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Bishkek Considers Monorail System to Ease Transport Woes

Bishkek is exploring the possibility of building a monorail system to address its long-standing transport challenges and alleviate traffic congestion in Kyrgyzstan’s rapidly growing capital. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, discussions were held on March 19 between Chinese company CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, the Bishkek municipality, and Kyrgyzstan’s national railway company Kyrgyz Temir Jolu. The talks focused on assessing the feasibility of constructing a monorail network in Bishkek. The parties agreed to conduct a detailed study of the project, evaluating its economic and technical viability. As part of this process, the Bishkek municipality will provide sketches of the proposed monorail system for analysis. City officials also emphasized that the project could be implemented as a public-private partnership, creating opportunities to attract foreign investment. If built, a monorail system could significantly improve Bishkek’s public transport infrastructure, offering a modern and efficient alternative for city residents. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion, shorten travel times, and improve urban mobility. The idea of constructing a monorail in Bishkek was first proposed in 2020. At the time, then-acting mayor Balbak Tulobaev dismissed skepticism surrounding the project and even suggested that in the future, monorail travel could extend as far as Karakol. In 2021, a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Turkish company Sky Ray Ve Oto Yedek Parça Ekipmanlari Üretim Sanayi A.Ş. during President Sadyr Japarov’s official visit to Turkey. By 2022, the municipality had developed a preliminary plan for high-speed transport lines over the Ala-Archa and Alamedin rivers, which connect the southern and northern parts of the city. While the monorail remains in the planning stage, the renewed discussions signal a potential step toward modernizing Bishkek’s transport network and easing its growing traffic burden.

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Former Energy Minister to Lead Kazakhstan’s New Nuclear Energy Agency

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the Atomic Energy Agency, a new government body that will report directly to the head of state. The decision, announced on March 18, is part of broader efforts to improve the country’s public administration system. The new agency will oversee uranium mining, the use of atomic energy, radiation safety, and the management of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone. Previously, these responsibilities fell under the Ministry of Energy. Along with its functions, the agency will also inherit its first leader from the ministry: Almasadam Satkaliyev, who has been appointed as its head after being relieved of his role as energy minister. Satkaliyev has held key positions in Kazakhstan’s energy sector, including serving as vice president for economics at KazTransOil, head of the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Management Company (KEGOC), and chairman of Samruk-Energo. Since 2023, he has led the Ministry of Energy, where he played a central role in preparing for a national referendum on nuclear power plant construction and negotiating with potential suppliers from Russia, China, South Korea, and France. As head of the new agency, Satkaliyev is expected to work closely with the presidential administration on drafting regulations and structuring the agency’s operations. His successor at the Ministry of Energy is Yerlan Akkenzhenov, who previously served as deputy energy minister and has experience within the national oil company KazMunayGas. Tokayev first announced plans to establish the Atomic Energy Agency just days ago during a meeting of the National Kurultai (Assembly), as reported previously by The Times of Central Asia.

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Uzbekistan Denies Claims of Land Sales to China

Recent social media claims alleging that “China is taking over Uzbekistan” and that “most of the country’s land has been sold to the Chinese” have sparked widespread debate. In response, Ilzat Qosimov, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade, issued a statement via the ministry’s official Facebook page, firmly rejecting these allegations. Economic Cooperation, Not Land Sales “Attracting foreign investment is a crucial factor for Uzbekistan’s sustainable economic growth. Global competition for capital is intensifying, and our country remains committed to maintaining an open and equal investment environment,” Qosimov stated. He emphasized that while China is one of Uzbekistan’s largest investors, all foreign investors operate under the same legal framework. Uzbekistan maintains investment partnerships with numerous countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Russia, France, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. According to official figures, Chinese investment in Uzbekistan is primarily concentrated in industry (62%), the fuel and energy sector (11%), and agriculture (4%). The majority of investments are in manufacturing, not agriculture or land acquisition. One notable example is the textile industry, where Uzbekistan has over 7,600 textile enterprises, but only 57 involve Chinese capital. Additionally, Uzbekistan exports textile products to China through multiple trading houses. Legal Restrictions on Foreign Land Ownership Despite persistent rumors, only 4% of Chinese investment in Uzbekistan goes into agriculture. Foreign investors cannot purchase land, it can only be leased for a maximum of 25 years through open auctions. For example, the Lihua Group, a Chinese company engaged in cotton cultivation and seed production in the Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions, operates on non-irrigated, low-yield lands, applying modern technologies to boost productivity. Chinese investments have also played a role in Uzbekistan’s industrial and technological advancement. The BYD automobile plant in Jizzakh, a key project, has created 1,500 jobs, with most positions held by Uzbeks. In 2024, an additional 200 Uzbek specialists are set to receive training at BYD facilities in China. Meanwhile, over 20 energy projects worth $9 billion are being implemented with Chinese involvement, with the majority of workers being Uzbek specialists. Government Rebuttal and Legal Framework On March 6, 2024, Uzbekistan’s Cadastral Agency issued an official statement dismissing rumors of land sales. According to Article 17 of the Land Code, foreign individuals and entities can only lease land, not own it. Additionally, the Law on the Privatization of Non-Agricultural Land Plots explicitly prohibits foreign citizens and businesses from participating in privatization. The agency further clarified that even Uzbek citizens cannot privatize agricultural land, and it categorically rejected the claims of land sales to foreigners as false. Authorities have urged the public to rely on verified information and to refrain from spreading misleading reports.

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Opinion: Are Kazakhstan and the U.S. Reaching Common Ground on Sovereignty and Mutual Engagement?

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has made his position clear: his country must remain sovereign, and activities to exert foreign influence should be closely monitored. The message from Astana is that cultural impositions from abroad are not welcome. Tokayev’s longstanding view that Kazakhstan’s democracy should evolve on its own terms has gained new traction with the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House. Washington's avoidance of values-based diplomacy in favor of a hard-nosed, transactional model reinforces Astana’s instincts and creates an opening for a new kind of engagement between the two. "The so-called democratic moral values," Tokayev said, "have been imposed on many countries for decades." Moreover, "under this guise, open interference in the internal affairs of states through international non-governmental organizations and foundations has become widespread. Its ultimate goal," he concluded, "is only theft, that is, pocketing billions of dollars in budgets." For decades, the U.S. policy in Central Asia was fixated on democratic governance, press freedoms, and minority rights, seeking to advance these objectives through NGO funding and media support. In principle, these directions align with Kazakhstan’s own institutional reforms. In practice, however, they became points of friction. Astana has pursued decentralization and anti-corruption measures on its own terms, so any tension with Washington did not concern governance itself. It was, rather, about Washington’s insistence on deeper cultural and political shifts. The unease was not hypothetical. It was spelled out in statements by U.S. officials visiting Kazakhstan. They "were glad to discuss key human rights issues including the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, and respect for the rights of disabled persons, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and political prisoners." Moreover, these issues were framed as non-negotiable pillars of engagement, without reference to the cultural context of Kazakhstan’s legal and political traditions. In some cases, the “political prisoners” were propped up by NGOs funded by the U.S. Government. From Washington’s perspective, these were essential democratic norms; from Astana’s, they were foreign expectations imposed from outside. In truth, Kazakhstan had seen this dynamic before. Its wariness of Western-backed NGOs was informed by patterns of events. In Astana’s view, some so-called civil society initiatives weren’t merely fostering grassroots activism. They were vehicles for political engineering. For instance, Mukhtar Ablyazov, who remains accused of embezzling $10 billion from Kazakhstan's BTA Bank, fled to Britain in the mid-2000s before escaping criminal charges to France, where he was granted asylum until being ordered to leave in 2023. Despite his history of corruption, he rebranded himself as a political opposition figure and human rights leader, cultivating a network of international NGOs and earning significant support within the European Union. As recently as February 2025, he and his NGO allies received backing from members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. A similar strategy has been employed by public figures like Bergey Ryskaliyev, Akezhan Kazhegeldin, and Karim Massimov. These individuals, despite facing criminal allegations, have amassed significant wealth that appears to have been used to fund lobbyists, NGOs, media and other...

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Kazakhstan to Establish Nuclear Energy Agency

Kazakhstan will create a Nuclear Energy Agency, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during a session of the National Kurultai (annual assembly). "Given the special significance of this issue, I have decided to establish the Agency for Nuclear Energy under the President. We must maximize the potential of gas and coal-fired generation, as well as renewable energy sources," Tokayev said. Tokayev emphasized the need for a comprehensive, long-term approach to energy sector development. "By approving the construction of the first nuclear power plant in a referendum, citizens have given the green light to this initiative. However, it is crucial not only to meet current energy demands but also to lay the foundation for future economic growth. That is why I believe it is necessary to construct not one, but three nuclear power plants to establish a full-fledged nuclear cluster," he said. Kazakhstan held a referendum on October 6, 2024, regarding the construction of its first nuclear power plant. According to the Central Election Commission, 63.66% of eligible voters participated, with 71.12% (5.56 million people) supporting the project. In January 2025, the government finalized a shortlist of potential technology suppliers for the plant. The candidates include Russia's Rosatom, South Korea's KHNP, China's CNNC, and France's EDF. Simultaneously, authorities are completing an analysis of possible locations for the second and third nuclear power plants. The final construction plan is expected to be unveiled in the second quarter of 2025, with the city of Kurchatov among the potential sites under consideration.

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Kazakh MP Calls for Restrictions on Children’s Access to TikTok

Kazakh MP Murat Abenov has proposed limiting children's access to TikTok, citing concerns over its negative effects on young users’ mental health. He warned that the platform could contribute to depression, reduced concentration, and memory problems, urging parents to monitor their children’s screen time. Abenov referenced a case described by journalist Gulmira Abykay on her Facebook page, where a seven-year-old girl reportedly stopped recognizing her loved ones after excessive exposure to TikTok content. He emphasized that such concerns are backed by research, as TikTok’s algorithm is designed to maximize user engagement by presenting emotionally stimulating or even distressing videos. The MP pointed out that TikTok has already faced regulatory scrutiny in the United States, where efforts have been made to ban it, and in Europe, where restrictions on data collection from minors have been imposed. He argued that Kazakhstan should also consider introducing regulations for such platforms. “TikTok is structured in a way that delivers an emotional surge every 15 seconds, whether admiration, fear, anxiety, or sadness. Studies show that frequent TikTok users are more prone to depression, struggle with academic performance, and face challenges in processing large amounts of information and logical thinking,” Abenov stated. While many countries have imposed restrictions on TikTok, the platform remains widely accessible in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia. However, TikTok has recently taken steps to enhance child protection, expanding its Family Settings feature. This allows parents to set time limits for app use, including restrictions after 10p.m. and during school hours.