Page 913 – The Times Of Central Asia

08 Jan 2024

Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Forum to Attract Foreign Investment in Turkmenistan’s Energy Sector to be Held in Paris

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Forum to Attract Foreign Investments in Turkmenistan’s Energy Sector will take place on April 24^th and 25^th, 2024 in Paris.

The Forum’s organizers are the State Concerns Turkmengaz, Turkmennebit (Turkmen oil), and the State Corporation Turkmengeology in partnership with the Turkmen Forum and U.K.-based GaffneyCline, according to the official website of the event.

The purpose of the Forum is to expand the opportunities for attracting foreign direct investment in all aspects of the energy industry of Turkmenistan, and to strengthen regional dialogue on further sustainable development of the energy sector. Upstream, midstream and downstream opportunities will also be addressed. The Forum will bring together leading national and international energy companies, as well as experts who shape the future of the oil and gas industry not only in Turkmenistan, but also in the wider region.

Turkmenistan has repeatedly stated that increasing production and diversifying the export of its hydrocarbon resources is a priority task of the country’s oil and gas sector.

06 Jan 2024

Justice, Kazakhstan Justice

Kazakh model committed suicide two years after visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious island

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ruslana Korshunova was discovered by a modelling scout at the age of 15 and quickly moved abroad to pursue her career. She worked with well-known international brands such as Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, Paul Smith, Vera Wang, Nina Ricci, Donna Karan, and Christian Dior. Her striking features also graced the covers of Russian Vogue, French Elle, and The New York Times Style Magazine.

Tragedy struck when Korshunova was found dead outside her Wall Street home in New York in 2008 at the age of 20. She was believed to have fallen from her apartment’s balcony. Prior to her death, it was reported that she had joined an intense Russian “self-help group”, as revealed in Peter Pomerantsev’s 2014 book entitled “Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia”.

Recent court documents related to American financier and convicted sex offender, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and his former lover, Ghislaine Maxwell, reveal that at the age of 18, Korshunova was flown to Epstein’s Little Saint James island on his infamous private Boeing 727 aircraft, known as the “Lolita Express”. This plane was allegedly used to transport young girls to the island in the company of wealthy and influential men. Flight logs showed that Korshunova boarded the Lolita Express in New York on June 7, 2006, destined for the notorious private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The recent revelation of Korshunova’s involvement with Epstein comes in the wake of another tragic incident in Kazakhstan involving Saltanat Nukenova, the wife of former Minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev. The public murder of Nukenova by Bishimbayev had prompted the Zhana Adamdar movement to hold a rally in Almaty in November 2023 to raise awareness about violence against women and children.

Following Nukenova’s untimely death, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was quick to implement a decree to enhance human rights with a focus on combatting gender inequality and strengthening the justice mechanism for victims of domestic violence. This decree represents an expansion of protections for women and marginalized groups as part of the President’s larger reform agenda initiated in 2022.

Human rights infringements, as illustrated by both above incidents involving tragic deaths of young women, transcend geographical boundaries. The onus for rectification lies with the authorities and their proactive measures to prevent such violations. It is just as imperative that offenders are unequivocally and swiftly brought to justice. Given recent initiatives by its government, Kazakhstan seems to be progressing in this direction. The prolonged litigation and lack of transparency in the Epstein case, on the other hand, has provoked unease globally, considering that the victims originate from numerous countries.

06 Jan 2024

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

The NeMolchi.kz Foundation: Unraveling the Controversy Surrounding Dina Tansari

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In a recent development, Dina Tansari, the head of the public foundation “NeMolchi.kz,” has found herself at the center of six criminal cases, two of which involve allegations of fraud, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Tansari, also known as Dinara Smailova, stands accused of disseminating false information, infringing upon privacy rights, and engaging in fraudulent activities, as outlined by the police investigations. The foundation she leads, “NeMolchi.kz,” primarily focuses on advocating against violence targeting women and children in Kazakhstan.

However, investigations have revealed alleged discrepancies in Tansari’s actions. Forensic examinations indicate a tendency in her publications toward accusatory tones, built solely on subjective perspectives, as stated by authorities. Moreover, reports suggest that since 2021, while residing outside Kazakhstan, she used social media to solicit funds supposedly intended to aid victims of violence.

One notable incident involves the publication of misleading information in April 2023 about the alleged suicide of a girl in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Tansari’s subsequent posts expressing condolences and mistrust of police statements were deemed false. Consequently, these actions led to a criminal case based on the charge of hooliganism and injury to a minor, which was forwarded to court.

Despite these circumstances, Tansari initiated a fundraising campaign purportedly for the victim’s legal counsel, amassing over 20 million tenge ($44,000). However, only a fraction was utilized for the intended purpose. An analysis of financial data, sanctioned by the court, disclosed that funds intended for the foundation were diverted to Tansari’s husband’s personal account and spent on her personal expenses abroad, violating laws governing non-profit organizations.

This turn of events led law enforcement to place Tansari on the wanted list on December 27th. In response, she expressed her concerns on Instagram, highlighting that seven individuals were victims in her case and appealing for support from the people of Kazakhstan.

Previously, Tansari reported the fund’s accounts being blocked in November, and faced accusations of fraud by the East Kazakhstan police in early December. Subsequently, she and her husband, Almat Mukhamedzhanov, sought political asylum in Europe, claiming persecution due to NeMolchi.kz’s activities.

Established in 2017, “NeMolchi.kz” focuses on addressing violence against women and children in Kazakhstan through donations. Despite the recent controversy, the foundation has been active in initiating criminal cases against 81 alleged rapists over the past five years. The foundation offers a diverse array of support to victims, spanning legal, psychological, and medical aid, alongside educational initiatives and legislative advocacy for victim protection.

While Tansari’s current predicament unfolds, the legacy of “NeMolchi.kz” in aiding victims and fighting against violence remains a significant aspect of its ongoing mission, both within Kazakhstan and across various neighboring countries.

06 Jan 2024

Environment, Uzbekistan Environment, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Features, Features

Illegally Captured Migratory Birds Set Free

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Department of Ecology in Tashkent’s Ohangaron district uncovered the illegal capture of eleven migratory birds. The investigation revealed that individuals had engaged in unlawful bird hunting within the Geolog mahalla area of the Ohangaran district. Subsequent inquiries led to the identification of the perpetrators. Each individual involved was issued an administrative protocol under part 1 of Article 90 of the Administrative Code, resulting in a fine of 3.4 million som ($275). Ongoing raids will continue to address such activities.

Previously, in November, activists highlighted an incident involving the unlawful hunting of a protected bird of prey within mountain reserves. In a message posted on its Telegram channel, the Ekologuz group urged the Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to identify the individuals responsible and provide an official response regarding the situation. The Taskara bird involved in this incident holds a place in Uzbekistan’s Red Data Book, signifying its endangered status and the need for stringent conservation measures.

06 Jan 2024

Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Approves SDGs Action Plan for 2024

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The seventh meeting of the Coordinating Council for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place in Astana on January 5^th, chaired by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov. The meeting was attended by heads of government agencies and representatives from the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the European Union. At the meeting, updating the national SDG indicators, localizing SDGs in the regions, and preparing an annual report on the implementation of SDGs was discussed. Following the symposium, the SDG Coordinating Council approved an action plan for 2024.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Smailov emphasized that the primary goal of the SDGs is to improve the quality of life of Kazakhstan’s citizens by implementing advanced international standards. “In September of last year, the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the United Nations SDG Summit,” Smailov said. “During his speech, the President emphasized that achieving SDGs is a top priority for the nation. As a result, Kazakhstan is always willing to collaborate with all Member States to pursue a more just and sustainable world.”

The UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, Sukhrob Khojimatov, highlighted two key areas the UNDP focused on in 2023. The first was the localization of SDGs within the framework of a regional program to establish an SDG Platform for Central Asia funded by the European Union. The second was the support provided by the UNDP to the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan in creating a Parliamentary Commission for monitoring the implementation of national goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development.

Johannes Baur, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, emphasized that in 2024 the EU and its member states have committed to supporting Kazakhstan’s transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2060. During this year, they will launch the implementation of the Team Europe initiative, which will focus on energy, water resources, and climate change in Central Asia. The initiative will receive a budget of €20 million. This cooperation will be extended through a new bilateral mechanism to facilitate the transition to a green economy and modernize Kazakhstan’s emissions trading system.

06 Jan 2024

Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Turkmenistan and UAE to Expand Oil and Gas Cooperation

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On January 4^th and 5^th, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a working visit to the United Arab Emirates.

On the 4^th in Abu Dhabi, Berdimuhamedov had a meeting with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which they discussed the intensification of bilateral cooperation in a number of promising areas, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry stated. On the second day of the visit, in Dubai, the Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dragon Oil, Saeed Al Tayer, during which they discussed the possibility of expanding bilateral cooperation, taking into account the accumulated experience of prior joint work and Turkmenistan’s plans for the further development of its fuel and energy sector.

Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the energy policy pursued by Turkmenistan aims at increasing the volume of production and refining of oil and natural gas, as well as exporting more energy resources and finished oil and gas chemical products. For that purpose, Turkmenistan is engaged in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, designed to give impetus to the socio-economic development of the entire region. The third stage in the development of Turkmenistan’s giant Galkynyş gas field is expected to become the source for ensuring the supply of natural gas through this pipeline.

Berdimuhamedov invited partners and investors from the UAE to participate in the implementation of new energy projects for the construction of gas pipeline infrastructure intended for the export of Turkmenistan’s natural gas.

During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Concern Türkmengaz and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), stating the intention of the parties to attract strategic partners for the development of the third stage of the Galkynyş field and their possible participation in the implementation of energy projects related to the construction of gas pipeline infrastructure.