Page 287 – The Times Of Central Asia

07 May 2025

Central Asia, Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan

U.S. Offers $1,000 Incentive for Voluntary Self-Deportation

May 7, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a new program offering financial and travel assistance to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the United States. Announced on May 5, the initiative provides a $1,000 stipend and covers airfare for eligible individuals who arrange their departure through the CBP Home mobile app.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the program as a “historic opportunity” that is safer, more orderly, and more cost-effective than traditional deportation methods. According to DHS estimates, the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting an individual is approximately $17,121. The self-deportation program is projected to reduce these costs by about 70%.

Participants are required to submit an “Intent to Depart” via the CBP Home app, formerly known as CBP One. Upon confirmation of their return to their home country through the app, they will receive the stipend. DHS noted that individuals who engage with the program and demonstrate progress toward departure will be deprioritized for detention and removal.

The first reported participant, a Honduran national, utilized the program to return from Chicago to Honduras. Additional departures are scheduled in the coming weeks.

The Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United States has advised its citizens residing illegally in the U.S. to consider this program to avoid legal consequences and potentially preserve the option for future legal entry.

This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader immigration policy, which emphasizes strict enforcement and cost-efficiency. Since taking office in January, the administration has deported approximately 152,000 individuals.

Critics argue that the program may mislead participants regarding the possibility of future legal re-entry, as no specific pathways have been outlined. Immigration advocates caution that individuals considering this option should consult legal counsel to understand the potential implications for their immigration status.

07 May 2025

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

After Securing Ukraine Agreement, U.S. Eyes Central Asia for Rare Earths

May 7, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

After months of negotiations, the United States and Ukraine have finally signed an agreement to co-finance the development of Ukraine’s mineral resources, hydrocarbons, and infrastructure. According to The National Interest, the U.S. will not assume ownership of Ukraine’s assets; instead, profits will be directed into a joint investment fund, with full reinvestment in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described the deal as a mutually beneficial partnership. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed it as a “historic economic partnership,” underscoring America’s enduring commitment to a “free and prosperous Ukraine.”

Since his return to office in January, President Donald Trump has prioritized securing access to rare earth minerals. This move is part of a broader U.S. strategy to reduce reliance on China, which currently dominates the sector with control over approximately two-thirds of global production. By contrast, the United States accounts for only about 12%.

While Ukraine possesses 22 of the 50 minerals identified as critical by the U.S. government, it holds just around 5% of global reserves. As a result, Washington is looking beyond Ukraine and Central Asia has emerged as a strategic alternative.

Reports from the Caspian Policy Center and the International Tax and Investment Center highlight the region’s significant rare earth potential. The countries of Central Asia have already taken steps toward deeper cooperation. In 2024, the United States and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on critical minerals.

However, competition for access remains stiff. China maintains robust trade links across the region, and Russia continues to wield considerable economic influence. Nonetheless, regional dynamics are shifting.

In recent years, Central Asian states have increasingly sought to diversify their partnerships, reducing dependence on Moscow and Beijing. They have moved to deepen ties with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. In September 2023, then-President Joe Biden met with Central Asian leaders to discuss regional cooperation, including rare earth supply chains. This was followed by the June 2024 meeting of the U.S.-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Council, where both parties emphasized the need for increased trade and integration.

Like Ukraine, Central Asian nations stand to gain from U.S. investment, particularly in energy infrastructure and broader economic development. If implemented effectively, rare earth revenues could be retained within the region, supporting long-term local growth.

For the United States, enhanced access to Central Asian resources represents a step toward greater energy security and reduced strategic vulnerability. While China and Russia maintain structural advantages, Washington now has a meaningful opportunity to deepen its presence in Central Asia and forge enduring partnerships.

07 May 2025

Central Asia, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Kazakh Acrobats Enter Guinness World Records with Daring Feat

May 7, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Batyr Zhanuzak and Marlen Maratov, acrobats from the Almaty Circus, have entered the Guinness World Records following a breathtaking performance at the international show Lo Show Dei Record in Milan.

The duo stunned both the jury and audience when Zhanuzak climbed up and down a ladder twice, all while balancing Maratov in a one-arm handstand on his head. Their feat, completed in 36 seconds, was recognized as a world record in the category: “Fastest time climbing and descending two ladders with a person standing on their hands on the head.”

“We already have four records with the team, though not all are officially recorded,” said 32-year-old Zhanuzak. “If someone breaks our record, we’re ready for a rematch. But for now, we’re aiming for new heights.”

For 29-year-old Maratov, the accomplishment reflects years of preparation.

“I spent four years training for this, to balance on one hand. But always with safety equipment,” he explained. “I think I’m the first to do it without any. It’s extremely dangerous.” He added that one previous attempt nearly ended in a fall, but Zhanuzak caught him at the last second. That moment became a turning point, a realization of their shared capabilities.

Both performers are part of the internationally acclaimed “Serbat” circus troupe and have represented Kazakhstan in high-profile competitions worldwide. Their resume includes appearances in the finals of major talent shows in the United States, United Kingdom, and China. Their performances are widely praised for their originality, technical mastery, and artistic flair.

Maksat Zhaikov, director of the Kazakh State Circus, called the achievement “not only a personal triumph but a contribution to the development of Kazakh circus art.” He added that the record reinforces Kazakhstan’s reputation on the global performing arts stage.

Zhanuzak and Maratov are already planning their next challenge, incorporating a third ladder into their act. But their primary goal, they emphasize, is to show the world that Kazakh artists rank among the best.

07 May 2025

Central Asia, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

The Story of World War Two Hero Tair Tastandiev

May 7, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

During World War II, the Soviet leadership established the “Order of Glory”, to honor soldiers for acts of personal bravery.

Often referred to as the “Soldier’s Order,” it was awarded strictly for individual merit.

According to its statute, the order was to be conferred progressively, beginning with the 3rd Class and culminating in the 1st Class. Those who received all three classes became Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory and were granted the same rights as recipients of the title “Hero of the Soviet Union.”

Yet during the war, for unclear reasons, there were curious cases in which the same soldier was awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class multiple times, despite qualifying for higher classes. Such was the fate of Guard Sergeant Tair Burkutbaevich Tastandiev.

Tair Burkutbaevich Tastandiev (1924–1974), WWII veteran, Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory. Photo from the 1960s

Tastandiev was born on March 20, 1924, in the village of Kyzyl-Aryk, Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan. In August 1942, he was drafted into the Red Army and served as a heavy machine gunner in the 72nd Guards Rifle Regiment.

On November 26, 1944, during a battle for a strategic position south of the Latvian village of Rudbārži, Tastandiev destroyed an enemy machine gun nest with grenades. He was the first to storm into the village, leading his fellow soldiers. Later, on January 29, 1945, during combat six kilometers northwest of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), Tastandiev’s unit captured two enemy machine guns, eliminating their crews and enabling the company’s advance.

For his bravery in Latvia, he was awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class on February 8, 1945. He would then be again awarded the Order of Glory 3rd Class on March 12, 1945, for his actions in Königsberg.

On April 6, 1945, during a breakthrough of enemy defenses near the village of Metgethen, Tastandiev and his crew breached enemy barbed wire, paving the way for an infantry assault. On April 8, in the same area, he was concussed in combat but continued to fight with his gun crew. For this, he received the Order of Glory 3rd Class a third time, on April 11, 1945.

After the war, Tastandiev was demobilized and returned to his native village of Kyzyl-Aryk, where he worked on a collective farm.

Only a decade later, on August 19, 1955, a decree by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR corrected the awarding irregularity. Recognizing the administrative oversight, Soviet authorities conferred upon Tastandiev the 2nd and 1st Classes of the Order of Glory, thereby officially designating him a Full Cavalier.

07 May 2025

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Central Asia’s Green Energy Dream: Too Big to Achieve?

May 8, 2025
By Nikola Mikovic

Although most Central Asian nations are heavily dependent on fossil fuel production and exports, they are aiming to significantly increase the use of renewable energy, hoping to eventually become crucial suppliers of so-called green electricity to Europe. Achieving such an ambitious goal will be easier said than done, given that developing the green energy sector in the region requires massive investment.

What Central Asian states – struggling to attract long-term private capital into clean energy projects – need is financing for projects that modernize power networks, improve grid stability, and enable cross-border electricity flows. These upgrades are essential for large-scale renewable energy deployment and regional trade in power.

Most actors in Central Asia seem to have taken major steps in this direction. In November 2024, at the COP29 climate conference held in Baku, Kazakhstan signed several deals worth nearly $3.7 billion with international companies and development institutions to support green energy projects. Neighboring Uzbekistan, according to reports, has attracted more than €22 billion ($23.9) in foreign investment in renewable energy, while Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan – which is aiming to generate all its electricity from green energy sources by 2032 – have developed strategies to help increase their renewable potential.

But to turn their goals into reality, all these nations will need funding – whether from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries, China, the European Union, or various international financial institutions. Presently, the development of the Caspian Green Energy Corridor – which aims to supply green electricity from Central Asia to Azerbaijan and further to Europe – remains the region’s most ambitious project. According to Yevgeniy Zhukov, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Director General for Central and West Asia, this initiative is a strategic priority for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan.

“While the prospect of exporting green electricity to Europe is part of the long-term vision, the core goal of the initiative is to accelerate green growth within the region,” Zhukov told The Times of Central Asia.

Together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the ADB is funding a feasibility study for this proposed transmission corridor. The study will assess the technical and economic viability of such a system, along with the environmental and regulatory requirements. In the meantime, the ABD is expected to continue funding other green energy projects in the region. The financial entity, according to Zhukov, invested $250 million in Uzbekistan in 2023 to support renewable energy development and comprehensive power sector reforms, while in other Central Asian countries, it remains “firmly committed to driving the green energy transition.”

“For instance, in Tajikistan we are exploring the potential to co-finance the Rogun Hydropower Project alongside the World Bank and other international partners. In Kyrgyzstan, our focus has been on supporting foundational reforms in the energy sector, including strengthening the policy and regulatory environment to attract private investment in renewables. In Turkmenistan, we’ve launched a total of $1.75 million technical assistance initiative to help lay the groundwork for future renewable energy development,” Zhukov stressed, pointing out that these efforts are part of a broader dialogue to support the Central Asian countries’ long-term clean energy ambitions and explore pathways for regional cooperation.

In other words, this multilateral development bank, headquartered in the Philippines, is working closely with Central Asian governments to support the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy systems. As such, the ADB seems to be particularly active in Kazakhstan, where it is helping the authorities “ensure inclusive economic growth, strengthen governance, and address the impacts of climate change.”

“To help Kazakhstan achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and contribute to global climate change mitigation, ADB is supporting the country through various initiatives. They include financing the construction of solar power plants, modernizing a coal-based heat and power plant in Almaty, expanding the high-voltage transmission network in southern Kazakhstan to integrate large-scale renewable energy, and providing advisory support on heat legislation,” Zhukov told TCA, adding that the Bank’s focus in the region’s largest country is to “support the shift from coal to cleaner energy for power, combined heat and power, and heat only boilers.”

It is no secret that despite being a major consumer of coal, Kazakhstan is seeking to gradually shut down some of its coal power plants and replace them with renewable or other low-carbon energy sources. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan is also aiming to phase out coal and is therefore looking to ADB for technical assistance in identifying and preparing a pipeline of viable clean energy projects.

But the path toward a green energy transition in Central Asia is not without challenges. Key obstacles include an outdated energy infrastructure, regulatory uncertainty, limited regional integration, and competition for investment with more mature renewable markets. Thus, even though Central Asian countries have strong potential to go green, making it happen will take a steady effort, cooperation, as well as continued support from foreign actors seeking to strengthen their presence in this strategically important region.

07 May 2025

Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Ongoing DDoS Attack Disrupts Kazakhstan’s Digital Infrastructure

May 7, 2025
By Stephen M. Bland

Kazakhstan is experiencing a large-scale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that is disrupting online services across government portals, banking systems, and telecommunications networks. The attack, which began earlier this week, has overwhelmed servers by bombarding them with excessive traffic, rendering critical digital infrastructure inaccessible for thousands of users.

The Impact on National Systems

The scope of the attack has significantly hobbled online platforms that citizens and organizations rely on for essential services. Users have reported interruptions when attempting to access online banking, state-run portals for taxes, and public resource management services. Government resources have been severely affected, whilst for businesses the inability to process digital transactions has caused massive delays, leading to e-commerce platforms and retailers that depend on online payment systems facing revenue losses. Financial institutions are working to secure their systems, fearing that the attack may escalate into data breaches or ransomware targeting client information.

Potential Sources Behind the Attack

While no official statement about the source of the attack has been released, cybersecurity experts are pointing to several possibilities. One theory suggests that the attack may involve political motives, aimed at destabilizing Kazakhstan’s government services and undermining public confidence. Others speculate that the incident may stem from cybercriminal groups seeking financial gain through extortion tactics.

Other analysts are not discounting the possibility of foreign state actors. Given increasing geopolitical tensions in the region, such cyberattacks could potentially serve as acts of digital retaliation or covert intervention. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origin of the attack, and no group has publicly claimed responsibility.

Official Responses and Mitigation Efforts

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry has acknowledged the severity of the attack in an official statement.

Authorities are currently coordinating with cybersecurity experts to neutralize the attack and minimize public impact. Technical teams have implemented measures such as traffic filtering and rerouting protocols to handle excessive server requests.

While some government websites have been partially restored, slow loading speeds and occasional downtime persist. The ministry is urging organizations and individuals to strengthen online security by regularly updating firewalls and staying vigilant against phishing attempts that often accompany large-scale attacks.

Additionally, Kazakhstan’s cybersecurity response teams are collaborating with international partners to identify vulnerabilities and enhance digital defenses. This incident highlights the growing need for robust cybersecurity frameworks, particularly in an interconnected world increasingly reliant on digital services.

Significance of the Attack

This ongoing DDoS attack underscores how vulnerable national infrastructure can be to cyber threats. Potentially targeting critical systems like financial networks or telecommunications, these attacks can undermine public trust in a nation’s institutions and disrupt economic stability.

Kazakhstan, like many nations, has increased investment in digital technologies, making cybersecurity a top priority. However, the attack reveals gaps in protection and the urgent need for advanced, preemptive measures to safeguard essential systems. With a rising tide of global cyber threats, addressing these vulnerabilities will play a critical role in protecting both national security and the economy going forward.

For now, Kazakhstan continues to battle the effects of this DDoS attack. Citizens, businesses, and government entities are bracing for further disruptions, while cybersecurity efforts are ramped up to combat this digital assault and prevent future occurrences.

“GTS specialists, in close cooperation with telecom operators, are promptly carrying out technical measures to reconfigure routes and minimize the consequences of attacks,” the State Technical Service reported. “According to preliminary data, cyberattacks are being carried out using proxy servers, masking tools, and distributed botnets located in various countries. These factors are significantly complicating the precise determination of the sources of attacks.”

Cyberattacks on the Rise

Kazakhstan has recently experienced a sharp surge in cyberattacks, recording 30,000 information security incidents between January and May 2025, double the figures from the previous year. Botnet-related activity, including spam, password breaches, and service disruptions, saw a dramatic rise, while phishing attempts also jumped by 37.2%, reaching 2,000 cases. Data leaks and breaches remain a pressing issue, with Chinese-linked actors allegedly compromising critical IT infrastructure and millions of residents’ data.

Government responses have been criticized as delayed and inadequate, prompting leadership changes in the Ministry of Digital Development. Concerns over privacy and information security persist, with legislative gaps and limited enforcement leaving sensitive data vulnerable. Calls have emerged for stronger cybersecurity measures, including boosting staffing for data protection and enhancing cooperation with accredited security organizations.

The Times of Central Asia previously reported that a Chinese firm involved in cyber intelligence operations had been active in Kazakhstan for several years, accessing telecom data over an extended period. Over recent years, Kazakhstan has also been the target of multiple disinformation campaigns.