Page 384 – The Times Of Central Asia

14 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs

First Kyrgyz-British Strategic Dialogue Meeting Held in London

February 14, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

The first meeting of the Kyrgyz-British Strategic Dialogue was held in London on February 13, co-chaired by Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Meder Abakirov and UK Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty.

According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, the meeting covered key areas of bilateral cooperation, including politics, security, trade, investment, finance, energy, sustainable development, culture, education, and tourism.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

Abakirov emphasized the Strategic Dialogue as a new platform for deepening relations between the two countries. Meetings will be held regularly to advance cooperation.

The first session focused on:

Expanding trade and investment, attracting British investors to Kyrgyzstan, and increasing Kyrgyz exports to the UK.
Enhancing education and scientific exchanges, including scholarship programs and digital education projects.
Joint initiatives in the green economy, climate change, and sustainable development.

UK-Kyrgyzstan Trade and Investment Growth

The UK is a key economic partner for Kyrgyzstan. In 2024, total bilateral trade reached £144 million, a 73.5% increase from the previous year.

Since June 2023, Kyrgyzstan has been part of the UK’s Developing Countries Trade Scheme (DCTS), which grants preferential or duty-free access to the UK market for around 8,000 Kyrgyz products.

In December 2024, the UK Export Finance (UKEF) agency approved a £1.8 billion soft loan to support sectoral projects in Kyrgyzstan.

The British government has also pledged funding for the development of Kyrgyzstan’s national strategy on critical minerals. This project is being carried out by Boston Consulting Group, which is also leading efforts to digitize Kyrgyzstan’s geological data, a move expected to attract further investment in the mining sector.

Additionally, negotiations have begun with the London Stock Exchange to prepare Kyrgyz state-owned companies for initial public offerings (IPOs).

14 Feb 2025

Business & Economy, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbekistan Doubles Sports Budget to $230 Million, Launches Presidential Olympics

February 14, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan has announced the launch of the Presidential Olympics, a new national sports competition, following a recent video conference meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Competitions in Olympic sports, titled “Olympic Peaks of New Uzbekistan,” will be held twice a year across the country. Winners at the district and regional levels will receive awards from local authorities, while regional champions will advance to the Presidential Olympics, which will take place annually at the Olympic Village from December 10-20.

Top athletes will be awarded valuable prizes, including houses and cars. Additionally, first and second-place winners will gain admission to the Republican Olympic and Paralympic Center, where they will receive scholarships for their first two years of study.

The initiative aims to enhance Uzbekistan’s international sports standing and help the country secure a top-ten finish at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

During the meeting, it was noted that Uzbekistan’s sports budget has doubled over the past four years, rising from UZS 1.5 trillion ($115.38 million) to UZS 3 trillion ($230.77 million). Additionally, coaches’ salaries have doubled; significant investments have been made in sports infrastructure; 101 new sports facilities have been built; and 67 existing facilities have been reconstructed.

To further support athletes preparing for international competitions, including the Olympics, an additional UZS 300 billion ($23 million) will be allocated.

President Mirziyoyev commented, “Sport is, first of all, an ambassador of peace, a source of national pride for every country.”

14 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Features, Kyrgyzstan Home

Japarov Backs Elon Musk’s Call to Shut Down Radio Liberty

February 14, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has expressed support for Elon Musk’s initiative to close U.S.-funded media outlets Voice of America and Radio Liberty. In an interview with the state news agency Kabar, Japarov suggested that Azattyk, the Kyrgyz branch of Radio Liberty, was no longer relevant in the digital age.

“Twenty or thirty years ago, everyone waited for Azattyk, listened to it, believed it – because there was no internet or smartphones. Now, people do not need information from Azattyk. Everyone gets their news online. Besides, our people have learned to analyze information and not believe everything,” Japarov said.

Azattyk’s Legal Battles in Kyrgyzstan

Japarov accused Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service of frequently spreading unverified and harmful information. He noted that when state authorities took legal action, Azattyk journalists often removed the disputed material.

In 2022, a Kyrgyz court suspended Azattyk’s license over its coverage of border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

“If you sue them, they start shouting to the whole world: ‘Freedom of speech is dead in our country.’ Is this normal? Is spreading misleading information or manipulating the news freedom of speech? We should not confuse permissiveness with free speech or human rights. That’s why Trump and Musk’s decision should be supported,” Japarov said.

At a national assembly in Bishkek last December, Japarov suggested that the U.S. State Department should provide funding directly to the Kyrgyz government, promising that Kyrgyzstan would then ensure democracy and human rights at the highest level.

Political Analysts Weigh In

Political analyst Bakyt Baketaev told The Times of Central Asia that while Radio Liberty – Azattyk is widely listened to in Kyrgyzstan, this does not necessarily mean broad public support for its narratives.

“They mix solid journalism with unverified reports. They frequently take negative stories from the opposition – sometimes deliberately disrupting stability. Naturally, this affects the authorities’ perception of the outlet,” Baketaev said.

He added that Azattyk’s closure would have a significant impact on pro-Western perspectives in Kyrgyzstan.

“Modern geopolitics has shown that democracy, free speech, and human rights cannot be introduced overnight in other countries. Afghanistan is a clear example of this. Democratic values should be developed in coordination with the state,” Baketaev said.

Despite the criticism, Baketaev acknowledged that Radio Liberty had successfully collaborated with the Kyrgyz government on ecology, public health, and women’s rights issues.

14 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

Ivanhoe Mines Begins Exploration of World’s Third-Largest Sedimentary Copper Basin in Kazakhstan

February 14, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines has announced a joint venture with UK-based Pallas Resources to explore the Chu-Sarysu Copper Basin in Kazakhstan – the world’s third-largest sediment-hosted copper basin, containing 27 million tons of known copper.

Exploration Plans and Investment

Ivanhoe Mines has acquired an initial 20% equity stake in the joint venture and has committed $18.7 million in exploration expenditure over the next two years. License applications, submitted in Q4 2024, cover an area of approximately 16,000 km².

Pallas Resources has digitized extensive Soviet-era geological data covering the license area. Initial analysis has identified multiple potential copper targets, which will be further explored following an airborne geophysics survey later this year.

After the initial two-year phase, Ivanhoe has the option to increase its stake by investing up to $115 million over the next four years, depending on how much of the license area it retains.

If a major copper deposit is discovered, Ivanhoe can secure up to an 80% equity stake by financing and completing a pre-feasibility study.

Significance of the Chu-Sarysu Basin

Ivanhoe Founder and Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland emphasized Kazakhstan’s importance as a key mining jurisdiction and home to one of the world’s most significant copper basins.

“The Ivanhoe Group has a long history in Kazakhstan… and we look forward to returning to this tremendous country to further unlock the significant geological potential of the Chu-Sarysu Basin,” Friedland said.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Chu-Sarysu Basin contains an estimated 25 million tons of undiscovered copper, further underscoring its untapped potential. The basin is also known to contain lead, zinc, silver, barium, and strontium deposits.

Kazakhstan’s Mining Industry

Kazakhstan is already a global leader in mineral production:

World’s largest uranium producer.
Second-largest chromite producer.
Major producer of copper, zinc, iron ore, and coal.

Mining and quarrying contribute approximately 14% of Kazakhstan’s GDP and 17.5% of its total exports, valued at around $10.5 billion.

14 Feb 2025

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

Kazakh Machine Builders Face Payment Hurdles in Russia Trade

February 14, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Azat Peruashev, head of the Ak Zhol party’s parliamentary faction, which represents Kazakhstani business interests, has appealed to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov to address payment difficulties faced by machine-building enterprises exporting to Russia.

According to the Majilis deputy, these challenges stem from within Kazakhstan itself. Peruashev explained that machine-building enterprises have approached his party, reporting that Kazakhstani banks are refusing them credit. Additionally, second-tier banks (BVUs) are declining to process payments for companies engaged in business with Russian partners.

“These actions by financial institutions are driven by concerns that exported products could be added to U.S. and EU sanctions lists, which, in turn, could expose the banks to secondary sanctions,” Peruashev said.

As a result, commercial banks in Kazakhstan have begun demanding that local factories provide guarantees that they will not export products to Russia – under threat of having their credit lines revoked. This is happening despite assurances from David O’Sullivan, the European Union’s sanctions envoy, who recently visited Kazakhstan. O’Sullivan stated that the European Commission would not impose sanctions on goods manufactured in Kazakhstan and exported to Russia.

“The EU’s only concern is to prevent the re-export of sanctioned European products through Kazakhstan,” Peruashev said. “However, representatives of Kazakhstan’s largest banks find these assurances unconvincing. In their view, the decisive factor is not whether a product is re-exported or locally manufactured, but whether it appears on a sanctions list. This creates the risk of secondary sanctions, not necessarily from the EU, but from the U.S., including the potential disconnection from the SWIFT international banking system.”

According to Ak Zhol, Kazakhstani exports of machine-building products and components to Russia fell by 15% last year. The banks’ refusal to process payments is not based on any official government restrictions.

Last summer, seven Kazakh companies faced U.S. secondary sanctions for cooperating with Russian partners. In October, the list expanded to include Kazstanex, a company involved in supplying machine tools and components. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, during his visit to Astana in January, David O’Sullivan stated that the EU had sanctioned two Kazakh companies so far but did not rule out further additions to the list.

14 Feb 2025

Justice, Tajikistan Justice, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s Supreme Court Breaks Silence on Alleged Coup Case

February 14, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

For the first time, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has publicly commented on a high-profile case involving leading politicians accused of high treason and attempting to seize power by force.

Shavkat Lutfullozoda, first deputy chairman of the Supreme Court, told a press conference on February 13 that “the case materials contain circumstances indicating that their actions were directly aimed at high treason and the violent seizure of power.” However, he declined to disclose further details, citing the closed nature of the trial.

The proceedings were held behind closed doors, but Lutfullozoda stated that they took place “with the participation of the judge and people’s assessors.”

The following individuals were convicted and sentenced on February 5, 2025, at the Dushanbe Detention Center. The verdicts take effect on February 15:

Hamrohon Zarifi, former foreign minister: 27 years in prison and a 10,000 somoni fine on five counts, including high treason and the forcible seizure of power.
Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former head of the Democratic Party: 27 years for high treason and inciting discord.
Jamshed Boboyev, retired GKNB colonel: 21 years for high treason and forcible seizure of power.
Akhmadshokh Komilzoda, former deputy chairman of the Democratic Party: 19 years for attempted violent seizure of power.
Akbarshokh Iskandarov, former head of the Supreme Soviet: 18 years on similar charges.
Shokirjon Khakimov, lawyer and first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party: 18 years for inciting discord and high treason.
Nurahmad Ganizoda, retired GKNB colonel: 18 years for violent seizure of power.
Abdulfayiz Atoi, former head of the Foreign Ministry’s press service: 17 years for forcible seizure of power and document forgery.
Rukhshona Khakimova, journalist: 8 years for complicity in state treason.

Mass arrests began in June 2024, following the detention of Saidjafar Usmonzoda. Authorities soon arrested Zarifi, Iskandarov, Komilzoda, Khakimov, Atoi, Ganizoda, and Boboyev. Prosecutor General Yusuf Rakhmon stated that most of the detainees were linked to Usmonzoda’s case.

Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova initially remained at large due to having a young child. However, she was arrested after the verdict was handed down.

The first court hearing took place on November 14, 2024, and the trial lasted more than six months, held behind closed doors at a pre-trial detention center.