Weekly Digest of Central Asia
BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week. KAZAKHSTAN Kazakhstan's new online safety tool raises eyebrows Kazakhstan's drive to obtain government access to everyone's internet activity has raised concerns among privacy advocates July 22 — “Last week, telecoms operators in the former Soviet republic started informing users of the "need" to install a new security certificate. Doing so opens up the risk that supposedly secure web traffic could be decrypted and analysed. Some users say the move has significant privacy and security problems.” READ MORE: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49071222 For Kazakhstan, Almost Everything Riding On Promise Of New Finance Center For Kazakhstan to modernize and become an integral business and financial partner for companies doing business along China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the AIFC has to be in demand and serve a purpose July 23 — “Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is the new president of Kazakhstan, and the country’s signature financial event, Astana Finance Days (AFD), is supposed to highlight this man’s vision of making this place a freer market than it was even a year ago. Last year, the four-day AFD brought in 4,500 attendees for the Astana International Financial Center’s (AIFC) opening salvo into the financial events market place. It was their first year running one and the last year in power for Soviet-era leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.” READ MORE: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/07/23/for-kazakhstan-almost-everything-riding-on-promise-of-new-finance-center/#42ab2361669c Rumors Targeting Kazakhstani Politicians Point to Overregulated Media Landscape The rumor mill is all that is left of Kazakhstan’s once-vibrant media landscape, currently dominated by the state and powerful business groups closely affiliated with elite political circles July 24 — “Kazakhstan’s political life has entered a somnolent mood after both chambers of parliament wrapped up their legislative work on July 5 until September and President Kassym-ZhomartTokayev subsequently took his first vacation—albeit only for four days (July 22–26) and without going any farther than the Caspian coast. The unprecedented protest wave that met Tokayev’selevation to the presidency as Nursultan Nazarbayev’s permanent successor—first in March and then in June—has by now subsided.” READ MORE: https://jamestown.org/program/rumors-targeting-kazakhstani-politicians-point-to-overregulated-media-landscape/...
