Our People > Joe Luc Barnes

Joe Luc Barnes

Regional Editor and Journalist

Joe Luc Barnes is a British journalist and author who focuses on the countries of the former Soviet Union. He has a Master’s degree in Russian and East European Politics from the University of Oxford. His book, “Farewell to Russia: A Journey Through The Former USSR”, will be published by Elliott and Thompson in Spring 2026.

Articles

Agricultural Production

Kazakhstan AI Farming Pitch Faces Wheat Crop Scrutiny

After two consecutive strong harvests, Kazakhstan is trying to lure more investors into its agricultural sector, which it is presenting as a testing ground for digital and AI-supported farming. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made the case at the 38th plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council in Astana on July 2, where agriculture formed part of a wider pitch for Kazakhstan as an investment-friendly, technology-driven economy. The message was straightforward: Kazakhstan wants its recent harvests to be seen not only as the result of favorable weather or state support, but as evidence that the country is moving toward precision agriculture. That claim is more complicated than the presidential framing suggests. Kazakhstan has reported record or near-record grain output for two years in a row, but U.S. analysts have questioned the scale of the latest wheat crop, while Kazakhstan’s own data point to other explanations, including expanded financing, crop diversification, and a reduction in wheat acreage. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan harvested 26.7 million tons of grain and legumes in 2024, the highest figure in 13 years. The ministry also said concessional lending to the sector rose to 580 billion tenge at 5% annually, compared with no more than 160 billion tenge in previous years. In 2025, the ministry initially reported 27.1 million tons of grain in initial weight, including 20.3 million tons of wheat. Later figures cited by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov put the harvest at 25.9 million tons in net weight, including 19.3 million tons of wheat. Those distinctions sit behind Tokayev’s simpler public figure of two consecutive harvests averaging around 27 million tons. There is also a wider caveat. World-Grain reported, citing the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that U.S. analysts expected Kazakhstan’s 2025-26 wheat production to reach 18 million tons. That was below the 19.3 million-ton figure published by Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, which the FAS believed was overstated based on field yields. The FAS pointed to a more conventional explanation for the shift in output: farmers had cut wheat plantings and moved into more profitable oilseed crops, particularly sunflowers and rapeseed. Favorable weather during much of the growing and harvesting season helped offset the smaller wheat area. Kazakhstan’s own figures show the same shift. Wheat acreage fell by nearly 900,000 hectares in 2025, while oilseed acreage expanded by more than 1 million hectares and legume acreage by 275,000 hectares. The country also recorded more than 1 million tons of legumes and a record oilseed harvest of 4.8 million tons. Tokayev, however, placed the emphasis on technology. He said artificial intelligence and automation were becoming the basis of a new agricultural revolution, helping producers raise yields, use water more efficiently, and reduce environmental damage. The president said the government is now working on the full digitalization of agricultural land. State support and subsidy programs are also being moved online, a step officials say will simplify applications and reduce paperwork. In livestock farming, Tokayev said integrated digital platforms had been...

5 days ago

FIFA World Cup

Uzbekistan World Cup Ends With Reality Check After DR Congo Defeat

For an hour in Atlanta, it looked as though Uzbekistan's World Cup story might yet have an improbable final chapter, but a flurry of goals in the final 25 minutes saw Fabio Cannavaro's side handed another harsh reality check. The White Wolves threw away a first-half lead to lose 3-1 to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, exiting their first World Cup with three defeats from three games and conceding 11 goals – more than any team at the tournament apart from Tunisia and Iraq. Meanwhile, Congo advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in their history, returning to Atlanta to face England on Wednesday. The meeting between two nations making only their second and first World Cup appearances respectively offered a study in contrasting approaches to building a national team. Around 85% of the Congolese squad was born outside the country, mainly in France, Belgium and England, whereas Uzbekistan's entire 26-man squad is homegrown. The Congolese have been one of the surprise packages of this tournament, and were unlucky not to get more than one point from the opening two games. They came here wearing red rather than their usual cobalt blue, knowing that a win would see them through to the next round. Uzbekistan needed an improbably large victory to progress and were playing largely for pride. But it was the Uzbeks who made a lightning start. Eldor Shomurodov had the ball in the net almost straight from the kick-off, only for it to be ruled out for offside. The Başakşehir man, who finished top scorer in the Turkish league last season, had endured a quiet tournament until this game, cutting a very lonely figure against Colombia and Portugal. He was sharp here, though, elegantly chipping over a hopelessly marooned Lionel Mpasi to make it 1-0, the first time Uzbekistan had led a game all tournament. Shomurodov spurned a chance to double the lead early in the second half, once again attempting to chip the goalkeeper when a simpler finish might have sufficed. That second effort was largely against the run of play. After such a bright start, Uzbekistan retreated deeper and deeper into their own half as momentum built for Congo. The White Wolves were fortunate to reach the interval ahead after Nathanaël Mbuku had a superb equaliser ruled out following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up, a soft decision that prompted widespread criticism. Congo missed several good chances in the second half, and with half an hour to go, Uzbekistan might have felt it was their day. Once again however, they demonstrated their capacity for self-destruction at the back. In the 68th minute, an innocuous, hopeful ball was tossed into the Uzbek box. The team's poster boy, Abdukodir Khusanov attempted to clear it but instead caught the outstretched leg of Yoane Wissa, leaving the referee little choice but to point to the spot. Wissa converted without fuss. Once the dam broke, Uzbekistan capitulated. Ten minutes later, substitute Fiston Mayele deftly flicked...

1 week ago

FIFA World Cup

Portugal vs Uzbekistan: The White Wolves Face the Ronaldo Circus in Houston

Uzbekistan’s World Cup has moved north, from the thin air of Mexico City to the sealed dome of Houston's NRG Stadium, where Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo and a crowd of number seven shirts await. On paper, the move should help. The roof at Houston’s NRG Stadium will remain closed throughout the tournament, with air conditioning protecting the temporary grass pitch as much as the players. Outside, the Texas midday heat will feel closer to Tashkent, only with the Gulf humidity added in. Uzbekistan have already learned that the World Cup offers little time for romance. Their 3-1 defeat to Colombia was more respectable than the scoreline suggested, but mistakes that might have escaped punishment in qualifying games against North Korea were seized on gleefully by the Colombian forwards. "It was a very good experience for our players," said head coach Fabio Cannavaro afterward. "When you make mistakes and pay like you did today, it’s something they will remember." His team began the game extremely cautiously but improved after the break. There was even the joy of Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s equalizer, a moment that has gone down in history as Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal. Such joy was brief. Within minutes, Luis Díaz had restored Colombia’s lead, and despite a late surge in Uzbek pressure, Colombia added a third in stoppage time. “When a small team like ours has worked as we worked today, to lose 3-1 is too much,” Cannavaro said. He admitted his players had been nervous, too reluctant to step out of their own half. Against Portugal, he wants more personality and bravery. Uzbekistan cannot spend another 90 minutes waiting for the storm to pass. Portugal arrive with their own problem. They were among the pre-tournament favorites and had the ball almost all night against the Democratic Republic of Congo but did very little with it. According to Opta, Roberto Martinez’s side completed 783 passes, had 75 percent possession, and still drew 1-1. Much of the scrutiny has fallen on 41-year-old Ronaldo. He remains the most famous footballer on earth and perhaps the most famous person alive if Instagram is the measure. More than 666 million people follow him there. Houston had already seen the effect during Portugal’s first game. The stands were filled with Portugal shirts, the number seven emblazoned on the back. FIFA had also cleared the way for him to play. After his red card against Ireland in qualifying, he was given a three-match ban for violent conduct but FIFA suspended two matches of it, leaving him free for the World Cup after he missed Portugal’s final qualifier against Armenia. Those fans saw little of the old Ronaldo, however. The aging legend was conspicuous only by his ineffectiveness and Portugal's attacks lacked a focal point. He even took chances from better positioned teammates. Thierry Henry was blunt after the Congo game, accusing Ronaldo of putting his own desire for glory ahead of that of the team. “The team needs to score. You don’t need to score,” Henry...

2 weeks ago

Energy cooperation

Petronas Turkmenistan Deal Deepens Malaysia Energy Ties

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Turkmenistan on June 18 for an official visit focused on energy cooperation, with the two countries signing a new strategic partnership involving Petronas and Turkmenistan’s energy authorities the following day. Anwar and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov witnessed the signing on June 19, Malaysian media reported. The agreement followed earlier comments by Malaysian Deputy Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, who said Malaysia was seeking to strengthen its energy supply chains through long-term hydrocarbons cooperation with Turkmenistan. Anwar's visit follows Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s official trip to Malaysia in 2024, which Turkmen officials have described as opening a new stage in bilateral relations. Energy is the central pillar of economic ties between the two countries. Malaysian state energy company Petronas has operated in Turkmenistan since 1996, when it became one of the first foreign companies to develop offshore oil and gas fields in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. Since then, the company has invested about $11 billion in Turkmenistan’s hydrocarbon sector. Petronas’ main asset is Block 1, linked to the Kiyanly Gas Treatment Plant and Onshore Gas Terminal on Turkmenistan’s Caspian coast. Block 1 currently produces about 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, equivalent to roughly 4.1 billion cubic meters per year, and holds more than 7 trillion cubic feet of gas resources. In 2025, Petronas signed a new production-sharing contract for the block with Abu Dhabi’s XRG, state enterprise Hazarnebit, and state concern Türkmennebit. Under that arrangement, Petronas retained 57% as operator, XRG took 38%, and Hazarnebit held 5%. Berdimuhamedov also approved a resolution authorizing Türkmennebit to conclude an agreement with Petronas and Hazarnebit on the development of licensed offshore blocks in Turkmenistan’s sector of the Caspian Sea. Malaysia’s role in Turkmenistan is smaller than China’s, but more technical and operational. Petronas has been an upstream investor and offshore operator, while China is Turkmenistan’s dominant gas customer. Turkmenistan exports around 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year to China. In April 2026, China and Turkmenistan signed an agreement on the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field, under which China National Petroleum Group (CNPC) is to build gas-processing facilities capable of handling an additional 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Reuters reported the project value at $5.1 billion. Turkmen state media said the two countries are also seeking to broaden cooperation across a range of sectors from transport to science and education. Talks in Ashgabat are expected to focus on energy cooperation, investment projects, and expanding trade links.

3 weeks ago

FIFA World Cup

World Cup: Diaz’s quality shows as Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1

In the breathless air of Mexico City, Colombia overcame a spirited Uzbekistan 3-1 in the first-ever FIFA World Cup game involving a Central Asian side. In a match which was otherwise low on quality, the difference-maker was Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz. He created Colombia’s first goal, scored the second after Uzbekistan had briefly equalized, and gave the favorites a cutting-edge that they had otherwise lacked. For Uzbekistan, the defeat was not a humiliation. Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s second-half equalizer, the first World Cup goal scored by a Central Asian country, will go down in history. There was even a spell late when Colombia were made to sweat, camped in their own half against a side that many saw as easy pickings. In the end, Jaminton Campaz's third in the eighth minute of stoppage time gave the result a gloss that perhaps flattered the South Americans, who were not at their best. Worlds Apart It is hard to think of two more contrasting countries than Uzbekistan and Colombia. One is arid and double-landlocked, the other tropical, with coasts on the Pacific and the Caribbean. One is a staunch tea culture, the other one of the world’s great coffee exporters. Colombia is in the middle of a febrile election campaign, with a runoff vote due on June 21 that pits the far-left and the far-right. Uzbekistan, by contrast, has never had an election where the winner has received less than 80%. Fortunately, they both quickly found common ground on the pitch by playing some insipid, uninspiring football. Uzbeks are rightly famed for their hospitality, and there was no shortage of accommodation for the Colombian forwards as Uzbekistan welcomed the opposition into their half, sacrificing possession to maintain a solid defensive shape. Sitting back and inviting pressure was always a risk. Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, 2,200 meters above sea level and the scene of the World Cup finals of 1970 and 1986, was full of canary yellow Colombia shirts whose raucous cacophony grew as their side dominated possession of the ball. Toward the end of the first half, the spaces began to widen. Diaz hit the post, and soon after he fashioned the breakthrough, floating a delightful ball over the top for the onrushing Daniel Muñoz, the Crystal Palace right back who, until that point, had had little to do. His improvised finish sent the hordes of Colombians into delirium. Uzbekistan did well to keep the game tight until the break, after which they played higher and with more aggression. On the hour mark came the moment that those watching across Uzbekistan will have been dreaming of. Eldor Shomurodov, who had spent much of the game isolated up front, sent a crashing volley that forced the Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas into a hurried save. The ball spilled loose, leaving Fayzullaev with the simplest of tasks to nod home from point-blank range. Uzbekistan had their first World Cup goal. For five glorious minutes, it looked like another vindication for FIFA’s expanded tournament. The 48-team format has...

3 weeks ago

FIFA World Cup

The World Cup Begins, and Central Asia Is Finally Part of It

Tonight, at midnight local time, the FIFA World Cup will get underway while Central Asia sleeps. For the first time, however, the region will be part of the story. When Uzbekistan walk out at the Estadio Azteca on June 17, they will be representing a region that has waited more than three decades to see one of its own at football’s greatest tournament. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has produced Olympic champions, world-class boxers, judokas, wrestlers, weightlifters, cyclists, tennis stars and chess players. It has staged major events, built new arenas and invested heavily in elite sport. But football, the world’s global game, has long been something the region watched rather than participated in. Uzbekistan are the first Central Asian country ever to reach the FIFA World Cup. Their qualification, sealed last year with a tense 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, was the culmination of years of investment in youth football, academies, domestic infrastructure and a generation of players no longer burdened by the near-misses that defined earlier campaigns. [caption id="attachment_50322" align="aligncenter" width="1774"] Uzbekistan's players celebrate qualifying for the World Cup. Image: TCA[/caption] The country had come close before, most painfully in qualifying campaigns for 2006 and 2014. FIFA’s decision to expand the tournament to 48 teams, derided by many as money-grabbing, has also played its part in expanding opportunity to countries that were formerly locked out. Uzbekistan’s breakthrough also comes at a moment when football across Central Asia is becoming harder to dismiss. Kairat Almaty’s Champions League campaign ended in defeat to Arsenal in London, but the Kazakh club’s presence at that level was itself a marker of change, and the chance to play against Real Madrid's Galácticos was savoured by many. Kazakh sides have also started to attract more recognizable names, including former Manchester United winger Nani and former Chelsea forward Victor Moses. These are still early signs, but they suggest that the region’s football ecosystem is becoming more ambitious, more professional and more visible. The face of Uzbekistan’s own shift is Abdukodir Khusanov. The Manchester City defender endured a difficult start in England, recovering from a gaffe-strewn debut to become an assured presence in one of the most scrutinized teams in world football. For some City fans, his arrival had initially looked like a gamble. “Uzbekistan isn’t exactly known for being a production line of talent,” Manchester City fan Ant Clayton said, recalling his skepticism when the club signed him. After Khusanov’s debut, Clayton thought the signing "looked like a big mistake". But by the end of the season, Khusanov had become a rock at the heart of City’s defense, helping the club to an English cup double and giving Uzbekistan something it had never previously possessed: a genuine world-class star playing at the summit of the European game. “Many of Europe’s best forwards have played against Khusanov in the last 12 months,” Clayton said. “In my opinion, not one of them has got the better of him.”...

4 weeks ago

Middle Corridor

Opinion: A New Southern Gate – How the EU-Armenia Summit Unlocks a Critical Branch for the Middle Corridor

For the first time in its history, the European Union held a full summit with Armenia. The meeting, which took place in Yerevan on 4–5 May 2026, was not merely a diplomatic milestone for Armenia. It also sent a signal to governments thousands of kilometers away in Central Asia that the trade route linking Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus is becoming more real, and more politically backed, than ever before. The centerpiece of the summit saw the signing of a “Connectivity Partnership” between Brussels and Yerevan. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, described Armenia as "uniquely positioned" to connect Europe with the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Under the EU's Global Gateway program, investments in Armenia are expected to reach €2.5 billion. A further €3 billion is earmarked specifically for the Middle Corridor – the trade route that runs from China across Central Asia, over the Caspian Sea, through the South Caucasus, and into Europe. “We will support your integration into key transport networks like the Trans-Caspian Corridor. It is a route that is also of strategic importance for Europe, given the growing flows of trade between our two regions,” von der Leyen stated. A Route That Is Already Moving Fast The Middle Corridor, formally known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), has grown at a pace that few predicted. Cargo volumes rose 70 percent in the first nine months of 2024 alone, reaching 3.4 million tons. By the end of that year, the total had climbed to 4.1 million tons – up from just 350,000 tons in 2021. The World Bank projects that the route could handle up to 11 million tonnes a year by 2030. It's important to maintain some perspective. These numbers are small fry when compared to the billions of tons of trade that moves between Europe and Asia by sea. However, the Middle Corridor does offer important diversification, particularly given the spillover effects of wars in the Middle East and piracy in the Red Sea. [caption id="attachment_48602" align="aligncenter" width="1274"] Image: Trans Caspian International Transport Route and it’s southern part, China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project. Source: middlecorridor.com[/caption] Where Uzbekistan Stands For Uzbekistan, the Middle Corridor is both an opportunity and a work in progress. In January 2025, President Mirziyoyev signed a decree to upgrade road and rail connectivity, and in September 2024, Tashkent co-founded the Eurasian Transport Route Association alongside Austria, Azerbaijan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkey. In December 2024, Uzbekistan sent its first block train all the way to Brazil – through Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and the Georgian port of Poti – proving the route is operationally viable. But costs remain a challenge. Shipping a 40-foot container via the Middle Corridor currently costs between $3,500 and $4,500, compared to $2,800–$3,200 on the Northern Corridor through Russia. Europe, meanwhile, accounts for only around 3 percent of Uzbekistan's exports and 13 percent of its imports — a share that Tashkent wants to grow significantly. The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway — a $8 billion, 573-kilometre project whose...

2 months ago

Champions League

Kairat Fall In the Champions League but New-Look Kazakh Football Is on the Up

On a chilly Wednesday evening in London, Kairat Almaty’s debut season in the UEFA Champions League ended with a 3-2 loss to English league leaders Arsenal. It completed a drawn-out baptism of fire in European football for the Kazakh champions, who finished bottom of the 36-team league, earning just one point from eight games. That point came from a 0-0 draw at home to Cypriot club Pafos, also debutants in the competition, and who played almost that entire game with ten men after their striker Joao Correia was sent off in the fourth minute. “We clearly see the difference in speed, decision-making, pace, and level between top European clubs and those in our league,” the club’s owner, Kairat Boranbaev, told The Times of Central Asia in the build-up to the Arsenal match. “It became clear that European success isn’t a one-season undertaking.” The club’s fans were also sober in their analysis. “The main lesson is that even small mistakes are costly in European competitions,” Kairat fan Rauan Mutair told TCA. [caption id="attachment_42912" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Kairat in the second qualifying round of the Champions League; image: Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] Silver Linings Playbook Nevertheless, Boranbaev was determined to take positives from the experience. He described the campaign as “a crucial moment in Kairat’s growth as a club,” and declared that his team “not only participated but were competitive.” He saw the campaign as a vindication of the Kairat model, which focuses on developing youth players. Now, he believes, that model needs “acceleration and scaling.” Despite the defeats, the competition has also served to raise the profile of Kazakh football. Kairat were just the second Kazakh side to compete in the competition after FC Astana in 2015, and they produced creditable displays in their highest profile away games, losing by just one goal to Arsenal and Milan’s Internazionale. Back home, even the least likely bars and restaurants screened Kairat’s games, creating a wave of excitement amongst a new cohort of fans. [caption id="attachment_42911" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Kairat has seen packed attendances for both its league and Champions League games this season; image: Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] New Signings Kairat’s campaign is not the only tailwind for Kazakh football. The domestic season will start in March, and the Kazakh league’s profile has been given a further boost after two high-profile signings this week. The first of these was Luis Nani, the former Manchester United winger, who has joined FK Aktobe. The following day, Kaysar Kyzylorda made an even more unlikely splash by signing Victor Moses, once of Chelsea. Earlier in their careers, the pair gained fame as regulars in the English Premier League. While neither was a superstar, both were part of the furniture of the competition, the type of player known as a “Barclaysman” to nostalgic fans. Nani initially struggled to stand out in a Manchester United side that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and a silvery Ryan Giggs, but he nevertheless became a key part of title-winning sides in 2011 and 2013....

5 months ago

Education and Culture

The Battle to Keep Kazakhstan Reading

Mika’s Books and Pencils was a hole-in-the-wall bookstore in Almaty, but in December 2025, it was forced to vacate its former premises in the center of the city. “The rent was simply too high,” the store’s owner, Elmira Kireyeva, told The Times of Central Asia. Mika’s is not Kazakhstan’s only struggling bookseller. Kireyeva describes the situation for bookstores across the country as “extremely difficult,” even for the large chains. Physical bookstores are firstly threatened by the growth of e-commerce. In 2024, Kazakhstanis purchased over 2.3 million books on Wildberries, a Russian site similar to Amazon. This represented a 52% increase from 2023. But the economic situation is also having an effect. “Taxes have increased, including VAT on books. At the same time, people’s incomes are shrinking, so books are becoming a luxury,” Kireyeva said, noting that books are often printed abroad, which has seen them become a victim of the falling purchasing power of the national currency, the tenge. More worryingly for booksellers is that people are reading less than they once did. This is part of a global phenomenon, particularly among the young. A large share of undergraduate students in the United States claim to have never read a book. British historian Sir Niall Ferguson has recently argued that this decline is evident across the West, while the number of Russians who read at least once a week fell from 49% to 28% between 1994 and 2019. Many believe technology is to blame. “In the age of social media, human attention faces unprecedented competition,” Shyngys Muqan, founder of Mazmundama, a Kazakh-language publisher, told TCA. “Platforms built around short-form video are especially effective because they exploit a basic neurological tendency: the pursuit of dopamine with minimal cognitive effort. Compared to reading, scrolling requires little concentration, imagination, or sustained mental work, yet it delivers immediate emotional reward.” Kireyeva agrees that screens have certainly had an effect. “It’s not just phones; it’s also information overload. People can’t read long texts anymore – social media has trained us to read only short fragments,” she said. [caption id="attachment_42613" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] The classic literature section in Meloman, one of Kazakhstan's largest book chains; image: Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] Kazakhstan has been affected worse than most. According to CEOWorld’s Book Reading Index 2024, Kazakhstanis read less than almost every country in the world. Of the 102 countries surveyed, Kazakhstan ranked 95th, with the average Kazakhstani reading just 2.77 books a year. This was behind every other Central Asian country surveyed (Kyrgyzstan – 3.96; Turkmenistan – 3.18; Tajikistan – 4.01), and far behind Russia (11). The results led one local newspaper to quip that, at this rate, it would take the average Kazakhstani 2.5 years to read the entire Harry Potter series. There are various structural factors which make Kazakhstan a particularly barren zone for readers. The first is geography – people in rural areas are very poorly served, and library collections are small. While Almaty residents spend an average of 2,300 tenge ($4.50) per family per quarter...

6 months ago

Media

Nomad TV: Russia’s Latest Media Venture in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has a new TV station. At first glance, it’s the kind of cozy, local news channel satirized in 2004’s Anchorman. The headline item on December 10th was the fact that it had snowed in Bishkek, with the on-screen reporter treading around the city asking residents whether they felt cold. “Not really,” is the general response, given that plummeting temperatures are hardly a new phenomenon in the Kyrgyz capital. “What kind of precautions did you take against the weather?” the reporter asks one gentleman. “Put on a hat and gloves,” comes the droll reply. This piece is followed by an interview with a representative of the city’s police service, advising people to tread carefully on the icy pavements. Similar soft news items follow: an interview on the progress of Asman eco-city on Lake Issyk Kul; the modernization of a factory in Bishkek; and the announcement of a new coach for the national football team. These are hardly stories to make waves. Indeed, most people in Bishkek are unaware of the new channel’s existence. “It hasn't been a major discussion point; the only presence that I felt is this huge, green box that has been installed on the central square,” Nurbek Bekmurzaev, the Central Asian editor of Global Voices, told The Times of Central Asia, referring to the broadcaster’s temporary studio at the heart of the city. Yet Nomad is one of the best-funded media outfits in the country, offering salaries twice as high as those paid by rival organizations. And, in one form or another, it seems clear that the money is coming from the Russian state. So why has the Kremlin, which is hardly underrepresented in Kyrgyzstan’s media sphere, decided to throw such sums at a local news station? [caption id="attachment_40853" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Nomad TV’s temporary studio on Ala-Too square in the heart of Bishkek; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] A Bold Start Nomad’s initial coverage was not so banal. On November 23, the channel began broadcasting with a cascade of high-profile interviews linked to Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kyrgyzstan on November 25-27. This followed a lavish launch ceremony at the city’s opera house, attended by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, and the Kyrgyz deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov. Putin himself lauded the new channel in his speech on November 26, and gave its chief editor, Natalia Korolevich, an exclusive interview the following day. This followed a feverish autumn, which the broadcaster had spent poaching talent from newsrooms around Bishkek. This included Mirbek Moldabekov, a veteran broadcaster from the state television channel, UTRK; the head of Sputnik in Kyrgyzstan, Erkin Alimbekov; and his wife, Svetlana Akmatalieva, a journalist from the National TV and Radio Corporation. The channel’s producer is Anna Abakumova, a former RT journalist who gained fame reporting from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. These aggressive recruitment tactics have split the profession in Kyrgyzstan. Journalist Adil Turdukolov asserted in an interview with Exclusive.kz that anyone who has chosen to work for Nomad “is not particularly concerned with...

7 months ago

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