Our People > Vagit Ismailov

Vagit Ismailov

Journalist

Vagit Ismailov is a Kazakhstani journalist. He has worked in leading regional and national publications.

Articles

Tajikistan-UK Education Cooperation

Tajikistan and UK Expand Cooperation in Education and Science

Tajikistan and the United Kingdom intend to expand cooperation in education, science, and specialist training. These issues were discussed by Tajikistan’s Minister of Education and Science Rahim Saidzoda and the UK ambassador to Dushanbe, Katherine Smitton, Avesta.tj reported. Representatives of the British Embassy and officials from Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education and Science also attended the meeting. The ministry’s press service described a memorandum of understanding as a key step in expanding the partnership. The agreement is between Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education and Science and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It was signed in London on February 26, 2026. It provides for cooperation in science and higher education, including English for Specific Purposes. The ministry said the agreement covers student and faculty exchanges and joint research. It also includes English-language teaching and digital technologies in education. The two sides discussed closer ties between universities in Tajikistan and UK institutions. They discussed links with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Cooperation with the University of Westminster and the British Council was also raised. The participants reviewed Tajikistan’s delegation’s participation in the Education World Forum 2026 in London. The talks also covered opening a branch or representative office of a leading UK university in Tajikistan. They discussed joint educational programs and dual degrees. Other topics included artificial intelligence in education and inclusive education. The participants said they would continue academic exchanges and improve education quality assessment systems. They also discussed research and innovation cooperation. Smitton said the UK was ready to continue supporting joint projects in education and scientific research, including English-language teaching. She also praised education reforms in Tajikistan.

11 hours ago

School Development Project

Tajikistan to Receive $20 Million Kuwait Fund Loan for Schools

Tajikistan will receive concessional financing equivalent to about $20 million from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to implement an education-sector project. The funds will be used to build and equip schools in different regions of the country. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Finance, the agreement was signed in Vienna during a meeting between Finance Minister Faiziddin Qahhorzoda and Waleed Al-Bahar, acting director general of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The parties signed a loan agreement for the School Development project, under which the fund will provide Tajikistan with a concessional loan of 6 million Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to about $20 million. Additional financing of $4.5 million will be provided by the Government of Tajikistan. According to the Finance Ministry, the authorities expect the project to expand educational infrastructure and improve the quality of general education as the number of schoolchildren grows. The program includes the construction of new facilities and the provision of equipment for schools in a number of cities and districts across the country. In recent years, Tajikistan has sought international concessional financing for social infrastructure, including education and healthcare. It has also drawn financing for public utilities.

1 day ago

Remittances

Kazakhstan Remains Far Less Remittance-Dependent Than Its Neighbors

Money transfers from abroad play very different roles in different economies. In some countries, funds sent by labor migrants are a key source of household income. In Kazakhstan, however, their impact remains minimal. That is the conclusion reached by analysts at Finprom.kz. According to the study, the volume of international money transfers through remittance systems in Kazakhstan continues to decline. In January-April 2026, around $376.3 million was sent abroad from Kazakhstan, compared with $388.8 million in the same period last year. Inflows from other countries also decreased, from $138.2 million to $128.8 million. Kazakhstan has traditionally sent significantly more money abroad than it receives. In the first four months of this year, outgoing transfers were almost three times higher than incoming transfers. This trend has persisted for many years and indicates that remittance inflows do not have a significant impact on the country’s economy. Russia remains the main destination for outgoing transfers. From January to April, around $162.2 million was sent there, compared with $135.7 million a year earlier. It was followed by Uzbekistan with $66.5 million and Turkey with $63.9 million. Among the countries from which Kazakhstan receives the largest amount of money, Russia also ranks first with $29 million. The U.S. follows with $21.6 million, and Turkey with $16.5 million. Another $13.7 million came from Uzbekistan. Analysts say the dynamics of transfers between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are particularly illustrative. In January-April this year, the volume of transfers from Kazakhstan to the neighboring country was almost five times higher than the reverse flow. This pattern has been observed for many years. For comparison, in the same period of 2015, around $23.1 million was sent from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, while only $4.9 million came in the opposite direction. In 2021, the figures stood at $114.5 million and $33.3 million, respectively. The money-transfer data covers remittance systems, while the World Bank’s GDP comparison uses the broader category of personal remittances received. Both measures point to the same conclusion: Kazakhstan is not structurally dependent on remittance inflows. Comparing the role of remittances in different economies reveals an even sharper contrast. According to World Bank data, remittance inflows worldwide averaged 0.8% of GDP in 2024. Tajikistan was the most remittance-dependent country in the World Bank’s 2024 data, with remittances accounting for 47.9% of GDP. High dependence was also seen in Kyrgyzstan at 26.6%, Nepal at 26.2%, and Honduras at 25.7%. Uzbekistan, where remittances accounted for 14.4% of GDP, ranked among the world’s 15 most remittance-dependent countries. Among former Soviet states, only Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan recorded higher levels. Against this backdrop, Kazakhstan stands out as one of the least dependent countries. In 2024, incoming remittances accounted for just 0.1% of GDP. The same figure was recorded in Russia. Compared with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan’s dependence on foreign remittance inflows is dozens of times lower. Long-term statistics also confirm this gap: over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s inbound remittances have consistently remained within the range of 0.1-0.3% of GDP, while in Uzbekistan, the figure rose from 8.4% in...

2 days ago

New Development Bank

Uzbekistan and BRICS New Development Bank Agree on $4.5 Billion Joint Project Portfolio

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held talks with Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank (NDB), who arrived in Tashkent to take part in the Tashkent International Investment Forum. According to Uzbekistan’s presidential press service, Mirziyoyev and Rousseff discussed prospects for expanding cooperation with the NDB, including the implementation of agreements reached during previous negotiations. Rousseff praised Uzbekistan’s economic reforms and said the bank was ready to support the country’s priority socioeconomic development goals. The meeting also covered Uzbekistan’s recent accession to the NDB. Uzbekistan officially became the bank’s 10th shareholder in June 2026 and the first Central Asian country to join the institution. Mirziyoyev and Rousseff agreed to form a medium-term portfolio of joint projects in energy, water management, transport and engineering infrastructure, and support for the private and social sectors. NDB expert missions will help implement the initiatives. In May, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade said a project portfolio worth $4.5 billion had been prepared for financing through the NDB. It includes projects in transport, energy, construction, and industry. In particular, the possibility of attracting funds for the construction of a nuclear power plant is under consideration. The meeting also covered the NDB’s participation in major regional transport and logistics projects, as well as Uzbekistan’s environmental transformation programs. The NDB was created by BRICS countries in 2014. It is one of the main financial institutions of the Global South. The bank holds an AA+ credit rating and is developing alternative financial mechanisms, including settlements in national currencies. According to the presidential press service, Uzbekistan’s accession to the NDB will help diversify sources of external financing and attract concessional investment for economic modernization.

3 days ago

Women's rights

Dushanbe Opens Criminal Cases Over Underage Marriage in Tajikistan

The authorities in Tajikistan have reported several cases involving the marriage of underage girls, with criminal cases opened in Dushanbe since the beginning of the year over violations of the country’s legal marriage age. According to the Dushanbe branch of the Interior Ministry, law enforcement agencies have identified five cases this year in which parents arranged marriages for their underage daughters. Criminal investigations have been launched in all cases, and inquiries are ongoing. Officials reminded the public that under Article 13 of Tajikistan’s Family Code, the legal age for marriage is 18. The only exception is by court decision, which may lower the marriage age by no more than one year. Despite these restrictions, the authorities say some parents continue to knowingly violate the law by marrying off their daughters before they reach the legal age. The Interior Ministry also stressed that criminal liability applies not only to parents and intermediaries, but also to those who conduct underage marriage ceremonies and to adults entering into marriage with minors. Separately, Dushanbe authorities have registered nine cases under Article 169, which covers marriage with a person below the legal marriage age. Criminal proceedings have been opened in all of them. Police have urged citizens to comply with the law and to respect the rights and legal interests of girls when arranging marriages. Under Article 168 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, parents, guardians, and other individuals involved in arranging the marriage of a girl below the legal marriage age can face criminal liability. The law provides for corrective labor for up to two years or restriction of liberty for up to five years. Article 169 covers entering into marriage with a minor or actual cohabitation in such a union. Punishment includes fines ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 calculation units, depending on the annual rate set by the government, or corrective labor for up to two years.

3 days 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.

6 days ago

Saddam Gulamov

Russian Diplomats Report No Complaints From Imprisoned Turkmen Activist Saddam Gulamov

Russian embassy officials in Turkmenistan have visited activist Saddam Gulamov, who is serving his sentence at the LB-E/12 penal colony in Lebap Region. Gulamov was said to have described his detention conditions and food as acceptable, and his health as satisfactory, according to a letter sent by Kamil Magomedov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Third CIS Department, to Gulamov’s relatives. According to the document, Russian diplomats met Gulamov in person at the correctional facility in late May. The letter states that during the conversation, Gulamov described his detention conditions and food as acceptable, and said his health was satisfactory. Embassy staff also reported that they had observed no visible signs of health problems. The letter notes, however, that Gulamov intends to file a petition seeking changes to the conditions of his imprisonment. Other inmates at the LB-E/12 colony had earlier told Turkmen.news that, at least until autumn 2025, Gulamov had been held continuously in a disciplinary isolation cell. According to their accounts, the prolonged isolation negatively affected his psychological condition. There were also reports of several suicide attempts. Previously published documents show that Gulamov, who was extradited from Russia, was sentenced to five years in prison. The ruling was handed down by the Ashgabat City Court on May 13, 2024. Before being returned to Turkmenistan, Gulamov had been wanted in his home country over social media posts in which he criticized the authorities and former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov personally. According to the official wanted persons database, Gulamov was accused of calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and publicly inciting extremist actions through the media. The exact charges under which the final sentence was issued remain unknown. Through Russian embassy staff, Gulamov also informed his relatives that he intends to challenge what he describes as procedural violations with the help of a lawyer. These may concern the circumstances of his arrest and extradition, as well as the trial itself.

7 days ago

Smartphones

Turkmen Schools Introduce New Rules for Smartphone Use

Turkmen authorities have approved new regulations governing the use of personal mobile devices in educational institutions, introducing formal rules for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices used by students and teachers. The document, prepared by the Ministry of Education, outlines how digital devices may be used in the learning process. Under the new rules, such technology may serve as a source of information and be used to access electronic libraries, educational platforms, and distance-learning tools. Schools have been assigned a number of responsibilities. Educational institutions must ensure access to essential digital services, specialized software, and data networks. They are also required to train staff in the use of modern technologies and provide students with methodological support in configuring devices for academic purposes. A separate section of the regulations addresses digital discipline and safety. Students are required to use devices exclusively for educational purposes and only with a teacher’s permission. During lessons, devices must be switched to silent or airplane mode. The document also prohibits taking photos or videos of participants in the educational process without their consent. The document says the new measures are intended to strengthen preventive work with students and parents, with a focus on protecting children’s moral and physical well-being. Oversight of compliance with the new regulations has been assigned to the relevant departments of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education.

7 days ago

Public health

Tajikistan Shuts Down Counterfeit Children’s Medicines Operation

Law enforcement authorities in Dushanbe have shut down an underground operation that allegedly produced counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including medicines intended for children. According to the Dushanbe police department, the seized products included syrups sold under well-known brands including Nurofen, Paracetamol, Lazolvan, Theraflu, and others. Authorities said the products were manufactured in unsanitary conditions and distributed with falsified branding. During searches, police confiscated around 35,900 bottles of syrup, more than 405,000 packages and labels, over 600 kilograms of raw materials, and equipment allegedly used in the production process. A 42-year-old Dushanbe resident, Otabek Dadachonov, has been detained on suspicion of organizing the illegal operation. The Interior Ministry said he had previously been convicted of several economic crimes. Several alleged accomplices were also detained and are accused of helping produce packaging and distribute the counterfeit medicines. Investigators said the group operated through officially registered companies but did not have the licenses required to carry out pharmaceutical activity. Dushanbe police warned that the distribution of such counterfeit medicines could pose a serious threat to public health, especially for children. A criminal case has been opened under several articles of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code. The investigation is ongoing.

1 week ago

Forced Labor

ILO Urges Turkmenistan to Abolish Cotton Quota System

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has again criticized Turkmenistan over the continued use of forced labor in its cotton sector, calling on the country to dismantle its state-imposed cotton quota system and submit a detailed progress report by September 1. The call followed discussions at the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, where the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards reviewed Turkmenistan’s compliance with Convention No. 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labour. This was the fifth time Turkmenistan’s implementation of the convention had been examined by the committee. The country ratified the convention in 1997, but concerns persist over the mobilization of public-sector employees for the annual cotton harvest. Turkmenistan’s delegation was led by Khalbibi Tachjanova, deputy minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population, who reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the convention and outlined reforms introduced in recent years. Tachjanova cited amendments to the Labor Code imposing a full ban on child and forced labor, as well as a draft presidential decree intended to explicitly prohibit any form of coercion during the cotton harvest. According to Tachjanova, labor inspectors carried out 3,867 inspections in 2025, identifying violations in 2,352 cases and imposing 3,040 administrative sanctions. She also said wages in the sector had doubled between 2023 and 2024 as part of the reforms. Yusup Gylychdurdiyev, a senior official from the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, spoke for employers. He said the country’s 340 dehkan farmer associations were gradually moving into private management structures and argued that private businesses lacked the administrative tools to coerce workers. Mekan Ovezov of the National Trade Union Center spoke for workers and cited cooperation between trade unions, government agencies, employers, and the ILO, as well as training and labor rights programs. However, labor and employer representatives on the ILO committee gave a far more critical assessment. Canadian labor lawyer Jackie VanDerMeulen, speaking for employer members, noted that the ILO had already issued observations on Turkmenistan’s cotton sector nine times. She said that despite some positive changes, the 2025 monitoring results showed serious violations remain. Stephen Russell, representing the United Kingdom’s Trades Union Congress, said labor rights abuses persist and pointed to the lack of independent public monitoring mechanisms and the absence of independent trade unions in the country. The findings show that Turkmenistan remains under international scrutiny over one of its most important export industries. Observers continue to call for changes in a sector long associated with state-driven labor mobilization.

1 week ago

1 2 3 … 92 Next