Page 68 – The Times Of Central Asia

10 Feb 2026

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

Is Kyrgyzstan About to Have a Snap President Election?

February 12, 2026
By Bruce Pannier

Kyrgyzstan held early parliamentary elections at the end of November 2025 that were moved forward by a year so that they would not overlap with the campaign for the presidential election scheduled for January 2027.

On February 9, a group of 75 former officials and notable figures from various spheres of society publicly submitted a letter to the president and speaker of parliament calling on them to “immediately initiate a new election for president.”

While there has yet to be any official response, such a proposal is likely to be accepted, leaving anyone who planned on running against incumbent President Sadyr Japarov with little time to organize a campaign.

Early Parliamentary Elections

In June 2025, amendments were introduced to the electoral system. The split system of using single-mandate districts and party lists to elect parliamentary deputies was changed to only single-mandate districts, and electoral districts were redivided.

This sparked discussions that perhaps early parliamentary elections were needed to fill the 90 seats with deputies elected under the newly-approved system.

The argument that tilted the debate toward early elections was that parliamentary elections were scheduled for late November 2026 and the presidential election for January 2027. The general opinion was that having the two elections so close together would make voters weary and unable to fully focus on the presidential campaign. Also, if the vote count was delayed in some districts or there were legal challenges, these processes would be ongoing as campaigning for the presidency got underway.

The solution was to move parliamentary elections forward by a year. In September 2025, parliament voted to dissolve itself, and November 30 was named as the date for early elections.

The Letter

The petition addressed to President Japarov and Speaker of Parliament Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu was signed by former deputies, nine former governors, four former prime ministers, several high-ranking members of the military, academics, artists, and even an Olympic Games medal-winner.

The letter praised the current administration for establishing stability in Kyrgyzstan, strengthening the country’s armed forces, resolving long-standing border issues with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, successfully battling corruption, and eliminating organized crime in the country.

The letter also mentioned remaining problems such as the growing national debt, poverty, and the outflow of “especially young people” unable to find employment and going to other countries to work.

A key point in the appeal for an early presidential election was that it would clear up an ambiguity in President Japarov’s term. Japarov came to power in the wake of the October 2020 revolution that was sparked by parliamentary elections riddled with irregularities. He was elected in January 2021 to a six-year term in office, but in April that year, a national referendum approved a new constitution with a five-year presidential term. Therefore, holding the presidential election this year would bring Japarov closer into line with the new constitution.

Additionally, the previous constitution, which had a six-year presidential term, also limited a president to one term in office. The new constitution allows for two five-year terms.

Who Wrote the Letter?

The 75 signatories are listed at the end of the letter. However, independent outlet Kaktus Media contacted some of them to confirm whether they signed the letter or not. Olympic medal winner, Kanybek Osmonaliyev (who won his gold in weightlifting as part of the USSR team in 1980), said he had not signed the letter. “I’m not a politician; no one approached me,” he stated.

Others, like former Prime Minister Tursunbek Chyngyshev, confirmed they had signed the appeal.

What no one who spoke with Kaktus seemed to know, or at least would say, was where the letter originated from. It is unclear who the author or authors of this petition are.

Kaktus Media reported at the beginning of February that there were already rumors of an early presidential election. Whoever initiated this letter, it seems clear that it was a pre-planned effort.

Now that the proposal has been made, backers of the snap poll can gauge public reaction. It is likely many of the recently elected parliamentary deputies, most of whom support the president, already knew and are ready to move on the petition as soon as the president gives the signal.

Japarov is legitimately popular in Kyrgyzstan, and it would be difficult for a challenger to defeat him in an election.

That being the case, there seems to be no need to have an early election. However, if he waits until his six-year term approaches its end, that could be fuel for opponents to claim he is then subject to the one-term limit.

Even if this appeal is rejected, there will probably be more, making an early presidential election this year likely.

10 Feb 2026

Central Asia, Home, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan, International Affairs, Tajikistan Home

Up to 300 Tajik Women and Children Remain in Syria and Iraq

February 10, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

An estimated 250 to 300 Tajik women and children remain in Syria and Iraq, according to Suhaili Kodiri Abduhafizzoda, Head of the Department for State Protection of Children’s Rights at the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Tajikistan.

Abduhafizzoda stated that the repatriation process, previously overseen by a dedicated Tajik working group, has stalled since the change of government in Syria. At its peak, approximately 800 Tajik nationals, mainly women and children, were believed to be in the two countries. While more than half have returned home, hundreds remain stranded.

Four Repatriation Waves Since 2019

Tajikistan has conducted four formal repatriation missions since 2019, resulting in the return of 382 individuals. These included:

2019: 84 children repatriated
2022: 144 women and children
2023: 104 individuals
2024: 47 women and children

In addition, roughly 90 Tajik citizens returned independently, although their exact routes and methods of escape from conflict zones have not been officially disclosed.

Final Stage Falls Short

Officials had hoped the 2024 operation would mark the final stage of the repatriation effort. However, Abduhafizzoda confirmed that not all remaining women and children agreed to return.

“We planned to return all remaining women and children, but this was not possible, primarily because they themselves refused,” he explained.

Fear of legal consequences was the most commonly cited reason. Many of the women expressed concern that they would face criminal prosecution upon returning to Tajikistan.

However, authorities insist these fears are largely unfounded. According to the ombudsman’s office, none of the women previously repatriated have been charged or prosecuted. Instead, they were reportedly met with state support and reintegration programs.

“Some of the women who had already returned had similar fears. But once they came back, they saw that no criminal cases were initiated, and they were all forgiven,” Abduhafizzoda noted.

Children Reunited With Families

Officials report that all repatriated children have been reunited with relatives and received assistance in resuming their education and adjusting to civilian life.

Nonetheless, the fate of those still in Syria and Iraq remains unclear.

Legacy of the Islamic State

According to official figures, more than 2,500 Tajik citizens joined the Islamic State group after 2013. Many men took their families with them to Syria and Iraq. By 2017, most of the men were reported killed or missing, and some women and children are also believed to have died during the conflict.

With no current framework for further repatriation, the future of the remaining Tajik women and children in the region remains uncertain.

10 Feb 2026

Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Home

Tokayev to Personally Oversee Probe Into Medical Insurance Fund Embezzlement

February 10, 2026
By Dmitry Pokidaev

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to personally oversee the investigation into large-scale embezzlement from Kazakhstan’s Social Medical Insurance Fund (SMIF) and has instructed the government to accelerate the rollout of a unified national healthcare information system.

The move follows a series of alarming revelations about systemic fraud in the medical insurance system. In January, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered that control of the SMIF be transferred to the Ministry of Finance to bring financial flows under tighter oversight.

Subsequent audits uncovered widespread violations, including the registration of fictitious patients, the billing of unnecessary medical services, duplicate financing of procedures, and even the provision of treatments to deceased citizens. The findings have been submitted to law enforcement agencies for investigation.

Addressing an expanded government meeting, Tokayev stated that fraudulent activity in the social sector had reached “unprecedented proportions,” and emphasized that the Prosecutor General’s Office and other relevant bodies must investigate all instances of wrongdoing, regardless of the statute of limitations or the individuals involved.

“I will personally oversee the investigation process,” the president declared.

Tokayev attributed much of the abuse to the absence of a unified digital infrastructure in Kazakhstan’s healthcare system. More than 30 separate and unintegrated information systems are currently in use, creating serious gaps in oversight and traceability.

In response, the president has ordered the government to finalize the development of a single, centralized state medical information system by December 1. The new platform is expected to provide full traceability of services and financial transactions, and to digitize all SMIF operations.

Tokayev emphasized that digitization is essential for ensuring transparency and the proper use of public funds.

As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, earlier this year, the government also announced it would cover health insurance contributions for more than one million unemployed citizens.

10 Feb 2026

Central Asia, Environment, Home, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyz MP Questions Why Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Don’t Pay for Irrigation Water

February 11, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

A long-standing debate over Kyrgyzstan’s water resources resurfaced this week after a member of parliament questioned why Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan do not compensate Kyrgyzstan for irrigation water sourced from its reservoirs, according to a report by Kaktus Media.

Speaking at a February 9 meeting of the parliamentary committee on agrarian policy, water resources, ecology, and subsoil use, MP Umbetaly Kydyraliev raised concerns about growing water shortages caused by climate change and the lack of economic return from water exports to neighboring countries.

“About 80% of the water in our reservoirs goes to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” said Kydyraliev. “How are we resolving this issue with them?”

Regional Cooperation vs. Compensation

In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobaev explained that while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are not making direct payments for water, they are contributing to major regional infrastructure projects, most notably, the Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower plant.

Torobaev emphasized that cooperation is based on mutual benefit rather than transactional agreements. He noted that both countries have expressed strong interest in ensuring reliable access to water and have supported the hydropower initiative accordingly.

Kambar-Ata-1: Strategic Investment

Kambar-Ata-1, originally launched during the Soviet era and later shelved, is poised to become one of Central Asia’s largest hydropower plants. Once completed, it is expected to surpass the output of the Toktogul hydropower station, currently Kyrgyzstan’s main source of electricity. The plant’s projected cost is around $3.6 billion.

Who Should Pay for Upkeep?

Kydyraliev also cited other key reservoirs, including Kempir-Abad (jointly managed with Uzbekistan), Kirov, and Orto-Tokoy, which remain under Kyrgyzstan’s jurisdiction. Annual intergovernmental commissions determine how much water is released from these facilities, yet no financial compensation is received.

“Does this mean Kyrgyzstan gains no economic benefit from maintaining these hydropower facilities?” he asked. “We have to repair them, stabilize water levels, and inspect dams. These are real costs. Other countries pay for water under international law.”

Official Position: No Demands for Payment

Deputy Energy Minister Nasipbek Kerimov noted that the issue is being jointly studied by energy and water specialists. Torobaev added that details of these discussions are confidential but confirmed that President Sadyr Japarov has instructed officials not to demand payments from neighboring states for infrastructure maintenance.

Instead, Kyrgyzstan will shoulder those costs itself, with any external assistance remaining voluntary.

10 Feb 2026

Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

A Stranger Among His Own: Rejected by Russia, Kazakh Comedian Nurlan Saburov Faces Cold Reception at Home

February 12, 2026
By Andrei Matveev

Kazakh comedian Nurlan Saburov has become the third stand-up performer to be officially barred from entering Russia, this time with a 50-year entry ban.

The decision, reportedly issued on national security grounds, follows years of mounting controversy surrounding the artist, who has struggled to reconcile his dual identity as a Kazakhstani citizen and a celebrity shaped by Russian showbusiness.

From Stepnogorsk to Moscow Spotlight

Born in 1991 in Stepnogorsk (Akmola region, Kazakhstan), Saburov’s career took off through KVN, the long-running Soviet-era improv competition, after enrolling at Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg. In 2014, he relocated to Moscow with his family to pursue a career in the booming Russian stand-up scene, eventually gaining national fame through television appearances.

However, that rise has since been marred by a series of political and legal controversies.

Neutrality in the Spotlight and Its Consequences

Saburov’s troubles began in April 2022, when he was confronted during a U.S. tour by a protester covered in red paint, a symbolic act referencing the war in Ukraine. His offhand joke referencing menstruation drew global backlash, leading to an American tour cancellation and public outrage. Attempts to declare a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine only deepened public criticism.

By May 2025, he faced his first major setback at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, where he was fined for immigration violations but allowed to leave without a ban.

Then, on February 6, 2026, upon arrival at Vnukovo airport from Dubai, Saburov was detained and issued an official notice of a 50-year ban from entering Russia. The document cited violations of tax and migration law, with authorities alleging he attempted to legalize his earnings through intermediaries while refusing to apply for Russian citizenship.

“In 2024 alone, Nurlan Saburov declared more than 50 million rubles [$645,000] in income while ignoring tax and migration rules,” Russian law enforcement sources told RIA Novosti.

He was initially scheduled for deportation to Dubai but instead chose to fly to Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Uneasy Return to Kazakhstan

Speculation quickly emerged about whether Saburov would settle permanently in Almaty, where he co-hosts a successful YouTube talk show alongside three Russian hosts. The program, previously hosted on YouTube, now runs on VK, Russia’s state-backed video platform, and frequently features Russian celebrities. Relocating the production to Kazakhstan could, some argued, benefit the country’s cultural profile and tourism appeal.

However, Saburov was met with public hostility. A video from 2025 resurfaced online showing him donating 10 enduro motorcycles to fighters from the Wagner Group’s Istra unit, a controversial paramilitary force implicated in operations in Ukraine.

In response, Almaty-based activist Marat Turymbetov submitted a formal complaint to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan, calling for an investigation into possible violations of Article 170 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits financing illegal armed groups.

“I believe the authorities will investigate and bring this individual to justice,” Turymbetov stated in a social media post, citing possible mercenary activity.

Other Kazakhstani citizens, particularly those who support Ukraine, joined Turymbetov’s call for legal action.

Saburov Responds

Despite the backlash, Saburov has not distanced himself from Russia. In a statement on Instagram, he thanked Russian audiences and signaled plans to contest the ban:

“Time will put everything in its place. My career began 15 years ago in Yekaterinburg and later in Moscow. I’ve performed in many Russian cities and was always met with warmth. I’m grateful to the country that allowed me to grow as an artist and reach a multinational audience,” Saburov wrote, adding that his lawyers would “deal with all relevant authorities”.

As legal and public scrutiny continues in both Russia and Kazakhstan, Saburov now finds himself without a stage, caught between two countries no longer willing to claim him as their own.

09 Feb 2026

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

U.S. to Host “Board of Peace” Meeting on February 19

February 9, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

The United States plans to host a meeting this month of the “Board of Peace” that President Donald Trump set up. The attendance list is still in the works, and there is no word yet on whether the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which are among more than two-dozen member countries, will attend the gathering in Washington on February 19.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev traveled to Davos, Switzerland, last month to join Trump for the signing ceremony of the board, which supporters say is aimed at resolving Gaza and other conflicts around the world. There are concerns, however, that the international mechanism could undermine the United Nations, and critics question the sweeping power that Trump holds over the board, as chairman with veto power and no term limits.

The White House plans to hold the meeting in Washington, D.C. to support implementation of the Gaza cease-fire deal and raise funds for reconstruction of the territory, the Axios news outlet has reported. It said planning is in the early stages and could change. Axios attributed the information to a U.S. official and diplomats from several countries that are on the board.

Other media organizations also reported on the planned meeting this month.

President Javier Milei of Argentina will attend the meeting, according to the Argentine government. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is also expected to attend.

The involvement of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the Board of Peace reflects their goals of playing a more robust role on the international stage as well as the expanding relationship, particularly centered around trade and investment, between the United States and Central Asia. Azerbaijan is also among the countries that signed up to join the Board of Peace.

Some traditional U.S. allies, including in Europe, have not joined the U.S.-led organization, partly because of concerns over the board structure. Additionally, their relations with Washington have frayed over tariffs, U.S. plans to take over Greenland, and other issues.