Page 560 – The Times Of Central Asia

16 Jan 2025

Central Asia, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan, Life & Culture

Two Turkmen Citizens Arrested in Istanbul for Counterfeit Alcohol Production

January 16, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Turkish authorities have detained two Turkmen citizens in Istanbul for their alleged involvement in the production and distribution of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, according to Turkish news agency NTV.

The arrests come in the wake of a serious public health crisis in Istanbul, where 38 people have been poisoned by counterfeit alcohol within the past 24 hours. Of those hospitalized, 11 have tragically died.

The suspects were reportedly operating in the Ziya Gökalp district of Istanbul. During a search of their residence, police discovered approximately 50 liters of counterfeit alcohol, 36 narcotic pills, fake migrant identification cards, and a large quantity of medical supplies.

The Istanbul police have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Authorities have revealed that 26 of those hospitalized due to poisoning were foreign nationals, underscoring the broader impact of the counterfeit alcohol trade.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Istanbul has confirmed that six Uzbek citizens have died as a result of consuming the counterfeit alcohol. Among the deceased are five men and one woman.

Further details about the investigation and potential charges against the detained suspects are awaited.

16 Jan 2025

Home, Tajikistan Justice, Justice, Tajikistan

27 Defendants Charged in Crocus City Hall Terror Attack

January 16, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

The Russian Investigative Committee has formally charged 27 individuals in connection with the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow Region. The announcement was made by Alexander Bastrykin, chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee.

“The most serious and tragic incident of last year was the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert hall, where 146 people were killed. The Main Investigative Department has charged 27 people as defendants in this case,” Bastrykin stated in an interview with Российская газета (Russian Newspaper).

The attack occurred on March 22, 2024, at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region, with the assailants opening fire with automatic weapons on people inside the building before setting the auditorium on fire.

According to the authorities, the primary suspects in the case are citizens of Tajikistan. Reports indicate that twelve individuals have already been arrested in connection with the attack.

Additionally, The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office had sought prison sentences ranging from 7.5 to 15 years for five Central Asian nationals accused of being involved in last spring’s terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

16 Jan 2025

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

Chinese Company to Manufacture Drones in Kazakhstan

January 17, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Yesil Technology Company, a subsidiary of China’s Shaanxi Kaizhuo Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., is set to establish an industrial drone production facility in Kazakhstan. The project, valued at approximately $12 million, marks a significant step in advancing high-tech manufacturing in the country.

Construction of the production and research zone, spanning 50,000 square meters, will begin in March 2025 in the Almaty region. The facility will include a workshop for manufacturing drone batteries, a research center for innovative technologies, a full-cycle machine storage, and a test site for drones. Supported by the national company Kazakh Invest, the initiative is projected to create 500 new jobs.

The drones manufactured in Kazakhstan will serve both the domestic market and be exported to neighboring Central Asian countries.

Yesil Technology aims to integrate advanced UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technologies into various sectors, including agricultural monitoring, environmental protection, securing sensitive facilities, emergency rescue operations, and counter-drone measures.

Yongning Hui, the head of Yesil Technology, highlighted the company’s commitment to solving critical challenges in the drone industry, including extending UAV flight ranges, enhancing intelligent obstacle avoidance, and improving navigation precision and stability.

“Yesil Technology actively attracts outstanding scientists and researchers from around the world, focusing on solving key problems such as the limitation of unmanned aerial vehicles’ flight range, the accuracy of intelligent obstacle avoidance, and the precision and stability of navigation, which hinder industry development,” Hui stated. “Today, our products already have the ability to operate stably in the most challenging conditions and accurately perform tasks, providing users with calm and reliable aviation services. Yesil Technology also takes on an important mission to train local personnel in unmanned aerial vehicle technology.”

The company’s efforts come at a time of rapid global growth in the low-altitude economy. According to the World Federation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the market for low-altitude drones and related technologies reached $318.64 billion in 2024. By 2050, this figure is expected to surpass $8.8 trillion.

China has emerged as a leader in this sector, with its low-altitude economy market valued at $68.65 billion in 2023. Projections for 2024 estimate growth to $79 billion, with an average annual growth rate of over 16% anticipated over the next five years.

The establishment of the drone production facility in Kazakhstan aligns with the country’s broader goals of fostering technological innovation and regional economic integration.

16 Jan 2025

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Business Economy, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

EBRD Investments in Central Asia Hit Record High in 2024

January 16, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a record-breaking year in Central Asia, investing €2.26 billion across 121 projects in 2024. This marks a significant milestone for the region, with the EBRD nearly doubling its annual investment compared to 2023.

In addition to its own financing, the EBRD mobilized €784 million from co-financiers, bringing total investments in the region’s real economy to over €3 billion.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were the primary beneficiaries of EBRD funding, receiving €938 million and €913 million, respectively. These figures placed the two nations as the fifth and sixth largest EBRD investment destinations globally in 2024. Tajikistan received €88 million in EBRD funding, while Kyrgyzstan attracted €52 million.

The bulk of EBRD investments – 61% – was directed toward sustainable infrastructure projects, while 24% of funds were allocated to local banks for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women and young entrepreneurs, and initiatives focused on climate resilience and resource efficiency. The remaining 15% supported corporate sector clients.

As the largest institutional green lender in the region, the EBRD has fully aligned its operations with the Paris Agreement. In 2024, 58% of its investments supported green economy projects, reaffirming its commitment to promoting sustainable development.

The EBRD achieved major cumulative milestones last year. In Kazakhstan, its total investments surpassed €10 billion, while in Uzbekistan, cumulative funding reached €5 billion. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have now each received over €1 billion from the bank since it began operating in Central Asia three decades ago.

Overall, the EBRD remains the leading institutional investor in Central Asia, having financed 1,163 green and inclusive projects totaling €21.5 billion to date.

16 Jan 2025

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

Kyrgyz MP Urges Parliament to Preserve Lenin Monument in Bishkek

January 16, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kyrgyz parliamentary deputy Iskhak Masaliyev has called on his fellow parliamentarians to refrain from debating the removal of the Vladimir Lenin monument in Bishkek’s Old Square. Speaking during a parliamentary session, Masaliyev emphasized that the proposal to dismantle the statue is both untimely and dismissive of Lenin’s historical contribution to the formation of Kyrgyz statehood.

Masaliyev reminded lawmakers that while the collapse of the Soviet Union granted independence to many nations, Soviet governance played a pivotal role in establishing the foundations of statehood for certain republics, including Kyrgyzstan. He outlined the historical context of the early 20th century, noting that the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan was then divided – part of it belonging to the Russian Empire and the other to the Kokand Khanate. According to the MP, the October Revolution was instrumental in creating the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast, which later evolved into the Kyrgyz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and, eventually, an independent Kyrgyz state.

“Many nations of the world still do not have their own territory. We, on the other hand, have a state with clearly defined borders, and Vladimir Lenin’s role in this is significant. I say this not as a politician, but as a historian,” Masaliyev declared.

The MP expressed concern about modern society’s increasing disregard for history, noting that a substantial portion of the Kyrgyz population – around 30 to 40 percent – lived during the Soviet era and were shaped by its values. Erasing the memory of that period, he argued, is both impractical and disrespectful to the past.

Masaliyev also pointed out the proximity of Lenin’s monument to a statue of Turdakun Usubaliyev, a prominent Soviet-era statesman and reformer. He argued that commemorating Usubaliyev and other notable figures from the Soviet period while removing Lenin’s monument would be inconsistent, as all were part of the same ideological framework underpinned by Lenin’s leadership.

“We must understand that we cannot simultaneously honor some of them while rejecting the memory of others,” Masaliyev stressed.

In closing, Masaliyev urged his colleagues to shelve the debate over the Lenin monument, suggesting that the parliament’s focus should instead be directed toward more pressing national issues.

The discussion surrounding the Lenin statue gained momentum after parliament deputy speaker Nurbek Sydygaliyev proposed its removal, arguing that the square is named after Turdakun Usubaliyev and should honor his legacy exclusively.

16 Jan 2025

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

Kyrgyz Bank Hit by U.S. Treasury Department Sanctions

January 16, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

The U.S. Treasury Department has uncovered a secret channel allegedly used to re-export dual-use goods and imposed sanctions on Kyrgyz commercial bank Keremet for its involvement in circumventing economic restrictions against Russia, according to a statement on the department’s website.

U.S. officials allege that since the summer of 2024, Keremet Bank facilitated cross-border transactions for Russian financial institutions, including Promsvyazbank, which has been under U.S. sanctions since early 2022. Promsvyazbank, nationalized by Russian authorities in 2018, was sanctioned for its role in financing Russia’s defense sector and supporting major defense contracts. The U.S. Treasury reports that the bank has provided billions of dollars in financial support to Russia’s military-industrial complex.

The Treasury Department’s report also claims that the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance sold a controlling stake in Keremet Bank in 2024 to a firm closely linked to a Russian oligarch with ties to the Kremlin. According to the U.S., the acquisition aimed to create a financial hub to evade sanctions, enabling payments for imports and exports.

Further allegations suggest that Moldovan opposition politician Ilan Shor, who is himself under U.S. sanctions, discussed a sanctions evasion scheme involving Keremet Bank with Russian representatives.

Keremet Bank has denied these claims, stating that it has already appealed to the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to have the sanctions lifted. “The bank operates in accordance with national legislation and international law, adhering to the principles of transparency and responsibility,” the bank said in its response, published on its official website.

Keremet further emphasized that the sanctions will not impact its operations and expressed readiness to undergo an international audit to clarify the situation.