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Munara Abdukakharova: Stories of Art, Identity, and Political Memory from Kyrgyzstan

A yellow hammer-and-sickle symbol is sewn onto black, yellow, blue and red mattresses in Up on Manas, down on Sovetskaya, a powerful artwork by artist Munara Abdukakharova presented last year at Fondazione Elpis in Milan. Inspired by the traditional kurak korpe (the hand-stitched patchwork cushions and mattresses that roll up like futons), the piece reimagines a familiar domestic object as a carrier of collective memory for Central Asian migrants, often the most tangible material link to home. Born in 1990 in Bishkek, just one year before Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union, Abdukakharova belongs to a generation that grew up during a profound political and cultural transition. The lingering Soviet legacy, the rise of nationalism, increasing religious influence, and the pressures of global capitalism all intersect in her work, which frequently draws on textiles, felt, and everyday objects rooted in local culture. “The art I make is mostly narrative, based on my everyday life, and depicts broader social issues in Kyrgyzstan,” says Abdukakharova from her home in Bishkek, from where she realizes most of her work. A finalist of the B. Bubikanova Art Prize, Abdukakharova works across embroidery, printmaking, photography, and installation. Speaking to The Times of Central Asia, she reflects on her path from architecture to contemporary art, the political realities shaping life in Bishkek, and the role artists play in questioning the direction of a young nation. TCA: You often describe your artistic practice as emerging from observation and your everyday experience. Did you grow up in a family that was into art? Abdukakharova: Not at all. All the members of my family are pharmacists, and while my parents wanted me to go to medical school, I couldn’t; I’m really scared of blood! (laughs) I went to an architectural school instead. I didn’t draw as a child, but I remember really liking to dismantle objects, whether it was toys or even a chair, furniture, and trying to put it back again… something I still love to do. The passion for drawing came only later on, in high school. TCA: Your decision to study architecture in Bishkek came at a time when many young people in Kyrgyzstan still looked toward Russia for their education. Could you describe the circumstances that led you to that choice and the cultural expectations surrounding it? Abdukakharova: When I finished high school in 2008, studying in Moscow was still seen as the best option. Unlike how it is today, growing up in Bishkek, there was a strong belief that anything coming from the former Soviet Union was inherently good. The teacher who helped me prepare university applications only suggested schools in Moscow or St. Petersburg; other countries were never really discussed, even though I already spoke English quite fluently. Looking back, I realize how dominant that perspective was at the time. I took a gap year, thinking that I could go to an art school later, maybe the Moscow Surikov State Academic Institute of Fine Arts. In the end, my parents didn’t let...

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Iran War Quietly Raises the Strategic Value of Central Asian Airspace

The war in Iran has disrupted one of the main aviation corridors linking Europe and Asia. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued safety bulletins warning of high risk to civilian aircraft in Iranian airspace and surrounding regions affected by military activity, missile launches, interceptions, and air defense operations. A separate EASA bulletin covering Iran, valid through March 31, describes a high risk to civil flights at all altitudes within the Tehran flight information region. The consequences reach far beyond the Middle East. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most Western airlines have been unable to use Russian airspace. With Iranian airspace now considered unsafe for normal commercial transit, the map for long-haul traffic between Europe and Asia has become extremely tight. Reuters mapping of global flight paths shows airlines diverting north via the Caucasus or taking longer southern routes through the eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula. Many passengers traveling between Europe and Asia still transit through Gulf hubs. However, airports across the region, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have faced disruption and unstable schedules during the conflict. Central Asia sits just beyond that northern bypass. It is not replacing the Gulf as a passenger hub, and is not suddenly becoming the main bridge between Europe and Asia, but the region’s airspace is increasingly strategically valuable as the number of efficient alternatives shrinks. The war has made Central Asia more important as part of a wider arc stretching from Turkey and the Caucasus across the Caspian basin and onward toward South and East Asia. [caption id="attachment_45218" align="aligncenter" width="1290"] Live flight-tracking map (image taken at 840am EST) showing aircraft routes avoiding Iranian airspace during the crisis. Many flights between Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia are being diverted north over the Caspian Sea and across Central Asia instead of flying over Iran; source: Planes Live[/caption] Kazakhstan is the clearest example. Local airlines had already begun to adjust before the current escalation reached its present level. In January, The Times of Central Asia reported that Air Astana had rerouted flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, Dubai, Doha, and Medina to avoid Iranian airspace. After the conflict widened, Air Astana canceled flights to several Middle Eastern destinations following the closure of Iranian airspace and rising regional tensions. Kazakhstan also imposed a temporary ban on flights over or near the airspace of Iran, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. Uzbekistan also moved quickly. As early as October 2024, Kun.uz reported that Uzbekistan Airways was avoiding Iraqi airspace and western Iranian airspace on safety grounds. After the latest escalation, on March 4, Uzbekistan suspended flights to six Middle Eastern countries. The pattern is clear: Central Asian carriers are not immune to the crisis; they are already adjusting networks, schedules, and commercial risk, with the broader economic consequences of the conflict emerging across regional supply chains. However, the region’s aviation systems clearly now carry far greater strategic and economic importance than they did only a few years ago. On its...

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Freight Volumes on Middle Corridor Through Kazakhstan Rise Fivefold in Seven Years

Freight volumes transported along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) through Kazakhstan have increased more than fivefold over the past seven years, highlighting the growing importance of the corridor as companies seek alternatives to routes passing through Russia. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, volumes have risen from 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons annually. Also known as the Middle Corridor, the TITR is a multimodal transport route linking China and Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The rapid growth of the route reflects wider shifts in Eurasian logistics since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With many Western companies seeking alternatives to traditional northern routes through Russia, governments and logistics operators across Central Asia and the South Caucasus have accelerated investment in the Trans-Caspian corridor, hoping to position it as a key artery linking Asian manufacturing hubs with European markets. Container transportation has been one of the fastest-growing segments of the corridor. In 2025, approximately 77,000 TEUs were transported along the TITR. Authorities aim to increase this figure to 300,000 TEUs by 2029. Despite rapid growth, the corridor still carries far less cargo than traditional northern routes through Russia, underscoring both its potential and the scale of investment still required. The expansion reflects ongoing infrastructure development and growing cooperation among participating countries and logistics operators. Key contributing factors include improved conditions for international freight transport, such as simplified customs procedures, as well as significantly shorter delivery times, reduced from roughly 28-32 days to 13-17 days. Demand has also risen for integrated “single-window” logistics services designed to enhance transparency and reliability. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia continue to coordinate efforts under joint roadmaps to eliminate remaining bottlenecks along the corridor. To ensure year-round navigation and strengthen competitiveness, Kazakhstan is investing in infrastructure on the Caspian Sea coast. Dredging has already been completed at Kuryk Port, while similar work is planned at Aktau Port this year to increase depth and improve vessel access. Construction is also underway at Kuryk on the Sarzha multifunctional terminal, a project being implemented in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ports Group from the United Arab Emirates. The terminal is expected to have an annual capacity of five million tons. Meanwhile, a container hub has been launched at Aktau Port, further enhancing maritime logistics capacity along the corridor. Kazakhstan has also expanded its transport infrastructure abroad. A Kazakh-operated terminal with a capacity of 120,000 TEUs has been launched at the Georgian port of Poti, improving cargo handling efficiency along the TITR. The European Union is also supporting the corridor’s development. A grant has been allocated for the reconstruction of Berths No. 3 and No. 12 at Aktau Port. The funding will be used to purchase wind-resistant ship-to-shore cranes to ensure stable operations during adverse weather conditions. On the railway side, Kazakhstan is upgrading more than 2,000 kilometres of rail infrastructure connected to the corridor. In 2025, construction and modernisation work were completed on 911 kilometres of railway lines. Key projects include the construction of second...

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Flower Production and Exports Grow in Kyrgyzstan

Flower production and exports are continuing to expand in Kyrgyzstan. Since the beginning of the year, the country has exported 17 tons of floral products, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. The main importers of Kyrgyz flowers remain Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan. According to the ministry, demand is particularly strong in the Uzbek market. Kyrgyzstan has been steadily increasing the volume of flower exports in recent years. At the end of 2024, exports totalled 13,049,000 flowers. In 2025, this figure nearly doubled to 24,099,000 flowers. The positive trend has continued this year. “In the first two months of this year alone, 17 tons, or 213,745 flowers, were exported from Kyrgyzstan. Most of the exported flowers were purchased by Uzbekistan, which has become one of the main importers of Kyrgyz floral products,” the ministry said. Experts note that only a few years ago, locally grown flowers were difficult to find even on the domestic market. Most bouquets sold in flower shops were imported from the Netherlands and African countries. However, the situation is gradually changing. According to industry specialists, one of the advantages of locally grown flowers is their stronger natural aroma. Many imported flowers are cultivated with a focus on visual appearance and durability during long-distance transportation. The development of greenhouse floriculture has enabled Kyrgyz producers to gradually secure a significant share of the domestic market. In the run-up to International Women’s Day on March 8, flower prices traditionally rise sharply. However, this year experts observed a different trend, prices remained close to their usual levels. This was largely due to government-supported tulip festivals organised across the country. In the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, a flower fair was held on Ala-Too Square until March 10, introducing a new format for holiday trade. At the fair, a fixed retail price of $1.20 per tulip was set, while wholesale buyers could purchase flowers at $0.80 each. In traditional flower shops, prices for similar tulips reached $2.80 per stem, largely because many of the flowers sold there are imported. The main suppliers of imported flowers to Kyrgyzstan are Ecuador, Kenya, and China. The Netherlands ranks fourth among exporting countries, with approximately three million flowers supplied to Kyrgyzstan. At the same time, many local producers purchase tulip bulbs from the Netherlands, enabling them to improve product quality and extend the shelf life of flowers grown domestically.

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Kazakh Boxer Alimkhanuly Stripped of One of His Two Championship Titles

Kazakh boxer Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been stripped of one of his two middleweight world championship titles following a doping case but has retained his second belt. The athlete will be eligible to return to the ring at the end of 2026 after serving a one-year suspension. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in December last year Alimkhanuly found himself at the center of a doping controversy less than a week before one of the most important fights of his career, a unification bout for three middleweight (up to 72.6 kg) titles against Cuban boxer Erislandi Lara. At that time, he tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. Following several months of proceedings, it was determined that the drug containing meldonium had been taken unintentionally. This finding allowed the potential period of disqualification to be reduced to one year. The suspension period began on December 2, 2025, the date of the boxer’s provisional suspension from competition. Accordingly, Alimkhanuly will be eligible to return to the ring on December 3, 2026. At the time of the ruling, the 29-year-old Kazakhstani held two world middleweight titles, under the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) versions. The WBO decided not to strip the Kazakh boxer of his championship belt. “Although the WBO has the authority to strip the champion of his title, we have concluded that, given all the circumstances and his status as a first-time offender, declaring the title vacant would not be proportionate to the punishment,” the organization said in a statement. In contrast, the IBF ultimately decided to strip the Kazakh boxer of his title. However, the decision was not taken directly because of the positive doping test. Rather, due to the suspension, the boxer will be unable to defend his title within the time frame stipulated by IBF regulations. Under the organization’s rules, a champion is required to defend his belt at least once every nine months. Alimkhanuly had been scheduled to defend his title on July 4, 2026, a date that is no longer feasible because of his suspension. As a result, the IBF Board of Directors declared the title vacant. The president of the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation, Rakhimzhan Yerdenbekov, said the situation should serve as a serious lesson for the athlete’s team. “I believe that this situation has been a major lesson for Zhanibek’s team. He will return to the ring even stronger and win all four world belts,” Yerdenbekov wrote on Instagram. The Alimkhanuly case is the second high-profile doping controversy in Central Asian boxing in a short period. Olympic champion Lazizbek Mullujonov of Uzbekistan was recently banned for three years for violating anti-doping rules.

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Kazakhstan Condemns Missile, Drone Strikes from Iran on UAE

Kazakhstan has condemned aerial attacks “from Iranian territory” on the United Arab Emirates, in remarks that emphasized de-escalation and diplomacy while refraining from directly criticizing the Iranian government. “President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev condemned the missile strikes and drone attacks from Iranian territory on the United Arab Emirates, which resulted in numerous casualties among the population and damage to civilian infrastructure,” according to a statement posted by Aibek Smadiyarov, spokesman for Kazakhstan’s presidency. “The head of state considers such actions unacceptable, as they lead to a dangerous escalation of the armed conflict in the Middle East,” said the statement, which was released on Tuesday. “In Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's opinion, the use of diplomatic means is the only correct method of resolving all disputed international issues.” The statement maintained a diplomatic tone and emphasized de-escalation, differing from a statement from Tokayev several days ago in which he welcomed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about ending Iranian missile and drone attacks on neighboring countries. However, attacks by Iran on some U.S. allies in the region have continued in retaliation for intense U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran that began on February 28. Without providing evidence, some Iranian officials have claimed that some strikes on neighboring states, including a recent drone attack on Azerbaijan, were false flag operations aimed at undermining the Iranian government. Pezeshkian’s apology for Iranian attacks raised questions about the cohesion of Iranian government narratives following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed to replace him. Central Asian countries have been trying to maintain a balance in their public pronouncements on the war, maintaining ties with the Iranian government while expressing support for Gulf Arab countries that have been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. Central Asia has trade ties with both sides.