Page 422 – The Times Of Central Asia

23 May 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Rediscovered Correspondence from the Man Behind the “Great Game”

May 23, 2025
By Stephen M. Bland

A recently uncovered letter written by Captain Arthur Conolly, the British officer who coined the term “Great Game,” has captivated historians and scholars of 19th-century geopolitics. The correspondence offers a rare glimpse into the mind of the officer whose ill-fated expedition to Central Asia would become emblematic of the imperial rivalry between the British and Russian empires.

The letter dates from April 1841, when Conolly stopped on the bank of the Amu Darya River, the northern boundary of Afghanistan, en route to Bukhara. Partly written in code, the missive, addressed to the Austrian General, August Giacomo Jochmus, commander of the combined forces of the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and Austria during the Syrian War of 1839–1841, reveals new details about Conolly’s observations regarding Central Asia’s complex power dynamics. The letter was discovered in the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art in Moscow.

While the term “Great Game” would only gain prominence much later through Rudyard Kipling’s Kim, Conolly’s writings shine a light on the precarious nature of imperial ambitions. His correspondence often reflected a mix of hope and foreboding, as he championed diplomatic engagement to win influence in the region while recognizing the human cost of such rivalry.

The newly discovered letter includes remarks on the state of local governance, tribal allegiances, and the risks posed by Russian territorial advances. These insights could reshape the contemporary understanding of British intelligence operations and frontier policies at the height of imperial competition.

“Travel has its charms and excitements, but it also has its disenchantment,” Conolly wrote, “and if I get safely back from Peshawar, I shall be glad to spend a quiet month with you in your Divan upon the shore of the Bosporus.”

Conolly’s fate remains a tragic footnote to his legacy. Captured and executed in 1842 by the Emir of Bukhara while attempting to negotiate the release of fellow British officer, Charles Stoddart, he became both a cautionary tale and a symbol of imperial zeal. This rediscovered letter serves as a poignant reminder of the personal stakes involved in the sprawling global chessboard that defined 19th-century diplomacy.

23 May 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Features, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

The Photographs of Prokudin-Gorsky: A Glimpse of a Lost World

May 23, 2025
By Duisenali Alimakyn

Using the emerging technology of color photography, Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky (1863–1944) undertook several photographic expeditions to capture images of the Russian Empire. Most of his work took place between 1909 and 1915, though some photographs date as early as 1905. At the time, the Russian Empire stretched roughly 7,000 miles east to west and 3,000 miles north to south. It encompassed one-sixth of the Earth’s land surface, making it the largest empire in history, spanning what are now eleven time zones.

Abutment for a dam and house belonging to the government. [Kuzminskoe] Prokudin-Gorsky, Sergey Mikhaylovich, 1912

Tsar Nicholas II supported Prokudin-Gorsky’s ambitious endeavor by granting him travel permits and access to various modes of transportation, including trains, boats, and automobiles. His journeys are preserved in photographic albums that include the original negatives. One album also features miscellaneous images, including scenes from other parts of Europe. The photographs capture a broad array of subjects: religious architecture and shrines (churches, cathedrals, mosques, and monasteries); religious and secular artifacts (such as vestments, icons, and items linked to saints, former Tsars, and the Napoleonic Wars); infrastructure and public works (railroads, bridges, dams, and roads); a variety of industries (including mining, textile production, and street vending); agricultural scenes (like tea plantations and field work); portraits, which often showed people in traditional dress, as well as cityscapes, villages, natural landscapes, and blooming plants.

Besides being a photographer, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky was a chemist who is renowned for his pioneering contributions to color photography in the early 20th century. In 1901, he traveled to Berlin to study photochemistry before returning to Russia, where he outfitted a railroad car as a mobile darkroom with the support of Tsar Nicholas II. As he traveled across the Russian Empire, he documented its people and landscapes, eventually earning recognition in Russia, Germany, and France. In 1906, he was appointed head of the photography section of Fotograf-Liubitel, Russia’s leading photography journal. One of his most famous works is a color portrait of Leo Tolstoy, taken in 1908.

“By capturing the result of artistic inspiration in the full richness of its colors on the light-sensitive photographic plate, we pass the priceless document to future generations,” wrote Prokudin-Gorsky. As a nobleman, inventor, professor, and pioneer of color photography in Russia, Prokudin-Gorsky had a deep sense of national identity and heritage. Although he was unable to complete his grand project due to the outbreak of World War I and increasing social unrest across the Russian Empire, he still managed to capture photographs in regions such as the Urals, Siberia, Crimea, Dagestan, Finland, and Central Asia, as well as along the Volga and Oka rivers. Unfortunately, much of his photographic archive was lost in the aftermath of the 1917 Revolution.

Prokudin-Gorsky created unique black-and-white negatives using a triple-frame method, taking three separate exposures through blue, green, and red filters. This technique allowed the images to be printed or projected in color, often for magic lantern slide presentations. The complete collection of 1,902 triple-frame glass negatives has been digitized, including approximately 150 images not included in his original albums. Each digitized image displays all three frames. Additionally, the individual frames, typically the green-filtered center shot, are also available, enabling closer inspection of the details.

Fishing settlement, Prokudin-Gorsky, Sergey Mikhaylovich, 1915

The Library of Congress holds twelve albums (in fourteen volumes) that Prokudin-Gorsky compiled as visual notebooks documenting his travels and research. Digitized pages from these albums allow modern viewers to retrace the same routes Prokudin-Gorsky followed over a century ago, viewing the photographs in the original order he intended. The pages display all 2,433 contact prints contained in the albums, along with their original Cyrillic captions and annotations. Each page typically includes six prints, though some contain blank spaces where images were removed long ago.

Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky and two men in Cossack dress are seated on the ground

A page from Prokudin-Gorsky’s photo album of Europe containing images of Venice, Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky

Prokudin-Gorsky also traveled to Italy, Finland, and Yasnaya Polyana — Leo Tolstoy’s estate in Russia — to photograph subjects of cultural and historical significance, including Tolstoy himself. These travels were most likely undertaken before he began his larger project to document the Russian Empire.

A page from Prokudin-Gorsky’s photo album of the Caucasus containing photos of Artvin (in present-day Turkey), as well as its surrounding mountains and some of its Armenian inhabitants, Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky, between 1900 and 1920

From the photographs he took a century ago, we can clearly see the face of society at that time.

Bayga, near Samarkand, Turkestan, Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky, between 1905 and 1915

Isfandiyar Jurji Bahadur, Khan of the Russian protectorate of Khorezm (Khiva, now a part of modern Uzbekistan), Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky, 1910

A watercarrier in Samarkand (present-day Uzbekistan), Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky, 1910

Nomadic Kirghiz on the Golodnaia Steppe in present-day Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky, 1910

23 May 2025

Opinion – The Quiet Competition: How the U.S. Is Losing Ground to China in Central Asia

May 23, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Over the past decade, China has steadily expanded its presence in Central Asia, not through military force, but by building roads, trade corridors, and digital infrastructure. As the United States scaled back its regional footprint following its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Beijing moved quickly to fill the void. Today, China has positioned itself as the region’s dominant external power, while the U.S. risks being left on the sidelines.

At the heart of China’s strategy is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has provided over $1 trillion into infrastructure projects globally since its launch in 2013. This includes $704 billion in construction contracts and $470 billion in non-financial investments. In 2024 alone, BRI engagement reached $121.8 billion – $70.7 billion in construction and $51 billion in investments – and trade between China and the countries of Central Asia hit a record $95 billion, highlighting the depth of China’s economic integration.

This engagement has also created significant financial dependencies. Central Asian countries owe China roughly $15.7 billion, about 8% of the region’s total external debt, and these loans are often opaque and carry terms that provide Beijing with outsized political leverage.

Chinese firms are also laying fiber-optic networks and constructing electric vehicle corridors to link western China with its neighbors. In Tajikistan, for example, contractors are upgrading the Pamir Highway to support cross-border EV transport. Huawei and other Chinese tech giants are also expanding the region’s telecommunications infrastructure, raising serious concerns about surveillance, data sovereignty, and long-term digital dependency.

China’s economic outreach is reinforced by high-level diplomacy. The China–Central Asia (C+C5) format has become the centerpiece of Beijing’s regional engagement. At the 2025 summit, leaders from across the region gathered to coordinate on connectivity, climate resilience, and trade facilitation. The regularity and substance of these summits stand in sharp contrast to the United States’ more sporadic diplomatic presence.

The U.S. maintains the C5+1 platform and launched a promising Critical Minerals Dialogue in 2024. However, these initiatives have yet to match the scale or consistency of China’s approach as U.S. infrastructure investment is limited, its commercial footprint is small, and diplomatic engagement is too infrequent to shift the region’s strategic trajectory.

This matters. Central Asia is strategically located, resource-rich, and increasingly central to global supply chains and geopolitical competition. Kazakhstan alone supplies more than 40% of the world’s uranium. The region also serves as a testing ground for competing development models, and if the United States fails to become a more engaged and credible partner, China’s infrastructure-heavy, state-centric model may become the default.

To remain competitive, Washington should recalibrate its approach in Central Asia. This includes pursuing bilateral deals that deliver real impact, such as deepening ties with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan through targeted investment packages, trade agreements, and joint-sector initiatives. It also means securing access to critical minerals by expanding private-sector investment in mining, processing, and transport infrastructure aligned with U.S. supply chain needs. Offering digital infrastructure alternatives is equally essential; the United States must support secure, interoperable, and transparent technology networks that provide a viable counterweight to Chinese-backed systems. Finally, diplomacy must become more agile and outcomes-focused. The C5+1 platform should be elevated by institutionalizing high-level summits and establishing actionable working groups focused on tangible results.

The United States still has time to reengage Central Asia on its own terms, but that window is closing. Strategic competition in the region is no longer hypothetical. It is unfolding, and for the moment, China is setting the pace.

22 May 2025

Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

EDB Evaluates Environmental Projects to Combat Air Pollution in Bishkek

May 22, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

The Bishkek municipality and the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Fund for Digital Initiatives are considering two major environmental projects to tackle air pollution and enhance the quality of life in Kyrgyzstan’s capital.

The proposals were reviewed during a meeting on May 21 between Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliyev and Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board and head of the EDB’s Fund for Digital Initiatives.

According to the municipal government, the first project involves establishing a comprehensive air quality monitoring system based on a digital platform. The system is designed to address the city’s chronic air pollution by providing government bodies with real-time data on key emission sources. It would also enable assessments of contributions from industrial activities and natural background pollutants.

The second project envisions an intelligent transport monitoring system aimed at improving traffic flow modeling and management. The goal is to optimize the city’s public transport network, reduce congestion, and enhance urban mobility, all while improving environmental conditions.

Transport and Air Quality: Pressing Challenges for Bishkek

Traffic congestion and outdated public transport are among the most pressing issues in Bishkek, a city undergoing rapid population growth. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, motor vehicles are responsible for 27% of the city’s air pollution. With over 600,000 registered vehicles, nearly double the city’s road infrastructure capacity of 350,000, Bishkek’s air quality continues to decline.

More than 333,000 of these vehicles are over 15 years old, contributing significantly to emissions. Nonetheless, the city has taken steps to modernize its public transport fleet, including replacing aging diesel-powered buses with larger, eco-friendlier models powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Air pollution is especially severe during the winter months when coal burning for household heating, accounting for 40% of the city’s emissions, surges. As a result, Bishkek frequently ranks among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on IQAir’s global air quality index.

The proposed EDB-backed projects represent a potential turning point for Bishkek’s environmental management strategy, offering digital tools and policy solutions to address longstanding public health and urban planning challenges.

22 May 2025

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

How the Welfare of Kazakhstani Citizens Has Changed Over the Past Five Years

May 23, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

While official data shows that the monetary income of Kazakhstani citizens has nearly doubled over the past five years, many citizens report that their day-to-day experiences do not align with the statistics. Analysts at Ranking.kz conducted a study comparing official income data with real purchasing power, highlighting a complex and often uneven picture of economic well-being across the country.

Average vs. Median Income: A Growing Gap

According to the National Statistics Bureau, the average annual per capita income in 2024 exceeded 1.3 million KZT (approximately $2,600), up from 692,000 KZT ($1,384) in 2019, an almost twofold increase. This translates to an average monthly income of 110,700 KZT ($221). However, this figure includes more than just wages: pensions contribute 16.6%, entrepreneurial income 9.2%, and social support less than 4%.

Median income, which more accurately reflects the economic position of the “typical” Kazakhstani, tells a more modest story. In 2024, the median monthly income stood at just 93,300 KZT ($186), and in half of the country’s regions, incomes fell below this level. For example, in the populous Turkestan Region, the median income was just 69,600 KZT ($139). In contrast, major urban centers like Almaty and Astana recorded median incomes more than a third higher than the national average, above 126,000 KZT ($252).

Rising Nominal Wages, Stagnant Real Gains

Over five years, the average nominal monthly wage grew from 186,800 KZT ($374) to 402,600 KZT ($805). Yet, in real terms, after adjusting for inflation, income growth has been subdued. Between 2022 and 2024, real income rose by only 2.7%, compared to 9.1% in 2019.

Inflation has been the primary factor undermining purchasing power. In 2023 alone, inflation surged to 14.5%, effectively eroding most wage gains.

Sectoral Disparities and the Modal Wage

Finance, mining, and IT remain the highest-paying sectors. In 2024, financial sector professionals earned an average of 857,200 KZT ($1,714), followed by mining specialists at 853,100 KZT ($1,706) and information and communications professionals at 715,900 KZT ($1,432). These sectors also saw real income increases, 19.4% in IT and 14.2% in finance.

At the other end of the spectrum, agriculture, water supply, and cultural sectors continue to be among the lowest-paying. Salaries in these fields range from 262,000 to 278,000 KZT ($524-$556). Despite nominal wage increases, the income gap with higher-paying sectors remains substantial. The education sector saw marginal improvement, but real wages declined by 1.2% in 2024.

Notably, the most commonly earned (modal) wage in 2024 was just 97,600 KZT ($195), only 12,600 KZT ($25) above the national minimum wage. This figure represented just 24.2% of the average nominal wage, underscoring a wide disparity between statistical averages and the reality for most workers.

Do the Numbers Reflect Reality?

On paper, Kazakhstan’s income statistics appear encouraging: rising wages, a reduction in social vulnerability, and steady economic indicators. Yet, when inflation, regional inequalities, and the uneven structure of earnings are considered, a more nuanced picture emerges.

The core challenge remains unchanged, ensuring a sustained increase in purchasing power, not just nominal income figures. For many Kazakhstanis, true economic well-being is still a work in progress.

22 May 2025

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

M360 Eurasia Opens in Tashkent with Emphasis on Digital Growth

May 27, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

The GSMA M360 Eurasia conference officially opened on May 21 in Tashkent, marking the event’s first ever appearance in Uzbekistan. The gathering brought together telecommunications leaders, digital experts, and policymakers to explore how mobile technologies can fuel economic development and enhance quality of life across Eurasia.

A key highlight of the opening day was the launch of the GSMA Mobile Economy Eurasia 2025 report. According to the findings, mobile services and technologies contributed $220 billion to the Eurasian economy in 2024, equivalent to 7.7% of the region’s GDP. That figure is projected to rise to $270 billion by 2030, comprising 8.3% of GDP.

GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath addressed the opening ceremony, underscoring the economic impact of connectivity. “Connectivity is a powerful engine of economic growth and a catalyst for transforming businesses and public services across the region,” he said. Badrinath emphasized that mobile technologies are already driving efficiency across Eurasia and will play an even greater role in the years ahead.

Bridging the Digital Divide

The first day’s sessions focused on mobile internet expansion, 5G deployment, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in daily life. Speakers presented data and personal stories illustrating both achievements and obstacles.

A recurring theme was the disparity between mobile coverage and actual usage. While mobile internet now reaches two-thirds of the population (164 million people), approximately 80 million individuals still do not use it, despite living in areas with available access. The gap, experts noted, stems from issues such as affordability, digital literacy, and lack of awareness.

John Giusti, GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, stressed the urgency of inclusive digital policies. “How do we ensure digital transformation benefits everyone? We cannot afford to leave anyone behind,” he said. Giusti praised Uzbekistan’s Digital 2030 strategy as a model, citing the rapid expansion of 5G to all regional centers, enhanced internet bandwidth, and improved governance.

Uzbekistan has led the region in progressive spectrum policy, being the first to allocate the 700 MHz band for broadband and to distribute parts of the C-band at no cost, steps that accelerated the country’s 5G rollout. “Forward-looking policies like these enhance service quality and contribute to economic growth,” Giusti added.

Digital Reform in Uzbekistan

Sherzod Shermatov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies, outlined the country’s transformation. “In 2017, internet access was limited, expensive, and unavailable in many areas. Today, every school, hospital, and remote village has internet access,” he said. “Our focus is not just on availability, but also on affordability and quality.”

Shermatov detailed the government’s efforts to digitize public services, support IT businesses through tax incentives, and upskill the workforce. “We are creating an environment where digital businesses can thrive,” he said, adding that the number of tech companies per million people has more than tripled since 2017.

The minister also highlighted new services for persons with disabilities and the expansion of digital public services, reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive digital development.

Showcasing Innovation

A standout feature of the conference was the GSMA Foundry demo pod, which showcased cutting-edge tools and research in digital technology. Among the highlights was Kaz-LLM, a large language model that supports Kazakh, Turkish, English, and Russian. Developed by Kazakh institutions in partnership with VEON’s QazCode, GSMA, and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the project aims to promote linguistic diversity in AI and close regional technology gaps.

The Foundry also presented its collaboration with IBM’s Watsonx.ai platform, giving GSMA members access to advanced AI capabilities. In addition, participants explored GSMA’s work with the European Space Agency to enhance Non-Terrestrial Networks, using satellite and space-based systems to expand connectivity.

A Regional Vision for Inclusion

Azercell CEO Zarina Zeynalova spoke about the value of regional cooperation, drawing on the company’s experience hosting M360 Eurasia in 2023 and 2024. “Digital transformation is a collective endeavor. It requires collaboration, vision, and local partnerships,” she said. Zeynalova emphasized investment in infrastructure, next-generation networks, and most importantly, people.

“Digital inclusion is central to our mission. Everyone deserves access to the benefits of the digital world,” she added.

As the first day concluded, participants agreed that strong policy frameworks, international cooperation, and targeted investments are crucial to ensuring that the region’s digital transformation benefits all. While mobile technologies are spreading rapidly, sustained efforts are needed to close remaining gaps, especially in underserved rural and low-income communities.

The conference continues on May 22, with additional sessions on AI, policy reform, and the future of mobile connectivity in Eurasia.