Page 373 – The Times Of Central Asia

21 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Kazakhstan

After Deadly Mining Accident, Kazakhstan to Inspect Hazardous Industries

February 21, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered an audit of industrial facilities to assess their compliance with safety standards following a deadly accident at a Kazakhmys Corporation mine in the Ulytau region.

Tokayev described the state of workplace safety in Kazakhstan as “unacceptable”, citing gross violations of safety regulations. He criticized companies for failing to invest adequately in worker protection, leading to industrial accidents, fatalities, and injuries.

Government Mandates Safety Overhaul

“The President instructed the government to take the following measures to ensure the safety of citizens involved in hazardous production facilities: conduct an audit of facilities for compliance with industrial safety standards, develop and implement modern safety systems, including gas alarms, seismic sensors, and positioning systems,” reads an official statement.

Tokayev also directed authorities to digitize industrial safety systems, introducing automated forecasting and warning mechanisms. Based on the audit’s findings, companies will be required to increase investment in modern safety technologies by adjusting their operational programs. Additionally, the Cabinet of Ministers has been tasked with tightening supervision and regulatory controls in the industrial sector.

“These instructions have been placed under special control by the presidential administration,” the statement emphasized.

Investigation Into the Mining Tragedy

As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, on February 17, an explosion at the Zhomart mine in Zhanaarka district, Ulytau region, killed seven employees of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP. A government commission was established to investigate the incident, with preliminary findings attributing the accident to a natural gas explosion.

Mining operations at the site have been suspended pending the results of the investigation. Two specialized subcommissions have been created:

One to determine the cause of the accident.
Another to identify possible safety violations.

These subcommissions are expected to complete their work by March 1.

Calls for Stronger Oversight

Kazakhstan’s parliament is pushing for stricter workplace safety measures, particularly in the mining sector. Mazhilis deputy Arman Kalykov has proposed the creation of a separate state body dedicated to industrial safety, which would report directly to the prime minister.

21 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Denies Rumors About Ratification of the Rome Statute

February 21, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan’s General Prosecutor’s Office has denied rumors that the country intends to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Kazinform reports.

Speculation about a possible ratification circulated on Kazakhstani Telegram channels earlier this week. However, in response to an official inquiry, the General Prosecutor’s Office stated that “no work on ratification of the said international document is underway.”

The Rome Statute, adopted on July 17, 1998, is an international treaty that establishes the legal framework, jurisdiction, and operational structure of the ICC.

The ICC, founded in 2002 under the Rome Statute, is the first permanent international judicial body dedicated to prosecuting individuals responsible for the most serious crimes affecting global peace and security.

21 Feb 2025

Home, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice

Russia Sentences Kyrgyz Citizen for Justifying Crocus City Hall Attack

February 21, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

A 30-year-old Kyrgyz citizen has been convicted in Russia for publicly justifying the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. The Second Western District Military Court found Abdinasir uulu Bekzat guilty of supporting the attackers, as reported by the Russian state news agency, TASS.

According to the court ruling, “Abdinasir uulu Bekzat, who worked as an installer of low-current systems at Atrium LLC in Moscow, was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – public calls to carry out terrorist activities using the internet. The court imposed a sentence of three years’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony.”

Additionally, the court banned Bekzat from administering websites for two years, confiscated the cell phone used to commit the crime, and ordered the destruction of the SIM card seized during his arrest.

Bekzat was detained in November 2024 and required an interpreter from Russian into his native language during the trial. He fully admitted his guilt and cooperated with the investigation. Prosecutors had sought a four-year sentence, but the court counted his pre-trial detention as part of the term under the “day-for-day” formula.

In early April 2024, Bekzat posted a comment under a video of the terrorists’ interrogation on the Telegram channel Migrants.ru, writing: “Beautiful guys, such a movement requires a huge spirit, it’s a pity they got caught.”

The charge against Bekzat carried a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison.

21 Feb 2025

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Justice

Uzbek Citizens Deported from U.S. to Return Home

February 21, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan has contacted Latin American governments and U.S. authorities regarding the deportation of its citizens from the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahror Burhonov announced.

According to Burhonov, Uzbek citizens deported from the U.S. typically return home on flights along the New York-Tashkent route. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington and the Consulate General in New York have been coordinating with U.S. law enforcement agencies to facilitate a safe return. As part of ongoing cooperation, the U.S. government notifies Uzbekistan of each deportation case.

“We are monitoring reports about the possible deportation of Uzbek citizens to other countries. Our diplomatic missions have formally requested information from the U.S. regarding such cases. Additionally, we have established contacts with Latin American countries through diplomatic channels,” Burhonov stated.

Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that a group of 200 migrants from Central Asia and India would be deported to Costa Rica as part of U.S. immigration enforcement efforts. A separate U.S. Air Force flight carrying deportees from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam recently landed in Panama. Two more flights are expected, bringing the total number of deportees to 360.

21 Feb 2025

Home, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics, Turkmenistan Features

Turkmenistan Plans to Raise Conscription Age

February 21, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Turkmenistan plans to raise the age of military conscription from 27 to 30, Turkmen News reports. A decree has reportedly been prepared, but President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has yet to sign it.

Avoiding the draft in Turkmenistan is difficult. Men who study abroad must report to military office upon their return. Without a military ID, they face restrictions on employment, housing, and official registration.

Since late December 2024, reports have indicated that military offices have largely stopped issuing “white tickets” – documents that confirm an individual’s fitness for service without requiring enlistment. This policy shift leaves potential conscripts with fewer options: staying abroad leaves them in legal limbo while returning home runs the risk of immediate conscription.

The Turkmen army has long struggled with a shortage of soldiers. Changing conscription rules appears to be an attempt to bolster the ranks, but it may only deepen young men’s reluctance to serve.

Conscripts often endure poor living conditions, inadequate supplies, and mistreatment by senior soldiers. Corruption remains a significant issue, with funds allegedly being misappropriated and discipline deteriorating. Defense Minister Begench Gundogdyev has been criticized for failing to address these problems.

In other Central Asian countries, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the conscription age remains at 27.

21 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Russia to Build Gas Pipeline for Northern Kazakhstan

February 21, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Russia will construct a new trunk gas pipeline to supply fuel to the northern and northeastern regions of Kazakhstan. The decision was formalized in an order signed by the Russian government on February 18, which was published on the country’s official legal information portal.

According to the document, the pipeline will have a design capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year, with compressor stations capable of generating 50 megawatts. The route will pass through Russia’s Tyumen region.

Kazakhstan’s Gas Supply Strategy

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev had previously outlined two potential strategies for ensuring gas supplies to the country’s northern regions.

The first option involved extending Gazprom’s existing Saryarka pipeline project, which would supply Kazakh gas to northern Kazakhstan.
The second option, now selected, is to import Russian gas through a newly built route.

Strategic Importance of Gasification

The issue of supplying gas to northern Kazakhstan was first raised by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in 2021. Tokayev emphasized that gasification of the Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions is a strategically important task.

“This is a matter of national importance,” he said at the time, stressing that expanding gas infrastructure would not only strengthen the region’s industrial potential but also enhance its attractiveness for business and improve living conditions for local residents.