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Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Edil Baisalov met with representatives of domestic non-governmental organizations (NGOs), where he assured participants that the new Foreign Agent's Law is not aimed at restricting the work of NGOs. All rights and freedoms have been preserved, and human rights defenders can participate in the political life of the country, Baisalov stated. "The only thing required is to be on the register. This requirement is common around the world. There will be no persecution; no restrictions on activities. We are interested in the activities of [NGOs] for the benefit of our country," Baisalov said. Earlier, the Times of Central Asia reported on human rights activists concerns regarding reputational risks, possible interference by government agencies in the work of NGOs, and the risk of mandatory financial audits. There were also questions about the implementation of new legislative guidelines, most of which, according to opponents of the law, are not viable. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Justice responded to an inquiry from the Times of Central Asia, with officials saying that bylaws and rule-making for the new law are in the works. However, more detailed information will be provided later, when the updates and amendments are submitted for public discussion. In early April, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed the law "On Foreign Representatives," which sparked a wave of criticism from foreign organizations, foreign governments, and NGOs working in Kyrgyzstan.
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From 1 January 2025, gambling, lotteries and betting activities will be legal in Uzbekistan. The National Agency for Advanced Projects will control the legal entities that will manage gambling activities in the country. Those management companies will pay a tax on revenue at the rate of four percent for five years. Under the regulations, the age limit will be set for gambling participants at 18 years of age, and companies must have a license to provide betting services and gambling platforms. Despite the current bans, the population actively participates in games of chance -- using foreign and illegal services. That means that participants risk falling prey to scammers, losing huge sums of money in the process. Crimes and suicides among gamblers are not uncommon. According to preliminary estimates, the state budget will receive about $6 million per year. Earlier, the Uzbekistan Football Association's press secretary, Davron Faiziev, spoke about the advantages of legalizing betting activities: "By banning betting activities, we lose a lot. First of all, a large flow of funds goes to other countries. This is why the decision was made -- to legalize all this, to control and ensure clean activity in the future." In Faiziev's opinion, gaming and betting companies can improve the situation in the sports sector of the country's economy, as according to foreign experience, many betting offices are active sponsors of sports teams.
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The Director of the Situation Centre of the Kyrgyz Republic, Joldoshbek Mambetaliyev, has issued a harrowing report that since 2021, more than 2,000 people including 316 children, have been killed on roads in Kyrgyzstan. Research by the centre cites the prime causes as poor road surfaces, insufficient lighting, lack of road signs and parapets, alongside non-compliance with speed limits and dangerous driving. Mambetaliyev also stressed that lack of knowledge and non- adherence to traffic rules amongst drivers were major contributing factors given that over a third of accidents were caused by overtaking, violating crosswalk rules, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving under the influence of alcohol. More than 20 percent of accidents were caused by speeding. The Situation Centre recommended that in order to reduce the number of road accidents, the government must collaborate with local authorities to develop a safer and more comprehensive infrastructure. Mambetaliyev concluded, "Road safety depends directly on the responsible behaviour of all road users... It is important to conduct awareness-raising activities among the population to reduce accidents on the roads." Kyrgyzstan's Situation Centre currently monitors key events and incidents on roads throughout the country in real time, followed by in-depth analyses.
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Representatives of Kyrgyzstan's ministry of digital development have met again with the American company Starlink, with a view to bringing satellite internet access to the country. However, there are still regulatory hurdles in Kyrgyzstan that hinder the development of Starlink technology. Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX first entered the Kyrgyz market in 2021, and a subsidiary company named Starlink KG was registered. However, the first attempts at cooperation were unsuccessful, as the Kyrgyz authorities refused to allocate the necessary radio frequencies without a tender process. Starlink KG received a license for its operations only at the end of last year. Nevertheless, Starlink remains willing to work with Kyrgyzstan, one of its directors Rebecca Hunter meeting recently with the Kyrgyz ambassador to the U.S. and Canada Baktybek Amanbaev to discuss this issue. Last year, deputy chairman of the cabinet Edil Baisalov also spoke with representatives from Starlink. They discussed the possibility of using this company's technology to deploy satellite internet in Kyrgyzstan's mountainous regions, particularly in remote schools.
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A new law in Kyrgyzstan allows military personnel who have served in the Kyrgyz army for more than 20 years to purchase their government-issued housing for temporary use. Additionally, families of servicemen killed in the line of duty -- and former members of the military themselves -- can submit claims for housing. The state-assigned apartment can be bought out, or, under certain conditions, can be obtained free of charge. "To military servicemen, dismissed to the reserve or retired by age, health, redundancy or family and other important circumstances and having a length of service of 20 calendar years or more, as well as family members of a serviceman who died or died in the performance of military service, occupied or provided them with service apartments at their chosen place of residence are transferred to personal ownership free of charge," reads the text of the law. The issue of service housing had previously been raised by the Ministry of Defense. The ministry believed that employees should be able to own their state housing during their service, and not only upon retirement. The ministry says it believes the legislative changes will raise the status of the Kyrgyz army. According to official data, more than 3,000 military personnel live in cramped conditions in the country. The authorities pay rent compensation to such service members in the amount of $100 per month.
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Kazakhstan is preparing big changes for the gambling business in the form of a new bill that's under consideration in the country's lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis. Should the bill become law, bloggers will be banned from advertising betting platforms and online casinos. These changes are aimed at stricter regulation of the gambling industry and protection of citizens' financial interests. Members of the Maijilis emphasize that bloggers will still be able to cover sporting events on their social media accounts, but advertising gambling establishments will be banned. That's a step towards more responsible and ethical advertising practices that focus on sports and healthy lifestyles that the government would like to promote. The bill includes other important changes, such as raising the minimum age for gambling to 25, banning gambling by those who are in debt, and tightening the requirements for advertising gambling establishments. These steps are aimed at creating a safer and more responsible gambling environment for citizens of Kazakhstan. In March the Mazhilis started working on the new draft law, which, according to representative Askhat Aimagambetov, provides for the introduction of liability for gambling businesses in the form of fines ranging from 1.1 million tenge ($2,500) to 3.6 million tenge ($8,000). In addition, members of the Maijilis spoke out on the possible introduction of a ban on gambling for civil servants. This is a step that could be part of a broader program to combat the negative consequences of gambling addiction among public-sector employees.