CIS - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kyrgyzstan MP Proposes Legalization of Marijuana

At a recent session of the Jogorku Kenesh, Kyrgyzstan's parliament, Kyrgyz MP Dastan Bekeshev proposed revising the country’s approach to drug policy. Bekeshev suggested distinguishing between the lesser and greater evils of drug use, advocating for the legalization of light natural substances, such as marijuana, while emphasizing the dangers of synthetic drugs. Bekeshev argued that banning and destroying natural drugs only drives up their prices, pushing young people toward cheaper but far more harmful synthetic alternatives. He stressed that this approach exacerbates the drug problem rather than solving it. The idea of legalizing light drugs is not new for Bekeshev. In 2019, he proposed creating a designated zone at the former Manas airbase where the sale and use of light drugs would be permitted. Similarly, in 2017, former National Bank head Tolkunbek Abdygulov suggested that legalizing marijuana could help boost tourism in Kyrgyzstan. These proposals have sparked heated debates among Kyrgyz society and lawmakers, with opinions divided over balancing drug control with reducing the negative consequences of drug use. Regional Context The debate on legalizing light drugs is not unique to Kyrgyzstan. Across the Eurasia region, similar proposals have surfaced but have yet to gain official approval. In 2013, Russia called on CIS countries to adopt a joint statement opposing the legalization of light drugs, citing the potential risks of their spread. In 2023, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev reiterated Moscow’s firm stance against legalization, blaming Western propaganda for negatively influencing youth. Belarus has also explored the idea of legalizing psychedelics and other light drugs. However, no official measures have been enacted, reflecting the prevailing opposition to drug legalization within the CIS. Bekeshev’s proposal continues to fuel conversations about whether Kyrgyzstan could break with the regional norm and take a different approach to drug policy. As the debate unfolds, questions remain about the potential economic and social impacts of such a move.

CSTO CIS Foreign Affairs Foreign Policy Global Diplomacy internal affairs

CSTO Leaders Tackle Regional Security, Nuclear Energy, and Afghan Border Concerns

Astana hosted a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), gathering heads of member states to discuss pressing regional and international issues. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council. Attendees included Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and CSTO Secretary-General Imangali Tasmagambetov. In his address, President Tokayev highlighted the CSTO’s pivotal role in maintaining peace and stability in Eurasia. “Amid modern challenges, the CSTO consistently demonstrates its relevance as a guarantor of security for all member states. Our coordinated actions, mutual trust, and support strengthen our collective ability to tackle complex and large-scale tasks. The CSTO is not merely a military partnership but a unique mechanism that unites our efforts and resources to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Tokayev stated. CSTO’s Response to Kazakhstan’s 2022 Crisis Tokayev reflected on the CSTO’s rapid deployment in January 2022, when Kazakhstan faced unrest over rising gas prices, which escalated into violent confrontations. Within 24 hours, CSTO forces were deployed to stabilize the situation. Russian troops secured strategic facilities in Almaty, while Kazakh forces restored order, marking a critical demonstration of the organization’s operational capability. Putin Unveils "Oreshnik" Missile System Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed ongoing tensions with Ukraine, signaling the potential use of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile system in response to Western-supplied long-range missiles targeting Russian territory. According to Putin, the Oreshnik has the destructive power of nuclear weapons, and can penetrate heavily fortified targets. “The temperature of the striking elements reaches 4,000 degrees. At the explosion's epicenter, everything is reduced to elementary particles, essentially turning to dust,” he explained. Putin also announced that serial production of the missile had begun, with several units ready for deployment. Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Project Discussions also turned to Kazakhstan’s plans to build its first nuclear power plant. Tokayev has proposed an international consortium, and Putin expressed Russia's willingness to participate through Rosatom, emphasizing its extensive experience with international collaborations. “Rosatom is ready to work with specialists from other countries,” Putin remarked, leaving the door open for multilateral cooperation. Armenia’s Absence and CSTO’s Future Noticeably absent from the summit was Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, following Armenia’s decision to freeze its CSTO membership earlier this year. Yerevan cited concerns over its sovereignty as the reason for the suspension. Secretary-General Tasmagambetov remained optimistic about Armenia’s return, calling it a valued ally. “This is the decision of an independent and sovereign state, which no country or organization can influence. Nevertheless, we view Armenia as an ally and hope it will return to full participation in the CSTO in the foreseeable future,” Tasmagambetov stated. Key Summit Outcomes During the session, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) also reflected on Kazakhstan's presidency in 2024, highlighting significant milestones achieved under its leadership. President Tokayev reported that approximately 60 activities were conducted within the CSTO's statutory areas of cooperation during Kazakhstan’s presidency. This included advancing coordinated approaches to key international issues in collaboration with member...

Tourism travel Cultural Heritage History CIS

Min-Kush — The Kyrgyz Time Capsule

Although Min-Kush is only about 100 miles from Bishkek, as the crow flies, the mountains make us travel 250 miles. We reached a scenic viewpoint along the road, and I stopped to take a picture. I exited the truck and approached a horse with dramatic snow-capped mountains peeking through the clouds. A man came and invited us to ride his horse around his farm. This is his farm, his 75 sheep, and his horse. The horse and I galloped around the farm, chatted with the farmer, and got back on the road. This was my first time on horseback after a year and a half in Central Asia. Min-Kush, once a prosperous town nestled in the Kyrgyz mountains known for its bustling uranium mining industry, has hit the end of the road literally and figuratively. Coming down the A367 highway, a nondescript road sign says “Min-Kush” with an arrow pointing left. We turned, and the road seamlessly transformed from pavement to dirt. It is the last and only settlement on this road off of the highway. The only other vehicles we pass are semi-trucks carrying tons of coal destined for Kyrgyzstan and China. [caption id="attachment_25324" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] @TCA H.Kuvin[/caption] The city peaked at around 20,000 in the 1980s, but today’s number hovers around 3,500. Established in 1955, the apartments and houses are built in the Stalinist architectural style. The vibrant blue paint that once covered the wooden panels is faded, and sections of the buildings are caved in, but people still live here. The contrast in one building is stark. On the top floor, there are broken windows and unhinged shutters. On the bottom floor, there are new window frames and flowers on the windowsill. The blossoming life on the windowsill is far from what it once was. We stopped and chatted with some locals and asked about their lives. “When Moscow supported us, we had everything: stores, schools, factories, and a hospital. Now…nothing, but we cannot dwell on things. Life is better now than it was after the fall of the USSR.” The man asks for a cigarette and a light; my French friend complies with his request. The main draw of Min-Kush for me is an abandoned felt pen factory. I’ve seen pictures online of some incredible Soviet banners that serve as a time capsule in the mountains. We asked if anyone knew where to find it, and a man told us it was torn down and replaced by a soccer field. As night set in, we looked for a guesthouse of sorts. I had read online that there is one, but there are no signs or information about it anywhere. We stop by a man fixing his Soviet Chaika car on the side of the road. He tells us the hotel is right up the road. We drive to an unlit building where two men are fixing another truck. We chatted, and he made a phone call. Ten minutes later, a lady shows up, unlocks the...

Russia Languages CIS Government Education Legislation

Uzbekistan Ratifies Agreement to Establish CIS Russian Language Organization

Uzbekistan has ratified an agreement to establish an international organization in Russia under the auspices of the CIS. The agreement was signed at the CIS Heads of State summit in Bishkek on October 13, 2023. The organization's goals and objectives include supporting high-quality Russian education, facilitating the training of teaching and research staff in “Russian Language and Literature” and “Russian as a Foreign Language,” and creating a personnel reserve of specialists in this field. In addition, the organization will strengthen comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation between the CIS countries in supporting and promoting the Russian language as a language of interstate communication. Its activities will rely on friendship, good neighborliness, interethnic harmony, trust, and mutual understanding. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Russian is the second official language. In Tajikistan, it is called the “language of interethnic communication.” However, it does not have an official status in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. More than 90% of Kazakhstanis know Russian to some degree, while 20% of the population considers it their native language. Meanwhile, those figures for Turkmenistan are 40% and 12% respectively. In Kyrgyzstan, about 44% know Russian and 5% consider it their native language; in Uzbekistan, it is about 50% and 2.7%; and in Tajikistan, 55% and 0.3%.

Food industry Industry Export/Import Export CIS

Kyrgyzstan Triples Ice Cream Exports

Kyrgyzstan has doubled its ice cream production in the last five years, and tripled its exports to other countries in the region. Last year, the country produced 10,800 tons of ice cream, up from 5,200 tons five years earlier. This increase is due to growing demand for Kyrgyz ice cream in other Eurasian countries, primarily Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Exports to these countries have increased from 2,800 tons per year to 6,100 tons since 2019. “At the same time, imports of ice cream have shown good dynamics recently, and they have decreased from 2,788 tons (per year) to 1,969 tons. This indicates the substitution of imported products with domestic production,” said the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to official data, Kyrgyzstan imports ice cream from Turkey, Belarus, and Lithuania. While a kilogram of ice cream from Russia costs 240 KGS ($3), Lithuania and Turkey ask an average of 570 KGS ($7). The cost of one kilogram of ice cream from Kyrgyzstan is just over 200 KGS ($2.5).

CIS Digital Technologies Digitalization Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Finance

EDB Releases Finance for Kazakhstan’s Digital Investment Platform

Following an agreement signed by the EDB and the Investment Committee of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Information Technology JSC, in July, the Eurasian Development Bank’s Fund for Digital Initiatives has allocated the first tranche for a project to establish a National Digital Investment Platform in Kazakhstan. The platform aims to provide comprehensive support to investors and investment projects by streamlining interactions between government authorities and the quasi-government sector to promote investments in Kazakhstan’s economy, and will coordinate and optimize the selection and registration of investment projects, the conclusion of investment agreements, and their monitoring. In addition, the project is expected to serve as a digital transformation model for attracting and supporting investment which can be implemented in other EDB member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The platform which already has 755 registered investment projects, will become fully operational by 31 July 2025. Back in March, The Times of Central Asia reported Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov's announcement that to achieve the target of increasing the Kazakh economy to $450 billion by 2029, at least $150 billion of foreign investment was required during the interim period.