Tajikistan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 13 - 18 of 113

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in AI Readiness

According to IMF data analyzed by Ranking.kz, Kazakhstan ranks as the leading Central Asian country in global artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, while Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are at the bottom of the regional standings. The AI readiness index, which covers 174 countries, evaluates factors such as digital infrastructure, human capital, technological innovation, and legal regulation. It draws on data from the World Bank, the International Labor Organization, and other sources. Kazakhstan ranks within the top 50 countries for AI readiness, holding 48th place with an index score of 0.55, just behind Russia, which ranks 47th. McKinsey & Company has noted Kazakhstan’s use of AI to enhance public services, particularly through geographic information systems and spatial data. For instance, Kazakhstan has employed a statistical model that integrates geographic, demographic, and economic data to assess infrastructure needs across 6,293 villages, identifying 3,500 villages with the highest potential to cover 90% of the rural population. This approach enables the government to deliver essential services and infrastructure more effectively to rural areas. Following Kazakhstan in 48th place, with a noticeable gap, is Kyrgyzstan (99th with 0.43). Tajikistan ranks 123rd with an index of 0.37, and neighboring Uzbekistan is in 131st place with an index of 0.35, placing it last among Central Asian and EAEU countries. Turkmenistan was not included in the IMF index.

Central Asia Tajikistan Justice Justice Tajikistan Local Politics International Affairs Tajikistan Local Politics

Tajikistan Detains Opposition Activist Ergashev for Two Months

Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev, formerly of the Group of 24, was detained and arrested in Dushanbe for two months. This was reported to Radio Ozodi by Sharofiddin Gadoev, leader of the Movement for Reforms and Development of Tajikistan, citing sources. However, Tajik authorities have not officially confirmed the information. Gadoev stated that Ergashev was brought to Dushanbe on a flight from Istanbul on the morning of November 7 and handed over to local law enforcement immediately upon arrival. The next day, the Sino District Court in Dushanbe, in a closed session, ordered his provisional detention for two months. When contacted, the Sino District Court claimed it had no information on Ergashev's case and advised journalists to submit an official inquiry. Gadoev alleges that Ergashev is currently held in Tajikistan's GKNB pre-trial detention center, where he is reportedly denied access to a lawyer and legal assistance. This information could not be independently verified, and the press office of the Tajik Interior Ministry also stated it was not involved in the case. The 40-year-old opposition activist was deported from Germany on November 6. According to his lawyer and friends, Ergashev attempted to harm himself by slitting his veins as police prepared to escort him to Düsseldorf Airport. However, following medical treatment, the deportation proceeded. Ergashev, who had lived in Germany for 13 years, was detained on October 28 in the town of Kleve and taken to a local administrative court, which ordered his deportation to Tajikistan. His lawyers contend that the court overlooked his pending application for political asylum, still under review by another judicial authority. Since 2015, dozens of Tajik citizens opposing their government have sought asylum in Europe, particularly in Poland and Germany. In recent years, the EU has deported several of these individuals, including Abdullo Shamsiddin, Bilol Kurbonaliev, and Farrukh Ikromov. Abdullo Shamsiddin, the son of Shamsiddin Saidov—a banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) activist—received a seven-year prison sentence, while Bilol Kurbonaliev, another Group 24 member, was sentenced to ten years in prison. Farrukh Ikromov, deported from Poland, received a 23-year sentence. Another activist, Hizbullo Shovalizoda, an IRPT member extradited from Austria in 2020, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Tajikistan.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Environment Environment Kazakhstan Environment Home Uzbekistan Tajikistan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Environment Turkmenistan Kazakhstan Local Politics Tajikistan Local Politics Turkmenistan International Affairs International Affairs Tajikistan Tajikistan Business Economy Turkmenistan Local Politics Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Turkmenistan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Kazakhstan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Kazakhstan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Features Tajikistan Environment Turkmenistan Environment Uzbekistan International Affairs

Kazakhstan Secures Agreement for 11 Billion Cubic Meters of Water from Neighboring Countries by April 2025

Kazakhstan will receive approximately 11 billion cubic meters of irrigation water from the Syr Darya River by April 2025, following an agreement made by Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, with representatives from neighboring Central Asian countries. The accord was reached at the 87th meeting of the Interstate Coordination Water Management Commission held last week in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and attended by water ministry leaders from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with Kyrgyzstan as an observer. This substantial water supply is expected to fill the Shardara reservoir in southern Kazakhstan by April 1, 2025, providing enough water for the region's 2025 irrigation season. Given Kazakhstan’s reliance on irrigation for agriculture, particularly in the arid south, the flow from upstream countries like Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan is vital. Nurzhigitov noted, "This year, thanks to negotiations and joint actions, we ensured the effective water distribution in the Syrdarya River basin. Agreements on water and energy cooperation with Kyrgyzstan were implemented, and measures were taken to coordinate the operating mode of the Bakhri-Tojik reservoir [in Tajikistan] during this year’s irrigation season.”

Central Asia Environment Tajikistan Life & Culture Tajikistan Local Politics Life & Culture Tajikistan Local Politics

85-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossils Discovered in Tajikistan’s Sughd Region

Dinosaur fossils estimated to be 85 million years old have been discovered in Tajikistan's Sughd region. The excavation took place in the village of Kansai, a renowned paleontological site known for its rich array of prehistoric animals, including ancient lizards, turtles, crocodiles, amphibians, and fish from the Cretaceous period. The expedition, organized by Russian and Tajik scientists, builds on Kansai’s long-standing significance in paleontology. In the 1960s, Soviet scientist Anatoly Rozhdestvensky and his team uncovered numerous dinosaur remains, including a therizinosaur femur. In the 1980s, Lev Nesov identified traces of mammals from the Cretaceous period. This year, a team led by Associate Professor Pavel Skuchas from St. Petersburg State University has expanded research in Kansai, focusing on smaller vertebrates. Tajik researchers, including Umed Nabiev, a master’s student in paleontology, and ecologist Gafurjon Karimov, joined the excavation. The fossils were excavated from the walls of a large canyon containing Upper Cretaceous sediment layers, where the team found remains of lizards, salamanders, frogs, and fish. “We used a washing technique to carefully extract even the smallest bones and teeth,” Nabiev explained, noting that a special adhesive was applied to the rock to protect these fragile finds. Among the larger discoveries were crocodile and turtle shells, as well as the bones of an 85 million-year-old dinosaur. Further research will determine which parts of the dinosaur’s body these bones belonged to. The excavation is set to resume next May, and scientists plan to explore new canyon sections previously mined for cement production. “Previously, the remains of large animals have been studied quite well, while the remains of smaller animals, such as amphibians and reptiles, have been neglected. In our next expedition, we will also search for small vertebrates,” Nabiev added. Tajikistan has seen several significant archaeological discoveries in recent years. In 2023, artifacts unearthed at the Oshkhon site in the Eastern Pamirs indicated human presence dating back about 14,000 years. In 2021, a joint Tajik-German expedition in the village of Khushdilon (Torbulak) near Danghara district uncovered the remains of a Hellenistic sanctuary dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries B.C. These findings continue to expand the historical and cultural understanding of the region.

Central Asia Tajikistan Justice Home Tajikistan Local Politics Tajikistan International Affairs Local Politics Features

Deported Tajik Opposition Activist Ikromov Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

Tajik opposition activist Farrukh Ikromov, who had sought asylum in Europe, was deported from Poland to Tajikistan in April and subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison in Dushanbe. Opposition sources have now informed Radio Ozodi of Ikromov's sentencing, though the Tajik authorities have not issued any official statement on the matter. According to Abdusattor Boboev, head of the Polish-based Citizens' Committee for the Rescue of Political Prisoners in Tajikistan, Ikromov was transferred from a Dushanbe pre-trial detention center to prison in October. Another activist, Saidiskhok Boboev, corroborated this information, stating that a recently released prisoner saw Ikromov and confirmed his 23-year sentence. Ikromov’s relatives, who reside abroad, lack detailed information about his sentencing. A close family member explained that they receive occasional updates about his status through a relative in Tajikistan. Ikromov’s deportation followed the denial of his asylum request in Poland. After this initial denial, He sought protection in Germany, but he was returned to Poland, where he was placed in a migrant detention center before being deported to Tajikistan. According to Abdusattor Boboev, shortly before his deportation, he reported being unexpectedly photographed, after which all contact with him ceased. Ikromov also participated in protests against Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's visit to Germany in September 2023. Opposition activists had expressed concern that if deported to Tajikistan, Ikromov would face mistreatment and a lengthy prison term. In recent years, several EU countries, including Germany, have complied with Tajikistan’s requests to extradite political activists, many of whom have subsequently received lengthy prison sentences. International human rights organizations have sharply criticized these actions. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on another Tajik activist, Dilmurod Ergashev, whose deportation from Germany was ordered by the Kleve administrative court on October 28, shortly after he was detained. The court ruled that Ergashev should be deported despite his pending application for political asylum before another court. Prior to his anticipated deportation, Ergashev attempted suicide. Ergashev, a member of the opposition Group of 24, has opposed the regime of Rahmon and joined the Reform and Development of Tajikistan movement in 2024. He has resided in Germany for 13 years.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Local Politics Tajikistan Local Politics International Affairs Tajikistan Tajikistan Business Economy Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Business & Economy Uzbekistan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Business & Economy Uzbekistan Local Politics

Solidarity Center: Central Asian Migrant Workers Face Low Pay and Unsafe Workplaces

Central Asian migrant workers face new challenges as they look for well-paying jobs, with economic shifts and political instability adding to the uncertainty. More women and young people also choose to migrate, often facing unique risks. Panelists at a recent Solidarity Center webinar highlighted that protecting these workers’ rights is more effective when countries in the region work together on safe migration plans. A Solidarity Center study involving over 1,000 migrant workers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan found that Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are the primary countries of origin, while Kazakhstan is becoming a growing destination. Most participants (58%) left due to low wages in their home countries, and 31% cited a lack of jobs as their main reason for migrating. Russia, once a top destination for Central Asian workers, has seen a drop in migrant numbers since its economy took a hit following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A migrant worker from Uzbekistan shared that overtime hours weren’t paid, and medical expenses had to come out of his pocket if he got sick. According to Lola Abdukadyrova, Solidarity Center's regional director in Kyrgyzstan, this story reflects the harsh conditions many migrant workers face—no overtime pay, no sick leave, and frequent discrimination or harassment. Abdukadyrova noted that for nearly 30% of Kyrgyz migrant households, money for food is often a struggle. In Uzbekistan, this rate rises to 45%, as shared by Nodira Karimova, director of the Republican Social Information Center Istiqbolli Avlod. Abdukadyrova added that many migrants earn only enough for basic food, and they face delayed payments, heavier workloads without extra pay, and unsafe working conditions. “Kazakhstan has endorsed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and participates in various regional migration dialogues,” said Aleksandr Mukha, director of the Mangistau Regional Branch of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law. In another significant win for migrant worker rights organizations, Kyrgyzstan issued the GCM in August to improve conditions for Kyrgyz citizens who travel abroad to earn their livelihoods. The Times of Central Asia has previously written about how that Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has increased pressure on Central Asian migrants.