Page 200 – The Times Of Central Asia

10 Jul 2025

Uzbekistan Rejects UN Allegations in Gulnara Karimova Case

July 10, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

The government of Uzbekistan has formally rejected allegations by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning the case of Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the country’s late president, Islam Karimov. The UN body had earlier declared that Karimova’s 2014 detention was arbitrary and lacked a legal basis.

In a response published by Uzbekistan’s National Center for Human Rights, the government asserted that all criminal proceedings against Karimova were conducted in full compliance with national legislation and international obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“The government is concerned that the Working Group formed its opinion based on one-sided and subjective information provided by the source, while Uzbekistan’s official response was not taken into account due to procedural deadlines,” the statement read. “This approach undermines the principles of impartiality that UN bodies must observe.”

Legal Process and Rights of the Defendant

According to the statement, Karimova had access to legal counsel throughout the legal process. She retained the right to choose or be appointed a lawyer, to review case materials, to appeal court decisions, and to consult privately with her legal representative.

The government rejected claims that she had been subjected to extended house arrest without due process or that she faced a so-called “kitchen trial.” Officials maintained that all procedures and hearings were held lawfully. “At present, she has the right to appeal court decisions as provided by law,” the statement noted.

Authorities also dismissed any suggestion that the prosecution was politically motivated. “All actions by law enforcement and judicial authorities were based solely on legal and factual grounds confirming the defendant’s guilt, and were unrelated to her economic activities, political status, or views,” the statement read.

Karimova was convicted of tax evasion, money laundering, illegal appropriation of state property, fraud, and other serious crimes. According to the government, these actions resulted in significant financial losses to the state. Officials stated that all verdicts were supported by evidence and issued by competent courts.

International Cooperation and Asset Repatriation

The statement also drew attention to the 2022 agreement between Uzbekistan and Switzerland to establish the Vision 2030 Fund, financed by assets previously associated with Karimova. The fund supports Uzbekistan’s national reform agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is administered through the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

In closing, the government reaffirmed its commitment to international human rights obligations and expressed its willingness to maintain constructive dialogue with UN mechanisms. “The government reserves the right to defend its reputation in international institutions and to convey reliable information to all interested parties,” the statement concluded.

10 Jul 2025

Environment, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Environment

Almosi Valley in Tajikistan Recognized as Global Agricultural Heritage Site

July 10, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The Almosi mountain valley in Tajikistan’s Gissar district has been designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The decision was announced on July 8 during a meeting of the FAO’s Scientific Advisory Group.

A Milestone for Central Asia

Tajikistan is now the first country in the post-Soviet space to have one of its agricultural landscapes recognized by the GIAHS program. Until now, only 12 agroecosystems across five European nations, Austria, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Andorra, had received such recognition. Tajikistan’s inclusion marks a significant acknowledgment of Central Asia’s rich agricultural legacy and its global relevance.

GIAHS sites are selected not only for their scenic beauty but also for their enduring agricultural practices and deep-rooted human-nature interaction. According to FAO materials, these systems demonstrate high levels of agrobiodiversity, sustainable production, centuries-old agricultural knowledge, and strong community ties to the environment.

Almosi exemplifies these values. In its mountainous terrain, farmers engage in transhumant sheep herding and the cultivation of crops such as wheat, barley, vegetables, and the prized pink Taifi grape, used for raisins, syrups, juice, and wine. The valley is also home to the Gissar sheep breed, developed for resilience in high-altitude conditions.

Preserving Tradition and Biodiversity

Agriculture in Almosi relies on traditional techniques, including contour planting, organic fertilization, and irrigation through ancient canal systems. Farmers monitor natural indicators to optimize water use and adapt to climatic shifts, ensuring both productivity and environmental preservation.

Community organization is another hallmark of the Almosi model. Farming is managed through mahalla committees, cooperatives, family farms, and even remnants of collective farming structures. This supports intergenerational knowledge transfer, shared resource management, and social cohesion.

GIAHS designation not only affirms Almosi’s global agricultural significance but also opens avenues for sustainable development. Opportunities include eco-tourism, enhanced agricultural investment, and broader recognition of Tajikistan’s rural heritage.

With new entries from Tajikistan, South Korea, and Portugal, the GIAHS network now includes 99 recognized systems in 29 countries. Almosi stands as the first in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a testament to the region’s enduring agricultural traditions and its capacity for innovation grounded in history.

10 Jul 2025

Environment, Kazakhstan Environment, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Builds Saxaul Nursery on Dried Aral Seabed

July 10, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan is ramping up its ambitious afforestation efforts on the dried bed of the Aral Sea, with the establishment of a new saxaul nursery in the Kyzylorda region. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev recently visited the site to inspect progress on the project.

Located directly on the former seabed, the nursery is designed to cultivate saxaul shrubs-hardy, drought-resistant plants well-adapted to the region’s arid conditions. Drilling work is currently underway to construct a well that will provide essential irrigation. Once operational, the 15-hectare facility is expected to produce 1.5 million saxaul saplings annually. Growing the saplings locally will help reduce transportation costs and improve survival rates by acclimating plants to local soil and climate conditions.

Reclaiming a Devastated Landscape

Kazakhstan’s large-scale planting initiative aims to restore parts of the Aral ecosystem, which was devastated by Soviet-era irrigation policies. Once the world’s fourth-largest inland sea, the Aral spanned 68,000 square kilometers and straddled the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Starting in the 1960s, massive water diversion from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for cotton farming caused the sea to shrink dramatically. By 2007, the Aral had dwindled to just 10% of its original size.

In addition to the new nursery, Nyssanbayev visited an existing saxaul facility in Kazalinsk, located in the Kyzylorda region. This nursery began operations in November 2024, initially sowing seeds across 10 hectares with a capacity to produce up to 3 million saplings. As of 2025, planting has expanded to 11,800 hectares of the dried seabed.

According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan aims to afforest 1.1 million hectares of the dried Aral seabed with saxaul. From 2021 to 2024, 475,000 hectares were afforested, including 127,000 hectares in 2024 alone. In 2025, the government plans to plant saxaul on an additional 428,000 hectares.

By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan expects saxaul forests to cover approximately 40% of its portion of the dried Aral seabed.

10 Jul 2025

International Affairs, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan

Tajikistan Gives Afghan Refugees 15 Days to Leave

July 10, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Tajikistan has launched a large-scale campaign to detain and deport Afghan refugees, giving them just 15 days to leave the country. The move, reported by Afghanistan’s Khaama Press and confirmed by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, has sparked fear and confusion among thousands of Afghans in Tajikistan, including many with valid residency permits or official asylum documentation.

According to Khaama Press, detentions have intensified in recent days, particularly around Vahdat township and Rudaki district near the capital, Dushanbe. Afghan men are reportedly being arrested in large numbers, often directly from their workplaces, with little to no warning or opportunity to contact family members.

The deportation order is believed to affect thousands of Afghans, including individuals legally residing in Tajikistan while awaiting resettlement to countries such as Canada. Many are former civil servants, military personnel, or others affiliated with the pre-Taliban Afghan government who fled after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Human rights advocates warn that forced repatriation could expose them to immediate danger

UNHCR Condemnation and International Concerns

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed deep concern over Tajikistan’s actions. In January 2025, UNHCR urged Dushanbe to cease deportations after confirming that at least 80 Afghan refugees were forcibly returned in December 2024, despite holding UN-issued refugee documents.

UNHCR stated that these deportations violate international protection obligations and risk exposing vulnerable individuals to persecution, detention, or violence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

As of late 2024, approximately 9,000 Afghan refugees were officially registered in Tajikistan. With the new 15-day ultimatum and ongoing arrests, many more are now at risk. Refugee advocates report that detentions are being carried out indiscriminately, often without regard for legal status.

Part of a Wider Regional Crackdown

Tajikistan’s campaign mirrors broader regional trends. In recent months, both Iran and Pakistan have undertaken mass deportations of Afghan nationals. Human rights organizations have documented widespread reports of abuse, intimidation, and even killings of returnees by Taliban forces.

Observers warn that options for Afghan refugees are rapidly diminishing. Resettlement programs remain slow, and few countries have opened new asylum pathways. As a result, thousands of displaced Afghans across Central and South Asia face a stark choice: live under constant threat of arrest and expulsion or return to a homeland where persecution may await.

10 Jul 2025

Kazakhstan, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture

Anthrax Outbreak Reported in Northern Kazakhstan

July 10, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

An outbreak of anthrax has been confirmed in the Akmola region of northern Kazakhstan. According to official data, at least seven people have been infected after coming into contact with contaminated livestock.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, identified the source as unvaccinated and unregistered animals grazing near an old cattle burial ground located approximately seven kilometers from the villages of Magdalinovka and Novomarinovka. Ten infected cattle have been identified and culled.

“There are many questions for the owners of these animals. They were not registered anywhere,” Saparov said at a press briefing.

Authorities have imposed a quarantine, carried out disinfection procedures, and restricted access to the affected pastures. Sanitary measures have also been intensified in nearby settlements.

The Ministry of Health reported that 19 individuals underwent medical examinations, with seven cases confirmed in laboratory tests. One patient is in serious condition, while the remaining six are in stable condition. Four of these cases had been previously reported.

Saparov also dismissed speculation that contaminated meat had entered Astana’s markets.

“We checked everything, even the door handles. All samples tested negative. Suspicious meat was immediately seized,” the minister stated.

The outbreak in the Atbasar district has exposed long-standing deficiencies in Kazakhstan’s veterinary oversight and livestock registration systems. Although the country maintains an electronic livestock registration system, its usage is inconsistent, particularly in remote regions where many farmers fail to register or vaccinate their animals.

In response, the government has pledged to tighten regulatory enforcement. Inspections will begin in the affected areas, with violators facing increased fines. Authorities also plan to target so-called “dealers,” middlemen trading in unregistered livestock.

“This is not just about private property. It is a threat to public health,” Saparov added.

The quarantine in the outbreak zone will last a minimum of 15 days. Authorities will assess whether to lift the restrictions following additional inspections.

Anthrax is a dangerous bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans, primarily through contact with infected meat or contaminated soil. Outbreaks occur periodically in Kazakhstan, particularly in areas where Soviet-era cattle burial sites remain unregistered and unmapped.

Regional veterinary officials have warned that many of these burial grounds have not yet been properly identified, posing a continuing risk to grazing livestock.

In recent days, Minister Saparov proposed introducing criminal liability for the sale of meat that bypasses veterinary and sanitary controls.

10 Jul 2025

Home, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice, Kyrgyzstan, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyz Anti-Corruption Crackdown: Officials Arrested During Live Meeting in Osh

July 10, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Several officials were arrested during a high-level government meeting in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, as part of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign led by the State Committee for National Security (GKNB).

Kamchybek Tashiev, chairman of the GKNB, ordered the arrests during a gathering with the heads of state agencies. Six civil servants were detained on the spot after Tashiev accused them of embezzling state funds and providing false information. Among those taken into custody were the head of the Tax Service in the Uzgen district and the deputy head of the Tax Service in the Kara-Suu district.

“Take him out, he’s lying!” Tashiev said, pointing to the deputy head of the Kara-Suu Tax Inspectorate. He also stated that the head of the service had already been transferred to the GKNB’s central office in Bishkek for interrogation.

The detentions extended beyond the tax authorities. According to local media reports, two employees from the Cadastral Service in the Nookat district, a representative of the judiciary, and a passport office staff member in Uzgen were also arrested. All face allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

These events in Osh follow a series of high-profile detentions in northern Kyrgyzstan. Over the past month, at least three mayors and several senior officials have been arrested in the Chui and Issyk-Kul regions. They are accused of abuse of office, illicit enrichment, and orchestrating corruption networks.

During the meeting, Tashiev reiterated the GKNB’s commitment to combating corruption at all levels of government. He referenced the arrest of former State Tax Service head Altynbek Abduvapov in late 2024 as a prominent example. Investigators claim Abduvapov accumulated approximately $55 million in assets through illegal means.

“He never had a business of his own. Employees say they gave him bribes ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 every month. We are confiscating everything. Altynbek Abduvapov will now be a poor man,” Tashiev declared.

Political analysts suggest the crackdown indicates both an intensification of anti-corruption efforts and a recalibration of power dynamics between Kyrgyzstan’s northern and southern regions. While critics have accused the authorities of selective justice, GKNB officials maintain that the arrests are supported by solid evidence and reveal systemic governance failures.