Uzbekistan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

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Construction of First IT Town in Uzbekistan Begins

The construction of the first IT town in Uzbekistan is underway in the Parkent district of the Tashkent region, the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development has reported. The launch ceremony was held last week, on May 18, with the “Villayat Samsarak: Creative Eco-IT Village” project being presented. The IT town will serve the development of “green” and creative sectors in the Tashkent region, it was stated. On May 15, President Miziyoyev's decree “On the organization of the activities of IT-towns aimed at creating additional conditions for digitization and learning foreign languages for young people in the regions” was accepted. The construction and modernization of such educational centers are to be financed by public-private partnerships, sponsors, and other sources. The Foundation for the Development of Digital Technologies is responsible for the provision of educational materials. The construction of IT- towns in some regions of Uzbekistan is also to be carried out at the expense of the State Fund for Youth Policy Support.

Education

Uzbek Politician Decries Dominance of Russian Language in Country

Alisher Qodirov, leader of the Milliy Tiklanish Party and Vice-Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, has proposed a ban on the provision of public services to persons who don't speak the Uzbek language. He expressed this opinion in response to a statement by the chairman of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin. Qodirov said that the Uzbek language should be defined in legislation as a mandatory language. "In our laws, in addition to creating conditions for citizens of other nationalities to study their native language and values in kindergarten and at school, the Uzbek language should be defined as compulsory," he wrote in his Telegram channel. The politician stated that he believes it should be impossible for a person who doesn't know Uzbek to be employed in the civil service or use state services. Earlier, Qodirov suggested limiting the use of Russian on Uzbek television and in education. The party leader stated that a norm on teaching primary education in Uzbek should be introduced into legislation. "We have not been able to teach Russian compatriots the Uzbek language for 100 years. On the contrary, it has become customary that Uzbeks send their children to be educated in Russian. In Tashkent, the number of schools where education is not in Uzbek has grown. Unfortunately, more than 90% of pupils at such schools are Uzbeks," the Vice-Speaker wrote. Qodirov's statements run counter to Article 19 of the Uzbek Constitution, which states that "all citizens have the same rights and freedoms and are equal before the law regardless of sex, race, nationality, language, religion, beliefs, social origin, or social status."

Saudi Al Faris International Proposes to Open Schools in Uzbekistan

According to the Dunyo news agency, Uzbekistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Nodirjon Turgunov met with the chairman of the education company Al Faris International, Osama bin Salih, to discuss introducing Al Faris schools to Uzbekistan. Al Faris schools are among the best in Saudi Arabia, and operate to the international IBO standard. Bin Salih commented: “We are ready to establish international schools based on one hundred percent of our own capital or with Uzbek partners. In these schools, education is provided in accordance with international standards, studies are conducted on the basis of strict requirements of foreign and local languages. In addition, preschool educational institutions will be established, where children under the age of six will be given intensive lessons in preparation for primary school."

Uzbek Citizens Warned of New Entry Rules to Kazakhstan

In a statement issued on 8 May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan recommended that citizens of Uzbekistan have all necessary documentation in place in advance of entering Kazakhstan. The new rules will apply to Uzbek citizens wishing to cross the Uzbek-Kazakh border, and in adherence to Russian-Kazakh agreements, onwards to Russia. Uzbek citizens are warned that more rigorous checks will be conducted by Kazakh authorities to ensure that entrants have no prior violations of migration and other legislation of the Russian Federation or unpaid fines. In the absence of sound documentation, the Kazakh authorities will have the right to prevent citizens of Uzbekistan from entering or leaving Kazakhstan. Earlier this month, following the introduction of more stringent security controls at all of Kazakhstan’s airports on 1 May, Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry likewise recommended its citizens to check their documents prior to leaving for Kazakhstan

Uzbek Businesswoman Diora Usmanova Recounts Own History of Marital Violence

Diora Usmanova, the owner of two restaurants and some clothing brands in Uzbekistan, has spoken on her Instagram page about the beatings she suffered from her first husband, Babur Usmanov, who was the nephew of the billionaire Alisher Usmanov. Usmanova herself is related to Ziroatkhon Mirziyoyeva, the wife of Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Usmanova wrote that the story could cause her harm, but that she believes the benefits will "outweigh the risks a hundredfold" and will "change perceptions or somehow affect women who endure domestic violence and abuse," Gazeta.uz reported. "We loved each other and fought very hard for our marriage. Subsequently, when he started to raise his hand against me and when these beatings went on, and the beatings continued for four years, there were concussions, and a lot of blood, and bruises, and [my] whole body in bruises, and a lot of broken furniture, doors, everything," she said. Domestic violence is not only the man's fault, but also the woman's, Usmanova said. "We don't value ourselves enough, we're not brave enough, we're not strong enough, we're afraid to give a backhand, we're afraid to tell our parents, we're afraid to go back to our parents, we're afraid to start everything again. For the fact that we hope that it will change, that it will [bear] some good fruits in the future, that it will survive -- this is all our problem," Usmanova said. In her opinion, women should terminate harmful relationships and find the strength to leave -- and most importantly, learn to respect themselves. "You have to leave such relationships. [That's] because of the fact that you forgive once, forgive the second time, and then it becomes a habit, a person realizes that it is forgiven, it can end very badly, [a] whole life just poisoned. I did not find the strength then, and now after 10 years, I look back and realize how many mistakes were made on my part and how much is my fault. Just like [it was] his," she stated. On May 8, 2013, Babur Usmanov was involved in a fatal car accident in Tashkent. In 2016, Usmanova married businessman Batyr Rakhimov.

Central Asian Countries Allocate Various Sums to WWII Veterans

According to the news publication Centralasia.media, countries in the region will be awarding funds to veterans, survivors, and those affected by World War II in honor of Victory Day (May 9). The payments will range from $10 to $6,825. The government of Turkmenistan allocated the smallest amount for gifts to veterans. On behalf of the President of the Republic, 200 manat ($57 at the state exchange rate or $10 at the black-market exchange rate) will be given to the participants in the war. It's not clear how many people will receive the payments. According to the report, Kazakhstan’s one-time payment to soldiers who served at the front is 1.5 million tenge ($3,412). A total of 3 billion tenge (more than $ 6.8 million) has been allocated from the country's budget for the so-called bonuses for veterans. This money will be distributed to more than 50,000 people who are related to the Great Patriotic War in one way or another. Among them are front-line workers, residents of besieged Leningrad, and the widows of soldiers. There are 148 veterans of WWII front-line combat in Kazakhstan. Those veterans can also expect payments, the amount of which will be determined by local authorities. However, it has been confirmed that a total of 3 million tenge ($6,825) was allocated to six veterans from Kazakhstan's Akmola region on the occasion of the May 9 holiday. In Tajikistan, 24 front-line combat veterans will receive 40,000 somoni ($,3662) as part of the national campaign recognizing contributions to the Great Patriotic War. In Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, 100,000 som ($1,113) will be allocated from the fund of the President of the Republic to each participant in the conflict before May 9. According to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan, a one-time monetary award of 20 million som ($1, 578) will be given to every participant and disabled person affected by World War II. On May 9, Uzbekistan marks the Day of Memory and Honor, and the 79th anniversary of the victory in World War II. On May 8, President Mirziyoyev attended a memorial ceremony and laid a wreath at the Ode to Fortitude monument in Tashkent’s Victory Park. In a statement, Mirziyoyev congratulated veterans and the entire people of Uzbekistan on “the glorious holiday of May 9 - the Day of Memory and Honor and the 79th anniversary of the Great Victory in World War II. Today, commemoration events are being held in all our cities and villages, where we again remember how much grief and incalculable losses the cruel war brought to our people,” the president said. During the Second World War, almost two million soldiers were mobilized from Uzbekistan to the front. More than 538,000 died, more than 158,000 went missing, and 870,000 were injured, with 60,000 returning from the front disabled. Over 170 plants and factories were relocated to Uzbekistan from western regions of the Soviet Union occupied by the Nazi Germany. “Our people sent a huge amount of military equipment, weapons, medicine, clothing, and food...