Page 652 – The Times Of Central Asia

02 Jul 2024

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

ADB to Allocate $50 Million to Support Economic Reforms in Kyrgyzstan

July 2, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

It has been reported by 24.kg that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will allocate $50 million to support economic reforms in Kyrgyzstan.
According to a statement from the ADB, the funds aim to improve the fiscal system and public administration. The project’s primary goal is to help the country transition to environmentally-friendly technologies, adapt to climate change, and integrate gender aspects into budgetary processes. Of the total funding, $43 million will be a program loan, and $7 million will be provided as a grant.

“Kyrgyzstan’s economy is vulnerable to economic crises due to limited resources and weak governance. The government is committed to strengthening financial institutions to support key sectors of the economy,” ADB stated.

The ADB program aims to improve corporate governance of state-owned enterprises, tax policy, and transparency in public administration. ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, Eugene Zhukov emphasized that the initiative promotes stable and inclusive economic growth. This year marks 30 years of cooperation between ADB and Kyrgyzstan, under which 217 projects worth $2.6 billion have been implemented. The ADB continues to support the country in achieving sustainable economic growth and fighting poverty.

02 Jul 2024

Features, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov died in Kyiv

July 2, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

After 13 days in intensive care following an attack in Kyiv, Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov has died. This was confirmed by his wife Natalia Sadkykova on her Facebook page.

Sadykov and his wife were authors of the YouTube channel “Base” which has been consistently critical of Kazakhstan’s government, starting with President Nazarbayev’s term and continuing under the new President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

On 18 June, Sadykov was shot next to his wife in a parked car in the Shevchenkovsky district of Kyiv, not far from the house where the couple lives. Aidos was wounded in the head, Natalya was not injured.

The office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine named two citizens of Kazakhstan, Altai Zhakanbaev and former Kazakhstan police officer Meiram Karataev (dismissed in January 2019), as suspects in the case.

On 19 June, President Tokayev of Kazakhstan said that “the official bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan are ready to join the investigation.”

On 21 June, Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office released an official statement concerning the attack: “Yesterday, the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan addressed the Prosecutor General of Ukraine with a proposal to provide all possible assistance in solving this crime, involving the most experienced Kazakhstani investigators. The course of the investigation of the criminal case by the Prosecutor General’s Office has been taken under special control.”

On the same day, Altai Zhakanbaev turned himself in to Kazakhstan authorities, according to the Office.

The murder of Sadykov has raised questions about motive. Kazakhstani parliamentary deputy Ermurat Bapi has suggested that the attack was due to “third forces” who want to create a “quarrel between Kazakhstan and some countries”.

Sadykova has held President Tokayev responsible for her husband’s death. To date, no evidence has been made public to substantiate these claims.

02 Jul 2024

Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Life & Culture, Local Politics, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

A Greater Role for Kazakhstan’s Media

July 3, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On June 27, in the lead-up to Mass Media Workers’ Day, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took to the stage to address a gathering of journalists and media professionals. His engagement underscored the government’s response to the public’s increasing attention to a more liberalized media landscape.

Western observers, having taken a renewed interest in former Soviet states amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are pushing these countries for progress, particularly on press freedoms. The European Center for Press Freedoms criticized the passage of Georgia’s foreign agent law that drove of tens of thousands of citizens to protest in the streets. Amnesty International condemned raids of journalists’ offices and homes in Kyrgyzstan. Reporters Without Borders downgraded Uzbekistan’s position in its State of Press Freedom Index to “very serious”.

Kazakhstan has also received its fair share of Western criticism about freedom of the country’s media. Human Rights Watch reports that “although Kazakhstan’s new mass media law has some amendments that should improve the status quo, its ambiguity and the restrictive nature of other provisions threaten to create obstacles to the work of local and foreign journalists”.

Government attitudes towards the media vary widely along the periphery of Russia and the former Soviet Union. In Kazakhstan, despite ongoing challenges and shortcomings, it is increasingly seen as the fourth estate, providing citizens with the information they need to check the government’s power.

Increasing media influence on society and elected officials

Indeed, Tokayev referred to the media as the “fourth estate” in his address, expanding on its growing roles and responsibilities in building “a just and fair Kazakhstan”. He acknowledged the media provides a “pluralism of opinion (which) is exactly what we strived for from the beginning, (and) is our fundamental achievement,” noting that it can “criticize the activities of the authorities”. He called it the “voice of the people, the messenger of the nation, and the spiritual support of society,” adding that it can “shape the legal culture”.

A recent example of the media’s influence in the legal realm in Kazakhstan can be seen in the aftermath of Saltanat Nukenova’s murder by her husband, who is a former Minister of the Economy. This tragic story garnered an enormous reaction in Kazakhstani media and resulted in calls for legislation to protect women against domestic violence. Consequently, in April 2024, the President signed what became known as “Saltanat’s Law”, and the former minister was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

A burgeoning media space, but some challenges remain

According to the TCA’s count, over a hundred independent media outlets operate in Kazakhstan through sites and social media channels. They express a wide range of opinions, including criticizing government activities. On the other hand, the government maintains the right to revoke their license to operate inside Kazakhstan. In the last year, for instance, the Ministry of Culture and Information has blocked digital currency platform, Coinbase.com, as well as an LGBTQ+ site for children called Selftanu.kz, and the Russian news portal Sputnik24.

In this environment, the June 27 ceremony did more than present rewards and bestow accolades; it also highlighted the complex relationship between the state and the press in Kazakhstan. Tokayev’s speech was largely celebratory, as he commended the endeavors of media professionals. On the other hand, he also took this opportunity to remind them of the challenges and responsibilities of their chosen profession.

Tokayev’s call for journalists to guide public discourse on societal transformation underlines a nuanced expectation. He encouraged them to “maintain objectivity and impartiality”, and at the same time, cautioned them against engaging in “self-deception and self-glorification – (as) this is the path to decay and degradation”. As such, the media is openly encouraged to enlighten and inform the public, but where the boundaries of their activities lie within the broader context of press freedoms remains a subject of discussion. While the government retains the capacity to restrict media activity, President Tokayev’s posture aims to bring about a more self-regulatory media.

His speech should be viewed within the context of the government’s domestic goals and challenges. Many media channels, whether they are funded domestically or internationally, have been used as instruments of political influence in Kazakhstan. Most often, their content has been peaceful. The authorities say, however, that some have inspired insurrections and violence against certain ethnic groups or government officials. An extreme case of this agitation was the January 2022 coup attempt during which, for a brief period, the government could not guarantee the security of its people. It was against this backdrop that Tokayev called on the media in his address to play a special role in establishing the principle of “Law and Order” in society.

Another sensitive issue is the media’s role in spreading extremist ideologies. Groups linked to religious extremism, who often originate from Afghanistan and proselytize an Islamic dogma subjugating women, are widely unpopular in Kazakhstan. Home to 131 ethnicities with deep traditions, Kazakhstan has so far been resistant to the injection of foreign value systems that risk disrupting its social order. Most local media outlets have deemed factions promoting ultra-nationalist or racist ideologies discriminating against minority groups as being harmful to the public. Tokayev’s views were thus aligned with the public’s general sentiment when he noted the critical role of journalists in “consolidating values in public consciousness”.

Striking a balance

Western democracies have evolved and strengthened over centuries. Western societies can therefore be considered quite resilient to certain types of harmful influence, such as Islamic extremism or insurrection-mongering, due to the presence of long-lasting democratic institutions and strong security structures. But even here, journalists’ activities have been threatened by government-led surveillance, prosecution of whistleblowers, and libel lawsuits. Striking the balance between an unbridled free press and the government’s overreach is always difficult.

For Kazakhstan, the increasingly open engagement between the government and the media sector offers hope, but also serves as a reminder of the challenges to safeguarding a free and fair press. It is promising that the country’s top leadership recognizes and praises the value of journalism. The road to achieving unfettered press freedoms, however, will likely be a continuous process which requires ongoing exchanges between the state and media professionals.

02 Jul 2024

Home, Environment, Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Featurees

Top Kazakh Businessman Denies Allegations about Greek Island Fire

July 2, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

One of Kazakhstan’s wealthiest business executives has denied any wrongdoing in connection with a forest fire that was allegedly caused by fireworks on the Greek tourist island of Hydra.

Daniyar Abulgazin, who has shares in multiple Kazakh energy and other companies, said he had rented the luxury boat named Persefoni I that has been linked by Greek prosecutors to the fire on June 21. However, he said he and his group left Greece as previously scheduled on June 22 after speaking with “representatives of the Greek authorities,” who made no claims against them in connection with the fire. Some of his guests had already left Greece on the morning of June 21, according to Abulgazin.

“It came as a complete surprise to us to learn of the allegations that followed in the press upon our return, and I categorically deny any wrongdoing,” Abulgazin, who had returned to Kazakhstan, said in a statement that was released by DRD Partnership, a London-based communications firm.

Greek prosecutors have charged the captain and 12 crewmembers of the boat with arson and eight Kazakh passengers who were on the vessel face charges of complicity in arson, according to Greek media reports. Several reports said Greek investigators found the remains of firecrackers on a Hydra beach and concluded that passengers from the Persefoni I were on the beach around the time of the fire, which burned an estimated 300 acres.

The case has stirred anger in Greece, which is enduring high summer temperatures and a string of forest fires. Some commentators questioned how the Kazakh tourists were able to leave Greece before an investigation of the fire had barely begun. Some Greek media outlets said prosecutors were investigating the initial handling of the matter by Greek authorities. They have also mentioned Abulgazin and the names of some of the other Kazakh passengers on the boat in their reports, posting photos of them on broadcasts and websites.

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

“Neither I nor my guests performed any actions that could lead to a fire. We strictly followed the fire safety rules established on the yacht. Neither I nor my guests asked the crew of the yacht or other third parties to take any actions that could lead to a fire,” he said.

Abulgazin has shares in Qazaq Oil, SinoOil and Gas Energy gas station networks as well as other operations and his worth is estimated at $380 million, according to Forbes Kazakhstan. His wife, Aidan Suleimenova, has interests in fashion companies and shopping centers in Kazakhstan.

DRD Partnership, the firm that released Abulgazin’s statement about the fire, says it focuses on “building value for our clients and protecting their reputations at moments of challenge and change.”

02 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Home, International Affairs, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan

Participants at SCO Summit in Astana to Adopt New Security Paradigm

July 3, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Participants at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana will appeal to the world community to start an honest and open dialogue and adopt a new security paradigm, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has stated in an interview with the Xinhua news agency. The SCO summit will be held in Astana on July 3-4, and member states, observers, and dialog partners will participate. U.N. Secretary-General, António Gutterish will also be in attendance.

The SCO currently has nine member states: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia hold observer status, though Belarus is expected to become a full member of the Organization at the upcoming summit.

According to Tokayev, the summit is expected to make strategically important decisions regarding the organization’s future. “The main areas of interaction for the medium term will be defined, and initiatives will be developed for the adequate and timely response to current challenges and threats,” Tokayev stated.

The president also noted that the summit’s final decisions will fully embody the fundamental principles of the “Shanghai spirit”: friendship, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and the consideration of each other’s interests.

“Participants of the summit in Astana will appeal to the world community to start an honest and open global dialog, adopt a new security paradigm, create a fair economic environment, and make the necessary efforts to protect the planet’s purity,” he added.

The President also stated that 2024 was declared the SCO Year of Ecology on the initiative of Kazakhstan. “International documents in ecology, protection of natural territories, ecotourism, combating climate change have been developed and are planned for adoption,” Tokayev added.

Earlier, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping will participate in the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana. At the invitation of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, President Xi Jinping will also visit these two countries.

02 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Home, International Affairs, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

SCO Summit in Astana: Will the West Accept the Role of the “Middle Powers”?

September 25, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan will chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana on July 3-4. During the event, significant global initiatives are expected to be proposed.

Will Modi attend?

Kazakhstan has been chairing the SCO since July 2023, and following this summit the organization’s presidency will pass to China. The SCO was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. In 2017, India and Pakistan became members of the organization, whilst Iran joined in 2022, and Belarus is expected to join the SCO in the summer of 2024. The association’s main tasks are to strengthen stability, fight terrorism and drug smuggling, develop economic cooperation and energy, and promote scientific and cultural partnerships.

The summit in Astana is expected to be attended by heads of state and government of 15 countries: Kazakhstan, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, UAE, Turkey and Turkmenistan. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also participate.

According to foreign media, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi intends to avoid the summit. In particular, The Federal reports that the main reason for his decision is an unwillingness to be surrounded by anti-American attitudes.

“Although it has not been officially announced yet, unofficially, Indian diplomats have confirmed that Modi will not attend the SCO summit. Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar will represent India in Kazakhstan instead,” the publication reported. Since the SCO includes China, Russia, and Iran, whose relations with the U.S. remain strained, anti-American statements are possible, even likely, during the summit, and Modi does not want to be associated with them. Nevertheless, in his conversation with President Tokayev, he expressed support for the activities of the SCO and his intention to cooperate.

Solving global problems

The SCO unites countries with a combined population of about 3.5 billion people, so its members face the full range of contemporary problems: terrorism, geopolitical tensions, environmental pollution, climate change, and underdeveloped logistics.

In particular, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized that Afghanistan’s situation deserves close attention during the upcoming summit. According to Tokayev, it is essential to continue efforts to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and create the conditions for its long-term stabilization. Political analysts say that Kazakhstan is making quite an effort to bring stability to Afghanistan. The republic is supplying food so that a real controlling force can begin to build a relatively stable government and further reduce the risks from terrorist activity and migration.

In his policy statements, President Tokayev called on countries like Kazakhstan to actively promote their role as participants in global processes as responsible players on the world stage.

“In today’s world, gripped by increased geopolitical turbulence and ongoing conflicts, multilateral solutions are in demand more than ever.
Armed clashes in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at a time when global challenges such as climate change have left millions hungry, unprotected, and displaced. These conflicts appear intractable, and the hope of overcoming them is fading. Against the background of global contradictions, major powers – the world’s economic and political giants – are increasingly losing the ability to act together,” Tokayev emphasized in an article. “Against this backdrop, middle powers like Kazakhstan are emerging as key players with growing capabilities to bring greater stability, peace and development to their regions and beyond.”

Before the summit in Astana, President Tokayev gave a wide-ranging interview to China’s Xinhua news agency. Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to attend the SCO, and China has consistently been one of Kazakhstan’s leading trade and investment partners. Over the 30-plus years of bilateral relations, the volume of trade turnover between the two countries has increased 100 times, and in 2023, it reached $41 billion. There are 4,700 Kazakh-Chinese enterprises operating in Kazakhstan.

In particular, Tokayev recalled that he was personally present at the organization’s creation in 1996, when it began as the “Shanghai Five,” and almost 30 years later, it became the “Shanghai Ten.” According to Tokayev, he has high hopes for the upcoming meeting.

“We expect that the final decisions of the summit will fully embody the fundamental principles of the “Shanghai spirit”: mutual trust, friendship, mutual benefit, and consideration of each other’s interests. We believe that the SCO should not remain aloof from global processes. That is why Kazakhstan has proposed jointly developing the SCO Initiative on World Unity for Just Peace and Harmony. I am grateful that this initiative has been appreciated and supported by all member States. The participants at the Astana summit will appeal to the world community to start an honest and open global dialog, adopt a new security paradigm, create a fair economic environment, and make the necessary efforts to protect the planet’s cleanliness,” Tokayev stated.

“We expect strategically important decisions to be taken in the sphere of further improvement of the SCO. The main areas of interaction for the medium term will be defined, and initiatives will be developed to provide an adequate and timely response to current challenges and threats. On the initiative of Kazakhstan, 2024 has been declared the SCO Year of Ecology. International documents in the sphere of ecology, protection of natural territories, ecotourism, and the fight against climate change have been developed and are planned to be adopted,” the President noted.

Political scientist Adil Kaukenov believes that significant agreements between Kazakhstan and China could be signed during the summit. He also wonders whether Western countries will accept the participation of “medium” countries such as Kazakhstan in global processes.

“The secrecy of the forthcoming agreements (between Kazakhstan and China) is explained by the fact that if their signing is “warmed up” in society in advance, it is possible they will face the opposition of the “anti-Chinese net,” which will sway protest moods based on Sinophobia, finding dark sides in absolutely any agreement. Therefore, the authorities’ tactic has been to present the public with a ready-made result, respectively, removing the possibility of the politicization of ordinary agreements. In the post-Soviet space, there have already been examples of how a simple bureaucratic agreement can be politicized, but it should be noted that the reasons for this can be quite false and given after the fact, as, for example, with “Land protests” or rallies against “Chinese production,” Kaukenov stated.

“The summit itself will be a very significant event from the point of view of the global agenda, and there is much talk about a separate meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Erdogan being prepared on the margins. The summit is expected to be one of the most significant events in the Global South, as, in addition to the leaders of China, Turkey, and Russia, the heads of Pakistan, the leadership of Iran, and many others are expected to attend,” the political scientist said.

“Kazakhstan, in the program article by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has also expressed its vision in the context of the desire of “middle powers” to influence global politics. Since the summit is being held in Kazakhstan, which positions itself as one of these “middle powers,” other states with similar political aspirations need to see the results and, most importantly, the West’s reaction to the outcome. Will the “great powers” accept the “middle powers'” request for global influence?” Kaukenov concluded.