Our People > Vagit Ismailov

Vagit Ismailov

Journalist

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

Articles

Turkic States Focus on AI and Trade at Kazakhstan Summit

Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are holding an informal summit in the city of Turkistan, focused on artificial intelligence, digitalization, and economic integration, as Central Asia gains importance as an alternative trade corridor between Europe and China. The meeting brings together the leaders of Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with representatives of observer states. Discussions are centered on digital platforms, joint AI projects, transport corridors, and industrial cooperation. The summit comes amid rapid growth of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, which links China and Europe through Central Asia and the Caucasus while bypassing Russia. According to analysts in Kazakhstan, cargo volumes along the route reached 3.3 million tons in 2024, almost six times the 2021 level. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Astana on a state visit ahead of the summit and held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “Kazakhstan and Turkey are connected by enduring friendship, brotherhood, and eternal partnership,” Tokayev said following the meeting. Erdoğan thanked Kazakhstan for the reception and highlighted the escort provided by Kazakh military fighter jets after his aircraft entered the country’s airspace. According to participants at the OTS business forum, the combined GDP of member states exceeds $2.1 trillion, while their total population stands at 178 million people. Despite increasing political coordination, trade between OTS countries still accounts for only around 7% of their total foreign trade turnover, leaving considerable room for deeper economic integration, analysts say. OTS member states are increasingly seeking to expand cooperation beyond cultural and political ties by focusing on logistics, the digital economy, and joint investment projects. Kazakhstan views the organization as one of the instruments for diversifying its foreign economic relations and expanding its role as a transit hub between Asia and Europe.

1 day ago

Pension

Tajikistan Pension Payments Suspended For 14,000 People Over Biometric Identification Rules

Authorities in Tajikistan have temporarily suspended pension payments to more than 14,000 people who failed to complete mandatory biometric identification procedures, according to the country’s Agency for Social Insurance and Pensions. The agency said that 14,022 pensioners did not complete the required re-registration process, resulting in the temporary suspension of transfers to their bank cards. Officials did not specify exactly when the payments were blocked. The pension re-registration campaign began in Tajikistan in the second half of November 2025 and was scheduled to conclude by the end of March this year. To complete the process, pensioners are required to appear in person at agency offices with identification documents. Verification is conducted through a Face ID system using mobile phones, while personal data and photographs are stored in a digital database. A source within the pension agency said the suspended payments affect both pensioners residing in Tajikistan and citizens currently living abroad. Authorities say pension payments will be fully restored once individuals complete the identification process, with all unpaid amounts transferred retroactively from the date payments were suspended. However, the new system has already raised concerns among lawyers and some pensioners, particularly citizens residing outside Tajikistan. In its official response, the agency stressed that personal presence remains mandatory and that representatives acting under a power of attorney cannot complete biometric registration on behalf of pension recipients. Tajik lawyer Khurshed Kurbonshoev argued that the right to social security is guaranteed under the country’s constitution and that existing legislation permits pension payments to be received through authorized representatives. According to Kurbonshoev, the state has the right to introduce additional control mechanisms, including biometric identification, but such measures should not violate constitutional rights. “If citizens living abroad are not provided with a real opportunity to complete re-registration through remote submission of biometric information via consulates and representative offices or through other alternative methods, then suspension of payments, regardless of the existence of a power of attorney, could constitute a disproportionate restriction,” the lawyer said. Kurbonshoev added that in the absence of alternative identification mechanisms, affected citizens may attempt to challenge the suspension of payments through the courts or other state bodies. The re-registration campaign is being conducted under a government protocol adopted on October 31, 2025. According to the pension agency, as of May 1, 2026, a total of 830,907 people had completed the identification process. The average pension in Tajikistan currently stands at around $56 per month. The average labor pension amounts to approximately $71 while social pensions average around $39.

1 day ago

Healthcare

Tajikistan Receives Nearly $1.9 Million in U.S. Medical Equipment

Tajikistan has received nearly $1.9 million worth of medical equipment under a healthcare cooperation program with the United States, with the main focus on improving emergency care, supporting maternity hospitals, and reducing infant mortality. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health, the equipment was delivered as part of the Global Health Supply Chain Program - Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM). The total value of the shipment exceeded $1.87 million. The handover ceremony took place in Dushanbe and was attended by First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Salomuddin Yusufi and Carson Relitz Rocker, chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan. Officials said particular emphasis would be placed on equipping healthcare facilities with oxygen delivery systems and neonatal resuscitation equipment. Authorities expect the new supplies to improve the quality of emergency medical care and reduce health risks for mothers and infants. Part of the equipment has already been installed in five maternity hospitals and 11 additional medical facilities across the country. Representatives of the Health Ministry said the new equipment is especially important for intensive care and resuscitation units, where timely oxygen delivery and specialized care directly affect patient survival rates. They described the transfer as another example of long-term U.S. support for Tajikistan’s healthcare system. According to Yusufi, medical cooperation between the U.S. and Tajikistan has continued for many years and spans a wide range of areas, including equipment supplies, efforts to combat infectious diseases, sanitary and epidemiological safety, healthcare infrastructure modernization, and the training of medical personnel. Authorities in Tajikistan also expressed hope for further expansion of cooperation following the signing of a new memorandum of understanding between the country’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan.

2 days ago

Organization of Turkic States

Turkic States to Focus on Artificial Intelligence at Kazakhstan Summit

Kazakhstan will host an informal summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in the city of Turkistan on May 15, where participating leaders are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, digitalization, and expanding economic cooperation. Held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development,” the summit is expected to become one of the largest regional gatherings of Turkic states in 2026. Heads of state and government from member and observer countries, along with the OTS secretary-general, are expected to attend. According to the organization, participants will discuss the use of AI and digital innovation to stimulate economic growth, modernize public services, and improve regional connectivity. The agenda also includes joint initiatives involving Turkic digital platforms. Ahead of the summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey will make a state visit to Astana at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The leaders of Kazakhstan and Turkey are scheduled to hold the sixth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and discuss the development of bilateral relations. In recent years, the OTS has gradually expanded cooperation beyond its traditional political and cultural agenda to include transport corridors, energy, and the digital economy. The summit in Turkistan is expected to represent an effort to shape a common regional agenda in the field of artificial intelligence. The OTS said holding the meeting in Turkistan, described by the organization as the “spiritual capital of the Turkic world”, symbolizes an attempt to combine shared historical heritage with technological modernization across the region. The organization’s members include Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Observer status is held by Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The economic dimension of the summit also remains central. According to Turkish sources, annual trade turnover between Turkey and OTS member states has approached $17 billion. Turkish exports to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan increased from $6.2 billion in 2021 to $10 billion in 2024. During the same period, imports rose from $4.2 billion to $6.5 billion. In 2025, Turkish exports to OTS countries totaled $9.6 billion, while imports reached $7.3 billion. Kazakhstan remains Turkey’s largest export destination among OTS member states, with Turkish exports to the country reaching $3.2 billion. During the first three months of 2026 alone, Turkish exports to Kazakhstan amounted to approximately $700 million. A Turkish-Kazakh business forum is also expected to take place during Erdoğan’s visit to Astana, with participation from business representatives from both countries and Turkey's Trade Minister Ömer Bolat. The forum is expected to focus on expanding trade and investment ties. As preparations for the summit intensify, Kazakhstan has increased security measures. Additional police forces from neighboring regions have reportedly been deployed to Turkistan, while military aviation training flights began in Astana on May 10 ahead of an aerial demonstration scheduled for May 15. Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry said the flights would be conducted at safe altitudes and should not significantly affect daily life in the capital.

3 days ago

Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan Officially Confirms Deportation of Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) has publicly commented for the first time on the deportation of Afghan citizens from the country, citing alleged violations of national law and crimes that the authorities said had sparked public outrage. The statement followed an appeal by Afghan citizen Muhammad Hakim Tursun, who criticized the deportation of his compatriots. In its response, published through the state news agency Khovar, the security service claimed that some Afghan citizens living in Tajikistan had “grossly violated the requirements of the law” despite being provided with conditions for residence, work, and education. To justify the deportations, the agency cited crime statistics that it said involved Afghan citizens and foreign nationals, without clearly explaining the time period covered or how many cases were linked specifically to Afghan refugees in Tajikistan’s Sughd region. According to the GKNB, the authorities recorded 670 cases of illegal drug trafficking, 32 cases involving membership in terrorist organizations, 15 cases of sexual violence against minors, and 594 instances of forged documents being used to obtain refugee status. The security service also reported 45 cases involving the organization of gambling and entertainment establishments and 25 cases related to ties with what it described as “destructive organizations” and attempts to destabilize the situation in the country. Particular attention in the statement was devoted to a high-profile murder case in Khujand. According to the agency, on the evening of April 30, Afghan citizen Rahmoni Muhammadumar allegedly killed local resident Aziza Vokhidova, who, according to authorities, “attempted to defend her honor and dignity.” Earlier, Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry reported the detention of the suspect. In a video released by authorities, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, saying he acted because of “strong sexual attraction” and stabbed the woman multiple times. Following the killing, residents of the Dehmoy jamoat in Jabbor Rasulov district told journalists that their Afghan neighbors had suddenly disappeared. According to witnesses, unidentified individuals transported approximately 200 to 250 refugees away in vehicles on May 4, many of whom had reportedly lived there for years. Until the publication of the GKNB statement, the authorities had not officially confirmed the mass deportation of Afghans. Officials had instead limited themselves to reminding foreigners of the need to comply with migration laws. Tajikistan has previously faced criticism over the forced return of Afghan refugees. In December 2024, UNHCR urged the authorities to halt deportations after at least 41 Afghan citizens, including 37 refugees, were returned without due process. The agency warned that forced returns to Afghanistan could violate international law and place returnees at risk. The security service stressed that more than 10,000 Afghan families who obey Tajik laws continue to reside in the country. The statement also said Tajikistan has served as a “second homeland” for several generations of Afghan citizens over the past 35 years and claimed that the state treats them “impartially.” Nevertheless, the agency emphasized that security concerns remain its top priority.

3 days ago

Middle East Crisis

Central Asia Welcomes Ceasefire, Urges Talks as Energy Risks Persist

Central Asian governments have cautiously welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a necessary pause in a conflict that has already begun to affect regional stability, trade, and energy flows. Across the region, official statements struck a consistent balance: support for the truce, alongside calls to translate it quickly into negotiations rather than allow it to become a temporary pause in hostilities. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the agreement as a “ceasefire and truce” reached through international mediation, including efforts involving Pakistan’s leadership. According to the presidential press service, Tokayev said that “this agreement became possible due to the goodwill and wisdom of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the senior leadership of Iran, as well as all countries involved in the military conflict.” Tokayev went on to express his hope that the agreement would prove sustainable and contribute to global trade and economic stability. Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry described the ceasefire as an “important step toward de-escalating tensions” and stressed that it should serve as a pathway to a broader political settlement. Tashkent called for “all parties to exercise restraint, [and] refrain from actions that could further escalate the situation, warning that further escalation risks widening the conflict and undermining regional stability. The statement reaffirmed Uzbekistan's “unwavering position on the need to resolve conflicts exclusively by peaceful means in strict accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry also welcomed the agreement, expressing hope that the ceasefire would open the way to a comprehensive and long-term peace. Dushanbe emphasized that the conflict has “no military solution and its continuation will only worsen the already difficult situation in the Middle East and cause colossal damage to all countries in the region.” The statement urged all parties to “abandon the use of force” and use political and diplomatic mechanisms in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry said it “welcomes the achievement of a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East,” highlighting the role of Pakistan’s mediation efforts in reducing tensions. Bishkek reaffirmed that disputes must be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, and expressed its “hope for achieving sustainable and long-term peace in the region.” Turkmenistan had not issued an official public statement on the ceasefire at the time of publication, in line with its longstanding policy of neutrality and cautious approach to external conflicts. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also welcomed the “announced ceasefire” and praised the efforts of mediators who helped broker the agreement. Baku called on all parties to “engage in productive dialogue aimed at resolving existing problems and strengthening mutual trust” and signaled its readiness to “support initiatives aimed at strengthening lasting peace, security, and cooperation in the region.” The convergence in tone reflects more than diplomatic routine. The conflict has already spilled into Central Asia’s political and humanitarian agenda, prompting coordination on evacuations, aid deliveries, and contingency planning....

1 month ago

Drone Crash

Repeated Drone Incidents Expose Airspace Risks on Russia–Central Asia Frontier

A new drone-related incident in western Kazakhstan has reinforced a pattern that is becoming harder to dismiss. Police in West Kazakhstan Region confirmed that an object resembling an unmanned aerial vehicle was found in the Akzhayik district near the village of Karaulytobe. Images circulating locally appeared to show a largely intact fixed-wing drone. No casualties or damage were reported. “The object was discovered outside a populated area. All circumstances of the incident are being investigated,” the department said. Reports and images of the object initially circulated on messaging apps before being confirmed by regional authorities. This latest discovery fits a sequence of similar incidents across the same region over the past year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, on March 18, 2025, a drone about three meters long was found near Atameken village in Taskala district, around 60 kilometers from the district center. That case followed another discovery on February 18, 2025, in the Bokeyorda district, where a smaller unidentified object was recovered in a remote area. Within days, further debris was found near the Russian border in Zhanibek district, marking the third such case in a single month. The pattern continued later in the year. On October 23, 2025, a drone of unknown origin exploded near Kyzyltal village in the Burlin district. Residents reported an explosion that damaged rooftops and left a crater near the village, although no casualties were recorded. Authorities opened a criminal case, with the military prosecutor’s office involved alongside police and emergency services. Similar findings have appeared beyond the West Kazakhstan Region. On June 19, 2025, fragments resembling a UAV were found in Mangistau Region near the Bolashak border station. The debris was located in an uninhabited area, and no damage was reported. Taken together, these incidents form a clear geographic cluster along Kazakhstan’s western frontier. Most occurred near the Russian border and in sparsely populated areas. The objects were typically discovered after impact, with no confirmed flight paths or official attribution. Investigations into earlier cases have linked several incidents to areas used for Russian military testing. Western Kazakhstan includes zones connected to long-standing Russian defense activity under bilateral agreements, and parts of the region remain associated with testing operations. This context explains the cautious official response. None of the incidents have been described as attacks, and none have been attributed to a foreign state. At the same time, the repeated discoveries point to a growing exposure that goes beyond routine testing. The wider regional environment has shifted rapidly. The war in Ukraine has driven a sharp expansion in drone use across Eurasia. Both Russia and Ukraine deploy long-range UAVs for reconnaissance and strikes, often over extended distances. Drone activity has already affected infrastructure linked to Kazakhstan’s economy. On February 17, 2025, a drone attack targeted the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar region, part of a key export route for Kazakh oil. Further attacks on offshore loading facilities and terminals continued later in the year, with additional incidents...

2 months ago

Parliamentary Reform

Tokayev Floats Vice President Post at National Kurultai as Kazakhstan Weighs Political Overhaul

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used the fifth session of Kazakhstan’s National Kurultai on January 20 to propose creating a vice president’s post and embedding the new institution in the constitution, as part of a broader package of political reforms aimed at reshaping the country’s system of governance. Under the proposal, the vice president would be appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament by a simple majority vote. The president would define the vice president’s authority, which could include representing Kazakhstan at international forums and negotiations, representing the head of state in parliament, and engaging with domestic and international organizations in political, scientific, cultural, and educational fields. “The establishment of this position will stabilize the process of state governance, and will also bring final clarity regarding the hierarchy of power,” Tokayev said at the Kurultai. Kazakhstan does not currently have a vice president. Executive authority is vested in the presidency, while the government is led by a prime minister, with succession procedures defined by the constitution. Tokayev said the key provisions governing the new post, including its functions, should be enshrined directly in the constitution. The vice presidency was presented as part of a wider administrative restructuring. Tokayev said several administrative structures that support the current parliament would be abolished, along with the position of state counselor. He added that the functions, structure, and management system of the Presidential Administration would be reformed in line with practical needs. The Kurultai session in Kyzylorda took place as the administration advances a more far-reaching overhaul of the legislature. Tokayev has promoted a transition from Kazakhstan’s bicameral parliament, composed of the Senate and the Mazhilis, to a unicameral system, arguing that the change would simplify governance and shorten decision-making chains. [caption id="attachment_42476" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] President Tokayev at the National Kurultai; image: Akorda.kz[/caption] He outlined parameters for a future unicameral parliament, saying it could consist of around 145 deputies, be led by three vice-chairs, and operate with no more than eight standing committees. He also proposed renaming the legislature the “Kurultai,” saying the term reflects historical traditions of popular representation. The parliamentary reform agenda is being developed by a working group that began reviewing constitutional options in late 2025. The idea of moving to a unicameral system was first raised in Tokayev’s national address on September 8, 2025. On January 19, Tokayev held a meeting with the working group on parliamentary reform in Astana, where aides reported that the group had reviewed constitutional approaches to reshaping the legislature and discussed key approaches to constitutional reform based on proposals from citizens, experts, and civil organizations. Tokayev has tied the parliamentary overhaul to a nationwide vote. He reaffirmed that citizens would make the final decision through a referendum and said Kazakhstan is targeting 2027 for a public vote on abolishing the Senate and moving to a unicameral legislature. The latest reform proposals build on constitutional changes adopted after the unrest of January 2022. In June 2022, Kazakhstan held a nationwide referendum on proposed constitutional amendments, with more...

4 months ago