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Saida Mirziyoyeva, Uzbek President’s Daughter, Grows Her Authority

Saida Mirziyoyeva, the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will focus on education, business, the judicial and legal system, healthcare, and water resources in her new job as head of the presidential administration. Mirziyoyev has signed a decree with details about the structure of the office that his daughter took over last month, handing her authority in a wide range of areas that are critical to Uzbekistan’s efforts to modernize its economy and society. The move points to the increasing political influence of Mirziyoyeva, a polished operator who is comfortable interacting with foreign dignitaries and other international partners. The presidential decree announced the elimination of 284 staff positions and removed redundancies in other roles in the presidential administration, presidential spokesman Sherzod Asadov said Wednesday. Five deputies have been appointed to “ensure the effective implementation of reforms” in education and the other four areas that Mirziyoyeva’s office will work on, according to Asadov. Uzbekistan also has ministries and other agencies that work in those areas. Mirziyoyeva, 40, had served as a presidential aide before being promoted to head of the presidential administration. She has spoken in support of freedom of speech and women’s rights, issues that have sometimes run up against conservative culture and tight political controls in Uzbekistan. In a recent post on social media, she also noted that Uzbekistan earned a “BB” rating with a stable outlook from the Fitch Ratings agency, describing it as “the first upgrade since 2018!” Mirziyoyev, 67, has been president of Uzbekistan since 2016. He was re-elected in a 2023 vote after a constitutional amendment that reset the number of his terms in office and lengthened presidential terms from five to seven years.

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Turkmenistan Tightens Internet Blocks to Promote State-Controlled VPNs

Internet restrictions in Turkmenistan have intensified sharply in recent weeks, according to sources who spoke with turkmen.news. Authorities have reportedly expanded the national IP blacklist by adding numerous /16 subnets, each covering over 65,000 IP addresses. While such sweeping blocks might appear politically motivated, insiders claim the real motive is commercial: corrupt officials are using the restrictions to market and sell VPN services and “whitelist” access they control themselves. In July 2024, Turkmen authorities briefly restored access to around 3 billion previously blocked IP addresses, raising hopes of a more open digital environment and a boost to the stagnant online economy. However, that reprieve proved temporary. The blocks soon returned, initially targeting smaller /24 subnets (255 IP addresses each). This summer, the government's cybersecurity department escalated efforts by blocking entire /16 subnets, cutting off hundreds of thousands of websites in a matter of weeks. Restrictions Without Justification Turkmenistan already ranks among the most digitally isolated nations. Independent media, global social networks, and any platforms perceived to host criticism of the government have long been inaccessible. However, the latest wave of blocks is not driven by political considerations, as most politically sensitive platforms were already restricted. Instead, the scale and targets of the new blocks suggest other motivations. According to turkmen.news, even benign and essential online services, such as update servers for antivirus software like Bitdefender and some Google utilities, have been caught in the dragnet. Experts warn that this poses a growing cybersecurity risk in a country with limited digital literacy and inadequate access to software updates. Selling Access in a Closed System Sources allege that Turkmen officials are using the crackdown to corner the market for virtual private networks. VPN keys now cost around 1,000 manats (roughly $50) per month, while access to a whitelist, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, can run up to $2,000 monthly. The officials reportedly behind the scheme are said to be deliberately blocking alternatives to force users into purchasing their products. Last year, turkmen.news identified several figures allegedly involved in this scheme: Maksat Geldyev, Allanazar Kulnazarov, and Didar Seyidov. While these individuals reportedly profit from the artificial scarcity they create, the broader economy suffers. Analysts estimate that Turkmenistan loses millions of dollars daily due to the constraints on digital development, which is a key factor in modern GDP growth. Official Denials Amid International Scrutiny Despite mounting evidence, the Turkmen government continues to deny the severity of the situation. The Foreign Ministry recently issued a statement condemning Ukrainian television channel FreeDom for what it described as “biased and false” coverage of the country’s internet restrictions. Nonetheless, experts warn that unless the government reverses course, Turkmenistan’s digital isolation will continue to hinder economic development, deepen cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and further disconnect its population from the global information space.

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CCTV Cameras Installed Around Lake Issyk-Kul to Combat Poaching and Environmental Violations

Kyrgyz authorities have begun installing CCTV cameras around Lake Issyk-Kul as part of a broader effort to protect the region’s fragile ecosystem and crack down on poaching. The surveillance system, which includes thermal imaging capabilities, will operate around the clock, the Issyk-Kul Regional Internal Affairs Department announced. The cameras are designed to capture instances of illegal fishing and to monitor motorists who drive onto beaches or into the lake itself, practices that authorities say are damaging the environment. Police officials stressed that this measure was necessary, as public awareness campaigns and verbal warnings had not been effective in curbing such behavior. “This is an important step toward preserving the lake’s natural environment,” the regional police stated. “Conversations and warnings have not worked, people continue to pollute Issyk-Kul. Our goal is to install cameras around the entire perimeter. Together, we will succeed.” Public Involvement and Technological Integration Authorities have called on both local residents and the business community to support the initiative, including through financial contributions. The new video system will be integrated into the regional situation center operated by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs. The center currently oversees major settlements in the area and already operates 353 smart cameras capable of tracking movement and recognizing faces. Staff at the center monitor adherence to environmental regulations and public order. In collaboration with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, law enforcement regularly conducts raids to identify illegal fishing operations. A particular concern is the use of synthetic fishing nets, which are banned from import and considered especially harmful to the lake’s biodiversity. Environmental Enforcement and Community Outreach “Issyk-Kul is a gift of nature. Its preservation is the sacred duty of every citizen,” said Chingiz Tokoldashev, head of the Balykchy Internal Affairs Department. “The fight against illegal fishing is our priority.” Law enforcement also engages in preventive outreach, educating vacationers about fishing regulations and environmental restrictions. Under current rules, legal fishing, including for the endemic chebachka fish, requires payment of a fee of 600 KGS (approximately $7) to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

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New Law Paves Way for Special Investment Zone in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a new law establishing a special financial investment territory in the Issyk-Kul region. The legislation, titled “On the Special Financial Investment Territory ‘Tamchy’ with a Special Legal Regime and Status,” was approved by the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) on June 19. The law codifies Japarov’s earlier presidential decree of March 17, which called for the creation of a special investment zone with its own legal framework and an independent international center for dispute resolution based on English law. Investment Zone with International Standards The Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory is intended to attract both foreign and domestic investment, improve Kyrgyzstan’s overall investment climate, and boost key sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, wellness, and transport infrastructure. The zone will operate under a special legal regime that includes tax preferences and other incentives for investors. A key innovation is the establishment of an International Center for Dispute Resolution, which will resolve investment-related disputes under English common law, a legal system grounded in judicial precedent and widely used in global financial hubs like London, Dubai, and Singapore. Legal Certainty to Attract Investors By introducing English common law into its investment framework, Kyrgyzstan hopes to create a more transparent and investor-friendly legal environment. Supporters of the initiative argue that legal predictability is essential to building investor confidence and attracting long-term capital. The government has positioned the Tamchy zone as a cornerstone of its broader economic strategy. The aim is to stimulate socio-economic development, align with international financial and legal norms, and position Kyrgyzstan as a competitive investment destination in Central Asia.

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Legal Media Center to Sue Kazakh Foreign Ministry Over Journalist Accreditation Refusal

The Legal Media Center, a media-focused human rights organization, has announced plans to file a lawsuit against Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) over its refusal to accredit seven journalists from Radio Azattyq, the Kazakh service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). According to Gulmira Birzhanova, head of the center’s legal department, the new regulations on foreign media introduced in 2024 have created a restrictive legal framework that infringes on journalists’ constitutional rights. “By delaying their response and failing to provide concrete grounds for the MFA’s refusal to extend accreditation, the Ministry created conditions that violate journalists’ constitutional rights and legal protections. We remind the authorities that our journalists work for a media outlet already accredited in Kazakhstan,” Birzhanova said in a statement posted to Facebook. The updated rules prohibit foreign media outlets from operating in Kazakhstan without official MFA accreditation. The Legal Media Center argues that these provisions constitute a de facto professional ban and conflict with both Kazakhstan’s Constitution and international press freedom standards. The organization also claims that the restrictions appear to be selectively enforced, with Radio Azattyq being specifically targeted. In January 2024, the MFA denied accreditation to several RFE/RL journalists, some of whom had not had their credentials renewed since late 2022. Radio Azattyq subsequently filed a lawsuit, which resulted in a mediation agreement in April. At the time, RFE/RL President Stephen Capus welcomed the outcome. “All we have ever asked for is that our journalists be allowed to do their jobs safely and without pressure. We remain committed to providing the Kazakh audience with independent and reliable information,” he said. The Times of Central Asia previously interviewed Kazakh journalist Asem Tokayeva, a long-time contributor to RFE/RL. In that interview, she described internal challenges and disagreements within the media organization, raising broader concerns about the future of independent journalism in Central Asia.

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Kyrgyz President Visits Tajikistan, Opening New Era of Friendship

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov just concluded a two-day visit to Tajikistan. Rarely has the visit of one Central Asian leader to another Central Asian country been as welcome as Japarov’s trip to Tajikistan was. The two countries engaged in brief, but intense and devastating conflicts in late April 2021 and mid-September 2022, the only clashes between the militaries of the two Central Asian countries since the five Central Asian states became independent in late 1991. Judging by Japarov’s warm reception in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, the worst of times have passed in Kyrgyz-Tajik relations. A Year of Firsts Japarov, who has been in power in Kyrgyzstan since late 2020, was making his first state visit to Tajikistan on July 8-9. Japarov traveled to Tajikistan in June 2021, nearly two months after the first outbreak of hostilities along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, to speak with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon about easing tensions along their common frontier. That June, a meeting was hastily arranged as an exercise in damage control, not a state visit, and in any case, the talks between the two presidents failed to head off even worse fighting in September of the next year. This first state visit by Japarov followed President Rahmon’s visit to the Kyrgyz capital in March 2025, the first state visit by Rahmon to Kyrgyzstan in nearly 12 years. During Rahmon’s meeting in March, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed the agreement delimiting the final disputed sections of their border, which both sides hope will end more than a decade of violence and destruction in the border area. That agreement led to the first-ever summit of the presidents of the three Central Asian countries that share the Ferghana Valley. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev joined Japarov and Rahmon on March 31 in the northern Tajik city of Khujand to celebrate the agreement on all three countries’ borders and talk about future cooperation. Pomp and Ceremony Rahmon was at the Dushanbe airport to meet Japarov when the latter arrived on July 8. Tajikistan’s Honor Guard played the national anthems of both countries, followed by a 21-gun salute for Japarov, before the two presidents made their way to the Tajik capital to hold talks. The two leaders also visited a Kyrgyz-Tajik trade exhibit and attended a concert featuring performers from both countries dedicated to “Eternal Friendship.” Moving Forward Ahead of the Japarov-Rahmon meeting, The Times of Central Asia reported that trade between the two nations is starting to increase again. The figure for January-May trade between the two countries this year was a modest $6.35 million, but that is 15 times more than the meager $405,100 of bilateral trade during the first five months of 2024. Less than a decade ago, there were years when Kyrgyz-Tajik bilateral trade topped $50 million. Following the border agreement in March, two border crossings were reopened along the western sections of the Kyrgyz-Tajik frontier. During the meeting between the two presidents, it was announced that a third crossing had opened, the Tajvaron-Karamyk post connecting Kyrgyzstan’s...