Page 230 – The Times Of Central Asia

23 Jun 2025

Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Marks Media Workers’ Day with “Day J” Festivities

June 23, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan will celebrate Media Workers’ Day on June 28, a professional holiday honoring everyone in the media industry, including reporters, editors, producers, technicians, and executives.

Established by presidential decree, the date commemorates the launch of Turkestan Vedomosti, the first official print publication on the territory of modern-day Kazakhstan. It began publishing in Orenburg on June 28, 1870.

For the past decade, “Day J” has brought together journalists and PR professionals to recognize outstanding achievements in Kazakhstani media in a creative, informal atmosphere. This year’s event, timed to coincide with Media Workers’ Day, will be held in Almaty on June 27.

The Times of Central Asia is proud to serve as an information partner for “Day J,” an initiative inspired and organized by the communications agency 2BAgency.

Theme: Romance of the ’90s

This summer’s “Day J” will take participants back to the 1990s, an analog era remembered for cassette-recorded interviews, pager messages, single-cigarette purchases, denim-on-denim fashion, and a shared sense of optimism about the future.

A highlight of the evening will be the annual Day J Awards, honoring professionals in five categories:

Best Reporter
Best Business Journalist
Best Investigative Journalist
Best Blogger
Best Presenter

Nominees and jury members were selected via the “Day J” Telegram channel and social media, reflecting recognition from within the journalistic community.

Partners and Support

As in previous years, the event is made possible by key partners. Sponsors of this year’s celebration include:

Forte, a systemically important Kazakh bank
Eurasia Insurance Company, a market leader
Munchen Pub, renowned for its hospitality
KazMinerals, one of the country’s top mining firms
Tickets.kz, a leading travel platform
ARTиШОК, the acclaimed independent theater
RG Brands, producers of ASU and AVA beverages
First Brewery, makers of Zhiguli Barnoe beer

Additional media and organizational support comes from CheckPoint, BesMedia, Shishkin Like, Tribune, Profit, BlueScreen, Finratings, newtimes.kz, Offside.kz, aleminform.kz, optimism.kz, and bizmedia.kz.

Following the event, The Times of Central Asia will publish coverage of the Day J Award winners and explore how this year’s celebration contributes to the evolving story of Kazakhstan’s media landscape.

22 Jun 2025

Home, Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan: Court Says 1986 Protester Was Victim of Political Repression

June 22, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Four decades after participating in anti-Soviet protests in Kazakhstan, a 64-year-old man has been recognized as a victim of political repression by a court in the former Soviet republic.

The ruling is part of a sweeping effort by Kazakhstan’s government to rehabilitate the reputations of people who faced persecution during Soviet rule, which ended when the country became independent in 1991. Many cases go back to a time of forced resettlement, famine and execution nearly a century ago, drawing on documents and the expertise of scholars and other specialists that lay bare historical trauma even as Kazakhstan maintains close trade and diplomatic ties with its neighbor, Russia.

On Thursday, Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court released a statement about a more recent case, saying a resident of Aktobe city in western Kazakhstan who was a philosophy and economics student at Kazakh State University had been expelled for allegedly disturbing public order.

“The reason for his expulsion was his detention by law enforcement officers on December 18, 1986 – on suspicion of participating in the December events, without charges being brought,” the court said. It did not name the student.

The so-called December events refer to a 1986 protest movement called the Jeltoqsan that young people began in Almaty, then known as Alma-Ata. The demonstrations escalated into clashes with Soviet security forces and lasted for several days. The catalyst for the upheaval was the removal of Dinmukhamed Kunaev, an ethnic Kazakh who was the first secretary of Kazakhstan’s Communist Party, and his replacement with an ethnic Russian. The direct challenge to authority highlighted the erosion of Moscow’s control that would eventually end with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

According to Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court, the student who was detained was freed, but he was expelled from the Communist Party, faced persecution, and couldn’t find a job. His wife was also turned down for jobs. Between 1990 and 1993, the couple and their three young children had to rent housing and were in a “socially vulnerable position,” the court said.

This year, the man, now 64 years old, filed a lawsuit to be recognized as a victim of political repression because of his participation in the 1986 protests.

Court No. 3 of Aktobe agreed that he had been subjected to political persecution, including restrictions on labor rights, the Supreme Court said. The Aktobe court based its decision on documents from the university and the prosecutor’s office, as well as witness testimony.

Kazakhstan’s law on rehabilitation of victims of political repression can provide for the restoration of violated rights as well as financial compensation.

22 Jun 2025

Kazakhstan Featurees, International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

After U.S. Strikes, Kazakhstan Warns of Deteriorating Security in Caspian Region

June 24, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan said on Sunday that U.S. military strikes on Iran pose “serious consequences” for security in the Caspian region.

“As a result of recent U.S. military actions against Iran, the international situation is rapidly deteriorating, posing serious consequences for the security of states in our region,” Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after the United States joined Israel’s war against Iran and attacked several Iranian nuclear sites.

“Kazakhstan, as one of the Caspian region states, maintains cooperation with Iran in various spheres. We believe that all disputes, including those related to nuclear issues, must be resolved through negotiations based on the United Nations Charter,” the ministry said.

“We urge all relevant states to accelerate the development of an agreement aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and providing security guarantees for states that comply with the non-proliferation regime under international oversight,” it said.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Russia border the Caspian Sea. The area is an important trade route.

20 Jun 2025

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Business & Economy

Japan-Backed Tunnel Project Begins on Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek–Osh Highway

June 20, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Construction has begun on a 750-meter tunnel along Kyrgyzstan’s vital Bishkek–Osh highway, the country’s only overland route connecting the northern and southern regions. The project marks a major step in modernizing national transport infrastructure and improving safety in an area prone to rockfalls, landslides, and harsh weather conditions.

The tunnel is being built at the 400-kilometer mark of the highway by Japan’s Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction Co., using advanced Japanese technologies designed to meet the region’s complex geological challenges.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 19, attended by Kyrgyz Transport and Communications Minister Absattar Syrgabayev and Japanese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hideki Goda.

Minister Syrgabayev described the tunnel as a key solution to the dangers posed by the mountainous terrain. “In this area, the risks are high. A tunnel is the safest and most reliable solution,” he said.

Stretching 655 kilometers, the Bishkek–Osh highway runs through the regions of Chui, Talas, Jalal-Abad, and Osh, linking the capital with the country’s second-largest city. It plays a crucial role in both domestic mobility and regional trade, forming part of international corridors that connect Kyrgyzstan with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China.

The tunnel reflects the government’s continued efforts to strengthen the safety and reliability of one of its most important infrastructure assets.

20 Jun 2025

Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Environment, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Startup to Build First National EV Charging Network

June 20, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

A Tashkent-based startup is set to build Uzbekistan’s first national electric vehicle (EV) charging network, marking a significant step in the country’s push toward clean energy and technological self-reliance.

Pulseev, established earlier this year, aims to install 500 EV charging stations across Uzbekistan by 2026, with a long-term target of 3,000 stations by 2030. Its first large-scale charging hub, now under construction, will include more than 50 charging bays, complemented by modular cafés, coworking spaces, and a children’s playground.

Designed and assembled locally, Pulseev’s chargers are tailored to Uzbekistan’s energy infrastructure and climatic conditions. The stations will offer fast charging, mobile app integration, and remote monitoring, features aimed at simplifying the user experience.

“We’re not just installing hardware,” said co-founder Jasurbek Khodjaev. “We’re creating spaces where people feel proud to power their vehicles with clean energy, while families enjoy time together.”

The initiative aligns with Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to invest in renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. The government has expressed strong support for EV adoption and digital infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and modernize the national grid.

Pulseev’s long-term vision includes expansion into other Central Asian markets and the Middle East. The company promotes a concept it calls “energy freedom,” advocating for democratized access to clean energy not only for transportation but also for everyday life.

“This is about dignity, independence, and innovation,” said Mukhammad Khalil, founder of Startup Garage, a regional accelerator supporting Pulseev.

The project also reflects a broader shift in Central Asia’s startup ecosystem, with increasing emphasis on indigenous technological solutions to local challenges. By developing EV infrastructure domestically, Pulseev positions itself as a key player in shaping the region’s sustainable transport future.

20 Jun 2025

Home, Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan’s Domestic Violence Law Brings Progress Amid Ongoing Challenges

December 8, 2025
By Aliya Haidar

Crimes against women and children have declined over the past year in Kazakhstan, a trend attributed to a sweeping new law on domestic violence. Despite these gains, authorities caution that women and children remain at significant risk from abuse.

Persistent Challenge

On June 16, 2024, Kazakhstan’s Law on Ensuring the Rights of Women and the Safety of Children came into force, having been signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev two months earlier. Since the outset of his presidency, Tokayev has identified combating domestic violence as a top policy priority.

Children’s Ombudsman Dinara Zakieva reported that roughly 900 crimes against the sexual integrity of minors are recorded annually. Since the law’s enactment, at least 25 individuals convicted of sexual violence against children have received life sentences.

Meanwhile, according to Marat Abishev of the General Prosecutor’s Office, at least 80 women die from domestic violence each year. Law enforcement officials stress that official statistics significantly underreport the true extent of domestic abuse. Surveys suggest that one in three women in Kazakhstan has experienced physical violence, threats, or psychological pressure.

The new law has introduced tougher criminal penalties for domestic abuse, as well as protective and preventative mechanisms. Amendments to the Criminal Code now bar lenient sentences for crimes involving violence against minors and prohibit reconciliation between victims and perpetrators in such cases. The sole punishment for the murder or rape of a minor is now life imprisonment.

The law also establishes liability for the sexual harassment of persons under 16 and introduces penalties for inciting or abetting suicide.

Initial Results

State Secretary Yerlan Karin recently shared data showing early progress under the new legislation. In the first five months of 2025, reports of domestic violence dropped by 20.5% compared to the same period in 2024. The number of serious domestic crimes fell by 29%, while particularly serious offenses declined by 44%.

Crimes against the sexual integrity of minors decreased by 21.3%, and pedophilia-related offenses dropped by 40.7%.

Karin noted that crimes against women have halved over the past five years, crediting stricter penalties and improved prevention efforts for the amelioration. He also highlighted a rise in the detection of domestic violence cases, facilitated by a new mechanism allowing authorities to launch investigations without a complaint from the victim. Between January and May 2025, more than 19,000 such cases were identified through mobile patrol units, police reports, witness statements, and social media monitoring.

To improve reporting mechanisms, QR codes for the national 111 contact center are now displayed in schools. This has led to a spike in outreach: in the first five months of 2025, children sent more than 86,000 messages, with over 2,000 seeking help for violence or bullying. In 28 cases, potential suicides were prevented. Adults also placed over 62,000 calls to the center, many concerning domestic violence.

Kazakhstan currently operates 20 psychological support centers and family support services in 112 districts and cities. A new prevention initiative, mandatory psychological counseling for aggressors, was introduced this year, with courts ordering 52 individuals to participate.

Legal Reversal on the Horizon?

Despite these improvements, newly proposed legislation has sparked concern. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has introduced a draft bill, On Crime Prevention, which seeks to consolidate five laws, including the 2009 Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, into a single legal framework.

Critics, including Professor Muslim Khasenov, warn that the consolidation may dilute legal protections for victims. Speaking at a meeting of the Public Chamber in the Mazhilis, Khasenov said the draft includes just one article on domestic violence, reducing the issue to a list of general forms and preventive measures.

“While these measures may theoretically apply to domestic violence, in practice there’s a high risk that the specific nature of such crimes will be overlooked,” Khasenov said. He noted that most post-Soviet states maintain separate domestic violence laws that reflect the distinct dynamics of such offenses.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepekha has responded by issuing assurances that key reforms, such as harsher penalties for assault and minor bodily harm, will be preserved. The ministry states that the draft law is part of a broader reform of Kazakhstan’s law enforcement and legal system.

The issue of domestic violence has been the subject of much public scrutiny in recent years, particularly since the live-streamed trial of Former Minister of the National Economy, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, for the murder of his common-law wife, Saltanat Nukenova, in November 2023. Bishimbayev was sentenced to 24 years in prison.