Page 77 – The Times Of Central Asia

04 Feb 2026

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Rubio Hosts Critical Minerals Meeting; Central Asia Is Key to U.S. Vision

February 9, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

The United States welcomed delegations from dozens of countries to a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday that was aimed at strengthening and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals. With large reserves of these minerals, Central Asia is emerging as a key player in U.S. plans to secure components deemed necessary for advances in technology, economic development, and national security.

“I don’t need to explain to anybody here that critical minerals are vital to the devices that we use every single day,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in his opening remarks at the minister-level conference. “They power our infrastructure, our industry, and our national defense… Our goal is to have a global market that’s secure, a global supply that’s enduring and is available to everyone, every nation, at an affordable price.”

U.S. Vice President JD Vance also spoke at the event, saying the United States wants to form a trading bloc among allies and partners that expands production of critical minerals in an environment of stable prices and supply chains immune from disruption.

“By regulating imports to preserve free and fair competition within the preferential trading zone, we will elevate our nation’s miners and refiners, our investors and producers alike,” Vance said. “We are all on the same team, and we need to create the economic incentives that reward people for investing and building in our countries.”

The United States is seeking to counter China’s dominance of the critical minerals market. China is a key trading partner for Central Asia, whose countries aim to diversify their relationships among the major powers.

Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev of Kazakhstan was among those slated to attend the critical minerals conference in the United States. The visit follows intensifying discussions involving the United States and Central Asian countries on how to develop trade and investment. On Wednesday, business leaders and government officials from Central Asia and the United States gathered in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, for the start of the second B5+1 Business Forum.

04 Feb 2026

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Why Kazakhstan Is Not Celebrating Its Multi-Billion-Dollar Win in the Karachaganak Oil Arbitration Just Yet

February 4, 2026
By Andrei Matveev

In late January 2026, international media reported that Kazakhstan had won a significant arbitration case against the shareholders of the Karachaganak oil field, with compensation estimated between $2 billion and $4 billion. The Ministry of Energy has not commented on the substance of the ruling, citing confidentiality, though experts say it strengthens Kazakhstan’s position in ongoing legal proceedings related to the Kashagan oil field.

According to Bloomberg and Reuters, the Kazakh government initiated legal action in 2023 over what it described as unjustified cost deductions. Originally filed for $3.5 billion, the claim later expanded to include additional allegations, such as inflated expenses tied to corruption.

In 2025, the shareholders of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating proposed settling the dispute by financing a domestic gas processing plant in Kazakhstan. The government rejected the proposal, however, and arbitration continued, resulting in a ruling in favor of Kazakhstan. Sources familiar with the proceedings said the consortium, led by Eni and Shell, has been ordered to pay compensation of up to $4 billion. The tribunal has yet to finalize the exact amount. As the arbitration process remains confidential, sources requested anonymity, noting that the Karachaganak consortium still has the option to appeal.

While the ruling represents a partial victory, Kazakhstan had originally sought a significantly higher sum; the tribunal accepted the government’s core argument: under the production sharing agreement (PSA), the consortium charged the state for unapproved and non-reimbursable expenses.

Kazakhstan’s external legal advisers estimate the final payment will range between $2 billion and $4 billion. According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the recovery mechanism will likely involve revisions to the oil distribution formula within the PSA.

In its written decision, the tribunal referenced Kazakhstan’s own admission that it had tolerated “corruption and kleptocracy” until 2022. A source familiar with the ruling said Kazakh officials had accepted bribes to approve inflated costs at Karachaganak, expenses that were then inappropriately reimbursed by the state.

During the arbitration, Kazakhstan’s legal team presented documents from criminal proceedings in Italy. These revealed that, in 2017, several Italian contractors pleaded guilty to bribing Kazakh officials to secure contracts at both Karachaganak and the Kashagan offshore field.

Oil and gas analyst Olzhas Baidildinov said the ruling gives Kazakhstan a stronger position in the Kashagan case. He asserted that Kazakhstan can now “firmly defend its rights in major oil and gas projects,” and that the “decades of privileged status enjoyed by foreign oil and gas majors in Kazakhstan’s oil industry are over.”

Baidildinov added that the operating models at Karachaganak and Kashagan are likely to be restructured and possibly “de-Italianized”.

He also criticized the national oil company, KazMunayGas, for its silence on the Tengizchevroil (TCO) expansion project, whose capital expenditure has surged from $12 billion to $48.5 billion. Drawing comparisons to Uzbekistan, Baidildinov noted that former Uzbekneftegaz head Bahodir Sidikov was dismissed in December 2025 and later detained on corruption charges. In the same month, presidential energy adviser Alisher Sultanov was also removed.

“I’m astonished that, while regional Kazakh officials are being arrested for bribes worth mere hundreds of thousands of tenge, we continue to accept the TCO budget of $48.5 billion without scrutiny,” said Baidildinov. “That’s 33 times the cost of the Burj Khalifa, six times the price of the Large Hadron Collider, and more than the infamous Kashagan offshore project, even though Tengiz is an onshore field with existing infrastructure.”

Baidildinov concluded that senior figures overseeing Tengiz at KazMunayGas should be held accountable.

Business analyst Abzal Narymbetov observed that Kazakhstan has rarely prevailed in large-scale disputes over the past 15 years, describing the Karachaganak ruling as a turning point that signals Kazakhstan’s evolution beyond its traditional role as a “raw material territory.” He also believes the experience gained from this case will prove valuable in future litigation over Kashagan.

“Many are calling for a statement from the Ministry of Energy,” Narymbetov said. “But the ministry has made clear it cannot comment for now. In international arbitration, any premature or triumphant remarks from government agencies could provide grounds for appeal or obstruct payment enforcement. It appears the ministry is completing the process discreetly to ensure funds are properly transferred to the state budget”.

04 Feb 2026

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Uzbekistan Probes Alleged Personal Data Leak from State Information Systems

February 4, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

Reports circulating on social media and Reddit have raised concerns that the personal data of Uzbek citizens may have been leaked from government information systems and shared on darknet forums.

In response, several state agencies have issued statements confirming that investigations are underway, and that their systems remain secure.

According to posts shared on Reddit, links were posted to online platforms, including darknet sites, allegedly containing data from Uzbek state institutions. Some users claimed the leak could involve personal information on as many as 15 million citizens. These claims quickly gained traction across social media, prompting official responses.

On February 3, Uzbekistan’s Cybersecurity Center acknowledged the reports and confirmed that it had launched an investigation. “In recent days, messages have been observed on social networks about the alleged dissemination of personal data of Uzbek citizens from certain state information systems,” the Center said in a statement. It added that a comprehensive review is ongoing and that further details would be shared upon completion of the inquiry.

The Center also issued guidance to the public, urging citizens not to disclose personal information to third parties, to use complex usernames and passwords when accessing state and other digital systems, and to avoid entering data through suspicious links.

In response to public speculation that information from the recent population and agricultural census may have been compromised, the Statistics Agency also issued a statement. It affirmed that all data collected during the online census, conducted between January 15 and 31, is securely stored. “All collected data are kept in encrypted form on a separate server. There is no reason for concern regarding the safety of census-related information,” the agency said.

The State Tax Committee similarly denied any breach involving its systems. Addressing claims circulating on social media and various websites, the committee said it had implemented all necessary cybersecurity measures and that its interactive services and systems were functioning normally and without interruption.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs echoed these reassurances, stating that the integrity of its information systems is fully intact. The ministry confirmed that no unauthorized access to personal data under its control had been detected.

Authorities emphasized that investigations are ongoing and urged the public to rely on official sources for updates as checks continue.

04 Feb 2026

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B5+1 Forum Opens as U.S. Companies Expand Economic Footprint in Central Asia

February 5, 2026
By Stephen M. Bland

Business leaders and government officials from Central Asia and the United States gathered in Kyrgyzstan’s capital on February 4 for the start of the second B5+1 Business Forum. Co-organized by the Kyrgyz government and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the event is intended to bring together private companies, business associations, officials, and experts interested in expanding U.S.–Central Asia commercial ties. More than 50 U.S. companies are participating in the event.

The B5+1 is the business-track counterpart to the C5+1 diplomatic format that links the United States with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The B5+1 brings companies and policymakers together to identify barriers to investment and propose cross-border regulatory changes.

This week’s meeting in Bishkek follows the inaugural B5+1 forum held in Almaty on March 14–15, 2024, which drew more than 250 stakeholders from across Central Asia and the United States. It produced 21 private-sector recommendations aimed at easing trade, improving regulations, and building regional economic integration. The Bishkek agenda is built around reviewing progress on those recommendations and setting priorities for the next phase of work.

Central Asian officials have used the event to signal interest in region-wide coordination rather than country-by-country deals. In comments made in Bishkek, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction, Ersaiyn Nagaspaev, emphasized that foreign investors increasingly assess Central Asia as a single market, reflecting a push to align regulations and investment conditions across borders. Nagaspaev noted that more than 600 U.S. companies currently operate in Kazakhstan.

Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, used the forum to highlight domestic economic performance within that regional context. In a speech at the forum, Kyrgyzstan’s First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Daniyar Amangeldiev, said Kyrgyzstan’s economy grew by 11.1% in 2025, which he described as one of the highest growth rates in the region.

Addressing the forum, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor stated that the United States intends to expand its economic engagement with Central Asia. “The private sector, not intergovernmental agreements, will become the key instrument of interaction,” he told those in attendance, identifying electronic commerce, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, agriculture, and transport infrastructure as priority areas.

Gor noted that the American companies present at the forum represent the largest and most comprehensive U.S. commercial delegation ever to visit Central Asia. The U.S. recognizes the importance of Central Asia in global trade and connectivity, he stated.

“The United States is open for business. We’re open for peace. We’re opening to strengthen our ties around the world. So that’s why it’s fitting that the first C5 event in 2026 is this B5 + 1 forum,” Gor said, linking the Bishkek discussions to economic commitments made at the C5+1 summit in Washington in November 2025.

“The Transport Corridor for Peace and Prosperity will provide reliable connectivity from Central Asia through the South Caucasus to global markets,” Gor said. “This is a historic opportunity to strengthen economic integration and long-term prosperity across the region.”

During his visit to Bishkek, Gor also met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, with the meeting covering economic cooperation and U.S. business engagement in Kyrgyzstan, including the participation of American companies in the B5+1. The Kyrgyz presidency said the two sides also discussed prospects for expanding trade, attracting investment, and developing cooperation in priority economic sectors.

Discussions in Bishkek highlighted how the B5+1 is being positioned as a standing mechanism rather than a one-off meeting. CIPE has framed the forum as part of an ongoing cycle in which private-sector proposals are developed through working groups and carried forward between annual meetings.

U.S. officials have linked the B5+1 more directly to Washington’s broader economic approach toward Central Asia. During his regional trip, which also includes Uzbekistan, Sergio Gor’s schedule has centered on business engagement and investment promotion rather than security or political consultations.

For the Kyrgyz authorities, hosting the forum is part of a broader effort to position the country as a regional convening hub. A December notice from Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce described the B5+1 as a regional business mechanism within the C5+1 framework, rather than a Kyrgyz-specific initiative.

Previous B5+1 recommendations have focused on regulatory alignment, trade facilitation, and investment conditions, but no public timeline has been announced for publishing updated recommendations from the Bishkek meeting. CIPE has said outputs from earlier forums were compiled after consultations rather than issued as immediate communiqués.

The absence of signed agreements or joint statements on the opening day has kept attention focused on whether the forum produces measurable follow-up. Earlier B5+1 recommendations from the 2024 Almaty meeting were published weeks after the event, following additional consultations with governments and business groups.

The B5+1 concludes on February 5. Any updated recommendations or sector-specific commitments are expected to emerge after the forum rather than during the event itself.

04 Feb 2026

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

Man Imprisoned in Kyrgyzstan for Evading Child Support

February 4, 2026
By Sergey Kwan

In Kyrgyzstan’s southern Batken region, a man who had evaded court-ordered child support payments since 2017 has been sentenced to two years in prison, according to the Bailiff Service under the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic.

This is reportedly the first known prison sentence for such an offense in Kyrgyzstan, signaling a shift as authorities move to strengthen penalties against non-compliant parents following divorce.

Under a July 3, 2017 ruling by the Batken District Court, the man was ordered to pay one-quarter of his income in child support until his child reached the age of 18. However, he failed to comply with the court’s decision. As of September 1, 2025, his arrears totaled 501,000 Kyrgyz som (approximately $5,700).

On February 2, the Batken Regional Court sentenced him to two years in prison for non-payment.

Klara Masalbekova, Head of the Department for Enforcement of Court Decisions at the Prosecutor General’s Office, noted that failure to fulfill child-support obligations falls under Article 178 of Kyrgyzstan’s Criminal Code. This article has been progressively tightened in recent years. Under current law, evading child support can result in a prison sentence of up to three years.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, 1,205 individuals in Kyrgyzstan are currently wanted for child-support evasion.

The Family Code of the Kyrgyz Republic stipulates the following alimony contributions for children under 18:

One child – 1/4 of the parent’s income
Two children – 1/3 of the income
Three or more children – 1/2 of the income

In a related development, the Kyrgyz parliament has approved in the first reading a bill introducing stricter penalties for non-compliance with alimony agreements or court orders, 24.kg reported.

The proposed measures include:

Three days’ arrest for a three-month overdue payment
Community service of 100-200 hours or up to one year of imprisonment for a 12-month overdue payment
A fine of 100,000 som (approx. $1,140) or up to three years in prison for concealing income, understating wages, or refusing employment mandated by a court order

The bill aims to reduce the number of delinquent child-support cases and improve compliance with family law rulings across the country.

04 Feb 2026

Defense, Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan Becomes First Central Asian Buyer of Embraer C-390

February 4, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

The aviation engineering company Embraer announced on February 3 at the Singapore Airshow that Uzbekistan is the previously undisclosed buyer of its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. In its announcement, Embraer Defense & Security identified Uzbekistan as the first Central Asian country to acquire and operate the aircraft.

The Uzbek Air Force will primarily use the C-390 for transport and humanitarian missions, enhancing the country’s airlift capabilities and emergency response infrastructure. The acquisition marks a major milestone in the modernization of Uzbekistan’s military aviation fleet and aligns it with a growing list of global C-390 operators.

“We officially welcome the Republic of Uzbekistan to the group of C-390 operators as the Uzbekistan Air Force modernizes its transport capabilities,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. He added that the company is “honored by the choice of this leading Central Asia Air Force” and committed to ensuring reliable and effective aircraft operation.

Designed and built in the 21st century, the C-390 Millennium is described by Embraer as the most modern military transport aircraft in its class. It can carry payloads of up to 26 tons, reach speeds of 470 knots, and cover longer distances than other medium-sized transport aircraft. It is equipped for a wide range of missions including cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian aid.

Notably, the C-390 can operate from unpaved or temporary runways, making it suitable for deployment in difficult terrain. When fitted with quick-install air-to-air refueling systems, the aircraft operates under the KC-390 designation, capable of serving as both tanker and receiver. It is fully NATO-interoperable and designed for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations.

Uzbekistan joins an expanding list of C-390 Millennium customers, including Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and Lithuania, according to Embraer.