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Music Festivals

How OYU Fest Became a Portrait of Kazakhstan’s New Music Scene

OYU Fest returned to Almaty’s Pervomaysky Ponds for its fifth-anniversary edition, marking another step in its rise as one of Kazakhstan’s leading contemporary music festivals. Since its launch in 2022, OYU has grown from a local initiative into an important platform for Kazakhstan’s music scene, drawing a wider audience across Central Asia. Kazakhstan has welcomed more international performers in recent years, including Jennifer Lopez, the Backstreet Boys, and Enrique Iglesias. OYU has taken a different approach. It has remained a festival without foreign headliners, keeping contemporary Kazakh music at the center of its program. Instead of competing with large international shows, the festival connects local artists with audiences of different generations and reflects the range and confidence of Kazakhstan’s music scene today. The first OYU Fest took place in the summer of 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Although the festival has never made political statements, it emerged during a period of growing public interest in Kazakhstan’s cultural identity, national language, and domestic music scene. Artists who 15 to 20 years ago were often seen as niche or local performers now draw audiences of tens of thousands across Kazakhstan, including listeners outside ethnic Kazakh communities. OYU 2026 Brings Glastonbury Weather to Kazakhstan’s Coachella This year, OYU expanded to a two-day format for the first time and welcomed several thousand visitors. The lineup brought together emerging artists, Kazakh-language pop performers, indie musicians, rappers, R&B acts, K-pop groups, and long-established singers known to several generations in Kazakhstan. The range of performers showed how far Kazakhstan’s contemporary music scene has developed, from newcomers to established names. The festival opened with torrential rain, recalling OYU’s first edition. At that first festival, strong winds tore down tents. Performers sang on a soaked stage, and audiences danced through the downpour to songs by Zoloto and hits from Kairat Nurtas, one of Kazakhstan’s best-known pop stars. The weather became part of the festival’s identity. This year, forecasts predicted only light showers. Shortly before the festival began, however, Almaty was hit by what felt like a tropical downpour. Visitors arrived at the festival grounds completely soaked, although organizers distributed free rain ponchos at the entrance. People sheltered beneath temporary canopies and joked that OYU, once dubbed Kazakhstan’s Coachella, had unexpectedly become Kazakhstan’s Glastonbury, where rain and muddy ground are part of the experience. The mostly young audience was undeterred. By evening, the rain had eased, and by the time ARO, the fourth performer on the lineup, took the stage, it had stopped. The festival hosts jokingly called him a “rain whisperer,” noting that showers had ended just as he began performing more than once before. On the first day, audiences saw performances by On Alty, Almás, Zakryty Klub, Sadraddin, Kunzharyq, ALPHA, Yenlik, Berkut & Aisha, and others. The second day featured dosm., Ken Dala, abdr., Dequine, Ringo, Orynkhan Rakhimbekov, Roza Rymbaeva, and the independent music association Qazaq Indie. The lineup showed the range of Kazakhstan’s contemporary music scene. Festivalgoers heard Kazakh-language...

3 days ago

Turkmen Embroidery

Turkmen Embroidery Showcased at International Fashion Event in France

Turkmenistan’s traditional textile art and national costumes were presented at Art-Storytelling Paris-Deauville, an international fashion event held in the French seaside town of Deauville. The event brought together designers, fashion industry professionals, cultural organizations, and members of the diplomatic community from Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia. Turkmenistan was represented by designer Jennet Agayeva, head of the embroidery department of the Women’s Union of Turkmenistan, alongside representatives of the Women’s Union and officials from the Embassy of Turkmenistan in France. The event also included designers from France, Vietnam, Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, who presented collections combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary fashion. Turkmen embroidery, officially listed by UNESCO as Turkmen-style needlework art, is one of the country’s best-known forms of traditional decorative art. In 2022, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The embroidery is known for intricate geometric and floral patterns. Its traditional palette of red, yellow, black, and white has cultural significance in Turkmen heritage.

4 days ago

Obituary

Comedian Bakhtiyor Rahimov, Who Lamented Decline of Satire in Tajikistan, Dies

Tajik satirist Bakhtiyor Rahimov, whose comic performances lampooned daily life and sometimes touched on power, corruption and bureaucracy, has died after longstanding health problems. He was 56 years old, according to media reports. Rahimov, founder of a comedy group called Gharibsho Company and a fixture on Tajikistan’s comedy scene over several decades, had performed at a resort in the western city of Hisor on the night before his death on June 30. He was buried in his home village of Nojii Bolo, near Hisor. “The news saddened thousands of his fans. Indeed, the death of such an artist is a great loss to Tajik culture,” news site Oila.tj reported. Several Tajik media outlets reported on a debate about why Rahimov was never awarded a state title recognizing his comedic contributions. In a news conference on Monday, Culture Minister Matlubakhon Sattoriyon expressed condolences to Rahimov’s family on his death and said that the satirist had received recognition, if not a title, from the state. “Others have criticized the attitude of the cultural authorities and suggest that, in recognition of his contribution to the development of Tajik satire, he be awarded an honorary state title after his death,” reported Azda TV, a Tajik-language site that is registered in Poland and aims to provide alternative perspectives to state-controlled media in Tajikistan. The name of Rahimov’s comedy group, Gharibsho, derives from Persian and refers to a wanderer or stranger, a description that echoed the experience of many young people in Tajikistan who were emigrating to other countries, particularly Russia, in search of work. The name also incorporates a term for king or noble. "We were kings on stage, but at the same time, like these wanderers, we had nothing behind us," Muhammadjon Kholov, an early member of Gharibsho, said in an interview with the Your.tj outlet several years ago. He recalled that fans who couldn’t get tickets to the group’s first show on a big stage were so eager to see the performance that they smashed windows and doors and stormed the concert hall where the comedians were appearing. The group, which started in 2000, had to donate all its proceeds from ticket sales to cover the damages. In a 2024 interview with the Asia-Plus publication, Rahimov said satire had been marginalized in official circles in Tajikistan and that he hadn’t been invited to state events or programs in nearly six years. Asked if there was still political or social satire in Tajikistan, he said: “Yes, but very rarely.”

4 days ago

Climate Change

Central Asia Disaster Risks Prompt Joint Mudflow and Flood Plan

Central Asian countries are working on a joint plan to reduce the damage caused by floods and mudflows, as officials and environmental specialists warn that natural disasters are costing the region around $10 billion a year. The proposed roadmap was discussed at a regional meeting in Bishkek on June 24-26, attended by representatives of all five Central Asian states, the World Bank, and several UN bodies. The plan focuses on transboundary mudflows and floods, where risks often cannot be managed by one country alone. According to Kazakhstan’s state broadcaster 24KZ, experts at the meeting said disaster-related losses in Central Asia could be reduced fivefold through stronger ecosystem protection and better regional coordination. The proposed measures include a shared online catalogue of current and forecast natural hazards, as well as an early-warning system for wildfires. The discussion comes after a sharp rise in mudflows in Kyrgyzstan. The country has recorded more than 240 mudflows since the start of 2026, already well above the 133 cases registered during the whole of 2024. Between June 19 and 21 alone, Kyrgyz authorities reported 66 mudflow and flooding incidents, with homes, farmland, roads, and other infrastructure damaged. The deadliest recent incident occurred on June 24, when a mudflow swept away a car on the Osh-Alay highway, killing six people. Emergency officials have said improved response work has helped reduce casualties compared with last year, but the scale of the damage remains severe. The draft regional roadmap is expected to set out priority protection measures and identify where investment is most urgently needed. It also proposes closer coordination between emergency agencies, which is particularly important in cross-border mountainous areas. Central Asia is highly exposed to natural hazards, including earthquakes and climate-related disasters. A World Bank blog has previously estimated that natural disasters cause about $10 billion in economic losses across the region each year. The Bishkek discussions also covered digital tools for monitoring and forecasting climate-related risks. Participants reviewed a shared regional database and an interactive platform intended to improve the exchange of information between national agencies. Kyrgyzstan’s mountainous geography makes it especially vulnerable, with officials noting that heavier and less predictable rainfall are compounding the problems. The World Bank-backed RESILAND CA+ program is already supporting work at 21 high-risk sites in four Kyrgyz regions, including the restoration of mudflow-protection infrastructure. The regional plan will not eliminate mudflows or floods, but its supporters argue that better forecasting, stronger protective infrastructure, and more coordinated land management could reduce the human and economic cost of disasters that are becoming harder to treat as purely national problems.

5 days ago

Tourism Development

Tashkent Tourism Infrastructure to Be Upgraded After 3 Million Visitors

Nearly three million foreign tourists have visited Tashkent since the start of the year, prompting authorities to plan a series of practical upgrades aimed at making the Uzbek capital easier to navigate on foot. The measures, discussed at a July 4 government meeting on Tashkent’s development, include free digital tourist maps, more public toilets, and an increase in waste bins across the city. According to official figures cited at the meeting, close to three million foreign visitors have travelled to Tashkent so far this year. Officials said many tourists explore Tashkent on foot. Authorities now plan to install free tourist maps at transportation points across the city, with walking routes also available for download to mobile phones. The plans point to a growing challenge for Tashkent: the city is receiving more visitors, but still lacks some of the basic infrastructure expected in a major tourist destination. Navigation, public sanitation, and waste collection are increasingly part of the tourism offer, particularly for visitors exploring the city independently rather than through organized tours. The shortage of public toilets was identified as a particular problem in areas popular with pedestrians and tourists. Officials have been told to prepare a dedicated program within one month, with land plots to be auctioned this year for the construction of 15 to 20 modern public toilets in each district of the capital. The initiative builds on earlier attempts to modernize public sanitation in Tashkent. In 2023, the city opened Uzbekistan’s first automated public toilet on Lokomotiv Street in the Mirabad district. According to Gazeta.uz, the facility operates around the clock, includes shower facilities, is accessible for people with disabilities, and has a vending kiosk selling hygiene products and diapers in the women’s section. Authorities have also allocated 80-100 square meter plots through electronic auctions to more than 150 private businesses for the installation of additional modern public sanitation facilities. Waste collection is another part of the program. Authorities plan to increase the number of bins on streets, especially around tourist zones, a relatively small intervention but one that can have an immediate effect on how visitors experience the city. The focus on sanitation also reflects broader environmental and public-health challenges. In Yale University’s 2024 Environmental Performance Index, Uzbekistan ranked 107th out of 180 countries, with an overall score of 42.6. The country ranked 67th for unsafe sanitation and 43rd for unsafe drinking water, while its controlled solid waste score was listed at zero, highlighting continued weaknesses in waste management and urban services.

5 days ago

World Cup 2026

World Cup: Uzbek Referee Under Scrutiny After France-Paraguay Game

Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev has come under heavy criticism over a rough FIFA World Cup match between France and Paraguay, in which the South American side went for an especially physical approach. France won Saturday’s knockout game 1-0 on a penalty kick by Kylian Mbappé, but much of the post-match debate centered on whether Tantashev had lost control of a situation on the field that was often combative. While he handed out several yellow cards to France, the Paraguayan players didn’t get any during the game while engaging in physical confrontations that critics said should have been punished. Video showed Mbappé getting pushed and shoved so much at one point that he was laughing it off. He later said, “We knew what kind of match it was going to be. We can also get our hands dirty.” While French media condemned the conduct by the Paraguayan players, Paraguayan media were supportive of their team’s efforts, which included a dogged defense. In a blog post for Brazil’s Globo Esporte, analyst Rodrigo Coutinho focused on the offense, defense and other tactical aspects of the match, while acknowledging Paraguay’s attempts to get under the skin of Les Bleus. At various points, the Paraguayans also sought to provoke the French players. Shoves during set pieces, needless complaints and the French players' growing frustration were all part of the first half,” Coutinho said. Many veteran analysts and online commentators questioned whether Tantashev had done enough to control the match. “Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev with an extraordinary performance,” tweeted football journalist Colin Millar. “No interest in refereeing, no interest in applying the laws of the game, no interest in player welfare or well-being. A FIFA-listed referee for 13 years! France very fortunate to avoid serious injuries.” In an Asian Football Confederation video that was posted before the World Cup, Tantashev said he was “happy” to have been selected as a referee for the global event. He said he had been a referee for 20 years and to receive the selection letter in April was “a big gift for me.”

6 days ago

United States

Tokayev Congratulates Trump as Kazakhstan Marks America’s 250th Independence Anniversary

Tokayev Congratulates Trump as Kazakhstan Marks America’s 250th Independence Anniversary ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, calling the milestone a symbol of the American people’s enduring commitment to freedom, equality and justice. In his message, Tokayev noted Trump’s personal contribution to the continued development of Kazakh-American relations and reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness to further strengthen the expanded strategic partnership between the two countries. The Kazakh leader wished Trump success in his state duties and extended wishes of well-being and prosperity to the American people. The congratulatory message came as Kazakhstan joined U.S. Independence Day commemorations marking America’s semiquincentennial. In a separate celebration of the bilateral relationship, the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan announced that several prominent landmarks would be illuminated in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The buildings include Astana’s Nur Alem sphere and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy building, as well as Almaty’s Kok-Tobe tower. The U.S. embassy described the illumination as a symbol of the U.S.-Kazakhstan relationship, noting that the anniversary also coincides with 35 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. [caption id="attachment_51530" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Nur Alem Sphere and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy building in Astana, July 4, 2026[/caption] The coordinated gestures underscored the steady growth of ties between Astana and Washington, which have expanded across diplomacy, trade, investment, energy, security and people-to-people contacts since Kazakhstan’s independence. For Kazakhstan, the anniversary offered an opportunity to recognize a historic American milestone while also highlighting the durability of its own partnership with the United States. Together, Tokayev’s message and the illumination of landmark buildings in Astana and Almaty placed Kazakhstan among the countries marking the United States’ 250th Independence Day through official greetings and public displays of friendship.

7 days ago

Iran

Central Asian Governments Join Mourning for Iran’s Late Supreme Leader

Central Asian delegations have traveled to Iran for the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on Feb. 28, the first day of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. The gesture reflects how Central Asia countries want to preserve and expand longstanding ties with Iran, even as they build trade and diplomatic relationships with the United States. President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan expressed condolences and hopes for peace during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian inTehran on Friday, Tajikistan’s presidential office said. “It was noted that the volume of trade between the two countries has increased eightfold in the past five years, approaching almost five hundred million dollars in 2025,” the Tajik statement said. “At the same time, it was stated that there are all the necessary opportunities to bring this figure to one billion dollars in the near future.” Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the former president of Turkmenistan who shares power with his son and successor, Serdar, was also in Tehran on Friday. In a meeting, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, told him that Iran wanted to expand links with Turkmenistan, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA. Berdymukhamedov said trade between the two countries should increase and “expressed confidence that Iran would achieve favorable results in future negotiations with the United States,” IRNA said. Other Central Asian delegations attending funeral ceremonies in Tehran were led by Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev of Kazakhstan; Nuriddin Ismailov, speaker of Uzbekistan’s parliament; and Marlen Mamataliev, head of Kyrgyzstan's legislative assembly. A fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States is in place and negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting settlement to a conflict that impacted the global economy are underway. Delegations from dozens of countries are in Iran for the funeral, which includes events over several days. The mourning is an opportunity for the Iranian leadership to demonstrate international stature after many of its key figures were killed in the U.S.-Israeli attacks. Khamenei was replaced by his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Some reports say the younger Khamenei was injured in the attack that killed his father and he has not been seen in public since the beginning of the conflict. The extent of his injuries has not been confirmed, though Iran has acknowledged that he was hurt.

1 week ago

Art and Culture

Kanybek Kalmatov Interview: Kyrgyz Director Takes on Chinghiz Aitmatov

At 25, Kanybek Kalmatov is taking on a subject many older directors might have avoided: Chinghiz Aitmatov, Kyrgyzstan’s most internationally recognized writer and a figure deeply embedded in the country’s cultural identity. Kalmatov, a cinematographer and graduate of VGIK, the prestigious Moscow film school, is making his directorial debut with Aitmatov, billed as Kyrgyzstan’s first full-length feature film about the writer’s life and career. The project has already drawn attention beyond Kyrgyzstan, not least because Russian actor Sergey Bezrukov has joined the cast. For Kalmatov, the film is also personal. He first encountered Aitmatov as a schoolboy through The Little Soldier, and later found that even at film school in Moscow, Kyrgyzstan was often viewed through the writer’s name. Now, after months of research and nearly a year spent developing the screenplay, he says he is ready to take on a life that one film can only partly contain. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Kalmatov about why he chose a biopic rather than an adaptation, how he approached Aitmatov’s life at such a young age, and why he hopes the film will send younger viewers back to the writer’s books. TCA: You have chosen an ambitious project for your directorial debut. How did the film come about? Kanybek Kalmatov: Since childhood, there have been two stories I always dreamed of filming. The first is about my parents, because they have an incredible love story. The second is about Aitmatov. It wasn’t only his works that fascinated me. It was the scale of his personality, how determined he was and how many different things he managed to do at the same time. I fell in love with Aitmatov when I was about 12, after reading The Little Soldier. It’s about a boy whose father died in the war. Since then, Aitmatov’s works have always stayed with me. Even at VGIK, where I studied, people often saw me through that lens: “You’re from Kyrgyzstan? The homeland of Aitmatov?” For us, he’s not just a writer; he’s part of our cultural code. So I felt that, sooner or later, this film was bound to enter my life. TCA: Were you afraid the project might not work? Kanybek Kalmatov: No. Probably because I believe strongly in intention. Any big undertaking starts with that. If your motivation is right and you understand why you’re doing it, things begin to fall into place. From the start, my intention was pure. I never saw this film as a way to gain fame or prove something to anyone. I wanted to tell the story honestly of someone who means so much to our culture. TCA: Don’t you think one has to “grow into” Aitmatov first? Kanybek Kalmatov: There are topics you need to mature into. But if you wait for the perfect moment, you may never make anything at all. Maybe if I waited another 15 years, I would approach this story differently. Or maybe I’d never dare. Personally, I respect people who aren’t afraid...

1 week ago

Labor Migration

Opinion: Russia’s Migration Crackdown Tests Central Asia’s Labor Alternatives

Russia is no longer the unquestioned labor destination it once was for Central Asian workers. That shift is real, but it is easy to overstate. The Times of Central Asia recently reported that labor migration from the region is becoming more diverse. Workers are looking not only to Russia, but also to South Korea, the Gulf states, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belarus, and other destinations. The old Russia-centered model is weakening, even if it has not collapsed. The question is scale. It now intersects with two other filters: legal status and banking access. Alternative labor markets can absorb some Central Asian workers, but they cannot yet replace the Russian labor outlet. Russia did not function as an ordinary destination. For years, it acted as the region's largest external labor valve: geographically close, linguistically familiar, legally accessible for some, and large enough to absorb millions of workers across construction, services, logistics, agriculture, and municipal labor. South Korea, the UK, Poland, and the Gulf can offer higher wages and more formal recruitment channels. They can also reduce overdependence on Moscow. But they are more selective, more bureaucratic, and much smaller in immediate absorption capacity. That leaves a more important question: can new destinations expand fast enough to offset a narrowing Russian market? For now, the answer is probably no. Diversification Is Real, but Not Replacement The difference between diversification and replacement is crucial. A worker from Kyrgyzstan leaving for seasonal work in the UK, or a worker from Uzbekistan entering an organized recruitment program in South Korea, represents a genuine shift. These routes can be safer, better paid, and less exposed to the social hostility now facing many Central Asian migrants in Russia. But they cannot absorb workers on the same scale. Russia's labor market absorbed Central Asian workers in very large numbers because it had a combination few other destinations can match: proximity, low entry costs, dense migrant networks, Russian-language familiarity, and long-standing informal labor channels. Even as those channels become more restrictive, they remain embedded in household economies across the region. This is why diversification should be read as a partial adaptation, not a full exit. For governments in Tashkent, Bishkek, and Dushanbe, the search for new labor markets is necessary. It reduces exposure to Russian policy shocks. It gives workers more choices. It also helps governments negotiate better legal recruitment schemes. Yet the structural problem remains. If Russia closes the door faster than alternatives can open, pressure does not disappear. It returns home through unemployment, lower remittances, and frustrated expectations. The EAEU Line Russia's migration crackdown does not affect Central Asia evenly. The most important dividing line is not geography. It is legal status. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which allows the free movement of labor among member states. In practical terms, citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have a different legal status in Russia than citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. They do not face the same work-permit and labor-patent system. That does not...

1 week ago

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