The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Uzbekistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office and the national space agency, Uzbekkosmos, have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at strengthening environmental protection through the use of space-based technologies. According to Uzbekkosmos, the agreement facilitates the exchange of information and the use of satellite tools to monitor environmental conditions and investigate violations....

Astana International Forum

Astana Gathers the World: Forum Elevates Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Stature

Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia, Azerbaijan Invited to Sign Peace Deal in Kyrgyzstan

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Opinions

Business & Economy

Gas

Iraq Seeks Alternative Gas Import Routes Through Turkmenistan Amid Sanctions Challenge

Iraq is intensifying efforts to implement a long-discussed agreement on natural gas imports from Turkmenistan, seeking to stabilize its energy sector and diversify supply sources. According to Ahmed Musa, spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Energy, the plan involves importing around 20 million cubic meters of gas per day through pipelines connecting Turkmenistan and Iran. The route is intended to offset a shortfall caused by reduced gas flows from Iran, which currently supplies approximately one-third of Iraq’s energy needs. However, the implementation of this deal has faced significant hurdles. Chief among them is the issue of payments: the Trade Bank of...

Rare earth metals deposit

Kazakhstan Considers Handing Rare Earth Deposits to State Mining Firm Tau-Ken Samruk

EDB

EDB Unveils New Forecasting Model for Uzbekistan’s Economy

OpenAI

OpenAI Registers as a Taxpayer in Kazakhstan

Digitalization

Central Asian and Pakistani Leaders Showcase Digital Future at GSMA Summit in Tashkent

Digital Development

At AIF, Tokayev Proposes ‘CryptoCity’ as Pilot Zone for Digital Innovation

Kazakhstan plans to establish a pilot zone named "CryptoCity" to facilitate the free circulation of cryptocurrencies, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at the Astana International Forum (AIF). “We plan to create an innovative pilot zone called CryptoCity, where cryptocurrencies can be used to purchase goods, services, and for other purposes,” Tokayev stated. The president highlighted Kazakhstan's progress in digital transformation, positioning the country as a potential Eurasian IT hub. He also outlined ambitions for Kazakhstan to become an academic and innovation center through partnerships with foreign universities and increased research and development. “Kazakhstan is launching the most powerful supercomputer, which has...

Astana International Forum

Astana Forum to Generate Over $5 Million as Global Delegates Flock to Kazakhstan

The 2025 Astana International Forum (AIF) is expected to generate over 2.6 billion KZT, approximately US$5.1 million for the Kazakh capital, largely driven by an influx of business tourism. Record Influx of Business Tourists According to organizers, most of the revenue will come from business guests, who spend on average 177,000 KZT (around $350) per day on accommodation, dining, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. Visitors typically stay for three days. Scheduled for May 29-30, the forum will bring together over 5,000 attendees, including delegates, businesspeople, journalists, and accompanying guests. Hotel bookings have surged: five-star hotels in Astana are now 90-100% booked,...

Russia

Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund Approves New Projects for 2025

The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) has approved a $150 million budget to support Kyrgyzstan’s economy in 2025, with six new projects already greenlit for more than $95 million in financing. According to Artem Novikov, Chairman of the RKDF Board, the newly approved initiatives include industrial cooperation with the national railway company, Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, support for the domestic sugar industry, and the implementation of new trade financing mechanisms to enhance trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Economy and Commerce, Bakyt Sydykov, underscored the strategic role of the RKDF, calling it a key tool in the country’s economic...

Agriculture

Olives, Oranges, and Mandarins to Be Grown in Southern Kyrgyzstan

Citrus seedlings imported from Turkey have been planted in southern Kyrgyzstan as part of an experimental initiative to evaluate their adaptability to the local climate. The Ministry of Agriculture is conducting the trial with a view to diversifying the country's agricultural output and introducing high-value crops. The seedlings, mandarin, orange, olive, and kunkuvat (a variety of orange), were delivered by ministry specialists for test cultivation. According to Minister of Agriculture Bakyt Torobaev, the trials are being carried out in the Batken region, where agroclimatic conditions are considered most suitable for heat-loving crops. “If the seedlings take root successfully, local farmers...

Local Politics

Kyrgyz-Kazakh Border

A Resolution to Kyrgyzstan’s Last Border Problem?

In April, Kyrgyzstan signed a border delimitation agreement with southern neighbor Tajikistan, ending a long-running and at times violent feud along the two countries’ frontier. Now Kyrgyzstan is taking steps to resolve its border disagreements with its northern neighbor Kazakhstan. The Joint Project Representatives from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan met in Bishkek on May 22 to discuss the impending construction of an industrial transport-logistics complex on their border. Kazakhstan is building similar complexes along its borders with other neighboring countries (China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan). The idea for the Kazakh-Kyrgyz facility was approved in May 2024, and work is scheduled to...

Car Insurance

Kyrgyzstan to Enforce Mandatory Car Insurance in July 2025

National Development Program

Kyrgyzstan Prepares National Development Program Through 2030

Irrigation Water

Kyrgyz Farmers to Pay Less for Irrigation Water Following Tariff Reform

Traffic regulations

Issyk-Kul Authorities Launch Campaign to Improve Traffic Rule Awareness

International transport

Trade Along Irtysh River Creates New Opportunities and Regional Challenges for Kazakhstan

The Irtysh is the longest transboundary tributary river in the world. It flows through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia, and China, which gives it important strategic significance as a connecting link in maintaining its ecological balance, as well as in its potential use for international transit logistics. Together with the Ob River, the Irtysh connects the transport corridor of the New Silk Road with the Northern Sea Route, thereby integrating Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system. Reserves of River Logistics According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, the waterway along the river could be integrated into a large-scale multimodal...

Migration

Kyrgyz Authorities Announce Crackdown on Illegal Migration

On June 10, Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) will launch a nationwide campaign titled Operation Illegal, aimed at identifying and deporting undocumented migrants. The initiative will involve joint efforts by the GKNB and other law enforcement agencies, with a focus on conducting mass checks of foreign nationals residing in the country. The operation comes amid a sharp rise in the number of foreigners entering Kyrgyzstan in recent months. Speaking at a law enforcement coordination meeting, GKNB Chairman Kamchibek Tashiev outlined the scale of the influx: “Since the beginning of the year, 61,000 tourists, 30,000 foreign students, and 12,000...

Illegal Online Content

Kazakhstan to Introduce Fines for Illegal Online Content

Kazakhstan is set to introduce administrative liability for disseminating illegal content on the internet, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepekha announced during a recent session of the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament. Although Kazakhstan formally banned the publication of unlawful material online in 2023, as stipulated in national legislation, the law did not include penalties for violations. Lepekha confirmed that this gap will now be addressed through new administrative measures. Kazakhstan has already established a system to detect illegal and false online content. “The Ministry of Culture sends us reports whenever false information is identified. We forward these...

Victory Day

Victory Day in Central Asia: Honoring Sacrifice Amid Shifting Narratives

For the countries of Central Asia, Victory Day holds a deep significance. Although debates over the nature of the May 9 commemorations have intensified in recent years, the importance of the holiday remains unchallenged. A War That Touched Every Family Attitudes toward the celebration marking the defeat of Nazi Germany are largely shaped by each nation's level of participation in the war effort. Kazakhstan mobilized over 1.2 million people, nearly 20% of its pre-war population of 6.5 million. Of these, more than 600,000 perished at the front, with an additional 300,000 dying in the rear due to malnutrition, forced labor,...

International Affairs

Security

Tokayev Backs Expansion of UN Security Council for Greater Global Representation

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for expanding the United Nations Security Council to better reflect contemporary global dynamics. Speaking at the Astana International Forum (AIF), he emphasized that reforming the UN’s most powerful body is essential to restoring trust and maintaining international peace and security. The Security Council currently consists of 15 members, five permanent (the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. “Kazakhstan supports the expansion of the UN Security Council to include broader regional representation,” Tokayev stated. “This year, we celebrate the...

Diplomacy

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Hold Talks on Consular Cooperation and Citizen Rights

Military Defense

Russia Warns of Rising Security Threats in Central Asia During CSTO Talks in Bishkek

Afghanistan

Kyrgyzstan Significantly Boosts Fuel Exports to Afghanistan

Regional Realignment

Central Asia’s Sovereignty in the Shadow of the War in Ukraine

Astana International Forum

Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Dance: Securing Power in Turbulent Times

For Kazakhstan, strengthening ties with neighboring Central Asian states – as well as with Russia, China, and the West – is a top foreign policy priority. That, however, does not mean that the energy-rich nation is not also seeking to build stronger relations with other actors on the international stage. The largest regional country views itself as an aspiring middle power. As such, it intends to continue pursuing what Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Ministry, describes as a “balanced, constructive and pragmatic foreign policy.” Yet, in an increasingly turbulent world, this approach comes with its own sets of challenges. One...

Central Asia-Italy Summit

Energy, Industry, and Diplomacy: Kazakhstan-Italy Relations Reach New Heights

On May 30, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan. The same day will also mark the inaugural Central Asia-Italy summit, to be held in Astana with the participation of regional heads of state. In anticipation of the visit, the Kazakh-Italian Business Forum opened in Astana on May 28, focusing on the development of trade and logistics cooperation. Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted a key milestone in bilateral relations: trade between the two countries increased by 25% in 2024, reaching nearly US$20 billion. Of this, Kazakh exports accounted for more than US$18 billion. Diplomatic...

Astana International Forum

Astana Gathers the World: Forum Elevates Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Stature

The Astana International Forum 2025 (AIF2025), themed “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,” will take place in Kazakhstan’s capital on May 29-30. World leaders, business executives, investors, and experts will convene to address pressing global challenges and explore avenues for mutually beneficial agreements. Who is Expected in Astana? The AIF2025 aims to serve as a platform for open dialogue and to attract foreign capital. Participants will also seek to forge strategic partnerships and promote economic development initiatives. Approximately 600 international guests are expected, including prominent political figures, heads of international organizations, business leaders, investors, and members of the academic community. Confirmed...

Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia, Azerbaijan Invited to Sign Peace Deal in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has offered to host the signing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, though tensions persist between the two longtime adversaries and a date for signing has not been set. Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, the parliamentary speaker of Kyrgyzstan, made the offer during a meeting in Armenia with Alen Simonyan, leader of that country’s National Assembly. The news was reported on Monday by Aravot, a publication based in Armenia. “Alen Simonyan touched upon the already completed draft of the Peace Agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, mentioning that the Armenian side is ready to sign it,” Aravot reported. “In response...

Life & Culture

Tourism

First Tourist Train Links China’s Xi’an and Kazakhstan’s Almaty

On May 29, the inaugural tourist train connecting Xi’an, the capital of China’s Shaanxi province, with Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, departed, marking a new chapter in cross-border tourism and cultural exchange. According to the national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the departure ceremony was held in Xi’an and attended by a Kazakh delegation led by KTZ Deputy Chairman Anuar Akhmetzhanov, along with representatives from Chinese authorities, tourism agencies, and transport organizations. Akhmetzhanov emphasized that the project aims to deepen cultural ties and boost bilateral tourism. “We are confident that this journey will leave a lasting impression on our guests...

Chess Championship

Two More Grandmasters for Kazakhstan, an Emerging Chess Power

Mountaineering

Rysgul Akimjanova Becomes Second Female Kyrgyz Mountaineer To Climb Everest

Tourism Development

Kazakhstan Launches Central Asia’s Largest All-Season Tourism Project Near Almaty

Cultural Heritage

The Photographs of Prokudin-Gorsky: A Glimpse of a Lost World

Work-Life Balance

From Overtime to Downtime: Tracking Work and Leisure in Kazakhstan

Analysts at Finprom.kz have examined average working hours across different employment sectors in Kazakhstan, along with how people typically spend their leisure time. Standard Hours and Overtime As of the first quarter of 2025, Kazakhstan had 9.3 million registered employed citizens, a 1.3% increase compared to the same period last year. The majority, approximately 7.7 million people, work standard hours ranging from 36 to 40 per week, representing a 7.5% year-on-year increase. Conversely, the number of people working overtime declined to 1.2 million, a 4.9% decrease. On average, Kazakhstanis now work 39 hours per week, an increase of one hour...

Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez to Perform in Tashkent for the First Time

Global pop icon Jennifer Lopez will perform in Tashkent on August 7, as part of her Up All Night - Live in 2025 world tour, according to Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation. The concert, set to take place at Milliy Stadium, will mark Lopez’s debut performance in Uzbekistan. The event is part of a broader initiative by the Foundation to promote international cultural exchange and boost the country's tourism sector. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported that Lopez is also scheduled to perform in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana later this summer. Local organizers there estimate her concert could generate...

Global Peace Index

Tajikistan Slips in Global Peace Index But Maintains Upper-Half Ranking

Tajikistan ranked 72nd out of 163 countries in the 2024 edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. While the country dropped two places compared to the previous year, it remains in the upper half of the ranking, reflecting a decade of gradual improvement. Understanding the Peace Index The GPI is based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators assessing internal and external conflicts, levels of crime, political stability, military expenditure, and the degree of militarization. Scores range from 1 to 5, with lower scores indicating higher levels of peace and security. In 2024,...

The Great Game

Rediscovered Correspondence from the Man Behind the “Great Game”

A recently uncovered letter written by Captain Arthur Conolly, the British officer who coined the term "Great Game," has captivated historians and scholars of 19th-century geopolitics. The correspondence offers a rare glimpse into the mind of the officer whose ill-fated expedition to Central Asia would become emblematic of the imperial rivalry between the British and Russian empires. The letter dates from April 1841, when Conolly stopped on the bank of the Amu Darya River, the northern boundary of Afghanistan, en route to Bukhara. Partly written in code, the missive, addressed to the Austrian General, August Giacomo Jochmus, commander of the...

Justice

Corruption Allegations

New York Mayor Eric Adams Under Scrutiny for Ties to Uzbek Businessman

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing renewed federal scrutiny over alleged ties to a Brooklyn-based businessman with close links to the Uzbek government. As The Times of Central Asia reported last year, the investigation centers on whether Adams helped improve Uzbekistan’s public image in exchange for campaign contributions. According to court documents reviewed by THE CITY, the businessman, Tolib Mansurov, a dual citizen of the United States and Uzbekistan, allegedly served as an intermediary for the Uzbek government while also helping to fund Adams’ mayoral campaigns. In return, Adams is said to have provided favorable public exposure that...

Women's Rights

Stealing Brides, Ignoring Justice: The Battle Against Forced Marriage in Central Asia

Social Media

Tajikistan Decriminalizes Likes and Other Reactions to Provocative Social Media Posts

Social Media

Tajikistan Lifts Criminal Penalties for Social Media Likes on ‘Extremist’ Content

Organized Crime

Bulgarian Spy Ring Sentenced: Questions Linger Over Possible Unprosecuted Crimes and Future Threats

Forced Labor

Forced Labor Rampant in Turkmenistan’s 2024 Cotton Harvest, Say Rights Groups

Despite public pledges of reform and cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Turkmenistan's government continues to enforce widespread forced labor during its annual cotton harvest. This is the core finding of a report released on May 19 by Turkmen.news, the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR), the Progres Foundation, and the Cotton Campaign coalition. Systemic Abuse: The Role of the State The report, titled “State-imposed Forced Labor in the 2024 Harvest and Links to Global Supply Chains,” identifies the Turkmen state as the primary orchestrator of forced labor practices. Observers documented conditions in the country’s key cotton-producing regions, Balkan,...

Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack

Detention Extended for Four Suspects in Moscow Crocus City Hall Attack

The Moscow City Court has extended the detention of four Tajik citizens accused of participating in the deadly terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in March. According to the court’s press service, the suspects will remain in custody for an additional three months and 28 days. The individuals, Fariduni Shamsiddin, Saidkrom Rachabalizoda, Dalerjon Mirzoev, and Muhammadsobir Faizov, have been named by Russian authorities as the primary perpetrators. They reportedly opened fire and set the concert venue ablaze on the evening of March 22. All four have been officially added to Russia’s federal list of terrorists and extremists. The attack, which...

Rukhshona Khakimova

UN Official Urges Tajikistan to Release, Retry Woman Convicted of Treason

A United Nations human rights expert has joined in calls for the release and retrial of a 31-year-old mother in Tajikistan who was convicted of treason and sentenced to eight years in prison after her research on Chinese aid to the Central Asian country allegedly aroused the suspicion of authorities. A U.N. statement described Rukhshona Khakimova as a “journalist and woman human rights defender” and said it appeared that she had not received a fair trial and may have been targeted for “legitimate human rights journalism” rather than any wrongdoing. “The case was part of a broader criminal investigation involving...

Crime

Brutal Assault on Kazakh Politician Raises Questions

Nurlan Baigaziev, a local politician in the Ili district in the Almaty region, has been brutally beaten in Taraz, according to reports that quickly spread across social media and were subsequently confirmed by law enforcement authorities. Incident Details Police confirmed that the incident occurred on the evening of May 13 at a local café. Baigaziev, who sustained facial injuries, was taken to a hospital but declined further treatment. The Zhambyl region police stated that a pre-trial investigation has been launched under Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism). An individual identified as being involved in the attack...

Environment

Nuclear Energy

Kazakhstan Prioritizes Nuclear Energy in Long-Term Development Strategy

Kazakhstan has identified the development of nuclear energy as a strategic priority for the country's economic future, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at the Astana International Forum (AIF). “Kazakhstan, which possesses 40% of the world's uranium reserves, views nuclear energy as a key pillar of its national development strategy,” Tokayev stated. “However, sustainable development is impossible without addressing the climate crisis, particularly as Central Asia is among the region’s most vulnerable to climate change. Global warming is occurring here at twice the global average rate.” To address this, Tokayev outlined Kazakhstan’s commitment to a pragmatic and regionally coordinated climate agenda. He...

Space Technologies

Uzbekistan Deploys Space Technology to Combat Environmental Violations

Ecology

Uzbek Scientists Trial Salt-Tolerant Plants to Revive Aral Sea Seabed

Water Security

Afghanistan’s Qosh-Tepa Canal Could Impact Kazakhstan’s Water Security

Environment

Two Key Environmental Initiatives Completed in Turkmenistan

Air Quality

Kazakhstan’s Air Quality Stagnates Despite Emission Reforms

Over the past two decades, air pollution levels in Kazakhstan have remained persistently high, despite numerous reform pledges and reported reductions in specific emissions. This is the conclusion of a recent study by analysts at Ranking.kz. Half the Country at Risk According to 2025 data from the international service Numbeo, Kazakhstan ranked 30th out of 113 countries in urban air pollution, with an index of 73.2 out of 100. This marks only a modest improvement from a 2013 peak of 79.6. Neighboring Russia and Uzbekistan fared better, with scores of 59 and 54, respectively. Kazhydromet, Kazakhstan’s meteorological service, reported that...

Environment

EDB Evaluates Environmental Projects to Combat Air Pollution in Bishkek

The Bishkek municipality and the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Fund for Digital Initiatives are considering two major environmental projects to tackle air pollution and enhance the quality of life in Kyrgyzstan’s capital. The proposals were reviewed during a meeting on May 21 between Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliyev and Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board and head of the EDB's Fund for Digital Initiatives. According to the municipal government, the first project involves establishing a comprehensive air quality monitoring system based on a digital platform. The system is designed to address the city’s chronic air pollution by providing...

Aral Sea

Kazakhstan and World Bank Launch Second Phase to Revive Northern Aral Sea

In partnership with the World Bank, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan has launched the second phase of a long-term initiative to restore the Northern Aral Sea. This stage aims to revive the region’s ecosystem and enhance the quality of life for local communities. Feasibility Study Underway Key objectives of this phase include reconstructing the Kokaral Dam and raising the sea level to 44 meters, measured using the Baltic height system. Plans also call for constructing a water control facility near the village of Amanotkel, designed to regulate water distribution within the Akshatau and Kamystybas lake systems...

Ecology

Kazakhstan Declares Kentau Industrial Zone an Ecological Emergency Area

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan has officially designated the industrial zone of Kentau, located in the Turkestan region, as an ecological emergency area. Minister Yerlan Nysanbayev signed the corresponding order, introducing a special legal status for a 900-hectare zone on the city's northern outskirts. Restrictions and Emergency Measures Published on the government's official legal portal, the document outlines a series of prohibitions and restrictions intended to address the long-standing environmental crisis. The status is effective until January 1, 2075, and applies to an unpopulated industrial zone. The Akimat of the Turkestan region has been directed to...

Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Dance: Securing Power in Turbulent Times

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Times of Central Asia

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Iraq Seeks Alternative Gas Import Routes Through Turkmenistan Amid Sanctions Challenge

At AIF, Tokayev Proposes ‘CryptoCity’ as Pilot Zone for Digital Innovation

Astana Forum to Generate Over $5 Million as Global Delegates Flock to Kazakhstan

Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund Approves New Projects for 2025

Olives, Oranges, and Mandarins to Be Grown in Southern Kyrgyzstan

Local Politics

Local Politics

A Resolution to Kyrgyzstan’s Last Border Problem?

Trade Along Irtysh River Creates New Opportunities and Regional Challenges for Kazakhstan

Kyrgyz Authorities Announce Crackdown on Illegal Migration

Kazakhstan to Introduce Fines for Illegal Online Content

Victory Day in Central Asia: Honoring Sacrifice Amid Shifting Narratives

International Affairs

International Affairs

Tokayev Backs Expansion of UN Security Council for Greater Global Representation

Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Dance: Securing Power in Turbulent Times

Energy, Industry, and Diplomacy: Kazakhstan-Italy Relations Reach New Heights

Astana Gathers the World: Forum Elevates Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Stature

Armenia, Azerbaijan Invited to Sign Peace Deal in Kyrgyzstan