Trial of Former Minister Bishimbayev Charged with Murdering Wife Begins
On March 27, the trial of former Minister of the Economy, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, who is accused of murdering his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, began in Astana. A live broadcast of the trial was available on the YouTube channel of the Supreme Court. Preliminary hearings in the case against former Minister, Kuandyk...
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: the EU’s Indecisive Strategy Towards Eurasia
Times of Central Asia Editorial Marking the next chapter in the geopolitical re-balancing competition between Russia and the West, the European Parliament (EP) on 13 March passed a resolution on deepening ties between the EU and Armenia. The document puts forth the possibility of granting Armenia candidate status for EU...
Kyrgyzstan Takes Issue With Uzbekistan’s Hydropower Plans
Uzbekistan's grandiose hydropower development plans are irking neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which is experiencing a shortage of water resources. These shortages have in part been caused by Kyrgyzstan swapping its water with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in exchange for electricity. Uzbekistan's construction of six hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), with a total capacity of...
Man with Kyrgyzstan Links Among Suspects in Moscow Attack
A man originally from Kyrgyzstan is among the suspects detained in the attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed about 140 people, according to media reports. The man, identified as Alisher Kasimov, allegedly rented an apartment to men who carried out the attack on the Crocus City complex on...
Kyrgyz National Bank, Other Agencies Can Resume Sanctions-Related Inspections
Earlier this year, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree prohibiting state supervisory agencies from inspecting businesses until the end of 2024. Only evidence that a private company has violated the law could trigger an inspection. That presidential decree banning business inspections was amended recently to ensure economic stability in...
Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry Urges Its Citizens to Temporarily Refrain From Traveling to Russia
A recommendation posted on the Kyrgyzstan Foreign Ministry website has urged its citizens to temporarily refrain From traveling to Russia in relation to the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22, 2024, which killed over 130 people, as well as the introduction of enhanced security measures...
Tajik Migrants Facing Xenophobia in Russia After Moscow Terrorist Attack
After the detention of four Tajik nationals suspected of committing the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, migrants have faced a wave of hatred and aggression. In Blagoveshchensk, along the Amur River that borders China, unknown persons set fire to a market pavilion belonging to migrants. According...
Demolitions in Bukhara Continue Despite UNESCO Demands for a Halt
Demolitions in Bukhara's buffer zone continue despite Uzbekistan's promises to harmonize its plans with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). On February 26, demolition began on the 23,000-seat Bukhara Arena stadium near Bukhara's historic centre. Ignoring the fact that construction of the Bokii Bukhoro tourist centre is...
Central Asia’s Hospitality Market Showing Significant Growth
36 seconds ago
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: the EU’s Indecisive Strategy Towards Eurasia
Times of Central Asia Editorial Marking the next chapter in the geopolitical re-balancing competition between Russia and the West, the European Parliament (EP) on 13 March passed a resolution on deepening ties between the EU and Armenia. The document puts forth the possibility of granting Armenia candidate status for EU...
Central Asia Can Help Bring Afghanistan into the International Fold
Afghanistan's situation remains deeply troubling, reflecting a complex history of conflict and political instability that has severely impacted its social and economic fabric. The Soviet Union's invasion 45 years ago, followed by the Taliban's rise to power in 1996 and the U.S. involvement after the September 2001 terrorist attacks linked...
Creation of Kazakhstan–Azerbaijan “Supreme Interstate Council” Marks New Era of Cooperation
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have developed dynamically since they were first established in August 1992, and have increased over the past 20 years, and grown especially since 2017. Over the last decade, the number of high-level visits in both directions have been rising to the point where they...
Letting Women Lead: Bridging the Finance Gap for Women-Led Businesses
Opinion by Hela Cheikhrouhou, IFC Regional Vice President, Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan I get to meet many courageous women in my work for IFC in Southwest and Central Asia. [1] I’ve witnessed the seemingly insurmountable challenges they encounter every day. I’ve seen the unyielding resolve of...
Religion in the Cities of Kazakhstan – Opinion by Gulmira Ileuova
The research discussed in this article was conducted in July-August 2023 by the Strategy Center for Sociological and Political Studies Public Foundation in collaboration with the office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Central Asia. A total of 1,604 people were surveyed in six cities. Since the goal of the...
Nurturing Global Partnerships – Opinion by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek
Kazakhstan, a sprawling and culturally diverse nation nestled in Central Asia, has strategically embraced a multi-vector policy across its foreign relations, economic strategies, and governance. At the heart of this strategy lies Kazakhstan's multi-vector policy in education, a forward-thinking initiative that underscores the nation's commitment to diversification, international collaboration, and...
Exclusive: Breaking Down Kazakhstan’s $21.6 Billion Claims Against International Oil Consortiums
The total amount of claims brought against the consortiums, North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) and Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) is the largest in the history of Kazakhstan. In March 2023, PSA LLP, the authorized state institution overseeing these projects, brought forward claims in international arbitration in relation to Kashagan and...
Time for the U.S. to Cement a “Nuclear-Weapon-Free” Central Asia
The Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ) Treaty, which came into force in 2009, represented a significant advance in international efforts to limit nuclear proliferation. Initiated by the five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—it aims to enhance regional and global security by guaranteeing that the region remains free...
Bridging East and West: Kazakhstan’s Changing Foreign Policy in the 2020s
In the wake of significant geopolitical and social change, Kazakhstan has been noticeably reassessing its official and economic relations with foreign powers. Formerly a part of the USSR, Kazakhstan has positioned itself since the collapse of the bloc in 1991 as a country with a triangulated approach to foreign relations....
Endangered Fish Species in the Amu Darya Basin May Disappear Due to Hydropower Plants
The 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals is being held this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The international environmental coalition Rivers Without Boundaries is calling on conference participants to pay serious attention to how the rampant construction of dams and...
Kazakhstan Shapes an Ambitious Future
As Kazakhstan continues on its path towards economic expansion and modernization, it has set forth a revitalization and growth vision for 2024 and beyond, underpinned by a series of ambitious reforms and strategic investments. A central part to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s vision, which he also detailed in a government meeting...
Central Asia’s Mineral Wealth Can Help the West Unlock a Greener Future
Critical minerals are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing energy technologies. From lithium in electric vehicle batteries, to copper used in wind turbines and electricity networks, these minerals are at the heart of the green transition. The demand for these minerals will increase as clean-energy technologies continue to...
Kazakh-Italian Project to Install New Hybrid Power Plant in Zhanaozen
On March 26 the chairman of Kazakhstan's state oil & gas company JSC KazMunayGas (KMG) Magzum Mirzaliyev met with Luca Vignati, a senior executive at the Italian oil & gas company Eni, to discuss the construction of a hybrid power plant in Zhanaozen. The parties discussed the current status of...
Kazakhstan to Start Producing Cars for Chinese Brand KAIYI
The Kazakh automotive company Orbis Manufacturing plans to build a full-cycle plant in Almaty's industrial zone to manufacture cars under the Chinese brand KAIYI. According to Orbis's press service, a subsidiary of Orbis Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of cooperation with China's Yibin Kaiyi Automobile Co. at the second Forum of...
China Mining Energy Group to Partner in Uzbek Copper Project
China Mining Energy Group will be participating in a project to mine and process copper ore in the Chust district of Uzbekistan's Namangan region. The new partner is expected to increase the mine's budget by 121 billion sum ($9.5 million), and create 420 jobs. Geological exploration is scheduled to begin...
Uzum Deal Makes It Uzbekistan’s First Tech ‘Unicorn’
A digital ecosystem called Uzum has become Uzbekistan's first tech 'unicorn' -- a pre-IPO company with a valuation of over $1 billion -- by attracting investment of more than $100 million this month. The bulk of this capital was put up by a Californian company, FinSight Ventures. Uzum, founded by...
Production Decrease and Import Increase in Energy Resources in Uzbekistan
According to the Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan, in January-February 2024, imports of natural gas increased 95-fold at a cost of $166.7 million. In the same period, Uzbekistan also increased its imports of oil by 5.3% costing $302.9 million and coal by 43.6% costing $42 million. Imports of electricity doubled, costing...
Russian Atomic Energy Company to Build Renewable Energy Facilities in Kyrgyzstan
On March 26th, at the 13th ATOMEXPO 2024 International Forum in Sochi, Russia, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom announced joint investment in the construction of renewable energy facilities in Kyrgyzstan with a capacity of up to 1 GW. The agreement was signed by Grigory...
EU Supports Renovation of Agricultural College in Bukhara
The Gijduvon Technical College of Agro Technologies recently opened its newly renovated facilities in Bukhara at an event attended by representatives of UNESCO, local government officials, the college's staff and students, and members of Gijduvon’s community. Integral to the 'Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan' project, the...
Uzbekistan Launches Construction of New Power Plants
On March 25th, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pressed a symbolic button to launch the construction of new power plants in the country’s Namangan region. Today, the Namangan region has 913 megawatts of generating capacity. Over the past three years, electricity consumption in the region has increased by 24 percent and...
Kyrgyzstan Assassination Plot: Suspected Crime Boss Raimbek Matraimov Held in Pretrial Detention
The corrupt Kyrgyz oligarch Raimbek Matraimov will spend the next month in pretrial detention in Bishkek, after the former deputy head of Kyrgyzstan’s customs service was extradited from Azerbaijan on Tuesday. Matraimov, once known as the country’s “kingmaker” for the influence his clan held over the Kyrgyz Government, was found...
Kyrgyzstan to Switch to 12-Year School System
From the next academic year pupils in Kyrgyzstan are to stay at school for an extra year, a move that authorities believe will improve the quality of education, and make it easier for students to enter foreign universities. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Education and Science said the 12-year system will...
Kazakh Peacekeepers to be Sent to the Golan Heights
The Kazakh Defense Ministry has issued a report on the handing over of the United Nations’ flag to the peacekeeping contingent of Kazakhstan. The solemn ceremony took place on March 22nd at the Fawhar peacekeeping base, located in the area of responsibility of the UN mission on the Golan Heights...
Kyrgyz Parliament Developing a Russian-Kyrgyz Legislative Dictionary
Last summer, the Kyrgyz Republic adopted a law on the official state language, according to which all civil servants must speak Kyrgyz, and speak only the state language in Parliament and the ministries. As one of the members of the working group in Parliament notes, a lot of international terms...
Kazakhstan And Uzbekistan To Install Transboundary Water Meters
Since the use of transboundary water resources for irrigation remains a pressing issue in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have agreed to install meters to calculate the exact volume of water consumed by both countries. Kazakhstan will install meters on the territory of Uzbekistan, and the Uzbek side will install...
US Helps Kyrgyzstan Prepare for Future Pandemics
A Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness Program was launched last week. The joint initiative between the United States, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and a consortium of other organizations, aims to improve Kyrgyzstan’s resilience against public health emergencies and coordinates with the...
Optimism Meets Reality at the B5+1 Forum in Almaty
The inaugural B5+1 Forum, a conference dedicated to strengthening business between the five Central Asian republics and the United States, came to a close today in Almaty after a second well received day of panel discussions. The B5+1 Forum was created by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), which...
High-Profile Speakers Open B5+1 Forum in Almaty
The ‘B5+1’ platform – a group of countries comprising the five Central Asian republics and the United States – took an important step forward today, with the launch of the inaugural B5+1 Forum in Almaty. Instrumental in the formation of the B5+1 group has been the Center for International Private...
Kyrgyzstan Assassination Plot: Suspected Crime Boss Raimbek Matraimov Held in Pretrial Detention
The corrupt Kyrgyz oligarch Raimbek Matraimov will spend the next month in pretrial detention in Bishkek, after the former deputy head of Kyrgyzstan’s customs service was extradited from Azerbaijan on Tuesday. Matraimov, once known as the country’s “kingmaker” for the influence his clan held over the Kyrgyz Government, was found...
Container Trains from China to Europe through Kazakhstan reaches 80%
On March 25th, Marat Karabaev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport visited Urumqi in China’s western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, home to the International Dry Port, the Express Delivery Center (Jitu Express), the China-Europe Railway Express Hub, and the office of the Xinjiang Trade and Logistics Corporation. The occasion marked the anniversary...
Kazakh Peacekeepers to be Sent to the Golan Heights
The Kazakh Defense Ministry has issued a report on the handing over of the United Nations’ flag to the peacekeeping contingent of Kazakhstan. The solemn ceremony took place on March 22nd at the Fawhar peacekeeping base, located in the area of responsibility of the UN mission on the Golan Heights...
Turkmenistan and Italy Expand Transport Cooperation
A Turkmen delegation led by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov visited Italy on March 20th for negotiations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Antonio Tajani. The foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations in political,...
Kazakhstan and Qatar to Implement Projects Worth $17.6 Billion
On March 20th the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov attended a meeting in Qatar with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. During discussions, Bektenov emphasized the importance of the two countries’ economic partnership in the Arab world and reported on the imminent implementation of large-scale...
Kazakhstan: A Rising Global Player in Trade and Diplomacy
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has become an increasingly important land-bridge between East and West, both in terms of trade and diplomacy. A vast nation the size of Western Europe with powerful neighbors in the form of China and Russia, yet on the doorstep of Europe with access to the...
Central Asia Can Help Bring Afghanistan into the International Fold
Afghanistan's situation remains deeply troubling, reflecting a complex history of conflict and political instability that has severely impacted its social and economic fabric. The Soviet Union's invasion 45 years ago, followed by the Taliban's rise to power in 1996 and the U.S. involvement after the September 2001 terrorist attacks linked...
Creation of Kazakhstan–Azerbaijan “Supreme Interstate Council” Marks New Era of Cooperation
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have developed dynamically since they were first established in August 1992, and have increased over the past 20 years, and grown especially since 2017. Over the last decade, the number of high-level visits in both directions have been rising to the point where they...
Ancient Turkmen City of Anau Declared Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024
On March 25th, Rashid Meredov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Sultanbay Raev, Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), attended a ceremony in Ashgabat for the declaration of the nomination of Turkmen city Anau as 'Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024'. Coinciding with the...
American Cowboys to Compete in 5th World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan
Last week, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Ermek Marzhikpayev met Kaycee Field, renowned American professional rodeo cowboy, and Ladd Howell, captain of the US kokpar team. Perhaps surprisingly, the traditional Kazakh game of kokpar is growing in popularity in America. The US National Kokpar Team, led by Howell, competed...
Kazakhstan Ranked Among 50 Happiest Countries in the World
In the recently published UN and Gallup World Happiness Report 2024, Kazakhstan was ranked among the top 50 happiest countries in the world, ahead of Russia, Armenia and Georgia. However, the Baltic States and Uzbekistan returned higher happiness scores on the index. This rating, presented on March 20, was developed...
Kazakh Musicians Turn to Old Instruments to Make New Music
The dombra, the kyu, the kobyz, the zhetigen…. The list of traditional instruments in Kazakh music goes on. These aren’t dust-coated relics. The instruments are increasingly at the forefront of a lot of popular music in Kazakhstan today. They even get makeovers. The dombra is a long-necked, stringed instrument symbolizing...
Tears and Laughter: An Evening at an Uzbek Theater
Tashkent, Uzbekistan - The action unfolds in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. An Uzbek man goes to Russia for compulsory military service and falls in love with a Russian woman. Back with her betrothed in his homeland, the Russian slowly wins over her recalcitrant mother-in-law and learns to love...
Scandal on Khabar TV Raises Discussions About Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan
A scandal which erupted on Kazakhstan's state television channel, Khabar, has caused huge public outrage. At the center of events was a woman named Gulmira, who had suffered years of abuse at the hands of her husband. Her story became the subject of discussion on the talk show, Birak, which...
Starting Over: Central Asian Countries Celebrate the Arrival of Spring
It’s time for renewal in Central Asia. Spring is arriving and it’s time to tidy up the home. Time for traditional music, cuisine and brightly colored costumes. An occasion to reflect and renew, give thanks for the past and build toward the future. Or set aside bad things that happened...
“You’re Afraid I’m Not Beautiful; I’m Afraid You’ll Kill Me” – Women Rally in Bishkek
On International Women's Day on March 8th, hundreds of people took to the streets of Bishkek to participate in the annual march for women's rights. Under the slogan "A woman's life is a mirror of the time," the march started from the monument to revolutionary fighters on Chui Avenue and...
Trial of Former Minister Bishimbayev Charged with Murdering Wife Begins
On March 27, the trial of former Minister of the Economy, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, who is accused of murdering his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, began in Astana. A live broadcast of the trial was available on the YouTube channel of the Supreme Court. Preliminary hearings in the case against former Minister, Kuandyk...
Former Kyrgyz Official Matraimov Extradited in Connection with Assassination Plot
According to statements issued by the special services of Kyrgyzstan, former deputy head of the customs service Raimbek Matraimov is connected with assassins who recently came to Bishkek from Azerbaijan to assassinate members of Kyrgyzstan's leadership. On March 23 Kyrgyz law enforcement became aware that the wanted Matraimov was in...
Man with Kyrgyzstan Links Among Suspects in Moscow Attack
A man originally from Kyrgyzstan is among the suspects detained in the attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed about 140 people, according to media reports. The man, identified as Alisher Kasimov, allegedly rented an apartment to men who carried out the attack on the Crocus City complex on...
Nazarbayev’s Nephew Samat Abish Handed Eight-Year Suspended Sentence
An Astana court has found Samat Abish, a nephew of Kazakhstan's former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, guilty of "exceeding power or official authority" and given him an eight-year suspended sentence. Abish, the former deputy chairman of the National Security Committee (KNB), had his criminal case classified as "secret," and all court...
“You’re Afraid I’m Not Beautiful; I’m Afraid You’ll Kill Me” – Women Rally in Bishkek
On International Women's Day on March 8th, hundreds of people took to the streets of Bishkek to participate in the annual march for women's rights. Under the slogan "A woman's life is a mirror of the time," the march started from the monument to revolutionary fighters on Chui Avenue and...
Kazakhstan soars on gender data transparency amid mixed results from rest of Central Asia
Open Data Watch, an international non-profit organization supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, published in late 2023 a Gender Data Compass (GDC) report on the availability and openness of 53 key gender indicators in 185 countries. With numerous outlets and articles celebrating international women’s day last week, now...
Former President’s Daughter, Aliya Nazarbayeva, Accused of Raiding Business Worth $170 million
The daughter of Kazakhstan's first president, Aliya Nazarbayeva, stands accused of seizing control of a business operation worth approximately $170 million. This comes alongside similar charges brought against Valentina Rogova, the wife of the former chairman of the Constitutional Council. Businessman Nurlan Bimurzin broke the news during a press conference,...
Children in the Fields, Not at Their Desks: Turkmenistan Continues to Use Child Labor in Cotton Harvest
Turkmenistan continues to use forced labor of adults and children during the cotton harvest, according to experts from the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO). "The preliminary findings of this observation mission indicate direct or indirect evidence of mobilization of public servants in all...
Kyrgyzstan Takes Issue With Uzbekistan’s Hydropower Plans
Uzbekistan's grandiose hydropower development plans are irking neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which is experiencing a shortage of water resources. These shortages have in part been caused by Kyrgyzstan swapping its water with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in exchange for electricity. Uzbekistan's construction of six hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), with a total capacity of...
Production Decrease and Import Increase in Energy Resources in Uzbekistan
According to the Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan, in January-February 2024, imports of natural gas increased 95-fold at a cost of $166.7 million. In the same period, Uzbekistan also increased its imports of oil by 5.3% costing $302.9 million and coal by 43.6% costing $42 million. Imports of electricity doubled, costing...
Russian Atomic Energy Company to Build Renewable Energy Facilities in Kyrgyzstan
On March 26th, at the 13th ATOMEXPO 2024 International Forum in Sochi, Russia, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom announced joint investment in the construction of renewable energy facilities in Kyrgyzstan with a capacity of up to 1 GW. The agreement was signed by Grigory...
Automatic Air Pollution Monitoring Stations Installed Across Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s meteorological agency Uzhydromet in collaboration with the Zamin International Public Foundation, is to implement additional automation of monitoring of atmospheric air pollution. During the first stage of the project in 2021, two German-made automatic air pollution monitoring stations were installed in Tashkent. In 2023, as part of the second...
Dushanbe, Tashkent Are Worst Central Asian Cities for Air Quality
According to the latest ranking of the world capitals with the dirtiest air, published by the Swiss technology company IQAir, Dushanbe in Tajikistan came in fourth-worst, and Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent took 22nd place. According to IQAir's data, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 particles in amounted to 28.6 µg/m3, which...
FAO to Improve Soil Health In Uzbekistan
Earlier this month, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, held a seminar in Tashkent on the ‘Recarbonization of Agricultural Soils’ (RECSOIL). The meeting concluded with unanimous approval of the development of...
EBRD Finances Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kazakhstan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced its commitment to financing the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure in Aktobe. The initiative is aimed to address pressing water treatment and environmental issues in Kazakhstan’s fourth-largest city. The EBRD is extending a sovereign loan...
Montana Farmer Pleads Guilty to Cloning Endangered Kyrgyz Argali Sheep
As reported by the Daily Montanan an 80-year-old farmer from Montana, Arthur "Jack" Schubarth, has pleaded guilty to federal charges for violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits the sale, transportation and purchase of wild animals between American states. In 2013, Schubarth illegally brought part of an argali sheep which had...