Page 76 – The Times Of Central Asia

13 Oct 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Russian Gas Exports to Central Asia Rise 15% Amid Growing Regional Demand

October 13, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Russian natural gas exports to Central Asia increased by 15% in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller announced at the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum (PMG Forum 2025), according to TASS.

Miller cited rapid economic growth across the region as the key driver of rising energy demand. He projected that Central Asia’s economy could expand by as much as 60% over the next five to six years, with natural gas playing a central role in meeting growing energy needs.

“When we compare the first eight months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, the volume of Russian gas supplied to Central Asia, namely Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, rose by 15%. These are substantial volumes,” Miller said.

Miller also pointed to the importance of major infrastructure initiatives, including projects under the Power of Siberia-2 megaproject, in expanding gas supply routes to the region.

In 2024, Gazprom reported a doubling of gas exports to Central Asia between January and August. At that time, deliveries to Uzbekistan had reached maximum technical capacity through the Central Asia-Center pipeline, meeting peak demand typically seen during the coldest months of winter.

The latest increase in exports highlights Central Asia’s growing strategic value to Russia as an energy market, as well as deepening energy cooperation between Moscow and the region.

13 Oct 2025

Central Asia, Home, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Local Politics, Tajikistan Features, Tajikistan Home, Features

Tajikistan’s Ombudsman Criticizes Violations of Refugee Rights

October 16, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Tajikistan’s Human Rights Commissioner has released a 2024 report highlighting ongoing violations of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, including challenges in securing legal status and accessing essential services.

According to the report, refugees and migrants face systemic barriers to obtaining official status and temporary registration, as well as difficulties integrating into society, finding employment, and accessing education.

As of the end of 2024, 10,753 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Tajikistan, comprising 2,670 families. Among them, 9,424 individuals (2,140 families) held refugee status, while 1,329 (530 families) were awaiting decisions on their asylum applications. The majority, 6,774 people, or 63%, were Afghan nationals.

In 2024, 2,280 individuals were issued refugee certificates, and another 2,591 received temporary registration. Four applicants were denied refugee status on grounds of submitting “unfounded or false information.” The report did not disclose the nationalities of those denied.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported similar figures for 2024, citing 10,381 registered refugees and asylum seekers in Tajikistan. This marks a decline from 2022, when the UN estimated the number of Afghan asylum seekers in the country at around 14,000.

The Ombudsman’s report also noted that several Afghan asylum seekers were expelled from Tajikistan in 2024 for violating residency rules. Cited reasons included wearing a beard “against the rules,” inappropriate clothing, alcohol consumption, and political discussions on social media.

Interior Minister Ramazon Rakhimzoda defended the deportations, stating in the summer of 2024 that all actions were taken in accordance with national law.

“Although they had legal residence, if they violate the law, they are expelled,” he said, adding that all decisions were made within the existing legal framework.

Tajikistan accepted its first wave of Afghan refugees in 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power. At the time, authorities acknowledged that the lack of dedicated shelters posed a major challenge.

In August 2025, the head of the Emergency Situations Committee said there was no significant threat of a new mass influx of refugees and that previously accommodated families had been resettled across the country. Most Afghan refugees are currently living in the city of Vahdat and the Jabbor Rasulov district.

13 Oct 2025

Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

U.S. Senate Confirms Julie Stufft as Ambassador to Kazakhstan

October 13, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

On October 7, the United States Senate confirmed Julie Stufft as the new U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, approving her nomination by a vote of 51 to 47, and marking the first new U.S. envoy to Astana under President Donald Trump. A career diplomat and Senior Foreign Service Minister-Counselor, Stufft previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services. During her July 2025 confirmation hearing, Stufft outlined her priorities, citing the security of U.S. citizens, energy cooperation, and critical minerals partnerships as top priorities. “If confirmed, my primary task will be to ensure the safety of all Americans in Kazakhstan, including my embassy and consulate staff,” she said.

Stufft emphasized Kazakhstan’s strategic importance as a key U.S. partner in Central Asia, highlighting opportunities for expanded economic cooperation, particularly in energy and critical minerals. “Today, we stand on the threshold of a new era of trade and energy cooperation with Kazakhstan, a world leader in uranium production, a major oil exporter, and a holder of vast reserves of critical minerals,” she said.

Stufft added that she intends to collaborate with the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, and the private sector to deepen bilateral economic ties and promote U.S. prosperity.

Stufft’s confirmation received some bipartisan support, with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Steve Daines (R-MT) praising her professional experience and diplomatic capabilities.

She succeeds Daniel Rosenblum, who retired in December 2024 after 28 years of service in the State Department. Her nomination was formally submitted by the White House and approved by President Donald Trump in the summer of 2025.

Stufft is a career diplomat and a member of the Senior Foreign Service. Before her appointment, she served at the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Her previous overseas postings include assignments in Russia, Poland, Ethiopia, Moldova, and Djibouti. She also served on the National Security Council, coordinating efforts to protect Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stufft holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Duke University. She speaks Russian, Romanian, French, and Polish. In 2023, she received the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service and has earned seven State Department awards over her career.

“We must actively oppose violence against women and girls,” she said, underscoring her commitment to gender equality as part of U.S. foreign policy. Stufft is a fellow of the International Women’s Forum (2021-2022) and participated in the MIT Center for International Studies’ Seminar XXI program (2014-2015).

13 Oct 2025

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

RC Cola Launches Production Facility in Southern Kazakhstan

October 13, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

A beverage production plant under the global RC Cola brand has officially opened in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan. Operated by Beibars Bottlers, the facility is located in the village of Kumisbastau in the Tulkubas district and is designed to produce up to 120,000 tons of beverages annually, according to the regional administration.

The product line includes RC Cola carbonated drinks, bottled water, and other non-alcoholic beverages. The project attracted $16.7 million in investment, with plans to supply both the domestic market and neighboring Central Asian countries.

“The new plant features production lines based on advanced German and Italian technologies, along with an environmentally friendly, multi-stage water purification system,” the local mayor’s office said. “Water is drawn from wells 170 meters deep and tested in leading laboratories in the US and Italy.”

The facility has created 100 new jobs and contributed to local infrastructure development. As part of the project, more than 6 kilometers of 35 kV power lines, a new $1.3 million substation, a gas pipeline, and treatment facilities have been constructed.

The opening ceremony was attended by RC Cola International General Manager Francis Lampera and project investor Amangeldy Nurov, founder of Beibars Bottlers LLP. They stated that the launch will boost RC Cola’s presence in Central Asia and solidify its footprint in the Kazakh market.

RC Cola (Royal Crown Cola) was founded in 1905 by American pharmacist Claude A. Hatcher. It was the first brand to introduce canned soda and a caffeine-free diet cola. The brand is now owned by Keurig Dr Pepper and distributed internationally through RC Cola International.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, RC Cola competitor The Coca-Cola Company recently inaugurated a new production plant in Uzbekistan, which is also part of the company’s expansion strategy in the Turkestan region.

13 Oct 2025

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

Kazakhstan Investigates Telegram Founder Pavel Durov for Swimming in Protected Kolsai Lake

October 13, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Pavel Durov, founder of the Russian messaging app Telegram, may face an administrative fine in Kazakhstan after posting a video of himself swimming in Kolsai Lake, a protected natural area where swimming and fishing are prohibited.

Durov arrived in Kazakhstan in early October to participate in the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana, later visiting Almaty. During the trip, he shared a video on his own Telegram channel that showed him emerging from the waters of Kolsai Lake in the Almaty region. The post sparked widespread reaction on social media, given the lake’s status as part of a national park with strict visitation rules.

Under Kazakh law, violations of protected area regulations are punishable by a fine of up to $72.

The Kolsai Lakes National Park administration confirmed that an official investigation is underway. Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Police Committee, Alexei Milyuk, said the case has been referred to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

“We have collected materials based on media reports and social media posts, registered them, and forwarded them to the appropriate authorities,” Milyuk told reporters. “The question of bringing Pavel Durov to justice is now being considered by the environmental authorities.”

He added that penalties may be limited to a warning, with $72 being the maximum fine.

Durov later posted a follow-up video showing himself holding a metal rod, stating that he had entered the water to retrieve an object he noticed protruding from the lakebed in an effort to clean the area.

During his visit, Durov also announced the launch of Telegram’s AI Lab at the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana.

13 Oct 2025

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

Kyrgyzstan Warns of Potential Fuel Shortage

October 13, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Kyrgyzstan’s Antimonopoly Regulation Service has urged oil traders to avoid unjustified price increases and to ensure continuous fuel supplies, amid concerns about dwindling gasoline reserves.

According to participants in a recent meeting convened by the Antimonopoly Regulation Service, including representatives from the presidential administration, the country’s current gasoline reserves are sufficient for only one month.

Oil traders attributed recent price hikes at gas stations to rising wholesale prices at Russian refineries and a reduction in fuel shipments from Russia, Kyrgyzstan’s primary supplier.

“Following the meeting, proposals were prepared to stabilize the situation on the fuel market, which will be sent to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce,” the Antimonopoly Regulation Service said in a statement.

The regulator called on market players to “maintain fair competition,” refrain from unjustified price increases, and prevent disruptions in fuel availability. Traders reportedly pledged to maintain uninterrupted supplies through the end of the year, despite ongoing challenges in Russia.

Kyrgyzstan relies heavily on Russian fuel imports, which it receives at preferential rates and without export duties. However, deliveries have fallen due to scheduled maintenance at Russian refineries and recent attacks on oil infrastructure.

Fuel industry representatives said a new supply agreement with Russia for 2026 is expected to be signed by the end of this year.