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TASHKENT (TCA) — The United States has removed Uzbekistan from a list of countries with the worst religious tolerance for the first time in more than a decade, RFE/RL reported.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — On June 20, the U.S. Department of State released the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report (https://kg.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/190/Kyrgyz-Republic-2019-TIP-Report-Country-Narrative.pdf), an annual report that highlights progress and setbacks in addressing human trafficking across the globe. This year’s report acknowledges key achievements by the Kyrgyz government in addressing human trafficking, including:
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NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — A letter of intent was signed on June 20 between the International Green Technologies and Investment Projects Center (IGTIPC) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
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NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), Kazakhstan’s regional financial services hub, says it is keen to attract Chinese investment in the Belt and Road Initiative projects and medium-sized enterprises in central Eurasia countries, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
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DUSHANBE (TCA) — Two projects that aim to address fragility risks and increase social resilience in Tajikistan’s vulnerable regions were approved on June 20 by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. The grant financing of $30 million for the Rural Economy Development Project and $37 million for the Socio-Economic Resilience Strengthening Project were allocated from the International Development Association’s (IDA) Risk Mitigation Regime. The projects will be implemented in Tajikistan’s southern Khatlon region and eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), which both border Afghanistan.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Kyrgyz parliament on June 20 voted to strip former President Almazbek Atambayev of immunity from prosecution amid a growing power struggle in the Central Asian nation.
The lawmakers approved the resolution 100-to-5 amid claims Atambayev abused his powers while in office. The vote follows a rash of arrests of former officials close to Atambayev as his successor seeks to consolidate power, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
Atambayev ruled Kyrgyzstan for a six-year term that ended in 2017, helping pass the reigns of power to his former prime minister, Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
While Atambayev expected Jeenbekov would continue his policies, his successor quickly turned against him.
A parliamentary commission this week accused Atambayev of six counts of misconduct, including corruption, prompting the June 20 vote to strip him of immunity.
The process of removing the former president’s immunity could take two weeks, lawmaker Kanybek Imanaliev said.
The June 20 decision comes as Jeenbekov’s government pursues officials close to the former president.
Kyrgyz authorities earlier this month arrested Manasbek Arabaev, the ex-chief of the presidential office’s department for judicial system reform, on corruption charges.
Sapar Isakov and Jantoro Satybaldiev, both of whom served as prime minister under Atambayev, have also been charged with corruption.
Earlier, Kyrgyz authorities arrested Adamkul Junusov, the former customs chief, and Ikramjan Ilmiyanov, a former adviser, on similar charges.
