Kyrgyzstan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kyrgyzstan Seeks to Expand Ties with South India

On December 21st and 22nd, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to India, Askar Beshimov paid a working visit to Chennai, Tamil Nadu state in southern India, discussing the possibility of using the port of Chennai in trade with the Kyrgyz Republic. The main event during the visit was a Kyrgyz-Indian business forum held on December 21st, organized by the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in India jointly with the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO). The forum was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the state of Tamil Nadu, the consuls-general of a number of countries, the President of IETO, representatives of the business community, the academic sector, agencies in the field of education and human resources, and banks of South India. In his speech, Ambassador Beshimov focused on the main aspects of bilateral trade, economic, investment and cooperation, as well as interaction in the field of human resources, education, and tourism. He emphasized that investments and trade with Kyrgyzstan can open doors for Indian companies to the entire Eurasian Economic Union market. Indian ministers, the IETO President, and business representatives expressed their interest in expanding economic ties with Kyrgyzstan. As a result, an agreement was reached to organize a visit of a business delegation from South India to Kyrgyzstan in 2024.

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Despite Protests, Kyrgyz President Signs Bill Amending National Flag

On December 22nd, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, signed a bill modifying the national flag, following its final approval by lawmakers two days prior. The legislators had noted that the depiction of yellow rays on a red field in the old flag resembled a sunflower. They proposed amendments to "straighten" the sunrays to create an image more closely resembling the sun. 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." "Jorobekov should not be facing criminal prosecution for opposing a government initiative or calling for peaceful protests, which are protected forms of expression,” HRW's Central Asia researcher, Syinat Sultanalieva, said. “The Kyrgyz authorities should drop the charges and release Jorobekov immediately.” 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.

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Kyrgyzstan to Create a Ministry of Water Management

Kyrgyzstan's Agriculture Minister, Askarbek Janybekov, addressed journalists at a press conference, indicating plans to potentially establish a Ministry of Water Management in the country by the conclusion of 2024. "Now, there is a need to create a separate department for water issues. We must take our time. It will be a big organization. Therefore, we will consider it in stages, and we think at the end of next year we will create such a ministry," he said. Janybekov highlighted that discussions on this matter had surfaced in the Jogorku Kenesh and the recent National Kurultai. Previously, MP Emil Toktoshev had advocated for such an initiative.

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Iran Cancels Visa Requirement for Citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Iran has lifted visa requirements for visitors from 33 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia, in an attempt to attract visitors from across the globe and boost its sanctions-hit economy, Iranian news agencies report. Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Ezzatollah Zarghami, said the cancellation of the visa requirements was approved in a government meeting last week. “The government intends to open the country's doors to the world,” Zarghami told reporters after a cabinet meeting on December 13th. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Iran, the number of foreign visitors in Iran reached 4.4 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year, which ends in March 2024, representing a 50%increase compared to the same period last year. The ministry expects six million foreign tourists to visit the country by the end of the year.

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Import of Chinese Cars to Kyrgyzstan Surges, with Russia as Final Destination

A total of 57,000 cars were imported into Kyrgyzstan from China from January-November 2023, according to China’s customs statistics, more than a 49-fold increase compared to the 1,200 vehicles imported from January-November 2022. In monetary terms, imports increased 62-fold, and the average car price increased by over 25% - up to $29,700. In November, the official website of the State Council of the People's Republic of China reported that exports of cars through the land port in the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture in western Xinjiang (bordering Kyrgyzstan) has surged about fourfold this year to reach 35,000. According to the port management committee, nearly 80% of those cars were new energy vehicles. Chinese vehicles are mainly exported to Russia via Central Asian countries, Chinese officials say. Since the introduction of Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, China has become the main supplier of new cars to the Russian Federation, accounting for about 80% of all imports.

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President Japarov: Kyrgyzstan Should Provide Irrigation Water to Kazakhstan

A UN resolution obliges upstream countries, including Kyrgyzstan, to provide water to downstream states, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said on December 16th at the second People’s Kurultai (Congress) in Bishkek. Answering questions from the Kurultai delegates, the president said that the water problem would be solved through the construction of so-called ten-day and daily regulation pools. Such reservoirs will allow for the accumulation of water in winter and for it to be freely shared with neighbors downstream. The president said that Kyrgyzstan does not have a sufficient number of reservoirs, and, therefore, this year there was not enough water to supply to Kazakhstan. This past summer, the southern regions of Kazakhstan experienced a severe shortage of irrigation water for their fields. The construction of such reservoirs, the president explained, will meet the needs of Kyrgyzstan and, in addition, there will also be enough water to supply to downstream neighbors. The president also announced plans to build reservoirs. The reservoir construction program will last until 2027, he said.