Page 530 – The Times Of Central Asia

14 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Kazakhstan Environment, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Reinstates Kulans in Wild Natural Habitats

November 11, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has announced the successful reintroduction of kulans — Asiatic wild asses — to the country’s Ile-Balkhash and Altyn Dala nature reserves.

As a result of overhunting and competition for grazing with other livestock, wild kulans became extinct in Kazakhstan in the 1930s. To restore the species’ population, long-term projects were implemented. Between 1953 and 1961, 14 kulans were transported from Turkmenistan to Barsakelmes Island in Kazakhstan and in 1982, when their number reached 200, the animals were transferred to the mainland Altyn-Emel National Park.

Today, the country boasts two large herds of kulans in the Barsakelmes Reserve and the Altyn-Emel National Park, with that in the latter, numbering 3,965, representing the largest in Kazakhstan. The steady growth of the kulan population has also made it possible to resettle the animals in other historical habitats. On September 28-30, 43 kulans were transported from the Altyn-Emel National Park to the Ile-Balkhash Reserve in southern Kazakhstan and a further 24 kulans were released into temporary enclosures on the Altyn Dala Reserve in the central Kostanay region.

In a move to reintegrate other indigenous species in the region, Kazakhstan has also reintroduced Przewalski’s horses and Turan tigers to their historical habitats this year.

14 Oct 2024

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

Moscow’s MOEX No Longer a Stakeholder in Kazakhstan’s Stock Exchange

October 14, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Marking a significant move for the country’s financial market, Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) has announced the withdrawal of Moscow Exchange PJSC (MOEX) from its shareholders.

An updated list of shareholders, available on the official site of the Exchange, shows that as of October 11, 2024, the main shareholder of KASE remains the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a 47% stake. .

According to reports, the conclusion of its cooperation with MOEX, KASE marks the end of a collaborative phase that began on October 10, 2018, following the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the exchanges. During this period, several key projects implemented to advance Kazakhstan’s exchange market included modernizing trading and clearing systems, introducing central counterparty services across all trading segments, and launching new financial instruments, such as repo transactions with clearing certificates of participation.

On September 30, 2024, Vladimir Krekoten, representative of MOEX, resigned from the KASE Board of Directors, having applied for early termination of his position. The Exchange expressed gratitude to MOEX for its contribution in realizing strategic tasks to expand the exchange market opportunities and create new products.

KASE remains the leading exchange in Central Asia, providing universal opportunities for trading in corporate and government securities, currency transactions, derivatives, and bonds of international organizations. The Exchange is a member of the International Federation of Exchanges (WFE) and the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges (FEAS) and actively participates in the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative.

In June, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the National Settlement Depository, and the National Clearing Center of the Russian Federation, after which, representatives of the exchange said they would consider continuing business relations with the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), subject to the restrictions on sanctions. On July 15, 2024, KASE Chairman of the Board Alina Aldambergen spoke out about the buyout of the Kazakh exchange’s stake from the Moscow Exchange (MOEX).

13 Oct 2024

Home, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

UN Rights Body Criticizes Prison Sentences for Kyrgyz Journalists

October 14, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The human rights office of the United Nations and other international groups are expressing concern that two journalists in Kyrgyzstan were convicted of inciting mass unrest and sentenced to years in prison.

Journalists Azamat Ishenbekov and Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy of the Temirov Live media outlet were sentenced on Thursday to five and six years in jail respectively and plan to appeal. Two other media workers in the same case were placed on three years’ probation and released. Another seven were acquitted.

The investigation and trial were “marred by due process and fair trial concerns” and Kyrgyz authorities should review the cases of those who were sentenced, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement on Friday.

“While seven others were acquitted, it is problematic that 11 journalists and media workers, all former or current staff of the investigative outlet Temirov Live, were arbitrarily arrested and detained for simply doing their job,” the U.N. human rights office said. “We urge the authorities to review vague provisions of the Criminal Code that expose journalists and others to potential liability for exercise of their fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.”

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the prison terms amounted to retaliation for reporting on alleged corruption and that “Kyrgyzstan has forfeited its reputation as a relative haven of press freedom in Central Asia.”

Top officials in Kyrgyzstan have previously dismissed such international criticism, saying the case against the workers affiliated with Temirov Live was not politically motivated and that the people being prosecuted were masquerading as journalists and publishing false information.

Temirov Live is a YouTube-based outlet that has broadcast reports on alleged graft at high levels of government. It was founded in 2020 by Bolot Temirov, who was expelled from Kyrgyzstan in 2022. His wife is Tazhibek kyzy, director of Temirov Live and one of the two journalists who was sentenced to jail last week.

11 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Ambassador of Taliban-led Afghanistan Starts Work in Uzbekistan

October 11, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that on October 9, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov received Abdul Ghafar Terawi, the new head of Afghanistan’s diplomatic mission to Uzbekistan, in Tashkent.

During talks, both parties emphasized the need to enhance relations between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, realize the untapped potential of cooperation, and develop new projects to serve the interests of their people. The ambassador expressed gratitude on behalf of Afghanistan for the ongoing assistance provided by Uzbekistan.

Speaking at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly late in September, Uzbek Foreign Minister Saidov stated that Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia and addressing the Afghan problem is key to ensuring stability and sustainable development in the region.

“Uzbekistan is pursuing a pragmatic policy towards Afghanistan. We will continue to contribute to Afghanistan’s economic reconstruction and the development of its transport and energy infrastructure,” announced the Uzbek foreign minister. He also commended Uzbekistan’s implementation of the ambitious construction of the Trans-Afghan railway, which by providing access to global ports, will have a positive impact on the economic development of the vast region.

The minister emphasized that the International Trade Center, recently established in the Uzbek city of Termez on the Afghan border, was designed to foster a favorable business environment and enhance logistics, and added that Uzbekistan is ready to expand the Educational Center for Afghan citizens in Termez into a global training center.

Afghanistan’s TOLOnews earlier reported that China and the United Arab Emirates had also officially accepted ambassadors from the Taliban-led Afghan government. Early in September, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a decision to remove the Taliban from the list of prohibited organizations within the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Ministry emphasized that the removal of the Taliban, the unrecognized group that effectively controls Afghanistan, from the list of banned terrorist organizations aims to enhance regional stability and support ongoing dialogue.

Early in June, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that his country had removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, stressing that the move was made to develop trade and economic ties with Taliban-led Afghanistan, and in late August, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry accredited a chargé d’affaires of Taliban-led Afghanistan to expand trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

11 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Justice, Uzbekistan Features, Local Politics, Uzbekistan Justice, Features, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbek Blogger Prosecuted for Post about Daughter’s Birth

October 11, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

A criminal case has been opened against Kashkadarya-based blogger Sardor Safarboyev, aka ‘Sardor Gangster’, on account of his statement on TikTok that he does not want to have a daughter. “I’m not having a daughter. If a daughter is born, I’ll throw my wife out. I don’t need a daughter… if it’s a girl, I’ll throw it straight into the dustbin. I don’t need a daughter. Even if I go to hell, I will [have] a son,” Safarboyev said on air.

Following heavy criticism from social media users and activists, the blogger apologized, saying that his words had been provoked by live comments on air. A girl who participated in the broadcast also spoke in Safarboyev’s defense, stating that users of the site had deliberately provoked him.

Iroda Rasulova, head of the press service of the Kashkadarya Oblast Department of Internal Affairs, announced that the Nishan District Department of Internal Affairs had opened a case under Article 140, Part 2 of the Uzbek Criminal Code. This article deals with insults published in the media or on the internet and provides for punishments such as a fine, community service, or correctional labor. Investigative work into the case is ongoing.

Prior to TikTok being blocked in Uzbekistan, Safarboyev had over 700,000 followers on the platform and over 500,000 on Instagram. This recent incident is not the first time the blogger has been condemned. As recently as February, Safarboyev was arrested for ten days after being found guilty of petty hooliganism and manufacturing, possession, or distribution of materials propagandizing national, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred.

In Uzbekistan, the preference for the birth of sons persists due to traditional attitudes and gender stereotypes. This problem, characteristic of many Asian countries, is deeply rooted in cultural and social norms. According to reports by international organizations such as UNFPA, the preference for sons leads to gender imbalance, limits women’s rights, and is an issue frequently raised in international forums concerning the combating of gender discrimination.

11 Oct 2024

Defense, Central Asia, Home, Justice, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Kazakhstan Justice, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Death in Peacetime: Navigating Challenges and Responses in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces

October 14, 2024
By Aliya Haidar

Deputies in the Mazhilis have raised the issue of violent deaths and suicides in the armed forces, whilst sections of the public have also called for the army to be converted to a contract basis and the draft age to be raised.

Alarming statistics

In late September, Konstantin Avershin, a member of the Mazhilis Committee on International Affairs, Defense, and Security, spoke about the results of an investigation into suicides in law enforcement and security agencies. Over the past four years, 86 suicides have occurred in across said agencies, Avershin stated, with this data pertaining to the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard of the Interior Ministry, the Border Service of the National Security Committee, the State Protection Service, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

“In four years, 40 suicides have been registered in the Armed Forces. In 2021 – 10, 2022 – 7, 2023 – 12, and 2024 – 11. By category these were: officers – 7, contract servicemen – 22, cadets – 4, conscript soldiers – 7. Pretrial investigations have been completed in 34 cases, and final procedural decisions have been made. In none of them were signs found of ‘leading’ to suicide,” according to Avershin. The proceedings in these cases were terminated due to a lack of corpus delicti.

Despite this, based on the results of official investigations, disciplinary measures were taken against 180 persons: eleven were relieved of their posts, two were demoted, and 167 service personnel received various disciplinary sanctions in line with their rank.

On October 8, Avershin raised another problem: the poor quality of food being provided to service personnel. According to his data, the funds allotted for rations per soldier is 2,250 tenge ($4.6) per day. By comparison, chess players, sport fishermen, ship modelers, and players of togyzumalak (a national board game) and checkers are entitled to 6,276.4 tenge ($12.9) per day, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sport’s regulations for 2024. “A soldier cannot be fed almost three times worse than a checkers player,” Avershin stated.

Earlier, MP Nartai Sarsengaliyev asked Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov about the current situation in Kazakhstan’s army. The deputy highlighted numerous high-profile cases, stating that over the past three years, 270 servicemen have died in Kazakhstan.

“In August 2023, a commanding officer beat a recruit with a chair in a military unit. The case was closed after the parties reconciled. In June 2024, in one of the military units in the Zhambyl region, a soldier who had been in the army for only one month was admitted to intensive care in an unconscious state. The situation caused shocked society. National Guard soldier Yerbayan Mukhtar has been unconscious for five months after suffering a head injury. Those in charge say that ‘Yerbayan ‘fell in the bathroom and sustained a head injury.’ Who would believe this? As a result of the injury, half of the soldier’s skull was removed. Now, he needs constant care. Now his parents are taking Yerbayan abroad for treatment,” Sarsengaliyev stated.

In addition to the cases raised by Sarsengaliyev, on September 7, a nineteen-year-old conscript, Private Marat Barkulov died in the Mangistau region. The tragedy occurred at the Oymasha range during a training camp for units of the Regional Command “West,” where Barkulov served. For reasons unspecified, Lieutenant Damir Dosov fired an unauthorized shot from a 9 mm PM pistol, which hit Barkulov in the face.

As Sarsengaliyev pointed out, the Defense Ministry has stated that more than 50,000 surveillance cameras were installed in military units last year. “And where did the recordings from these cameras go?” Sarsengaliyev asked. “Or at moments like Yerbayan’s, were the cameras simply switched off?” the deputy wondered.

Sarsengaliyev has demanded that specific measures be taken to prevent violence in the army and initiate projects aimed at improving the wellbeing of service personnel.

Society Proposes – Ministry of Defense Rejects

In September, prompted by this spate of high-profile incidents in the armed forces, concerned citizens in Kazakhstan created a petition calling for conscription to be abolished. “Accidents, suicides, and other tragedies related to non-regular relations, unpreparedness, or insufficient medical control call into question the expediency of continuing compulsory service,” the authors of the petition wrote.

The Defense Ministry, however, stated that according to Article 90-1 of the Administrative Procedure Code, defense issues cannot be the subject of petitions. “This initiative is undermining the state’s defense capability,” the Ministry bluntly stated.

According to Shaykh-Khasan Zhazykbayev, deputy defense minister for educational and ideological work, without compulsory military service, the budget would be insufficient to provide Kazakhstan with a fully-functional and professional army.

“We train young men through this system (conscripted military service) and enroll them in the reserve. If there is a threat to the country’s independence, who will stand up to defend it? A contract army is good, but may impact the country’s budget,” the vice-minister said.

Mazhilis deputy Avershin, who has publicly reported on shortcomings in the army, supports the ministry’s position. “We should not forget that the main task of conscript service is to teach as much of the population as possible to use firearms and to be in barracks conditions. Most people don’t know which side to approach a machine gun from. There are only 20 million of us, and the territory is prosperous and large, so as much of the population as possible should be able to defend their homeland with weapons. The second point is that no budget will be enough to maintain a fully professional army,” Avershin stated.

In addition to the aforementioned petition, another petition was published in September which demanded that the draft age be raised from 18 to 20. However, the Ministry of Defense has stated that an 18-year-old draftee has all the necessary physical and psychological attributes required to serve. In addition, the ministry said that young men, as a rule, have not yet gone to university and do have a wife and children, so serving will not interrupt their studies or tear them away from their families. The ministry also stated its’ belief that the serving in the armed forces serves to enhance social mobility for conscripts looking to work in law enforcement agencies.