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Jonathan Campion

Senior Editor

Jonathan Campion has worked in the Eurasia region since 2007. After leaving Exeter University with a degree in Russian Language, he worked as a writer, editor, analyst and translator for international law firms, market research firms and business forums serving the CIS region's major industries.

With a passion for Central Asia, he has covered the region in esteemed publications such as the Lonely Planet, Open Central Asia magazine, and National Geographic Traveler.

Jonathan's first book, about a sports team from the Eurasia region, was shortlisted at the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards in 2025.

Articles

Finance

Uzbekistan’s Central Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Reforms and Free Exchange Rate

Uzbekistan’s central bank has reiterated that the som’s exchange rate will be left to market forces, arguing that a 'free float' is key to its inflation-targeting framework. In a statement released this month, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan said the exchange rate should be treated as an indicator, not a policy target. Attempts to hold the currency at a chosen point, it warned, can build pressure that later unwinds in sharper moves. Any foreign exchange operations, it added, would be aimed at smoothing excessive, short-term volatility, rather than steering the market. The stance continues a shift that began with the 2017 liberalisation of the currency market, which gave more access to foreign exchange, and narrowed the gap between official and black market rates. Recent fluctuations in the som have been closely watched. An earlier report on why the som has held up at times pointed to remittance inflows, export earnings and a tighter domestic monetary stance. Uzbekistan adopted inflation targeting in 2020, using the policy rate as its main lever. The central bank has kept the key rate at 14% since December 2025. It is due to review it again on January 28. In its monetary policy guidelines for 2026–2028, the bank projects headline inflation easing to about 7% by the end of 2026 and returning to a 5% medium-term target in 2027, assuming monetary conditions remain restrictive, and external price pressures fade. A floating rate can cushion swings in commodity prices, remittances and trading partner demand. But it also passes currency shifts more directly into the cost of dollar-priced imports, from consumer goods to industrial inputs. That risk is heightened when energy shortages and higher fuel costs feed broader price pressures, as described in coverage of the region’s growing energy deficit. International lenders have broadly backed Uzbekistan’s direction, while urging deeper reforms. In late 2025, the IMF welcomed greater exchange-rate flexibility and called for continued structural changes, according to its latest review.

2 months ago

Intellectual Property Rights

American Scholar Mark Reese Fights Intellectual Property Theft of Uzbek Classic ‘Bygone Days’

When American scholar Mark Reese set out to share Uzbekistan’s most celebrated novel with the world, he never imagined that his work would be pirated by the very institutions he had hoped to support. Reese, who first came to the country as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1990s, spent more than a decade translating O‘tkan Kunlar (Bygone Days), the seminal 1920s novel by Abdulla Qodiriy. His English edition was a scholarly milestone – the first time the novel, considered Uzbekistan’s literary classic, had been made accessible to English-speaking readers. The book was warmly received. In 2019, Reese was awarded the Uzbek state’s Order of Do‘stlik, or Friendship, for his contribution to cultural understanding. During a follow-up visit the next year, he gave signed copies of the book to universities and ministries across the country. “All parties asked how they could support my work,” he tells The Times of Central Asia. “I presented a copy and explained that they could purchase more at a steep discount.” Each donation came with a clear stipulation: the book was not to be copied, resold, or distributed further. For a time, the project seemed to blossom. Uzbek students used the book in academic papers. One university even adapted it into an English-language stage play. Reese granted permission for such use, as long as it remained non-commercial and he was credited. By 2021, he had entered a publishing partnership in Tashkent and was preparing to distribute 5,000 official copies in 2026. Agreements to publish in Turkey and Qatar were also underway. Then, quietly, the book escaped his hands. Reese learned from students in the Ferghana Valley that a full PDF of the translation had been uploaded to the Telegram channel of a university library. When he opened the file, he recognized something chilling – his own handwriting on the inside cover. The scan had been made from a gifted copy. It was high-resolution and clearly done using professional equipment. The source of the leak soon became clear. The rector of Uzbekistan’s State World Languages University, known locally as Jahon Tilli, confirmed in an interview that his vice rector had scanned the book as part of a digitisation initiative. “They did so without my permission,” Reese said. “And the file was then shared with 1.3 million university students and 6.3 million school students.” The book was everywhere – on servers, in group chats, on flash drives. In at least one case, students tried to send the file to a printer and sell it. Reese took the case to court. The verdict was in his favour: the court ruled that copyright theft had occurred. But instead of holding the university responsible, the judge placed the blame squarely on the vice rector. Reese believes this was a calculated move. “It’s a common ploy to reduce damages,” he said. “I’m now expected to sue the individual for up to $30,000, but courts usually award just 20 to 40 percent of that.” This, for Reese, is the deeper problem. There...

2 months ago

News Round-Up

Recent Stories From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Hydropower strain returns as rationing tightens A dry autumn has translated into a difficult start to winter for Tajikistan’s electricity system, with renewed restrictions tied to low reservoir levels. A recent Reuters report on rationing described a drop in water levels feeding the country’s hydropower fleet, with the reservoir at Nurek, the backbone of generation, reported to be substantially below the same point last year. The measures announced go beyond household inconvenience: restrictions have been accompanied by reduced lighting and tighter electricity allocations for public institutions, while officials explore imports and balancing arrangements with neighbors. Rogun’s mitigation narrative hardens as oversight grows The Rogun hydropower project remains the long-term answer Dushanbe puts forward for these seasonal crunches, and also the project that draws the most intense international scrutiny. The Times of Central Asia’s coverage of Rogun’s environmental planning highlighted a shift in framing: a “no net loss” biodiversity approach, built around compensatory habitat restoration exceeding the estimated footprint of land losses. That messaging is designed to reassure lenders and stakeholders that the dam’s scale will be matched by formal safeguards, and to keep financing pathways open at a time when environmental and social governance has become central to major infrastructure underwriting. But “no net loss” is also an invitation for closer measurement, and criticism has increasingly focused on whether offsets can meaningfully address river-system impacts, not only terrestrial habitat. Advocacy briefs circulating around Rogun argue that aquatic biodiversity mitigation and downstream ecological risk remain the hardest pieces to quantify and enforce, especially on long timelines where implementation phases stretch years beyond core construction. In other words, Rogun’s external story is evolving: it is no longer only about generating electricity and exporting surplus. It is also about whether international standards can be applied credibly to a project of this size — and whether promised safeguards hold up under cross-border water politics and long-term monitoring. A border-security story triggers a rare media confrontation If energy is the long-term strategic theme, border security remains the most sensitive. That sensitivity spilled into public view after a Reuters dispatch on alleged Tajik–Russian border talks suggested Dushanbe was considering deeper cooperation with Moscow and the CSTO for monitoring the Afghan frontier. Tajikistan’s response was unusually direct. In a sharply worded statement reported by Eurasianet’s account of the dispute, the Foreign Ministry said the report “does not correspond to reality” and insisted the border situation was under national control. Shortly afterwards, The Times of Central Asia’s report on Reuters withdrawing the story underscored how rare it is for a major international outlet to retract a piece following an official denial in the region. For Western governments, the episode illustrates how the Afghan border remains a geopolitical pressure valve, and how carefully Dushanbe manages the optics of any foreign military footprint, particularly at a time when Russia’s regional role is politically charged and China’s security profile is rising. Land degradation moves from “environmental” to “economic risk” Finally, an issue that has long sat in the “environment” column is...

2 months ago

Science

Astana Student’s Horse Milk Video Makes Finals of “Breakthrough” Science Contest

Another Kazakh scientist received an accolade this month, after 17-year-old Tomiris Abylkairova from Astana was voted into the final 16 of the prestigious international Breakthrough Junior Challenge. The Breakthrough contest, an initiative of the Breakthrough Challenge Foundation in the United States, is a global science competition for young people aged 13-18. Held for the last 11 years, students are invited to create videos of up to two minutes in length that explain a particular concept or theory in the area of life sciences, physics or mathematics. Abylkairova’s video has a Kazakh flavor, quite literally, as she uses her two minutes to discuss how fermented foods such as kymyz (horse’s milk) influence gene regulation. Her animated video was among the top 16 in a public vote, sending her to the finals after receiving a high number of “likes” on the event website. Collectively, the 30 submitted videos were viewed more than 300,000 times. Abylkairova, a student at Haileybury Astana School who also competes in national fencing championships, commented: “Representing Kazakhstan internationally is both an honor and a responsibility. For me it’s a chance to contribute to my country’s intellectual, scientific, and cultural legacy while engaging in meaningful global dialogue and research.” She added: “I’m proud to help demonstrate that young people from Kazakhstan can make impactful, long-term contributions to the global scientific community". Isabella Leonel Lelles, also 17, from Brazil, was the overall top scorer in the popular vote, with more than 66,000 likes for her video on the protein folding problem. The videos of the 16 finalists will now be reviewed by a Selection Committee of esteemed figures in American science. It has not yet been announce when the committee will select the overall winner. The winning entry will receive $400,000, with the victorious student being awarded $250,000 in educational prizes. Past Breakthrough Junior Challenge winners have come from Canada, India, Mauritius, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States. Alumni have gone on to attend institutions including MIT, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. All videos, including Abylkairova's, can be viewed on the Breakthrough Junior Challenge’s website.

3 months ago

News Round-Up

Hydropower, Social Media and Climate Change: Some News From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Drought Triggers Power Rationing at Nurek Hydro Station In early December, the Tajik government reintroduced electricity rationing after reservoir levels at the Nurek Hydroelectric Power Station fell sharply, due to an unusually dry autumn. The station normally supplies around 70% of the national grid, but current water levels are significantly below last year’s benchmark, affecting both domestic consumption and exports. According to Reuters, water levels have dropped more than three meters in the past month. With shortages now affecting many regions, authorities have ordered public buildings to cut electricity outside of working hours and have switched off most street lighting. Tajikistan is seeking emergency imports from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to stabilize supply. The crisis highlights vulnerabilities in a system dominated by hydropower. While Tajikistan has invested heavily in modernizing Nurek and other plants to improve winter reliability, lower precipitation remains a persistent threat. For regional energy markets, particularly those looking at cross-border electricity trade, the situation demonstrates how even large renewable systems are becoming more unpredictable under climate stress. Rogun: Progress, Profits, and Persistent Disputes Ambition continues to define the Rogun hydropower project, intended to make Tajikistan a top electricity exporter in the Eurasia region. With a projected capacity of 3,780 MW, Rogun is designed to host the world’s tallest dam. Financing momentum is building: the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has launched a $500 million multi-phase initiative, and Tajikistan has signed an energy-sale agreement with Uzbekistan at 3.4 US cents per kWh, paving the way for long-term regional integration. But Rogun’s size continues to attract scrutiny, especially downstream. An investigation has been approved by the World Bank’s Inspection Panel into claims from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan that altered flows on the Amu Darya river could damage farmland and ecosystems. The project’s social footprint is also expanding, with resettlement estimates reaching as high as 60,000 people. Development banks have slowed some financing, pending stricter environmental and regional safeguards. Local environmental researchers and activists argue that international oversight is still insufficient, warning that the cumulative ecological impact of Central Asian dam-building could become irreversible if accountability is delayed. Digital “Likes” Decriminalised, But Restrictions Remain President Emomali Rahmon has signed amendments to remove criminal penalties for “liking” or otherwise reacting to online content labelled as "extremist". Under previous legislation, social media users could face up to 15 years in prison for interacting with banned material. More than 1,500 people have been prosecuted under those rules, according to Reuters. The government presented the reform as a correction of overly zealous enforcement, following Rahmon’s public criticism of harsh prosecutions. Yet rights monitors see only minimal change. The latest Human Rights Watch report on Tajikistan notes a continued clampdown on media, opposition figures and citizen journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Tajikistan among the most restrictive media environments in Eurasia. European officials have echoed these concerns. An OSCE-backed statement by European embassies denounced the opaque eight-year treason conviction of journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, reportedly linked to analysis of Chinese policy. For many observers, the relaxed online...

3 months ago

Legislation

Uzbekistan Brings Home Citizens Convicted Abroad

On August 13, Uzbekistan amended its Code of Criminal Procedure to compel Uzbekistan's citizens who have been imprisoned for crimes in certain foreign countries to serve the rest of their sentences in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has so far signed agreements with only 10 countries for imprisoned persons to be transferred to prisons in Uzbekistan to continue serving their sentences. According to Sherzod Tokhtashev, a politician from the government-aligned Miliy Tiklanish (National Revival) party, this law does not concern Uzbeks currently imprisoned in Russia. He did however mention that there are separate appeals in parliament to return Uzbek nationals convicted of crimes in Russia to domestic jails. At the same time, there are also calls for these prisoners' families to be brought home. “We receive requests to return children and relatives of Uzbeks from Russian prisons to Uzbekistan. Due to the lack of an agreement with Russia on the exchange of prisoners, everyone is helpless,” said Tokhtashev. According to Uzbek government, 20 citizens of Uzbekistan are currently serving terms in Italy, 250 in Turkey, and more than 450 in Kazakhstan.

2 years ago

Ecology

Bishkek’s Iconic Elm and Poplar Trees Suffering From Beetle Infestation

The larvae of the longhorn beetle (Aeolesthes sarta), commonly known as the woodcutter beetle, are destroying green spaces in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. The beetle appeared in the city ten years ago, but biologists have explained that its population has recently increased to worrying levels. The situation is being aggravated by the shortage of irrigation water in Bishkek, a result of faulty irrigation facilities. Trees in the capital are beginning to dry out, and their immunity to the effects of larvae infestation is weakening. The longhorn beetle lays its larvae in the bark of a tree, and as it matures, it eats the tree from the inside. The larvae's favorite trees, the elm and poplar, are the most common trees in Bishkek. Unlike other pests, the beetle cannot be irradicated with chemical treatments. Infested spaces must be destroyed completely. The Bishkek Zelenkhoz municipal enterprise, responsible for maintaining the city's green spaces, has reported that 90% of all adult elm trees and half of all poplars in the capital have become infected with longhorn beetle larvae. "Trees with signs of infestation remain green, and do not die immediately. After a while, the top dries up, and then the entire trunk follows. The death process takes about five years," Yuri Borvinok, head of the laboratory for woody and bush plants at the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, told The Times of Central Asia. Kyrgyz authorities are having difficulty controlling pests because of current laws. In Kyrgyzstan's populated areas, chemical treatment of greenery is prohibited to prevent harm to people, and burning plant debris such as leaves and branches is also forbidden. "When we used to burn plants and foliage, these measures deterred the miner moth, woodcutter beetles, and other pests; today, nothing prevents the mass spread of beetles," Borvinok said. Municipal officials are looking for an effective method to control the beetles. "Some trees we cut down, take out of town, and burn there. In addition to the elm trees, the woodcutter attacks poplars. There is a danger that it will move to other trees. This beetle can not be taken down by anything. That's why we are planting new species, linden, maple, and acacia," said Zhanybek Zhumaliyev, head of the Zelenkhoz enterprise's planning department.

2 years ago