Page 911 – The Times Of Central Asia

02 Jan 2024

Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

New Flag of Kyrgyzstan Raised in Ala-Too Square

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On January 1^st, 2024, the new flag of Kyrgyzstan was raised in Ala-Too Square. Photos of the updated flag were shared by the AKIpress News Agency.

On December 22^nd, President Sadyr Japarov signed a law “On State Symbols of the Kyrgyz Republic,” which was adopted to improve the country’s flag. In particular, the adopted law changed the shape of the sun’s rays on the flag of Kyrgyzstan from wavy to straight.

Earlier, at the People’s Kurultai, Japarov had stated that changing the flag was his personal initiative, and also added that the state would not bear the costs.

Several rallies protesting the change have been held since the proposal in October.

Also on December 22^nd, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Kyrgyz authorities to drop all charges against activist Aftandil Jorobekov, and to release him after he was arrested for openly protesting changes to Kyrgyzstan’s national flag and charged with calls for mass disorder and civil disobedience. In a statement, HRW said that the charges brought against Jorobekov “violate his freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly.”

The 39-year-old activist was detained on December 7^th, a day after he voiced his disapproval of the bill and announced his plan to hold a peaceful protest in Bishkek’s Gorky Park on December 9^th.

“Criticizing the government and calling for peaceful protest is not the equivalent of stoking mass unrest, and it is certainly not criminal,” Sultanalieva said. “The Kyrgyz authorities should drop this absurd case against Jorobekov, and uphold his right to free speech and peaceful assembly.”

Meanwhile, many politicians, activists, and public figures in Kyrgyzstan continue to question the idea to change the national flag. Prominent Kyrgyz athlete and two-time world wrestling champion Jolaman Sharshenbekov wrote on Twitter on December 21^st that he will continue raising the country’s old national flag at international tournaments and competitions.

The head of the country’s State Committee of National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, immediately commented on Sharshenbekov’s post, threatening unspecified repercussions for athletes who “even try” to raise anything other than the amended national flag at sports events. “The law is adopted, and we, the citizens, must obey,” Tashiev wrote.

02 Jan 2024

Tajikistan Life & Culture, Life & Culture, Tajikistan

Tajiks Celebrate New Year in Istiklol Square, Dushanbe

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On New Year’s Eve, at the stroke of midnight, thousands of people gathered around the main tree on Istiklol (Independence) Square in Dushanbe, with many citizens from remote parts of the republic arriving for the holiday. Despite the fact that the expected snow did not fall on New Year’s night, this did not dampen the mood of those present.

A gregarious mood prevailed, with dancing and singing. The main festive concert was also held on the square, at which famous artists performed New Year’s songs and traditional melodies, before a large-scale fireworks display added to the festive atmosphere.

02 Jan 2024

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

$10 Million Jewelry Factory to be Launched in Fergana

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

A jewelry factory will be created in the Fergana region together with Turkish businessmen. The project was discussed at a meeting of the regional khokim (administrative leader), Khairullo Bozorov, local businessman, Ulugbek Abdurakhimov, and Turkish partners, Ali Uyanik and Jezmi Shen, the press service of the regional khokimiyat reports.

As of now, it is known that the plant will produce gold and silver jewelry. It is planned that a research department and a professional training center will operate at the plant. Its products will be targeted both at the domestic market and for export to Europe and America. The plant is set to create more than three hundred jobs.

02 Jan 2024

Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Man Burns City Xmas Tree in Taraz, Protesting New Year Celebrations

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

A man burned down the main city tree of the administrative center of the Zhambyl region in the city of Taraz. He was detained, and information about the incident was confirmed by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“On December 31 at 08:30am, video surveillance cameras recorded the arson of a Christmas tree installed in the park. The police detained a 56-year-old man. The suspect confessed and was taken to a temporary detention facility,” the ministry stated. The police indicated that a pre-trial investigation has been launched under Article 202 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan (deliberate destruction or damage to someone else’s property).

Witnesses to the incident actively distributed a video on social networks. According to the local publication, Orda.kz, the reason for the crime was the man’s belief, according to his explanation, that the New Year should not be celebrated in Kazakhstan. The damage caused by his actions is estimated to be 2.8 million tenge ($6,150).

02 Jan 2024

Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Increases Tariff for Russian Oil Transit

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

KazTransOil JSC, an oil pipeline company of Kazakhstan that provides services for the transportation of oil to the domestic market, for transit and for export, has stated that starting from January 1st, 2024, the tariff for the pumping of Russian oil for transit through the territory of Kazakhstan along the Kazakhstani section of the Tuymazy-Omsk-Novosibirsk-2 (TON-2) main pipeline is to be increased. The tariff will now be $11.28 a ton per 1,000 km, the Kazakh company said.

The main oil pipeline TON-2 passes through the territory of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. The 186.25 km long Kazakh section of the TON-2 oil trunk pipeline supplies oil to the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant (northern Kazakhstan) and transits Russian oil to the People’s Republic of China and Uzbekistan.

01 Jan 2024

Environment, Kazakhstan Environment, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan Seeks to Resolve Water Management Issues with Regional Neighbors

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In the modern world, water is as valuable a resource as minerals. For that reason, on September 1st, 2023, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev by decree created the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.

“Water resources are no less important for our country than oil, gas or metals. I believe that the effective development of the water management system should be handled by an independent department,” Tokayev said at the time.

Despite the short period of its work, the new Ministry has already had concrete results, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (primeminister.kz) stated in reviewing the country’s economic performance in 2023. In particular, the concept for the development of a water resources management system for 2024-2030 has been developed. It will allow for the area of irrigated agricultural land in Kazakhstan to increase up to 2.2 million hectares, increase the share of water-saving technologies up to 40%, and reduce the loss of irrigation water during transportation down to 15%.

The Ministry has also prepared a plan for the development of the water sector of Kazakhstan for 2024-2030. Its implementation will increase the volume of the country’s water resources by 3.7 cubic kilometers, reduce losses of irrigation water and increase its volume by three cubic kilometers, provide water to 41 settlements with a population of more than 55,000 people, and also reduce Kazakhstan’s dependence on water supplies from neighboring countries by 25%.

In 2024-2026, it is planned to begin construction of 20 new reservoirs and reconstruct 15 reservoirs across the country. A total of 339 canals with a length of 3,5000 km will be reconstructed.

The Ministry also conducted negotiations with neighboring states on water security. As a result, it is expected that by April 1st, 2024, 11.1 cubic kilometers of water will flow into the Syr Darya River, and 487 million cubic meters of water are expected to be taken through the Dostyk interstate canal. This will allow for the accumulation of the volume of water required for growing season in Kazakhstan’s Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions, as well as sending 1.6 cubic kilometers of water to the Aral Sea.

Butakov Bay, Small Aral Sea. Photo: TCA

An agreement was reached with upstream Kyrgyzstan on the supply of irrigation water to the Zhambyl region in southern Kazakhstan, which experienced a severe water shortage this past summer.

The Ministry is also negotiating with upstream China on more than 20 rivers that flow to Kazakhstan, including the Ertys, Ili, and Emel. Today, the two neighboring countries have reached a consensus on a number of issues regarding water distribution.

Finally, a draft agreement is being developed on a mechanism for water and energy cooperation between the countries of Central Asia, with the participation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.