Page 948 – The Times Of Central Asia

01 Dec 2023

Uzbek Citizen Imprisoned for Enlisting with Russian Forces in Ukraine

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

According to RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service, the first Uzbek national has been sentenced to prison for joining Russian forces in the conflict in Ukraine’s Donetsk region between 2014 and 2015.

Relatives of Ildar Khairulin informed RFE/RL on October 30th that the 38-year-old received a five-year prison sentence last week after a court found him guilty of serving as a mercenary. Khairulin’s family refuted any claims of his presence in Ukraine, asserting that all accusations against him were based on erroneous information provided by the Kyiv-based NGO, Myrotvorets (Peacemaker). The NGO aims to inform local law enforcement about alleged crimes committed against Ukraine by foreign citizens.

01 Dec 2023

Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan

WFP and Switzerland to Strengthen Rural Communities’ Resilience to Extreme Weather

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

As outlined in a release on its website, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, with financial support from the Government of Switzerland, is launching the Weather Index-Based Insurance Pilot Project, an initiative aiming to strengthen the resilience of rural communities to extreme weather-related risks and shocks.

The project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries, will integrate climate and disaster risk financing into national social protection systems.

Developed in collaboration with international experts and piloted in three districts of the mountainous Naryn province – Jumgal, Ak-Talaa and Naryn – the insurance project aims to assist local governments in protecting livestock farmers from extreme weather events, such as low fodder availability in pastures and the high price of fodder during extreme winters and drought. Based on the pilot results, it will be expanded to other priority regions.

“The Kyrgyz Republic, with its beautiful landscapes and natural wonders, is unfortunately no stranger to the impacts of extreme climate and the accompanying risks. The vulnerability of this region calls for immediate action, and it is inspiring to see the proactive measures being taken to mitigate risks associated with the changing climate and enhance the resilience of local communities,” says Kojiro Nakai, WFP Kyrgyz Republic Representative and Country Director. “The Government of Switzerland’s funding this vital project demonstrates our joint commitment towards creating a sustainable and resilient future for the country.”

Under the 2023 pilot, the project will be rolled out during the extreme summer period. The pilot will insure local governments against drought for a maximum sum of around US$ 1.2 million, with an estimated premium amounting to US$ 200,000. The insurance coverage is expected to benefit 4,500 smallholders from vulnerable communities.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in building climate resilience within the Kyrgyz Republic. By leveraging international expertise and collaboration, WFP and its partners are actively engaged towards reducing vulnerability and exposure to shocks, by strengthening the adaptive capacities of rural communities.

01 Dec 2023

Central Asia, Environment, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan Environment

Central Asia Particularly Vulnerable to Climate Risks, Primarily Due to Water Scarcity, Says EDB

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

By 2050, the available resources in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya basins – the region’s two largest sources of water – situated in southern Kazakhstan and along Uzbekistan’s southern border with Turkmenistan – could decrease by 10% to 15%. Water shortages inevitably impact the region’s agricultural sector, which relies on water as a critical factor in food production, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has stated in a news release.

The reduction in wheat yields in seven oblasts of Kazakhstan could result in direct economic losses exceeding U$1.2 billion by 2030. These concerns were highlighted by Conrad Albrecht, Managing Director and Head of the Directorate of Sustainability at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) during the recent Seventh North and Central Asia Multistakeholder Forum on the Implementation of the SDGs in Almaty.

“Kazakhstan, being the only Eurasian nation to have implemented a carbon pricing system, faces the additional challenge of a potential carbon tax amounting to U$250 million. Most economies in the region rely heavily on carbon-intensive industries, necessitating a transition towards more sustainable production methods”, Albrecht said. He also pointed out that the region’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions significantly exceed its contribution to the global economy in terms of both GDP and population. However, countries such as Armenia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have a share of global CO2 emissions lower than their share of the world’s population, indicating that the region’s economies are critically carbon intensive.

“All countries in the Eurasian region are taking climate change extremely seriously, acknowledge their direct contribution to the global agenda and are ready to make ambitious commitments to decarbonization”, Albrecht stressed. “Nevertheless, Central Asian countries still require substantial support from multilateral development banks, and while climate finance to the region is increasing, it remains significantly smaller compared to other low- and middle-income countries”.

01 Dec 2023

Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Home

Blogger and Activists Placed in Pretrial Detention Following Protest over Drinking Water

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

As reported by RFE/RL on July 18^th, the Sokuluk district court in northern Kyrgyzstan has ordered the detention of prominent blogger Ertai Iskakov along with activists Bakyt Balbaev and Baktybek Bekbolotov until September 15. Their detention relates to a recent demonstration held by two villages urging the restoration of drinking water supplies.

The charges against the men include hooliganism and the unlawful obstruction of a highway. Lawyers representing the men informed said that their clients pleaded not guilty.

Iskakov, a well-known blogger recognized for addressing social issues in his content.

Several villages in close proximity to Bishkek, the capital, have encountered prolonged shortages in drinking water supplies.

01 Dec 2023

Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia: Key Highlights from the Eurasian Development Bank’s Roundtable

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

According to a press release issued by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), on November 16th, 2023, Almaty, Kazakhstan, served as the venue for a critical roundtable hosted by the EDB, titled “Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia”. This gathering saw the participation of representatives from a wide range of international organizations and multilateral development banks. Attendees included the likes of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, FAO, UNIDO, UNEP, ESCAP, UNDP, the World Health Organisation, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and CICA. The agenda was packed with discussions revolving around irrigation, water challenges, environmental and social standards of international financial institutions, and case studies that showcased collaborations in project implementation12.

The EDB’s latest report, “Efficient Irrigation and Water Conservation in Central Asia”, was introduced during the roundtable’s first session. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, underscored the essential interrelationship between water, food, and energy in Central Asia. He declared the development of the region’s water and energy resources as a strategic priority for the EDB. He also expressed concerns over an impending water deficit in Central Asia within the next five years, urging for collective action supported by multilateral development banks3.

Tatiana Proskuryakova, the Regional Director for Central Asia at the World Bank, also spoke at the event. She emphasized the importance of sustainable development in Central Asia to international organizations and multilateral financial institutions. She revealed that the World Bank has allocated approximately a quarter of its $12 billion investment portfolio in Central Asia to water, energy, and environmental sectors. This proportion is expected to rise to almost half in the near future4.

Following this, Evgeny Vinokurov, EDB Chief Economist, presented the study “Efficient Irrigation and Water Conservation in Central Asia”. He proposed a ten-step solution to address the prevalent issues. The steps include establishing an International Water and Energy Consortium; fostering collaboration among multilateral banks; creating a regional cluster to produce irrigation equipment; consolidating efforts to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan; using PPP instruments; instituting proper water accounting; gradually integrating investment charges into the tariff structure; improving land conditions; implementing digital technology, and leveraging state-of-the-art irrigation technology and laser levelling.

01 Dec 2023

Tajikistan Justice, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Features

Tajik Political Activist Sentenced to 8 ½ Years in Prison

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

A court in Dushanbe has sentenced Nizomiddin Nasriddinov, a former activist of the Group 24 opposition movement, to 8 1/2 years in prison on a charge of making public calls to forcibly change Tajikistan’s constitutional order, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported.

According to an anonymous source involved in the trial, RFE/RL was informed on October 5^th that the Ismoili Somoni district court delivered Nasriddinov’s verdict and sentence on September 29^th. The source added that the former activist pleaded not guilty.

Court officials and Nasriddinov’s relatives declined to comment on the matter. The court requested RFE/RL to submit an official letter for comment.

Recently, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Watch, Freedom for Eurasia, and Freedom Now jointly urged Tajik authorities to drop what they deemed as “fabricated” charges against Nasriddinov and release him immediately.

Nasriddinov was detained by Belarusian authorities in January at the request of Dushanbe when he entered Belarus from Lithuania. Subsequently, he was extradited to Tajikistan in July. Notably, Nasriddinov holds refugee status in Germany.

His affiliation with Group 24, which was designated as a terrorist and extremist organization and banned in the tightly governed former Soviet republic in 2014, has been highlighted. In March 2015, the movement’s founder, businessman Umarali Quvatov, was assassinated in Istanbul.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, known for his nearly 30-year firm grip on the Central Asian nation, has faced criticism from international human rights groups. They accuse his administration of disregarding independent media, religious freedoms, civil society, and political diversity.

In the past year, Tajik courts sentenced seven journalists and bloggers to prison terms ranging from seven to 21 years. They were charged with spreading false information, involvement in extremist activities, and association with banned groups. Both the accused and their supporters, alongside human rights organizations, have labeled these charges as baseless and politically motivated