Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

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Air Pollution

Better Buses Help Air Quality in Bishkek to Improve

Officials claim that the air quality in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, has significantly improved over the last two years due to the ongoing renewal of the municipal transport fleet, switching residential heating from coal to natural gas, and extinguishing the sanitary landfill near Bishkek that had burned for decades. Chyngyzbek Abdymalik Uulu, an atmospheric air specialist at the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, told Birinchi Radio that the primary sources of air pollution in Bishkek were low-quality coal, exhaust gases from motor transport, and the burning of municipal solid waste at the city landfill. The official says that, in large part, the air quality has improved due to the decreasing number of minibuses on Bishkek streets. Over the past 30 years, "markhrutka" minibuses — mainly aged Mercedes minivans — have been the primary type of municipal transport in Bishkek, vastly surpassing in number the limited fleet of large buses and trolleybuses. Running on diesel, these old marshrutkas spew harmful gases into the atmosphere and congest city traffic, since they stop anywhere on demand. Abdymalik Uulu said more than 3,000 minibuses ran in the capital until 2022. After their number was reduced over the last two years, diesel fuel consumption decreased by 100 tons daily. The Bishkek municipality has now removed the minibuses from the central part of the city and replaced them with large buses running on liquefied natural gas. In 2023, Bishkek purchased a thousand large buses from China, which have been arriving in the capital city in batches over the past year. Today, the municipal fleet has 1,200 buses. In addition, by the end of 2024, the city will receive 100 12-meter-long buses, and 120 electric buses will arrive in the second quarter of 2025. Both officials and analysts agree that renewing the municipal transport fleet will improve the air quality in Bishkek. Abdymalik Uulu added that gasification is another reason for the improved air quality. To date, about 20,000 households have been connected to natural gas networks, which has decreased coal burning by 58,000 tons. Also, he said, all of Bishkek’s 74 large boiler houses that used to burn large amounts of coal daily have now been converted to electricity and natural gas. Finally, the Bishkek sanitary landfill, which burned for decades and released large volumes of harmful emissions, has been completely extinguished.

Healthcare

Doctors in Turkmenistan Ordered Not To Perform Abortions

Turkmenistan has imposed severe restrictions on conducting abortions, effectively banning them. In recent weeks, government officials have been visiting hospitals and clinics, and warning doctors that they will be stripped of their diplomas if they do. According to Radio Azatlyk, sources from different regions of the country say that doctors have been forced to refuse women seeking abortions, even though the law allows it within the first five weeks of pregnancy. The authorities have not commented on the reasons for yet another tightening of measures to prevent abortions. However, according to several doctors in Ashgabat, it may be due to a sharp increase in teenage pregnancies. At the same time, doctors note that many young girls, unable to have a legal abortion, resort to dangerous methods of terminating pregnancy, resulting in serious risks to their health. Despite the bans, there are still doctors who continue to perform abortions clandestinely. The cost of such services has increased significantly, and varies depending on the term of the pregnancy.

Solar Energy

Free Solar Panels for Uzbekistan’s Low Income Households

Uzbekistan has launched a program to install solar panels in the homes of low-income families in the Tashkent Oblast. The key aim of the initiative, implemented with the participation of ACWA Power, an enterprise engaged in regional energy projects, is to reduce electricity costs for vulnerable sectors of the population. Under the plan, some 20,000 low-income households, especially those with air conditioning, will receive free photovoltaic panels with a 1.5 to 2 kW capacity, to reduce energy costs during the summer. The project is part of the government's broader strategy to transition to renewable energy. The country has already taken steps in this direction, including the construction of solar and wind farms, which in recent years, have enabled Uzbekistan to reduce its electricity imports from more than 4 billion kWh to less than 3 billion kWh and even begin to export electricity. The initiative is also a continuation of the Solar Home Program which was introduced in 2023 to encourage the installation of solar panels in private households across the country.

Economy

Uzbekistan Targets Economic Growth and Poverty Eradication

According to a report newly published by the US Department of State, titled “2024 Investment Climate Statements: Uzbekistan”, the country aims to develop its economy, work towards eliminating poverty and achieve above-average income status by 2030. The government regards foreign direct investment as key to attaining its goals, and increasing interest has been expressed by American investors. Although challenges remain, Uzbekistan has the potential to become a regional economic leader thanks to its large and growing population, rich natural resources, and developed infrastructure. Bilaterally landlocked, the economy largely depends on trade with regional neighbors and thus, Uzbekistan cannot provide stable employment for its rapidly growing population of 37 million. State policy aims to ensure social stability and stabilize growth rates by directing public and private investments to areas that will create new jobs and strengthen the country’s economic sovereignty. The Government of Uzbekistan (GOU) manages investment flows through annual and mid-term investment programs, mainly concerning developments in infrastructure, industrialization, and natural resource projects. The current National Investment Program for 2023-2025 comprises nearly 800 projects worth $55.4 billion. Medium-term targets for 2030 are eradicating poverty and becoming a high-middle-income country. Foreign ownership and the control of airlines, railways, long-distance telecommunication networks, and other sectors related to national security require special GOU permission. By law, because foreign nationals cannot obtain a license or tax permit for individual entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan, they cannot be self-employed and must be employed by a legally recognized entity. The law in Uzbekistan states that local companies with at least 15% foreign ownership can qualify as having a foreign investment. The minimum fixed charter-funding requirement for a company with foreign investment is 400 million UZS (USD 1 equals 12,500 UZS as of March 2024). Minimum charter funding requirements can differ for business activities subject to licensing. For example, that for banking activities is 100 billion UZS; for microcredit organizations, 2 billion UZS; for pawnshops, 500 million UZS; for production of ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages,10,000; for lotteries, 200 million UZS; and for tourism operators, 400 BCRs; Base Calculation Rates (BCR) (one BCR equals 340,000 UZS or about $27, as of March 2024). Foreign investment in media enterprises is limited to 30%. The government closely monitors foreign investment in strategic sectors such as mining, energy, transport, banking, and telecommunications. There is no straightforward screening process, and some laws are designed to protect domestic industry and limit foreign competition, such as banning 529 imported goods in 2021. The ban applies when there are at least two domestic suppliers but no restrictions are imposed on US investors. Uzbekistan has laws to protect entrepreneurs and investors, including “On Competition” and “On Investments.” However, the rules can be complex and sometimes contradictory. In some cases, businesses must comply with government decisions that are unavailable to the public. Foreign investors often seek benefits through Presidential Decrees to avoid such issues, though these can be easily revoked. The regulatory system reform is still in progress. The government’s “Uzbekistan 2030” development strategy includes a range of...

More Mudflows Flood Homes in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Region

Powerful mudslides caused by heavy rains are again causing damage in Kyrgyzstan's northern Issyk-Kul region. A state of emergency has been declared in three districts. The mudflows descended in several locations in the south and north of the Issyk-Kul region, flooding highways and mountain passes. In the town of Cholpon-Ata, water from the canal has reportedly flooded the streets. Several resorts and vacation homes have also been flooded, and there are power outages in the region. Eyewitnesses have reported that Lake Issyk-Kul has turned green. It is known that dozens of people have been evacuated from the flooded areas. Seven hundred fifty-five rescuers and military personnel are clearing up the damage, but heavy rains are still forecast for the coming days. Other parts of Kyrgyzstan, such as Naryn and Jalal-Abad in the center of the country, are also susceptible to mudflows. “We urge citizens to be vigilant and observe precautionary measures,” rescuers have appealed to citizens.

Media Freedom

New York NGO Calls on Tajik Authorities to Release Journalist Ahmad Ibrohim

The New York-based press freedom NGO the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Tajik authorities to release journalist Ahmad Ibrohim. Ibrohim is the founder and editor-in-chief of Paiq, the only independent newspaper in Tajikistan's Khatlon region. According to Radio Ozodi sources, Ibrohim was detained on August 12. CPJ expressed concern that his arrest underscores the dangers journalists in Tajikistan face. CPJ's Program Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia, Gulnoza Said, said Tajik authorities should release Ibrohim and seven other journalists imprisoned for their professional activities, and ensure media freedom. Officials have not yet provided information about Ibrohim's detention, and his relatives refuse to comment. However, a source in the security services said that a criminal case had been opened against him under Article 320 of the Criminal Code (bribery), allegedly for attempting to bribe a government official to extend Paiq's registration. This is not the first instance of government pressure on Paiq. In 2014, the regional prosecutor's office stopped the newspaper from operating, citing problems with renewing its registration. Despite this, Ahmad Ibrohim continued to work, remaining one of the few independent journalists in the region.