Page 605 – The Times Of Central Asia

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Life & Culture, International Affairs, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Central Asia’s Olympic Performance: A Regional Overview

August 13, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

On their return home from the Olympic Games in Paris, the Times of Central Asia reported a sense of regional unity as athletes from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan celebrated each other’s victories.

Uzbekistan won 13 medals, including eight golds, two silvers, and three bronzes, placing it top amongst Central Asian countries, and in 13th place of the 206 countries on the medals table .

The National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan announced that the equivalent of $5,804,108 had been allocated in the first three months of this year to prepare for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games. Rewards for its medalists were also generous. Gold medalists were awarded $200,000, Chevrolet Tahoes, and two-story cottages, while their coaches received $50,000 each. The silver and bronze medalists received cash prizes of $100,000 and $50,000, respectively, along with BYD Song Plus cars and apartments as a “President’s Gift”, whilst their coaches received $25,000 for silver, and $12,500, for bronze.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the equivalent of $13,551,603 was invested in preparing the national team for the Olympics. Kazakh Olympic champions received $250,000 for gold, $150,000 for silver, and $75,000 for bronze, and with one gold, three silver, and three bronze, Kazakhstan finished 43rd overall.

Kyrgyzstan allocated $3,220,140 for training its athletes and awarded silver medal winners with $83,000, and bronze medal winners with $60,000. Bringing home two silver and four bronze medals, the Kyrgyz national team was placed 68th overall.

With three bronze medals, for which each athlete received $4,500, Tajikistan took 79th place. Unfortunately, despite the participation of six athletes, Turkmenistan failed to win any medals. Details concerning funding for the Tajikistan and Turkmenistan’s teams have not been disclosed.

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Justice, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Kazakhstan Justice, Local Politics, Kazakhstan

Nazarbayev’s Nephew Returns $1.6 Billion to Kazakhstan Following Embezzlement Conviction

August 13, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Service has completed an investigation into the case of Kairat Satybaldyuly, the nephew of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Following the investigation, around 733 billion KZT ($1.6 billion) worth of assets have been returned to the state.

In September 2022, Satybaldyuly was sentenced to six years in prison for embezzling funds, and causing damage to companies such as Kazakhtelecom and CTC. In 2023, the investigation was expanded to look into into other crimes that he committed. The full investigation revealed numerous cases of legalization of illegal income and evasion of customs duties.

Satybaldyuly pleaded guilty and cooperated with the investigation, allowing the return of assets in Kazakhstan and abroad.

Most assets were found in Austria, Liechtenstein, the UAE, and Turkey. The recovered assets included 28.8% of shares of the national telecom operator Kazakhtelecom, assets of CTC JSC, and stakes in four companies.

The state has also recovered 115 real estate objects in Kazakhstan, including buildings, apartments, and land plots. The returned assets include luxury real estate and jewellery confiscated in various countries.

13 Aug 2024

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Greek Reports: Captain of Boat Carrying Kazakhs Says Hydra Fire Was His Fault

August 13, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The captain of a luxury boat that was carrying Kazakh tourists when it was linked to a forest fire on the Greek tourist island of Hydra in June has taken responsibility for the blaze, according to Greek media.

While some circumstances surrounding the fire remain unclear, the statement by the captain undercuts suspicion that initially fell on the group of tourists including Daniyar Abulgazin, who has shares in multiple Kazakh companies and is one of Kazakhstan’s wealthiest business executives. Abulgazin, who rented the boat, had denied wrongdoing in connection with the fire and said he had left Greece as previously scheduled on June 22 after speaking with “representatives of the Greek authorities.”

The captain, who is in detention and faces arson charges, said he launched fireworks, one of which landed in the forest and started the wildfire, protothema.gr reported last week. The acknowledgement reversed his earlier account that no fireworks were set off from the vessel. The Greek media outlet did not identify the captain.

A dozen other crewmembers were arrested after the fire. Most were released on bail. Prosecutors also filed charges of complicity in arson against the Kazakh passengers, Greek media have said. But the captain’s new testimony, delivered early this month, exonerates “the other crew members and the foreign multimillionaire charterers of the yacht,” ekathimerini.com reported.

Abulgazin had referred to “incorrect and misleading” media reports, expressing regret about the fire and promising to cooperate with the Greek investigation.

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan Business Economy, Tajikistan, International Affairs, Tajikistan Features, Business & Economy

World Bank Considers Loan for Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant

August 13, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

Tajikistan’s Deputy Minister for Finance, Yusuf Majidi, has announced that the World Bank will consider financing the development of the Rogun hydroelectric power plant. According to him, the bank can allocate $650 million for this project in September this year.

$250 million has been allocated as preferential loans; starting in 2025, the station’s construction will be financed by other investments. Majidi specified that the construction of the hydroelectric power plant (HPP) is also financed by the Islamic Development Bank and Arab funds; according to preliminary data, this is about $550 million.

When the Rogun HPP reaches full capacity, about 70% of the electricity produced will be exported to other Central Asian countries. According to the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), financing the Rogun HPP is one of the main risks to Tajikistan’s budget and debt sustainability. The EFSD notes that a possible increase in the cost of hydropower construction could reduce funding for other critical infrastructure projects and social spending.

Rogun is located 110km from Dushanbe on the Vakhsh River, and is the largest in the region. Its construction began in 1976, but it was destroyed after the collapse of the USSR. Later, Tajikistan continued work on the construction of hydroelectric power plants at its own expense and with the help of international funds and organizations, and so far, two of the six units with a capacity of 600 MW provided for in the project have been put into operation. The third is scheduled for 2025.

13 Aug 2024

Education, Central Asia, Environment, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Local Politics, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Solar-Powered Irrigation System Launched Outside Tashkent

August 13, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

A new drip irrigation system that runs on solar power has been introduced in the Akkurgan district outside Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent. The irrigation system is being funded by the European Union, and is part of a project between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture.

Increasing water scarcity is a serious challenge in rural Uzbekistan. Many families rely on their backyard gardens to grow vegetables, and better irrigation will help rural communities to become more economically sustainable.

The system includes a water pump that extracts water from a vertical well at a depth of 180 meters, supported by solar panels. The system irrigates 0.8 hectares of land, benefiting 10 households and saving nearly 60% of water compared to traditional irrigation methods. The excess electricity generated by the solar panels is sold to the State Electricity System, and the revenue is used to manage and operate the irrigation well and the drip irrigation network.

Mr. Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation of the European Union’s Delegation to Uzbekistan, commented: “This solar-powered drip irrigation system not only addresses water scarcity but also paves the way for more sustainable agriculture in Uzbekistan. Most importantly, it directly benefits local families by increasing their access to electricity and water for irrigation, thus enhancing food security and incomes.”

13 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Home, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Bishkek’s Iconic Elm and Poplar Trees Suffering From Beetle Infestation

August 19, 2024
By Anton Chipegin

The larvae of the longhorn beetle (Aeolesthes sarta), commonly known as the woodcutter beetle, are destroying green spaces in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.

The beetle appeared in the city ten years ago, but biologists have explained that its population has recently increased to worrying levels. The situation is being aggravated by the shortage of irrigation water in Bishkek, a result of faulty irrigation facilities. Trees in the capital are beginning to dry out, and their immunity to the effects of larvae infestation is weakening.

The longhorn beetle lays its larvae in the bark of a tree, and as it matures, it eats the tree from the inside. The larvae’s favorite trees, the elm and poplar, are the most common trees in Bishkek. Unlike other pests, the beetle cannot be irradicated with chemical treatments. Infested spaces must be destroyed completely.

The Bishkek Zelenkhoz municipal enterprise, responsible for maintaining the city’s green spaces, has reported that 90% of all adult elm trees and half of all poplars in the capital have become infected with longhorn beetle larvae.

“Trees with signs of infestation remain green, and do not die immediately. After a while, the top dries up, and then the entire trunk follows. The death process takes about five years,” Yuri Borvinok, head of the laboratory for woody and bush plants at the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, told The Times of Central Asia.

Kyrgyz authorities are having difficulty controlling pests because of current laws. In Kyrgyzstan’s populated areas, chemical treatment of greenery is prohibited to prevent harm to people, and burning plant debris such as leaves and branches is also forbidden.

“When we used to burn plants and foliage, these measures deterred the miner moth, woodcutter beetles, and other pests; today, nothing prevents the mass spread of beetles,” Borvinok said.

Municipal officials are looking for an effective method to control the beetles. “Some trees we cut down, take out of town, and burn there. In addition to the elm trees, the woodcutter attacks poplars. There is a danger that it will move to other trees. This beetle can not be taken down by anything. That’s why we are planting new species, linden, maple, and acacia,” said Zhanybek Zhumaliyev, head of the Zelenkhoz enterprise’s planning department.