Page 379 – The Times Of Central Asia

18 Feb 2025

Cultural Heritage, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Cultural Appropriation: How the YAKA Brand Sparked Outrage in Kyrgyzstan

February 23, 2025
By Tamila Olzhbaekova

A scandal has erupted in Kyrgyzstan over the Russian clothing brand YAKA, founded by Anna Obydenova. The company, which produces clothing, accessories, and carpets adorned with stylized Kyrgyz ornaments, has faced backlash after claiming exclusive copyright to its designs. This move has sparked widespread outrage among Kyrgyz citizens, who accuse the brand of appropriating their cultural heritage.

Social Media Backlash

The controversy first gained traction on social media, where users quickly pointed out the alleged appropriation. One of the first to speak out was Uulzhan Bekturova, who posted an Instagram story highlighting that YAKA’s so-called “skirt” from its YAKA Unique collection was, in fact, a traditional Kyrgyz garment known as a beldemchi. She addressed the brand directly:

“No, this is not a ‘skirt’ from your YAKA Unique collection, it is our beldemchi! Stop stealing our culture! Shame on you!”

Her post quickly went viral, triggering a wave of public indignation.

Further fueling the controversy was a statement on YAKA’s official website claiming that the brand was created “in honor of the 100th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s independence.” This historical inaccuracy (Kyrgyzstan gained independence only 34 years ago, in 1991) led to further accusations of ignorance and cultural insensitivity.

Another source of outrage was YAKA’s warning that copying its designs was prohibited, which many saw as an attempt to monopolize traditional Kyrgyz patterns.

TikTok Outrage and Calls for Boycott

Public discontent was particularly intense on TikTok, where users criticized YAKA’s actions. One user, @rrrrrramilya, posted a viral video condemning the brand’s claim over Kyrgyz symbols:

“A clothing brand has patented Kyrgyz patterns, registering them as their property. They justify it by saying ‘Made in Kyrgyzstan’ is on each product and that Kyrgyz artisans create them. So, if it’s made in Kyrgyzstan, is that OK? No! Manufacturing in a country does not give you the right to own its culture. Making something in Kyrgyzstan does not mean you get exclusive rights to traditional symbols!”

Another user, @yido.kg, explained why cultural appropriation is such a sensitive issue:

“The problem is that culture bearers are often discriminated against because of their own culture, while others use it as a fashion trend. But this isn’t just fashion – it’s the heritage of an entire people.”

These videos gained widespread support, with many users calling for a boycott of YAKA products and demanding legal protection of Kyrgyz cultural heritage at the international level.

Voices from Kyrgyzstan

TCA spoke with Kyrgyz citizens to gauge their perspectives on the issue.

Aisulu, 20, from Bishkek, expressed her frustration:

“I am proud of our culture and traditions. It’s terrible when someone tries to profit from our heritage without our consent.”

Mairam, 24, from Osh, added:

“Our ornaments are not just patterns; they are part of our soul. No one should have the right to appropriate them.”

Beksultan, 26, from Bishkek, emphasized the need for action:

“We must unite and protect our cultural heritage. Cases like this should not go unnoticed.”

YAKA’s Response and a New Controversy

In response to the backlash, Anna Obydenova closed her personal social media accounts, though YAKA’s official pages remain active. However, instead of diffusing tensions, a post on the brand’s account further inflamed the situation:

“You know, dear ones, I will address you in the language you borrowed from my nation and used to write obscenities to me in private: Go and learn Russian better. It hurts my eyes to read you.”

Many interpreted this statement as both dismissive and nationalistic, further intensifying calls to boycott the brand. Critics urged local artisans to stop collaborating with YAKA to prevent the continued use of Kyrgyz cultural symbols without community consent.

The Broader Debate on Cultural Appropriation

This controversy raises important questions about cultural appropriation and intellectual property rights, particularly concerning traditional knowledge and heritage. For many Kyrgyz people, this issue goes beyond fashion, it is about preserving and protecting their cultural identity.

The outcry over YAKA’s designs highlights a growing demand for legal frameworks that safeguard national symbols and ensure they are respected rather than exploited for commercial gain.

18 Feb 2025

International Affairs, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Kuwait Strengthen Ties with Landmark Agreements During President Mirziyoyev’s Visit

February 18, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Kuwait on February 17 at the invitation of Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Sabah. The two leaders met at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude for the Emir’s warm welcome and extended congratulations to the people of Kuwait on their upcoming national holidays. He also praised Kuwait’s progress under its Vision 2035 program, noting that its objectives align with Uzbekistan’s long-term development plans.

Following their discussions, the leaders adopted a joint statement on enhancing Uzbek-Kuwaiti cooperation. Several agreements were signed, including:

Agreement on cooperation in industry
Protocol to the Agreement on Air Services
Agreement on labor cooperation
Agreement on the development of “smart” cities
Agreement on cooperation in arts and culture
Agreement on healthcare collaboration
Tourism cooperation program for 2025-2027
Cooperation agreement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development

These agreements mark a new phase in Uzbekistan-Kuwait relations, fostering closer collaboration in key economic and social sectors.

18 Feb 2025

International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Opinions

Kyrgyz Labor Migrants Confront Challenges in Europe

February 18, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

The Center for Employment of Kyrgyz Citizens Abroad has announced the launch of online registration for seasonal agricultural work in the United Kingdom. Alongside migration to Russia, Europe remains one of the most popular destinations for Kyrgyz workers. Tens of thousands of citizens seek employment in Europe, Turkey, and South Korea. However, despite the widely advertised benefits of working abroad, many migrants face significant challenges.

According to the state portal migrant.kg, wages for seasonal agricultural work in the UK are set at £11.50 per hour, with a guaranteed minimum of 32 hours per week. Applicants must meet certain conditions, including being in satisfactory physical and psychological health and having at least a basic knowledge of Russian.

The Kyrgyz government assures job seekers that employment under state-brokered contracts is free of charge and, most importantly, safe. Migrants are only required to cover the costs of their visa, insurance, and airfare. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Labor, Social Development, and Migration has previously signed agreements on labor migration with companies in the UK, Italy, and Slovakia, as well as with employers in South Korea. In addition to government initiatives, private agencies also facilitate job placements for Kyrgyz citizens abroad.

The Times of Central Asia spoke with Rakhim Mirzyaev, a former labor migrant, about his experiences working in the European Union.

“In general, Kyrgyz citizens are readily accepted in most EU countries. I worked in Poland for six months at a car parts factory, then moved to the Netherlands for agricultural work. Many people don’t realize it, but this type of labor can be brutal,” Mirzyaev told TCA.

The cost of obtaining a visa, insurance, and airfare for his job in Poland totaled $750.

“At the factory in Poland, we were paid hourly, only about $5 per hour. An inspector monitored our work every hour. Local regulations required us to meet specific production targets. If you failed to meet the quota, you were first fined, and then, if it continued, you could be fired,” he explained.

According to Kyrgyz migrants, inflation has made it increasingly difficult to live and work in Europe. Rising food and housing costs leave little room for savings. Unlike international students, migrant workers receive no financial benefits or subsidies.

Nutrition was another major challenge. Mirzyaev noted that adjusting to inexpensive European food was difficult for those accustomed to traditional Central Asian cuisine.

“We mostly ate pasta because it was the cheapest option. If we spent money on better food, we wouldn’t be able to save anything to send home. I lost 20 kilograms in six months working at the factory in Poland,” he said.

Many Kyrgyz migrants exchange job opportunities and experiences through online messaging groups. It was in one such group that Mirzyaev and a friend found an unofficial job opening in the Netherlands. However, without an official work permit, they faced even greater difficulties.

“But in the Netherlands, we didn’t pass the probation period and were fired after three days. The job required us to work on a conveyor belt, crawling on our knees across the fields to pick cabbage. Keeping up with the pace was nearly impossible. Even if we had managed to stay, surviving in the Netherlands on a migrant’s wages would have been very tough,” he said.

According to Mirzyaev, daily wages for field laborers in the Netherlands can reach €100, but about half of that goes toward housing costs. After covering food and other necessities, saving money is extremely difficult.

“Such work is not for everyone,” he concluded.

18 Feb 2025

International Affairs, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Turkmenistan Features

Turkmenistan Ranked Worst in Central Asia in 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index

February 18, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Turkmenistan has once again ranked among the world’s most corrupt countries, placing last in Central Asia in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2024.

According to the index, Turkmenistan ranked 165th out of 180 countries, scoring 17 out of 100 points. This marks a decline from the previous year, when the country scored 18 points and was ranked 170th.

Among other Central Asian nations, Tajikistan ranked 164th with 19 points, while Kyrgyzstan placed 146th with 25 points. Uzbekistan ranked 121st with 32 points, and Kazakhstan was the highest-ranked in the region at 88th place with 40 points. Russia, with 22 points, was ranked 154th.

The report highlights that authoritarianism and weak judicial systems remain key drivers of corruption in Central Asia.

Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Luxembourg topped the index as the least corrupt countries. Meanwhile, Yemen, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan were ranked among the most corrupt, with South Sudan finishing last at 180th place.

Transparency International warns that corruption remains a significant global threat, even in efforts to combat climate change. According to the organization, corrupt practices hinder emissions reductions, slow adaptation to climate change, and severely impact sustainable development.

“While 32 countries have significantly reduced corruption since 2012, in 148 nations the situation has either remained unchanged or worsened. The global average remains at 43 points, and more than two-thirds of countries score below 50. As a result, billions of people continue to live in environments where corruption undermines their rights and quality of life,” Transparency International stated in its report.

18 Feb 2025

Local Politics, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Featurees

Seven Killed in Kazakhstan’s Latest Mining Tragedy

February 19, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

A rock collapse at the Zhomart mine in Kazakhstan’s Ulytau region has claimed the lives of seven miners, the press service of Kazakhmys, the mine’s owner, reported. The workers were trapped under the rubble, with preliminary findings suggesting a natural gas explosion as the cause.

The incident occurred on Monday at the Zhomart mine, located 180 kilometers from Zhezkazgan, the administrative center of Ulytau region. The mine extracts copper-sulfide ore at a depth of 700 meters using underground mining methods, with an annual production capacity of 3.6 million tons of ore.

Rescue efforts began immediately after the collapse, with more than 20 rescuers, seven units of specialized equipment, and canine teams deployed to the site. However, due to damaged communication cables, there was no contact with the trapped miners. By Tuesday morning, all seven bodies had been recovered and brought to the surface.

Kazakhmys stated that while a natural gas explosion is uncharacteristic for its mines, it remains a possible cause of the collapse. “According to preliminary data, there was an explosion of natural gas, which is unusual for Kazakhmys Corporation’s mines. The circumstances and causes of the incident are being investigated,” the company said in a statement.

The company has pledged financial support to the victims’ families, offering compensation amounting to ten times the employees’ average annual earnings, along with an additional 2 million tenge to cover funeral expenses.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered the creation of a government commission to investigate the causes of the collapse. The commission is led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed the government to conduct a thorough investigation. He also directed regional authorities and specialized agencies to provide full support to the victims’ families.

This marks the second fatal accident at a Kazakhmys facility this year. In January, a worker died at the company’s East Zhezkazgan mine, and in October 2023, a carbon monoxide leak at the Sayak-3 mine resulted in the deaths of two miners who were not evacuated in time.

Kazakhstan’s deadliest mining accidents, however, have been linked to ArcelorMittal Temirtau (AMT). The worst industrial disaster in the country’s post-independence history occurred on October 28, 2023, at the Kostenko mine, then owned by AMT.

A fire and subsequent explosion at a depth of 700 meters resulted in the deaths of 46 miners. At the time of the accident, between 227 and 252 workers were underground, with 208 successfully evacuated. On Monday, Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General Berik Asylov announced the completion of the investigation into the Kostenko disaster, with ten individuals facing trial under Article 277 of the Criminal Code for violating mining safety regulations. Investigators determined that the fire and explosion were caused by a mechanical spark igniting methane gas.

As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the Kostenko mine tragedy led to a shift in ownership of key coal and metallurgical assets in the Karaganda region. Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal was replaced by Kazakh businessman Andrei Lavrentiev, under whose leadership the company was rebranded as Qarmet in 2023.

18 Feb 2025

International Affairs, Defense, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan

Drone Attack on Caspian Pipeline Consortium Station: Implications for Kazakhstan

February 18, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

On February 17, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) reported a drone attack on the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

According to an official CPC statement, the attack involved seven drones armed with explosives and metal shrapnel. The strikes occurred at intervals, which, according to experts, suggests an intent not only to disable the facility but also to endanger personnel. Despite this, no casualties were reported. Quick action by CPC employees prevented an oil spill, though the station was taken out of operation.

A commission led by CPC General Director Nikolay Gorban arrived at the site to assess the damage and determine a timeline for repairs. Currently, oil transportation along the Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline is operating at reduced capacity, bypassing the Kropotkinskaya station. CPC’s international shareholders, including companies from the United States and Europe, have been informed of the attack and its consequences.

Temur Umarov, a researcher at the Carnegie Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies in Berlin, commented on the incident via his Telegram channel, noting that Ukraine had previously avoided targeting CPC infrastructure in Russia to avoid harming Kazakhstan and its Western partners, such as Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Eni. However, he said this latest attack underscores Kazakhstan’s vulnerability, as the country relies on the CPC pipeline for 80% of its oil exports.

“Whatever the consequences and reactions to this episode, it reminds Kazakhstan once again of its deep dependence on the CPC pipeline; through it, Astana can be pressured both by Russia and, as we now see, by others,” Umarov wrote.

The Kropotkinskaya station is the largest CPC oil pumping facility in Russia, located in Krasnodar Krai. However, according to the TCA, no Kazakh oil passes through this station.

This is not the first time drones, presumably Ukrainian, have targeted infrastructure related to Kazakh oil exports via Russian territory. In December 2023, drones struck a loading point of the Druzhba pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, a key route for Kazakh oil exports to Europe.