkek prosecutor. At that time, $21 million belonged to President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's cronies. These funds were transferred to the National Bank for safekeeping. However, according to unconfirmed reports, the seized funds may have reached $100 million, which led to rumors that some money did not get into the vault. Azimbek Beknazarov is one of the key figures in Kyrgyz political life. He served as Prosecutor General and Deputy Prime Minister of Roza Otunbayeva's interim government from 2005 to 2010. Beknazarov was also actively involved in the coups d'état of 2005 and 2010, for which he was nicknamed “the bulldozer of revolutions.” The politician was also among the defendants in the “Kempir-Abad case”, in which he was acquitted in June 2024 with his associates.

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Climate Crisis May Drastically Reduce Production in Central Asia

Central Asia may face serious economic losses due to climate change, which may reach a 6.5% annual decline in production by 2060. These figures were announced by Bo Li, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at the “New Economic Challenges for Long-Term Development” forum. According to Bo, the Caucasus and Central Asia region is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Soaring temperatures and increasing frequency of droughts and floods are reducing crops, destroying infrastructure, and lowering living standards. “According to IMF estimates, if no action is taken to slow down climate change, Central Asia will lose up to 6.5% of its output annually by 2060,” Bo said. He noted that possible losses could be reduced with joint actions such as reducing carbon emissions, transitioning to a green economy, and adapting to changing climate conditions. As an example, Bo noted the efforts of Kyrgyzstan, that has already started to increase electricity tariffs and reduce energy subsidies, allowing the country to adapt to climate challenges and create new jobs in the “green” sector. Many Central Asian countries are taking steps to reform the energy sector and introduce “green” technologies. For example, Kazakhstan is actively cooperating with several countries to develop renewable energy and reform the energy sector. One key example is the partnership with the United States under the USAID Power Central Asia program. This initiative supports Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries in modernizing energy markets, introducing clean energy, and encouraging private investment in renewable energy. Uzbekistan is undergoing a major reform of its energy system to reduce subsidies and promote renewable energy. The country plans to increase the share of renewable energy to 25% by 2030, which includes solar and wind energy projects. These measures will help Uzbekistan improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In Tajikistan, USAID is implementing the Power Central Asia program, which supports energy cooperation in the region and encourages using renewable energy to help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and modernize energy systems.

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American Educators to Teach English in Uzbekistan

Twenty English language teachers from the United States have arrived in Uzbekistan to begin teaching and professional development programs across the country. The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent reported that they will join local teachers to provide direct classroom instruction to students. The twenty American teachers will support English language teaching within ten different regions of Uzbekistan for the 2024-2025 academic year. According to the Embassy, these teachers are just part of the U.S. Government’s vast commitment to strengthening English language education in Uzbekistan, which includes training more than 18,000 English teachers nationwide. Since 2018, the U.S. Government has invested over $31.2 million in English language teaching and learning in Uzbekistan. The U.S. Embassy has partnered with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations to support Uzbekistan’s education reforms and to ensure that graduates are equipped with the linguistic and professional skills needed to support Uzbekistan’s economy. Since 2019, 98 American English teachers have worked at 21 public schools and more than 30 universities across Uzbekistan.

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Kazakhstan’s Longest Road Tunnel Opens on Western Europe – Western China Transport Corridor

On September 12, a new tunnel was opened at the Shakpak Baba pass in Kazakhstan’s southern Turkestan region. As the Kazakh Ministry of Transport reported, it is the longest automobile tunnel in Kazakhstan. The two-lane tunnel is 840 meters long, 11 meters wide, and 8 meters high. Control centers on both sides of the tunnel monitor lighting, ventilation, and traffic lights. The tunnel's opening will facilitate traveling and cargo transportation during winter. At the tunnel's opening ceremony, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport Satzhan Ablaliyev stated: "The opening of this tunnel is an important event for Kazakhstan's transport infrastructure. It will not only improve the region's year-round transport accessibility but will also significantly increase traffic safety in this difficult section. The tunnel will prevent drivers from being trapped in the snow on the Shakpak Baba pass in winter. In addition, the main traffic flow will now be redirected to bypass the village of Shakpak Baba, increasing safety in the village." The tunnel is part of the Kazakh section of the international road transport corridor Western Europe-Western China. With a total length of 8,445 km, the corridor runs 2,233 km through Russia, 2,787 km through Kazakhstan, and 3,425 km through China. In July, Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev announced that in 2024, Kazakhstan planned to repair and construct 12,000 kilometers of road.