Page 388 – The Times Of Central Asia

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, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, 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, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, 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.

13 Feb 2025

Environment, Features

Environmental Advocate Vadim Ni Warns of Impending Disaster for Caspian Sea and Calls for Global Action to Prevent Ecological Collapse

February 14, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Vadim Ni is an environmental law attorney and climate expert. He has served on compliance committees for the Aarhus Convention and the Protocol of the Eurasian Economic Commission on Water and Health. Additionally, he was part of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s delegation in climate change negotiations.

He is also the founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement, which seeks to raise public awareness of the environmental issues facing the Caspian Sea and promote sustainable solutions for its preservation.

TCA: Could you tell us why the Caspian Sea is so important and why it requires our urgent attention?

Vadim: The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest enclosed body of water, spanning five countries, including Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Its significance extends far beyond geographical borders. It is home to unique species, including the endangered Caspian seal and several sturgeon species, which play a crucial role in the ecosystem and local economy.

Unfortunately, the sea is on the brink of an environmental disaster due to climate change, pollution, and industrial exploitation. If action is not taken now, the world will face global consequences, from biodiversity loss to the destabilization of regional economies. Without immediate and decisive measures, this will lead to catastrophe not only in the region but globally.

TCA: What inspired you to create Save the Caspian Sea?

Vadim: I have been involved in environmental protection for a long time and have seen how fragmented efforts to save the Caspian have failed to yield significant results. The mass deaths of thousands of Caspian seals and the rapid shallowing of the coastline were alarming signals for me. It became clear that without a unified and coordinated initiative, we simply wouldn’t be able to save the sea in time. This led to the creation of Save the Caspian Sea, a movement that brings together the efforts of governments, businesses, environmentalists, and ordinary people. Its goal is to mobilize all possible resources to protect this vital body of water before it is too late.

TCA: What are the main threats currently facing the Caspian Sea?

Vadim: There are three major issues. The first is shrinking water levels. Due to climate change and the mismanagement of water resources, the sea level is rapidly declining. In Kazakhstan, some areas have already seen the shoreline retreat by dozens of kilometers. This is destroying ecosystems and causing severe damage to fisheries and tourism.

The second problem is pollution. Industrial waste and heavy metals, mainly from oil extraction and processing, are being discharged into the water. This not only worsens water quality but also devastates marine flora and fauna, putting many species at risk of extinction. Additionally, large oil fields release toxic substances into the air, poisoning the environment. In the village of Berezovka, 25 toxic compounds have been detected in the air, causing residents to suffer from migraines, dizziness, hair loss, and deteriorating vision.

The third threat is ecosystem destruction. The Caspian seal population has plummeted from one million in the early 20th century to just 70,000 today. Pollution weakens the animals’ immune systems, making them more vulnerable to disease. Additionally, in 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified four out of five Caspian sturgeon species as critically endangered.

TCA: What are the goals of Save the Caspian Sea?

Vadim: We focus on three key areas. First, we demand accountability from corporations. Companies operating in the region must adhere to strict environmental standards. Their profits should not come at the expense of the environment and people’s health.

Second, we engage the global community. Save the Caspian Sea actively collaborates with governments, international organizations, and NGOs. We run awareness campaigns and events to bring the Caspian Sea crisis to the global stage.

Third, we work on ecosystem restoration. It’s not enough to just reduce pollution. We need to invest in conservation and biodiversity protection. Our goal is not just to stop the destruction but to restore the sea to a stable state.

TCA: How does Save the Caspian Sea engage local communities?

Vadim: Community involvement is at the core of our strategy. We launched a global awareness campaign with the hashtag #SaveTheCaspianSea, which helps draw attention to the issue. People can share their stories, talk about the situation in their regions, and demand change.

We also organize educational seminars and develop programs that provide local residents with the knowledge and tools to protect the environment. Our website offers resources for anyone who wants to get involved, from signing petitions to supporting ecosystem restoration initiatives.

TCA: What roles do governments and businesses play in this process?

Vadim: Their role is critically important. Governments must tighten environmental regulations, invest in sustainable technologies, and collaborate internationally, as the Caspian Sea is a shared resource.

Corporations, especially those in the oil and gas sector, must operate transparently, adhere to strict environmental standards, and transition to safer technologies. Save the Caspian Sea also advocates for a shift toward renewable energy sources to reduce the region’s dependence on oil and gas, the primary drivers of environmental damage.

TCA: What message would you like to leave for our readers?

Vadim: The fate of the Caspian Sea depends on each of us. This is not just a regional crisis, it is a global issue, exacerbated by the activities of international corporations.

What happens here will impact ecosystems and economies worldwide. Everyone can make a difference by supporting environmental initiatives, spreading awareness, and demanding decisive action from governments and businesses.

Together, we can change the situation and preserve the Caspian Sea as a source of life for future generations.

13 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Salary Cuts for Underperforming Officials

February 13, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The Kyrgyz presidential administration is developing new mechanisms to penalize officials for repeated disciplinary offenses, including salary reductions and forfeiture of bonuses. The initiative, aimed at improving accountability in the civil service, was announced by Azamat Osmonov, Head of the Department of Control of Execution of Decisions of the President and Cabinet of Ministers.

According to Osmonov, 56 civil servants were disciplined in 2024 for misconduct. Among them:

7 officials, including akims (local governors), their deputies, and senior government officials, were dismissed.
27 officials, including one minister, received reprimands.
22 officials faced additional disciplinary actions.

The presidential administration and the Cabinet of Ministers are set to convene a board meeting to review the performance of state agency heads for 2024.

“Unfortunately, current regulations allow the same official to be reprimanded repeatedly without serious consequences. We intend to change this practice: if an official has already been disciplined, a repeated offense should lead to dismissal,” Osmonov stated.

In addition to stricter dismissal policies, the government is considering financial penalties as an alternative punishment.

“We are introducing the monetization of disciplinary measures: after receiving a reprimand, an official will be ineligible for bonuses, and their salary will be reduced. This should create additional motivation to comply with discipline,” Osmonov explained.

The proposed mechanism is currently under development and will be integrated into the Code of Administrative Violations.

Kyrgyzstan already enforces financial penalties for civil servants who fail to meet deadlines for addressing citizens’ appeals. The current fine stands at 100 calculation indices (a fixed monetary unit used for penalties and state fees).

“We will further refine this approach by drafting new legal regulations to enhance officials’ accountability and improve the quality of work within state institutions,” Osmonov added.