EBRD Invests Record €2.26 Billion in Central Asia in 2024

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reached a record level of investment in Central Asia in 2024, contributing €2.26 billion to 121 projects across six countries in the region. This was nearly double the amount invested in 2023. Additionally, the EBRD attracted €784 million from co-financiers, bringing the total investment in the region’s economy to over €3 billion.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Lead in Funding

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were the largest recipients of EBRD funding, securing €938 million and €913 million, respectively. These two nations ranked as the fifth and sixth largest destinations for EBRD investments globally in 2024.

Other countries in the immediate region also benefited from significant funding, with Mongolia receiving €264 million, Tajikistan €88 million, and the Kyrgyz Republic €52 million.

Focus on Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Economy

The majority of EBRD investments in Central Asia supported sustainable infrastructure projects, accounting for 61% of the total. Another 24% was channeled to local banks to assist small businesses, women entrepreneurs, and youth-focused initiatives, as well as projects promoting climate resilience and resource efficiency. The remaining 15% was allocated to private-sector companies.

In alignment with the Paris Agreement, 58% of EBRD investments in the region went to projects promoting a green economy.

Milestones in 2024

The EBRD achieved several notable milestones in 2024:

• Total investments in Kazakhstan surpassed €10 billion.
• Uzbekistan reached €5 billion in cumulative EBRD funding.
• Both Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic exceeded €1 billion in total investments since the EBRD began operations in the region 30 years ago.

Landmark Projects

The EBRD financed several groundbreaking projects in Central Asia during 2024, including:

• Uzbekistan: €59 million for a renewable hydrogen facility aimed at decarbonizing the fertilizer sector.
• Kazakhstan: €96.4 million for a new wastewater treatment plant in Aktobe, the largest municipal project supported by the EBRD in the region.
• Mongolia: €11.3 million to support the first green bond issued by a local bank.

Investments in Energy Infrastructure

Significant funding was also allocated to improving electricity grids across the region:

• In Kazakhstan, €252 million was used to construct 600 km of transmission lines.
• In Uzbekistan, €60.3 million supported the development of a 230 km transmission line in the Navoi region.
• In the Kyrgyz Republic, €14 million upgraded power infrastructure in Osh and Issyk-Kul.
• In Tajikistan, €31 million was allocated to improve a transformer in the Sugd region.

Investments in Health and Transportation

The EBRD also provided substantial funding for healthcare and infrastructure projects:

• Kazakhstan: €365 million for a hospital project.
• Uzbekistan: €216 million for a road and bridge project in the Khorezm region.
• Mongolia: €39.2 million for a hospital in Darkhan.

Support for Small Businesses

The EBRD continued its efforts to empower small businesses in Central Asia, providing advisory services to more than 450 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Over 8,000 SMEs benefited from training and mentoring programs.

In Tajikistan, the EBRD launched its Star Venture initiative, allocating €28 million to 25 high-growth companies through agreements with local banks.

The EBRD’s Legacy in Central Asia

As the largest institutional investor in Central Asia, the EBRD has financed 1,163 projects in the region, investing a cumulative €21.5 billion to date. The bank’s efforts aim to foster a sustainable and green economy while supporting local businesses and communities.

Kyrgyz Businesses React With Cautious Optimism To Tax Amnesty

The Kyrgyz government has announced a tax amnesty aimed at easing the financial burden on businesses and reducing the workload of the State Tax Service (STS). However, local entrepreneurs have received the initiative with cautious optimism.

As part of the amnesty, President Sadyr Japarov has decreed the exemption of taxes on agricultural land, the cancellation of private vehicle taxes for citizens, and the write-off of all tax debts accrued before January 1, 2022.

The initiative has been met with mostly positive reactions from Kyrgyzstan’s business community. Entrepreneurs noted that many small and medium-sized enterprises in the country are burdened with significant debts to the state. They believe this measure has the potential to improve the business climate - provided the government maintains a stable and predictable tax policy.

“Such decisions were likely made to support entrepreneurs during a challenging economic period, stimulate economic activity, and improve the overall state of business in the country. It could also be part of a broader strategy to foster trust between the government and the business community,” the JIA Business Association, one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest business groups, told the Times of Central Asia.

By writing off debts, the JIA representatives said, the government will significantly ease the financial strain on businesses across various sectors. This would allow many entrepreneurs to focus on recovery and growth, particularly after the economic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite these positives, the association expressed concerns over the fairness of the tax amnesty.

“We hope that the amnesty will also include those businesses that were declared debtors by court decisions, but remain unable to pay their debts to this day. Additionally, there are social businesses - such as those in education and healthcare - that are registered as non-profit organizations but still face tax burdens. Including these entities in the amnesty would ensure greater fairness and also ease the workload of the tax service,” a JIA spokesperson explained.

However, under the presidential decree, businesses or individuals with tax debts resulting from court rulings are not eligible for the amnesty.

The Kyrgyz presidential administration estimates that the amnesty will result in the write-off of approximately 11 billion KGS (around $126 million) in tax debts for over 20,000 businesses. But while this decision is welcomed by many, it has drawn criticism from some quarters.

Market representatives argue that the amnesty may be unpopular among diligent taxpayers who have consistently fulfilled their tax obligations and do not owe the state. Nonetheless, they acknowledged that the government’s decision demonstrates a willingness to be flexible. This includes addressing other concerns, such as issues surrounding the introduction of electronic commodity invoices, which have been controversial among entrepreneurs.

“In the past three years, there has been significant progress in reforming tax administration. We anticipate further reforms, such as limiting the application of electronic goods invoices (ETNs) to specific types of goods or simplifying their use for small and medium-sized businesses. Efforts to improve digital tools for businesses, streamline tax administration, and increase public and business awareness of tax policies are also critical. Stability in tax policy will help entrepreneurs plan investments with greater confidence and grow their businesses more effectively,” the JIA added.

Fossil-Fuel Rich UAE Drives Central Asia’s Green Energy Transition

Central Asian nations, especially Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, are seeking to develop closer ties with the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. What they need from the Gulf state is not fossil fuels, but renewable energy technology and investment in their green energy sectors. Despite being a significant oil-exporter, the UAE has managed in recent years to position itself as a regional leader in solar energy and photovoltaic solar projects. As a result, it now has global aspirations in the renewable energy industry. The Gulf country, through its semi-government-owned company, Masdar, has already invested billions of dollars in the construction of wind farms and solar plants all over the world – from the Bahamas and Barbados to Australia, as well as several African and European nations. Central Asia is no exception. In the region, the green energy giant is particularly active in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It is, therefore, no surprise that, on January 14, two regional leaders, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, were major guests at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global platform focused on accelerating sustainability efforts. [caption id="attachment_27597" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] President Tokayev of Kazakhstan speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week; image: TCA, Nikola Mikovic[/caption] Their visit to the UAE signals a strong push for a green energy transition at home. For Tashkent and Astana, cooperation with Abu Dhabi in the field of green energy can help them to achieve their ambitious goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, despite both being significant producers of natural gas and oil. “Together with our foreign partners, we are currently implementing more than 50 large energy projects worth a total of $26 billion,” Mirziyoyev stressed, pointing out that by 2030, the share of renewable energy sources in the country will reach 54%. [caption id="attachment_27593" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev backstage at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week; image: TCA, Nikola Mikovic[/caption] In his view, Central Asia should turn into a “center of green economy.” The Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Francesco La Camera, seems to share this stance. “Central Asia can play a stronger and leading role in the global energy transition. I’m confident this new partnership can accelerate the pipeline of renewable energy projects and drive green industrialization,” La Camera said at the 15th session of the IRENA Assembly, held in the UAE capital two days prior to the meetings Mirziyoyev and Tokayev had with the UAE’s leaders. According to the Uzbek President, Tashkent is interested in jointly realizing the potential of Central Asia in solar, wind, and hydro energy, as well as in developing the production of green hydrogen. Fully aware of the Central Asian state’s green energy potential, Masdar is committed to investing $2 billion in Tashkent’s clean energy projects with a total capacity of more than two gigawatts. In the most populated Central Asian nation, the UAE’s semi-state-owned company is already involved in the construction of both solar plants and wind farms. [caption id="attachment_27594" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Masdar’s Chief Operating Officer, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week; image: TCA, Nikola Mikovic[/caption] “We were the first foreign investor in Uzbekistan’s renewable energy market in 2019. It is amazing to see how much progress the country has made over the past five years,” Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Masadar’s Chief Operating Officer told The Times of Central Asia. In his view, clear regulations are now in place in Uzbekistan, and the government is demonstrating its serious commitment to developing the green energy sector. In neighboring Kazakhstan, the authorities are also aiming to strengthen the green economy and play an important role in ensuring the availability of crucial raw materials globally. “Kazakhstan seeks to secure a diversified supply of critical raw materials for world markets, as they are indispensable to achieving the world’s net zero targets,” Tokayev stressed in Abu Dhabi, pointing out that it is imperative for Astana’s international partners, including Masdar, to invest in green energy projects. [caption id="attachment_27595" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Maryam Al Mazrouei, Masdar’s Head of Business Development in charge of the CIS at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week; image: TCA, Nikoa Mikovic[/caption] Indeed, at the COP29 summit held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku in November 2024, the UAE’s green energy corporation and the Kazakh authorities signed a $1.4 billion deal on the construction of a 1GW wind farm in the largest Central Asian nation. When completed, the facility is expected to provide green electricity to approximately 300,000 homes in the south of the country. Prior to the green energy summit in Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry’s officials participated in the IRENA Assembly, which suggests that Astana is serious in its ambitions to generate 15% of its total energy from renewable sources by 2030. The United Arab Emirates is undoubtedly willing to help Kazakhstan achieve its goals. “The county has a huge potential for the development of both solar and energy sectors,” Maryam Al Mazrouei, Masdar’s Head of Business Development in charge of the Commonwealth of Independent States told The Times of Central Asia. As she explains, the company is currently focused on the implementation of the 1 GW wind farm project in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl Region, while in the future it might engage in the construction of solar photovoltaic plants in the former Soviet republic. But that’s not the end of Masdar’s ambitions in the region. “We are at the very early stage of development of green energy projects in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. We are discussing with their governments the possible construction of two 200-megawatt solar plants,” Al Mazrouei said, whilst emphasizing that no agreements have been signed yet. The problem, however, is that, unlike Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the three remaining Central Asian states – Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – have yet to establish the necessary framework and regulations to attract foreign corporations willing to invest in the development in their vast green energy potential. In the meantime, they could learn from the experiences of Astana and Tashkent.

Explosions, Panic, Darkness: Kyrgyz Passenger Describes Azerbaijan Airlines Crash

"We are making an emergency landing. Hold on tight, the impact will be strong. After landing, exit the plane quickly.” Rinat Asanov, a passenger from Kyrgyzstan and one of 29 people who survived the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on December 25, recalled the announcement by a flight attendant shortly before the violent impact that killed 38 others on the aircraft. Asanov, who suffered a severe head injury, fractures and bruises, was recently discharged from a hospital in Bishkek and was interviewed by AKIpress, a news agency based in the Kyrgyz capital. Azerbaijan alleges the Embraer 190 plane diverted from a planned landing in Grozny, Chechnya to Aktau, Kazakhstan after being accidentally hit by Russian ground fire, and Kazakh authorities have said preliminary results of an investigation are expected this month. Most of the 67 people on board, including five crewmembers, were from Azerbaijan, and the second-largest group was from Russia. Six Kazakh citizens died. All three Kyrgyz nationals on the plane survived. Asanov, who was in a coma for three days in a Kazakh hospital before being transferred to intensive care in Kyrgyzstan, described a “good mood” as the flight got underway that morning. He promptly fell asleep on the plane. “Suddenly, a loud sound was heard, similar to an explosion,” he told AKIpress. “I woke up in panic and everyone was crying.” Seconds later, another explosion. “I was confused and didn't understand what was happening. The flight attendants tried to calm down us saying: "Don't panic, everything will be fine, we will land safely."´ Then came the warning about the emergency landing. “It’s difficult to imagine how one should feel at such moments,” Asanov said in the interview, which was published on Tuesday. “First I believed that we could land with no consequences. It was very scary, I felt my vision darken. Later I realized I had lost consciousness. I was sitting in the middle of the cabin, near the wing. As I was later told, passengers in this area and in the tail section of the plane were less injured. However, many in the front part of the plane were severely affected." Other passengers have given similar accounts of events leading to the crash, and small holes in part of the fuselage appear to support the theory that the plane was sprayed with shrapnel. Edil Baisalov, Kyrgyzstan’s deputy Cabinet chairman, visited the Kyrgyz survivors while they were being treated at the National Hospital in Bishkek. He said the country is “incredibly lucky” that they survived and he thanked Kazakhstan for rescue and treatment efforts, according to 24.kg, a Kyrgyz news agency. The two other Kyrgyz survivors were less severely injured than Asanov and were discharged from hospital care before him. Asanov, an IT student at the International University of Kyrgyzstan, previously worked for two years as a surveyor on construction sites in Russia. He is in his 20s. Since the accident, he has found strength in his religious faith and a feeling that he has a second chance at life, according to AKIpress. “Now I am gradually recovering, but rehabilitation is still ahead,” he said.

New U.S. Anti-Russian Sanctions Could Spell Trouble for Central Asian Economies

On January 10, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a new package of sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector. The measures, which affect a wide range of organizations and individuals, are set to take effect on February 27. While ostensibly aimed at undermining Russia’s economic interests amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the sanctions are likely to have significant repercussions for Central Asian countries given their close economic ties with Russian energy giants.

The sanctions package, viewed by some analysts as a final move by the outgoing Biden administration, could become a potent tool for the incoming administration to exert influence over Russian interests in Central Asia.

Sanctions on Gazpromneft Subsidiaries

The new sanctions include restrictions on Gazpromneft's subsidiaries operating in Central Asia. Affected entities include Gazpromneft Tajikistan, Gazpromneft Kazakhstan, Gazpromneft Asia (Kyrgyzstan), and Munai Myrza (Kyrgyzstan).

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Gazpromneft and its regional subsidiaries are considered critical sources of revenue that support Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. In response, Gazpromneft characterized the sanctions as "unfounded, illegitimate and contrary to the principles of free competition."

The impact of these sanctions, however, could prove severe for the economies of Central Asia, where Gazpromneft plays a key role in the energy sector. Gazpromneft Asia, for example, is a major supplier of petroleum products in Kyrgyzstan, making it a critical player in the domestic market. Sanctions on the company could disrupt fuel supplies and drive up energy prices in the country.

Gazpromneft Kazakhstan LLP, based in Almaty, operates a network of Gazpromneft-branded gas stations in Kazakhstan. While disruptions to fuel supplies in this network might not critically affect Kazakhstan’s economy - the largest in Central Asia - the sanctions carry broader implications.

Threats to Joint Projects

Beyond direct sanctions on companies, several executives of Russian oil firms actively operating in Kazakhstan have been added to the U.S. sanctions list. Key figures include Vadim Vorobyev, President of Lukoil PJSC and a member of Kazakhstan’s Foreign Investors Council. Lukoil is a strategic partner of KazMunaiGas (KMG) in production and exploration projects; Nail Maganov, CEO of Tatneft, which collaborates with KMG on projects such as Karaton Podsolovaya, Butadiene, and the Saran Tire Plant; Alexander Dyukov, the Chairman of Gazpromneft, and Sergei Kudryashov, CEO of Zarubezhneft, which has signed letters of intent for joint projects with KMG.

These sanctions could complicate existing partnerships and delay key projects, undermining Kazakhstan’s energy sector and its broader economic growth.

Sanctions on Rosatom and Nuclear Energy

Another significant element of the sanctions package is the inclusion of Rosatom executives on the U.S. sanctions list. This development poses challenges to Kazakhstan’s plans to establish an international consortium - including representatives from France, South Korea, China, and Russia - to build a nuclear power plant.

With Rosatom facing restrictions, the consortium is now likely to exclude Russia, potentially straining relations between Astana and Moscow. A global leader in nuclear energy, Rosatom was expected to play a central role in the project. Kazakhstan may now explore alternative arrangements, balancing its energy ambitions with the risk of alienating a key partner.

Exceptions and Strategic Implications

Interestingly, the U.S. sanctions package includes an exemption that allows American companies to provide oilfield services for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) and Tengizchevroil LLP until June 28, 2025. Chevron, the largest private shareholder in both projects, has significant stakes in Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil field, which accounts for approximately 20% of the company’s global reserves.

The CPC pipeline, which transports oil from Tengiz to Russia’s Novorossiysk port on the Black Sea, is similarly crucial for Chevron’s operations. The exemption ensures continuity for these projects, at least temporarily.

Observers, including the Kazakh oil and gas industry journalist Oleg Chervinsky, have speculated about how the incoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump will approach these exemptions after June 28. Writing on the Telegram channel “Oil and Gas of Kazakhstan: Facts and Comments,” Chervinsky suggests that the outgoing Biden administration’s sanctions may limit Trump’s ability to implement new strategies. Conversely, the sanctions could also provide the new administration with powerful leverage to pressure Central Asian states to distance themselves from Russia’s economic and energy sphere.

Complex Dynamics

The latest round of U.S. sanctions against Russia underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in Central Asia. By targeting Russian energy firms and executives, the measures not only escalate the economic pressure on Moscow but also expose Central Asian countries to potential economic disruptions. As these nations navigate the fallout, they will need to carefully balance their ties with Russia, their energy needs, and their relationships with Western powers.

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan Seeks Greater Control Over Commercial Banks

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR) has proposed a draft law aimed at regulating tariffs and commissions for banking and payment services provided by commercial banks. The proposal has been published for public discussion on the official government portal Koomtalkuu.

The NBKR argues that the regulation is necessary to improve the accessibility of banking services for Kyrgyz citizens. While the current system of free pricing for banking services fosters competition, encourages better customer service and allows for economic flexibility, the regulator is concerned that it also creates barriers for certain segments of the population.

“Under competition, some financial organizations may use hidden fees or complex tariff structures, which make it difficult for customers to understand the true cost of services. This also complicates the ability to compare offers and select the most favorable option,” the bill’s background brief states.

The National Bank told The Times of Central Asia that interest rates on loans from banks and microfinance institutions in Kyrgyzstan can reach 33–34% per annum. Such high rates significantly increase the financial strain on citizens, reducing the availability of credit.

“High tariffs also increase financial burdens on businesses, driving up operational costs. This can lead to higher prices for goods and services, dampened business activity, and reduced consumer demand. In turn, this creates additional risks for banks and the economy as a whole,” the NBKR explained.

The central bank also expressed concerns about the potential for market abuse by large financial players. It noted that dominant institutions could inflate fees to suppress competition, discouraging innovation and slowing the development of more affordable financial products.

The NBKR argues that Kyrgyzstan needs fair, transparent, and economically justified tariffs for banking services to mitigate these issues. The regulator believes such measures would reduce financial strain on consumers and businesses while fostering a more competitive and innovative banking sector.

As of October 1, 2024, Kyrgyzstan's financial sector comprised:

• 21 banks;
• 194 non-bank financial and credit institutions;
• 3 credit bureaus;
• 1 guarantee fund;
• 41 payment organizations; and
• 40 payment system operators.

This diverse and growing financial ecosystem underscores the importance of effective regulation to ensure broad accessibility and equitable practices in the banking sector.

Former Kyrgyz Presidential Aide Detained in Moldova

Aidar Khalikov, a former public aide to the president of Kyrgyzstan, has been detained in Moldova under an Interpol warrant on charges of large-scale fraud.

Investigative journalist Bolot Temirov was the first to report Khalikov's detention, raising the possibility of his extradition to Kyrgyzstan. The report was later confirmed by the General Inspectorate for Migration under Moldova’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to their statement, the detention was carried out as part of efforts to locate individuals wanted internationally for evading criminal responsibility.

Charges Against Khalikov

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that Khalikov, born in 1965, is being prosecuted under Article 209 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code, which pertains to fraud. He is accused of stealing a significant sum of money from a Kyrgyz citizen identified solely as S.D. Investigators suspect Khalikov may also be involved in other similar crimes. The General Prosecutor’s Office of Kyrgyzstan is now working on his extradition.

Background

Khalikov was a prominent member of the "Mekenchil" party and played an active role in Kyrgyzstan's political landscape, particularly during the political upheavals of 2020. Following those events, he was appointed as an aide to President Sadyr Japarov. However, in 2024, Khalikov left Kyrgyzstan and began publicly criticizing Japarov and his inner circle.

Khalikov’s arrest in Moldova underscores ongoing efforts by the Kyrgyz authorities to track and prosecute high-profile individuals facing criminal charges. His extradition process will likely attract significant attention in both Kyrgyzstan and Moldova in the coming weeks.

In Doha, Central Asian Artists Dismantle Orientalism

Completely covered by a huge textile patchwork piece, softly moved by the wind, the façade of the Mathaf Museum in Doha promises visitors something fascinating and alluring. Coming closer, attendees could read a series of statements in various languages on the fabric. The effect of familiarity and estrangement at once was the purpose of Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov, who realized the piece. By layering phrases in Arabic, Cyrillic, and Latin with calligraffiti and employing disjointed grammar and syntax, the artist meant to visually disrupt “linguistic imperialism” and show how Europe’s modern civilization owes much to Arab civilization. [caption id="attachment_27513" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] The Mathaf Museum in Doha; image: TCA, Naima Morelli[/caption] This specially commissioned work, called Text Still (2024), is nothing but an appetizer for the show Seeing is Believing: The Art and Influence of Gérôme. Organized by the forthcoming Lusail Museum — an institution under development in northern Doha that will house the largest collection of the so-called Orientalist art — the exhibition features loans from institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Islamic Arts Museum in Malaysia. The main part of the show is dedicated to French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, who lived and worked in the 19th century and was profoundly influential in his depictions of the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. His works shaped Western perceptions of these regions during an era when colonialism and “Oriental Studies” were cementing global power dynamics. The show included a historical and biographical exploration of Gérôme’s life, timed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth, as well as a photographic section curated by Giles Hudson dedicated to visions of the Orient from Gérôme’s time to today. But it is in the third section, centered on contemporary art and called “I Swear I saw That”, that Central Asian artist really enter into a close dialogue with Gérôme’s Orientalism, turning it on its head. Sara Raza, curator of this section, takes Badalov’s textile work as a case in point: “Badalov inverts Edward Said’s mission of examining Western perceptions of the Orient, focusing instead on Eastern perceptions of the Occident, and vice versa,” she told The Times of Central Asia. Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, as detailed in his groundbreaking 1978 work of the same name, is an institutionalized program of Western knowledge, based mostly on projections, mystification, and imagination - and includes works of art as well as the academy - which is directed to justify a supposed Western superiority and imperialism over Eastern populations. “I Swear I Saw That” interrogates Jean-Leon Gerome’s way of seeing, which Sara Raza recognizes as a “fantastical and highly mythologized vision of the East,” and looks at how artists from both the Middle East, the Arab world and Central Asia fought back. A Central Asia and Caucasus expert who works extensively in the Middle East, Raza has examined the process of the exoticization of Eastern populations for a long time. She coined the term “Punk Orientalism,” which also became the name of her book and curatorial studio. She takes the reflections of Edward Said as a starting point, and looks at how the Central Asian population has been seen through a stereotyped lens by both Europe and the Soviet Union. Raza brings a punk, DIY approach to her curatorial method, which reflects the same attitude of many Central Asians who have a rebellious spirit and create art with a grassroots, bottom-down approach. [caption id="attachment_27514" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Installation by Erbossyn Meldibekov; image: TCA, Naima Morelli
[/caption] From the stylized figures of Moroccan artist Baya - a trailblazer in the last century who was close to the surrealists – to contemporary artists like the Kazakh Erbossyn Meldibekov, the selection doesn’t only span Eastern geographies, but also different generations. The installation by Meldivekov, featuring a horse’s lower legs frozen in motion and placed on a white podium, is particularly haunting. The work was conceived as a commentary on the rise and fall of historical figures celebrated by statues across Central Asia. The felling of these statues started following the collapse of the USSR as part of a state-sponsored nationalist agenda and was part of a plan to revive the region’s epic past, a topic dear to Meldibekov. While his installation is dedicated to 15th-century Italian Captain Erasmo Gattamelata, and his statue to Italian Renaissance painter Donatello, Meldibekov also references Gérôme’s bronze statue of the 14th-century Uzbek emperor, Timur. But the work which is probably more impactful in moving forward the discussion on Orientalism is a series of photographs titled “Girls of Kyrgyzstan,” which have distinctive GenY/ GenZ aesthetics. Created by Uzbekistan-born Kyrgyzstan-bred artist Aziza Shadenova, a multidisciplinary artist and musician of Kazakh ethnicity, it encapsulates the ethos of the generation born right after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, who grew up familiar with the internet from an early age. The series speaks of the pervasiveness of images on the internet as a means to represent the self, freeing themselves from both Western and the Soviet narratives, as well as debunking previous social norms and myths around the representation of Central Asian women. [caption id="attachment_27515" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Aziza Shadenova, "Girls of Kyrgyzstan"; image: TCA, Naima Morelli[/caption] In the catalogue essay, Sara Raza explains that social media is a space where Kyrgyz girls can reclaim their sense of autonomy, posting images and texts that involve encoding hidden messages in clothing, hairstyles, gestures, and postures that are generationally-specific. Overall, what emerges from the third chapter of “Seeing is Believing: The Art and Influence of Gérôme,” is a clear vision of how artists are entering a new era of de-orientalization. What Sara Raza and the artists suggest in the show is that in order to move forward the discourse on Orientalism, artists from all geographies must be aware of stereotyping and correct historical inaccuracies. “Collectively the artists in ‘I Swear I Saw That' embody conceptual positions that challenge obsolescent Eurocentric historical precedents and can tackle issues of prejudice, power and knowledge by way of conscious visioning,” says Sara Raza. “Witnessing becomes holy writ: mysterious, complicated, powerful. Necessary.” And if the Gulf countries are providing the ideal framework, in terms of institutions, to be a place for these voices and narratives, Central Asian artists are at the forefront of this vision.