Page 289 – The Times Of Central Asia

29 Aug 2025

Central Asia, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan

Russian Organization Builds Amusement Park in Bishkek

August 29, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

On August 28, a new amusement park named Eurasia officially opened in Bishkek.

Covering approximately 10 hectares, the park offers free admission and features around 30 amusement rides, sports facilities, and a food court. The project began in 2024 as part of a collaboration between Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers and Russia’s non-profit organization for international cooperation, Eurasia.

Total investment in the park reached $35 million. The initiative commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a regional integration bloc comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. All construction and equipment costs were funded by the Eurasia organization.

Expanding Russia’s Soft Power

Since 2024, Eurasia has been active in Kyrgyzstan through various social and humanitarian projects. In partnership with Russia’s Ministry of Education, the organization has deployed young Russian teachers to secondary schools across Kyrgyzstan to instruct in specialized subjects taught in Russian.

Eurasia has also donated 100 school buses to rural Kyrgyz villages and funded renovations of schools in Bishkek and Kyzyl-Kyya.

On August 26, the organization opened its first social store, also named Eurasia, in Bishkek. The store aims to support vulnerable populations, including pensioners, veterans, large families, and people with disabilities, by offering essential food items at reduced prices.

29 Aug 2025

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan Responds After Migrant Taxi Driver Insulted in Moscow

August 29, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

A video filmed in the Moscow region has sparked public outrage after a Russian man verbally assaulted a taxi driver from Uzbekistan, calling him a “slave of Russians.” According to Minval, the incident took place in the courtyard of a residential complex in the town of Khimki, where the resident told the driver that he was “not at home” and had come to Russia “because there is nothing in Uzbekistan.”

The footage has triggered a wave of discussion in both Russia and Uzbekistan, where labor migration remains a vital economic issue. In response, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, without directly referencing the video, reaffirming that all Uzbek citizens are under the protection of the state, regardless of their location.

“The Republic of Uzbekistan, in accordance with its Constitution, national legislation, and international obligations, has a duty to safeguard the rights, freedoms, and dignity of its citizens abroad,” the ministry stated.

Authorities also urged Uzbeks whose rights are violated abroad to immediately report incidents to local law enforcement and to seek assistance from Uzbek diplomatic missions or consulates. “Protecting the rights and interests of our citizens abroad is a key priority of our state policy,” the ministry emphasized.

The incident comes amid broader policy shifts in Russia concerning foreign nationals. Starting September 1, authorities in Moscow and the surrounding region will roll out a new digital monitoring system for migrants. According to the Multifunctional Migration Center in Sakharovo, citizens from Central Asia and other countries will be required to install a mobile application called Amina, which will manage functions such as residence registration, address changes, and work permit payments.

29 Aug 2025

Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Expands AI-Powered Video Surveillance Network

August 29, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan has installed more than 19,000 street surveillance cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), enhancing law enforcement’s ability to respond swiftly to incidents, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced.

The ministry stated that the country continues to expand its digital security infrastructure. The AI-enabled cameras are capable of facial recognition, detecting abandoned objects, and analyzing traffic patterns. “The integration of these systems with Operational Management Centers allows us to respond to incidents in real time,” it noted.

Police officers have also been equipped with tablets and smart tokens to improve mobility. For the public, reporting tools have been introduced through the 102 mobile app and the “Law and Order” service, accessible via eGovMobile and banking applications. Since the start of 2025, over 8,300 reports have been submitted through these digital platforms.

However, the digital transition has coincided with a rise in cybercrime, particularly online fraud. In response, the internal ministry has implemented early detection systems and mechanisms to block suspicious calls and transactions. “In recent months alone, we have prevented the theft of more than 2.6 billion tenge, confiscated over 88,000 SIM cards used by fraudsters, and blocked more than 67 million fraudulent international calls,” the ministry reported.

Despite the uptick in cybercrime, traditional crime rates have declined. Since the beginning of the year, more than 10,000 criminal cases have been solved, and nearly 10 million administrative offenses have been prevented. “Thanks to preventive measures, the overall crime rate has dropped by 13%, that’s 9,000 fewer cases compared to last year. We’ve seen decreases in murders, robberies, acts of hooliganism, theft, and livestock rustling. Crimes involving weapons, committed in public places, or by previously convicted individuals have also gone down,” said Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov.

In the area of narcotics enforcement, more than 4,600 drug-related offenses were recorded between January and July 2025. Authorities dismantled 13 organized groups and seized over 11 tons of drugs and 23 tons of chemicals. The ministry also reported 44 extremist-related criminal offenses during the same period, 23 of which have been forwarded to the courts.

Addressing domestic violence, the ministry established a dedicated department at the beginning of 2025. In the first seven months, more than 8,000 criminal cases were registered, over 56,000 protective court orders issued, and more than 19,000 offenders detained.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the adoption of a new domestic violence law has led to a decline in crimes against women and children, though challenges remain.

29 Aug 2025

Draft, Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

Real Madrid to Play Kairat in Almaty in UEFA Champions League

August 29, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Almaty’s Kairat will face European giants, including 15-time champions Real Madrid, in the UEFA Champions League group stage, marking a historic milestone for the Kazakh club.

Kairat has never before reached this phase of the competition. Earlier this summer, the club became only the second team from Kazakhstan, after Astana, to qualify for the group stage by overcoming four rounds of qualifiers. Prior to the August 28 draw, head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin expressed a wish to be grouped with Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Liverpool.

The draw delivered on one of those wishes: Kairat will now face Real Madrid, the most decorated club in European football history. Also in their group are Inter Milan, three-time Champions League winners, and Arsenal, a top English club with 13 domestic league titles but still seeking their first Champions League crown.

Kairat’s group stage schedule includes away matches against Sporting Lisbon and Copenhagen, while they will host Belgium’s Club Brugge, Greece’s Olympiacos, and Cyprus’s Pafos in Almaty. The group stage will be played between late September 2025 and the end of January 2026.

“We are delighted to be playing Real Madrid. It’s not often that such a club comes to Kazakhstan,” said Urazbakhtin. He acknowledged the disparity in skill levels but emphasized the importance of home support and maximizing their advantage in Almaty.

A total of 36 clubs are competing in this season’s group stage. Each team plays eight matches, four home and four away, against different opponents. The top eight teams overall will advance directly to the playoffs, while clubs ranked 9th to 24th will enter a playoff round in February 2026 to fight for the remaining spots in the round of 16.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kairat earned their Champions League berth after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Celtic, with reserve goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov playing a decisive role in the victory.

29 Aug 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Features, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Tokyo Steps Up: Iwaya’s Central Asia Tour Signals Japan’s Long-Term Commitment

December 19, 2025
By Stephen M. Bland

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya made a landmark trip to Central Asia from August 24–28, 2025, holding talks in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Tokyo framed the visit as a bid to deepen bilateral ties and revive the Central Asia plus Japan leaders’ summits. The visit fulfilled commitments made by then-Prime Minister Kishida, who had planned a similar tour in 2024 before cancelling at the last minute due to a domestic earthquake alert.

Strategic Engagement

Iwaya’s visit reflects Tokyo’s long-standing, multifaceted approach to Central Asia. Analysts emphasized to The Times of Central Asia that Japan is pursuing “trust-building diplomacy” in the region, focusing on human capital, infrastructure, and governance rather than quick geopolitical wins. Tokyo inaugurated the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue format in 2004, making it the first outside power to group all five Central Asian republics within a single framework. As Professor Timur Dadabaev of Tsukuba University told The Times of Central Asia, Tokyo is seen “not as a competing hegemon, but as a partner that invests in the region’s human capital, infrastructure, and governance in ways that reinforce independence.” This approach contrasts with what has been characterized as the transactional models of other powers.

On August 25, Iwaya met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in Astana, marking his first official visit to the country. The talks underscored both sides’ commitment to strengthening ties as strategic partners and in upholding a “free and open international order based on the rule of law.” The ministers welcomed active exchanges and pledged to expand cooperation in trade, investment, mineral resources, disaster prevention, and nuclear non-proliferation. They also announced plans to accelerate preparations for the long-delayed Central Asia plus Japan summit.

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya with Kazakh Foreign Minister Nurtleu in Astana after their meeting on August 25, 2025; image Japan MOFA

In Tashkent, Iwaya echoed this message, calling Uzbekistan “an important strategic partner,” and highlighting the first-ever foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue held there.

Japanese officials also stressed their policy does not aim to pressure Central Asian partners on sensitive issues. Characterizing Japan as a “catalyst to promote interconnectivity and inter-regional cooperation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura stated that Tokyo does not see a zero-sum “competition between Japan and other countries. We would like to see Central Asian countries work together with other parts of the world.”

In Tashkent, Kitamura explicitly noted that while Japan condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it will not pressure Uzbekistan or others to take the same stance. “The relationship between Russia and the Central Asian countries is a very delicate issue. Each country should take into account the relations it establishes with other countries. Even if it is with Russia, such relations do not affect the relations of other countries with Japan,” Kitamura stated.

Bilateral Agreements

In Kazakhstan, Iwaya held high-level talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Foreign Minister Nurtleu. Tokayev welcomed Japan as a “reliable and close partner in Asia” and said ties are “developing dynamically.” The sides agreed to arrange a Central Asia plus Japan summit as soon as possible, exchanged notes on Japanese grant aid for medical equipment for victims of nuclear testing, and announced a direct Tokyo–Almaty flight starting in March 2026. Kazakhstan also invited greater Japanese participation in energy and transit. “Kazakhstan already accounts for about 80% of overland freight traffic between Asia and Europe. We are ready to cooperate on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the introduction of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, with the involvement of Japanese investors,” said Nurtleu.

In Tashkent, Iwaya and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov held the first Japan–Uzbekistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, signed a joint communiqué, and showcased two grant projects: the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship and an economic initiative for vulnerable groups, including Afghan returnees. The two sides agreed to hold the dialogue biennially and to schedule the Japan–Central Asia leaders’ summit at an early date, while expanding cooperation on economic security and supply chains.

Regional Implications

Iwaya’s August 2025 trip underscored Japan’s intent to remain a steady partner in Central Asia, balancing economic opportunity with respect for regional sensitivities. By advancing grant aid in Kazakhstan, launching new scholarship and development projects in Uzbekistan, and pledging to revive the Central Asia plus Japan summit, Tokyo is positioning itself as a constructive actor focused on connectivity, resilience, and trust-building. This “bridges not blocs” strategy comes backed by official statements from the Japanese Foreign Ministry highlighting a commitment to long-term partnerships. With strategic dialogue in Tashkent and new agreements in Astana, Japan has signaled that its presence in Central Asia is not episodic but a durable part of the region’s evolving geopolitical landscape.

29 Aug 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Opinions, Uzbekistan Features, Opinions

Insider’s View: Uzbekistan’s Competitiveness and Advantages in the SCO Tourism Market

August 29, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

In recent years, Uzbekistan has strengthened its position in the international tourism market, particularly in the region of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). From January to June 2025, the country welcomed over 5.3 million international tourists, more than double the figure of the previous year, while tourism service exports rose to $2.4 billion, marking a 164% increase.

For the SCO member states, tourism serves as a driver of economic growth and an important tool for cultural exchange and diplomatic rapprochement. Uzbekistan stands out within the Organization thanks to its rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructure, and liberal visa policy.

Uzbekistan’s historical landmarks provide the country with a significant competitive advantage within the SCO region. Cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva – all included on the UNESCO World Heritage List – have become major cultural magnets for tourists. These cities are home to hundreds of architectural monuments, mosques and madrasahs, traditional markets, and craft centers, offering travelers a truly unique experience.

Building on this heritage, Uzbekistan has also expanded its hospitality sector. In the first half of 2025, Uzbekistan established 60 new hotels, 287 family guest houses, 146 hostels, and 24 other accommodation facilities – a total of 517 new establishments offering 12,800 additional beds. As a result, the total number of accommodation facilities reached 6,448, with overall capacity exceeding 170,000 beds.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has actively cooperated with global hotel brands, with international chains such as Hilton, Intercontinental, Bentley, Bill Wyndham & Co., and Azimut implementing investment projects across various regions of the country. This has had a positive impact on both the quality of service and the level of trust from the international community.

Additionally, 368 new tourism companies and travel agencies were established in the country, bringing the total number of tour operators to 4,052. Across the republic, 3,415 tour guides are currently active, with 215 new specialists trained in just the first half of this year. These developments have improved the quality of tourism services and significantly enhanced conditions for visitors to the country.

Uzbekistan’s visa policy is also one of the most progressive in the region. Today, citizens of more than 90 countries can enter the country visa-free, while an additional 56 countries have access to an electronic visa system. This has become a key factor in the growth of tourist arrivals.

All of these measures have contributed to a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan. In the first six months of 2025 alone, more than 4.3 million tourists from SCO member states visited the country, accounting for over 80% of all international visitors.

Uzbekistan is also actively promoting its tourism image on the international stage. Cooperation is underway with global media companies such as World Media Group, Blue Sky, Sky One, Wanderlust, Euronews, the BBC, National Geographic, CNN, Travel Tomorrow, Warner Bros. Discovery, Saga Travel Group, as well as with online platforms like Ctrip.com, Holiday Factory, Voyage Privé, and others.

In 2024, Uzbekistan participated in 22 international tourism exhibitions held in 19 leading countries worldwide, presenting its national pavilion. A number of large-scale initiatives are also being implemented within the SCO region. In particular, as part of the Year of Tourism of Uzbekistan in China, presentations were held in more than 20 provinces, alongside participation in tourism exhibitions and over 500 B2B meetings. As a result of these events, 44 agreements were signed to facilitate the arrival of Chinese tourists to Uzbekistan.

From an economic perspective, tourism plays a key role in Uzbekistan’s economy. In 2024, 591 projects were implemented with a total investment of $2.8 billion, creating 19,428 new jobs. For 2025, the government has set even more ambitious targets: attracting 11 million foreign tourists, generating tourism revenues of $3.8 billion, and creating 50,000 new jobs.

Furthermore, the country is implementing the “Tourism-2040” strategy aimed at the long-term development of the industry. This strategy includes focus areas such as sustainable tourism development, eco-friendly travel, involvement of local communities, infrastructure expansion, and the adoption of digital technologies.

In conclusion, Uzbekistan’s competitiveness in the SCO tourism market is ensured by a range of factors: a rich historical and cultural heritage, modern infrastructure, an active international marketing strategy, favorable visa policies, and a stable economic strategy. Taken together, these make the country an important regional player and a significant global actor in the tourism market.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the publication, its affiliates, or any other organizations mentioned.