Page 392 – The Times Of Central Asia

04 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan Plans to Ban Starlink and Other Satellite Communication Systems Face Backlash

February 5, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan is considering a ban on the import of Starlink and other satellite communication devices, a move that has sparked opposition from experts and the public.

In December 2024, authorities proposed a draft regulation prohibiting the import of satellite communication equipment from major manufacturers, including Thuraya, Iridium, Inmarsat, and Starlink. The proposal quickly ignited public debate on the Open ABO portal, with most commentators opposing the measure. Following a wave of criticism, the draft was sent for revision.

National Security Concerns

The ban would apply to satellite phones and terminals commonly used by emergency services, maritime fleets, and travelers in areas lacking traditional communication networks. The Ministry of Digital Development defends the restriction as a national security measure, citing Article 23 of Kazakhstan’s Law on National Security. The law prohibits the operation of foreign-controlled communication networks within the country. Authorities have suggested requiring local oversight of satellite devices.

Industry and Legal Concerns

Industry representatives and legal experts, however, have raised strong objections.

Safety Risks: Alexey Korchagin, a representative of satellite communications partner ZHARYQ LLP, warns that restricting satellite communication could jeopardize lives. He argues that alternatives such as Eutelsat-OneWeb and Amazon Kuiper cannot fully replace Thuraya, Iridium, and Inmarsat, as their functionality differs. Unlike bulky VSAT terminals, mobile satellite phones are compact, easy to use, and designed for emergencies.
Control Over Information: Lawyer Yelzhan Kabyshev sees the ban as part of a broader effort to control information flows. He points to previous cyber-control measures, including security certificates and data interception policies. He also questions the transparency of the decision-making process, particularly after the January 2022 unrest, which led to criminal cases against top National Security Committee officials.
A Growing Black Market: Experts argue that the ban will not eliminate security risks, as the devices could still be smuggled into the country. Korchagin warns that such restrictions could fuel the “gray” market, making it harder to regulate and potentially increasing security threats.

Alternative Solutions

Instead of an outright ban, experts recommend cooperation with satellite operators to ensure regulatory oversight without compromising essential communication services.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is working to expand internet access in remote areas. In 2024, a pilot project connected nearly 2,000 rural schools to Starlink satellite internet. The Ministry of Digital Economy has stated that the ban will not affect these connections, though the long-term future of the project after 2026 remains uncertain.

04 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Tajikistan Justice, Home, Justice, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Features, Tajikistan Home, Features

Riot in Tajik Prison Leaves Several Inmates Dead

February 5, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

On February 3, a riot broke out in Tajikistan’s Vahdat Penitentiary No. 3/2, 15 miles from Dushanbe, resulting in the deaths of several prisoners. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Justice, the incident occurred when nine inmates – convicted over links to Islamic State and the Jihadi Salafi movement – launched an armed attack on prison staff using improvised weapons.

“As a result of the attack, three guards were seriously injured,” the ministry’s statement said. The prisoners, armed with makeshift knives, refused to comply with prison authorities and attempted to kill security personnel in an escape attempt.

According to the authorities, the prison guards responded with firearms, killing three of the attackers and detaining the others. The injured staff members received medical treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities also confirmed that security at the facility has been fully restored.

While official reports initially listed three inmate fatalities, some sources suggest that the actual number of prisoner deaths may be higher. Condemning the treatment of detainees by officials at the prison, the Civil Committee for the Rescue of Hostages and Political Prisoners of Tajikistan (CCHP) stated that “at least 10 prisoners were killed and a number were injured as a result of guards shooting at prisoners.”

Despite reports that the detainees had briefly raised the Islamic State flag over the prison, CCHP claimed that those killed were political prisoners who had no connection to ISIS or any other banned group.

History of Prison Riots in Tajikistan

This is not the first violent uprising within Tajikistan’s penitentiary system.

In May 2019, inmates in the same facility armed with knives took three staff members hostage and killed them. They also executed five fellow prisoners before security forces suppressed the riot. Among those killed was Behruz Halimov, son of Gulmurod Halimov, a former Tajik special forces officer who later joined ISIS. The riot left 29 prisoners dead, and Tajikistan’s Supreme Court subsequently increased the sentences of 28 convicts involved in the incident. ISIS claimed responsibility for the riot.

In November 2018, a similar riot occurred in a high-security prison in Khujand, where 21 inmates and two prison staff members were killed. Five guards were also injured. Following an investigation, 33 prisoners stood trial, and nine prison officials, including the warden, received prison sentences for negligence.

Broader Security Concerns

In recent years, Tajikistan has witnessed numerous escape attempts from detention facilities, though nearly all have ended in failure. Most escape organizers have either been killed during apprehension or recaptured.

These recurring incidents highlight ongoing security challenges within the country’s prison system and underscore the need for further reforms to prevent future outbreaks of violence.

04 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Sign $4.5M Trade Deal as Economic Ties Grow

February 4, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Business representatives from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have signed a $4.5 million trade agreement, Tasnim News reported on February 3.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the deal, stating that it was signed by private sector representatives from both countries.

Afghanistan is Uzbekistan’s fifth-largest export market. Over the past five years, trade between the two countries has grown by nearly 1.5 times, reaching $866 million in 2023.

Currently, 550 Afghan-invested enterprises operate in Uzbekistan, 443 of which are fully Afghan-owned. Joint projects are ongoing in food production, construction materials, agriculture, tourism, and textiles.

Beyond trade agreements, both countries are discussing broader economic cooperation. In August 2024, an Uzbek delegation led by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov visited Afghanistan. During the meetings, both sides emphasized their goal of increasing trade turnover to $1 billion in 2024, with a long-term target of $3 billion. Officials stressed the need to tap into new economic opportunities on a mutually beneficial basis.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in October 2024, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Oil signed a 10-year contract with an Uzbek company for gas exploration and production in the Tuti Maidan gas field in Jawzjan province. The project is expected to bring in about $1 billion in investment to the region’s gas sector.

04 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

Iran’s Non-Oil Exports to Uzbekistan Rise by 18%

February 4, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Iran’s non-oil exports to Uzbekistan increased by 18% in value and 14% in weight during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 20 – December 20, 2024), compared to the same period last year (March 21 – December 21, 2023), Trend reported, citing data from the Iranian Customs Administration.

According to the report, Iran exported 414,000 tons of non-oil goods worth $292 million to Uzbekistan during this period. In the corresponding months of the previous Iranian year, exports totaled 364,000 tons, valued at approximately $248 million.

Key Iranian Exports to Uzbekistan

Iran’s main exports to Uzbekistan included:

Milk and dairy products
Petrochemicals
Various types of pipes
Glass containers
Agricultural equipment

Overall, Iran’s total trade turnover with Uzbekistan during the nine-month period reached 444,000 tons, valued at $358 million.

Expanding Trade Ties with Kazakhstan

In addition to strengthening economic relations with Uzbekistan, Iran is also deepening trade ties with Kazakhstan.

As The Times of Central Asia reported, on January 30, Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref met with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov in Almaty to discuss trade and transport cooperation.

Kazakhstan’s trade with Iran reached $296 million in 2024, an 8.1% increase from the previous year. Notably, Kazakhstan’s exports to Iran grew by 29.1%, reaching $100.6 million. Kazakhstan plans to expand exports of wheat and barley, while both sides discussed increasing cargo traffic and upgrading port terminals to facilitate trade.

04 Feb 2025

Home, Environment, Uzbekistan Environment, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Features, Features

Turning the Tide and Tackling Pollution in Uzbekistan: Insights from the Head of Environmental Policy

February 6, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

In recent years, air pollution in Uzbekistan has become an issue of growing concern, while the drying up of the Aral Sea continues to draw global attention. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Farruh Sattarov, Head of the Environmental Policy Department at the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, about the country’s environmental challenges and the ministry’s efforts to raise public awareness.

TCA: Can you briefly describe the main projects currently being implemented by the Ministry of Ecology?

Sattarov: To improve the environmental situation, we are working on several major projects. One key initiative is a $115 million investment project with the U.S. company, Sayar LLC, to generate alternative thermal energy from medical waste. This project will process 96,000 tons of medical waste annually, producing 320 GWh of thermal energy.

Another significant effort focuses on improving air quality in Tashkent. In collaboration with South Korea’s Sejin G&E Co., Ltd, we are investing $55 million to generate 16 MW of electricity per year from landfill gas at the Akhangaran and Maydontol municipal waste sites.

Additionally, we are partnering with the Asian Development Bank on a $60 million waste management project. This includes supplying special equipment, mobile laboratories, and waste containers to sanitation enterprises in Karakalpakstan and other regions.

Farruh Sattarov; image: Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan

TCA: What are the priority areas for improving Uzbekistan’s environmental policy?

Sattarov: Our environmental strategy is guided by the Concept of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030, which was approved in 2019. Its main goals include improving air quality, promoting sustainable economic growth through eco-friendly technologies, and ensuring efficient natural resource management.

In 2025, our focus will be on the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy.” As part of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy, we are developing 30 environmental protection laws, which are currently open for public discussion.

TCA: What measures are being taken to combat air pollution?

Sattarov: In 2024, we took several key steps. We installed or upgraded dust and gas cleaning equipment at 188 enterprises and required 99.5% efficiency filtration systems at 24 new factories, preventing 8,500 tons of harmful emissions. In terms of targeting vehicle emissions, during the “Clean Air” campaign, we inspected 407,000 vehicles, preventing 256.9 tons of pollutants from entering the atmosphere. As part of the “Green Space” project, we planted 11.8 million trees around high-emission industrial sites. We also staged “Carless Day” events in Tashkent, Nukus, and other cities which helped reduce emissions by 5,800 tons, and eased traffic congestion.

In 2025, we plan to modernize pollution controls at 122 major enterprises, inspect 500,000 vehicles as part of a new “Clean Air” campaign, and plant ten million more trees in and around industrial areas.

TCA: What international initiatives does Uzbekistan support on climate change?

Sattarov: Uzbekistan is actively involved in both global and regional climate initiatives. In regards to the Paris Agreement, we are developing our third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to outline stronger commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding renewable energy. Our National Climate Adaptation Plan aims to minimize risks and boost resilience against climate change by transitioning to a green economy.

In terms of regional collaboration, we are part of the Central Asian Climate Adaptation Strategy, a joint effort with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, supported by Germany’s GIZ “Green Central Asia” program. This initiative focuses on water management, desertification prevention, and agricultural sustainability.

TCA: What activities have been organized to promote environmental awareness?

Sattarov: These are several initiatives aimed at educating the public on environmental issues: the “Uzbekistan Eco-Publication and Video Clips Award” is a nationwide competition inviting people to submit articles and videos on ecology; “Hymn of Nature” is a poetry and music competition highlighting Uzbekistan’s natural beauty; and the “Green Space” project is a tree-planting campaign encouraging every citizen to plant at least one tree, with over two million trees planned for 2025.

We are also launching several youth-focused programs in 2025: the “Do You Know the Laws on Ecology?” competition will involve over 110,000 school students and 7,000 vocational students to enhance legal awareness, whilst the “Ambassadors of Good Intentions of the Aral Sea” conference will bringing together young people from Uzbekistan and abroad to discuss environmental challenges in Karakalpakstan.

Eco-Picnic Events will see eco-friendly gatherings in parks and recreational areas to promote sustainability; the “Eco-Ingenuity” competition is a university-level platform for students to propose innovative environmental solutions; and the “Youth Builders of the Future” congress will gather 2,000 young people from Uzbekistan and 100 international participants to exchange ideas on environmental activism.

TCA: What is being done to address the Aral Sea crisis?

Sattarov: Efforts to restore the Aral Sea region include reforestation: since 2021, 45.5 million trees have been planted in Karakalpakstan, covering 1.9 million hectares of the dried-up seabed. Six artificial lakes covering 70,000 hectares have been created, replenished annually with a billion cubic meters of water from the Amu Darya River to support biodiversity and fish farming. Dust and gas filters have been modernized at major factories, and wastewater treatment systems have been upgraded at eight industrial facilities since 2022. Seven protected nature reserves now cover 3.7 million hectares (22.3% of Karakalpakstan’s land), some of which are recognized by UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention.

Scientific research is also a priority. The Aral Sea International Innovation Center is leading projects worth 8.3 billion UZS ($639,475) in collaboration with international organizations. By 2030, Uzbekistan plans to expand forest coverage in the region to 2.3 million hectares, increase green zones on the dried seabed to 2.6 million hectares (80% of the area), and implement global environmental projects focused on biodiversity, climate change, and soil restoration.

TCA: What measures are being taken to reduce environmental risks in cities and industrial zones?

Sattarov: A task force has been formed to monitor air pollution in Tashkent, focusing on high-emission areas along the city’s ring road. So far, 486 greenhouses have been checked, with 37 owners fined for violating environmental standards, 46 greenhouses shut down, and 426 receiving warnings to install proper filtration systems. Regular inspections and pollution control measures are being strengthened to ensure businesses comply with environmental regulations and adopt cleaner technologies.

04 Feb 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyzstan Builds National Center for Aquaculture and Fisheries Development

February 4, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Construction of Kyrgyzstan’s National Center for the Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries is underway in the village of Bokonbaevo on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

The project is a joint initiative of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry and the Korea Maritime Institute.

The center will provide training in fish farming technologies for farmers, students, and researchers.

According to the ministry, a well has been drilled to a depth of 180 meters, and pumping equipment and water purification systems have been installed to supply water for the center’s incubation workshop.

The facility is scheduled for completion by December 2026. It will include fish incubation workshops, laboratories, residential quarters, a canteen, and other necessary infrastructure.

The center is designed to boost Kyrgyzstan’s fishing industry.

Currently, the country produces about 30,000 tons of fish annually, of which only 5,000 tons are exported. However, experts estimate that Kyrgyzstan has the capacity to produce up to 105,000 tons and export 50,000 tons of fish.

According to official statistics, in 2023, Kyrgyzstan produced 33,600 tons of fish and exported 5,556 tons of fish and fish products, mainly to Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Lithuania.

Fish farming in Kyrgyzstan, particularly trout production, is carried out in artificial ponds and fishery farms at lakes Issyk-Kul and Son-Kul.