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U.S. Scholar Wins Copyright Case in Uzbekistan Over Unauthorized Distribution of Bygone Days Translation

American translator and scholar Mark Reese has won a copyright infringement case in Uzbekistan after a court ruled that his translated work had been distributed without permission. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice, the Uchtepa Interdistrict Court for Civil Cases in Tashkent ordered an employee of the Uzbekistan State World Languages University (UzSWLU) to pay 20.6 million Uzbekistani som (approximately $1,700) in compensation to Reese for violating his copyright. The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Reese in April seeking damages caused by the unauthorized use of his intellectual property. The dispute centers on Reese’s English translation of O‘tkan Kunlar (Bygone Days), the landmark novel by renowned Uzbek writer Abdulla Qodiriy. Reese spent more than 15 years translating the work, producing the first English-language edition of a book widely considered a cornerstone of Uzbek literature. Earlier, Reese appealed to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice after discovering that an electronic version of his translation was allegedly being distributed without authorization. Following an investigation, officials found evidence of copyright violations at the university. Administrative proceedings were launched against a responsible employee under Article 177¹ of Uzbekistan’s Administrative Responsibility Code. In a previous court decision, the employee was fined 2.06 million som (approximately $170), while the university was ordered to remove the electronic copy of the translated work from the Unilibrary.uz platform. Under Uzbek law, copyright holders may seek compensation ranging from 20 to 1,000 times the base calculation amount instead of claiming direct damages. The case has drawn attention because of Reese’s long-standing ties to Uzbekistan. The American scholar first arrived in the country as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1990s and later devoted years to translating Uzbek literary works for international audiences. In 2019, Uzbekistan awarded Reese the Order of Friendship for his contributions to promoting Uzbek culture abroad. During later visits, he donated signed copies of Bygone Days to universities and state institutions. Speaking previously to The Times of Central Asia, Reese said recipients had been informed that the copies were not to be reproduced or redistributed. “All parties asked how they could support my work,” Reese added. “I presented a copy and explained that they could purchase more at a steep discount.”

Jeffrey Epstein

Epstein “Mosque” on Private Island Linked to Tiles from Uzbekistan

A report by The New York Times has revealed new details about how financier Jeffrey Epstein sourced materials from several countries, including Uzbekistan, for a controversial building he described as a “mosque” on his private Caribbean island. According to the newspaper, Epstein pursued Islamic architectural elements for years for a personal project on Little Saint James. Among the materials he sought were tiles from Uzbekistan, which he intended to use in the structure’s interior. In a 2011 email cited in the report, Epstein contacted an associate in Uzbekistan requesting “authentic tiles,” noting that “it will be for the inside walls, like a mosque.” The request was one of several attempts to obtain architectural and decorative elements associated with Islamic heritage. The building itself, described as a blue-and-white structure topped with a golden dome, has long drawn speculation about its purpose. Documents reviewed by the newspaper, including correspondence and design references, indicate that Epstein repeatedly referred to it as a “mosque,” although it remains unclear whether it was ever intended for religious use. The report says Epstein drew on design influences from across the Islamic world. In addition to tiles from Uzbekistan, he obtained tapestries connected to the Kaaba in Mecca and commissioned architectural elements modeled on historic sites in Syria. An artist involved in the project, Ion Nicola, told the newspaper that Epstein consistently described the structure in religious terms. However, some design instructions departed from traditional norms. In one instance, Epstein suggested replacing Arabic religious inscriptions with his own initials. The materials from Uzbekistan were part of an effort to create what the report describes as an “island shrine,” combining elements from different regions. The sourcing of the tiles points to the geographic reach of Epstein’s network and his attempts to obtain culturally specific materials for the project. The documents cited by the newspaper were released by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year and shed new light on Epstein’s activities and connections before his death in 2019.

Crocus City Hall attack

Second Attack in Moscow Was Planned Alongside Crocus City Hall Assault

Organizers of the deadly attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow had initially planned a second, simultaneous attack in the Russian capital but later abandoned the idea, according to materials from the ongoing investigation cited by TASS. A participant in the court proceedings told the agency that investigators had identified a coordinator operating from abroad, known by the alias Saifullo, who had prepared a group of recruited and trained attackers for two separate operations in Moscow. The second attack was intended to take place at the same time as the assault on Crocus City Hall, with two individuals assigned to carry it out and three others designated for the concert venue. However, shortly before the attack, the plan was revised. Instead of dividing their forces, the organizers decided to concentrate on a single target, reinforcing the group assigned to Crocus City Hall. The exact location and method of the planned second attack were not disclosed in the case materials, although investigators noted it was also intended to result in mass casualties. According to TASS, one week before the attack the coordinator informed the perpetrators that an additional individual, previously assigned to the second operation, would join the group targeting Crocus City Hall. Several suspects linked to the case have been placed on Russia’s list of designated terrorists, while the alleged coordinator remains at large abroad. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a man sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the attack died in pretrial detention, in what Russian authorities described as suicide. Investigations into the organization and execution of the Crocus City Hall attack are ongoing.

Death in custody

Convicted Crocus City Hall attack Defendant Found Dead in Moscow Detention Center

A man sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the deadly attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow has died in pretrial detention. Russian authorities said the death is being treated as a suicide. The development was reported by RBC, citing the Federal Penitentiary Service. In a statement reported by RBC, officials said the incident occurred at the Matrosskaya Tishina detention center in Moscow. Medical staff attempted resuscitation, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Authorities added that an internal review has been launched, with results expected in due course. Due to personal data protection laws, officials initially withheld the identity of the deceased. However, RBC later reported, citing a lawyer representing victims, that the individual was Yakubjoni Davlatkhon Yusufzoda, a citizen of Tajikistan who had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment earlier in March. The case is linked to the high-profile Crocus City Hall attack in March 2024, which resulted in multiple casualties and drew widespread international attention. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Yusufzoda was accused of assisting those involved in the attack, including facilitating financial transfers before and after the incident. He was detained in late March 2024 during a law enforcement operation and later charged under terrorism-related provisions of the Russian Criminal Code. RBC also reported that another defendant in the same case, Jabrail Aushev, had previously attempted self-harm but was prevented by detention center staff. Authorities said reports of a new incident involving Aushev on the same day were inaccurate. Earlier in March, the Western District Military Court sentenced several individuals identified as direct perpetrators of the attack to life imprisonment, along with others described by investigators as accomplices. Both the defense and victims’ representatives have since appealed the verdict, arguing that the sentences were, respectively, too severe and too lenient.

Nurlan Saburov

Nurlan Saburov Case Sparks Speculation After Russia Entry Ban and Kazakhstan Security Check

A wave of speculation has followed reports that stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov, a Kazakh citizen who has worked in Russia for years, has been barred from entering Russia for 50 years. After returning to Kazakhstan, Saburov became the subject of “verification measures” by the National Security Committee (KNB) following online allegations linking him to a Russian private military formation. The entry ban prompted widespread discussion in both countries. In Russia, some commentators suggested the decision could be connected to Saburov’s refusal to publicly support Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov, for example, urged the comedian to make a public statement backing Russia, implying that this could help resolve the situation. In Kazakhstan, the controversy escalated after social media users circulated a video alleging that Saburov had donated enduro motorcycles to a unit described online as the “Wagner Istra Legion.” The authenticity and context of the footage have not been independently verified. At a parliament briefing on February 11, Deputy Prosecutor General Galymzhan Koigeldiyev declined to comment on Russia’s entry ban and advised those raising allegations to contact the National Security Committee, noting that matters related to mercenary activity fall within the security services’ jurisdiction. Shortly afterward, the Committee confirmed that it had “taken the information into account” and that verification measures were underway. The article also references comments by Russian designer Artemy Lebedev, who suggested the entry ban could be linked to tensions surrounding the show “What Happened Next,” which briefly moved to the Russian platform VK Video before returning to YouTube. Lebedev described the 50-year ban as excessive and speculated that a minor immigration violation may have been used as grounds. His remarks reflect personal interpretation rather than an official explanation. According to unnamed sources cited in Russian media, Saburov’s fee for a 25-minute performance exceeds $20,000. Despite the controversy, he continues to perform at private events in Kazakhstan, although such fee estimates are difficult to independently verify. Separately, debate has intensified in Russia over new restrictions affecting the Telegram messaging platform. Kazakh political scientist Marat Shibutov commented on the issue on his Telegram channel, naming senior Russian officials whom he believes bear responsibility for the decision. VK is led by CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko, the son of Kremlin official Sergei Kiriyenko. Public reporting has described VK’s development as aligned with state policy promoting domestic digital platforms. In early February, Russia introduced new restrictions on Telegram, with the Kremlin attributing the measures to alleged legal non-compliance by the platform.

AZAL Plane Crash

Kazakhstan Releases Interim Findings on Azerbaijan Airlines Crash

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has released an interim update on the investigation into the crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, which went down near the city of Aktau one year ago during a passenger flight from Baku to Grozny. The incident triggered a major diplomatic rift between Russia and Azerbaijan, straining bilateral relations for months, though ties have recently begun to stabilize. The update was published in an official statement dated December 25, 2025, marking the first anniversary of the tragedy. According to the ministry, the aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and operating flight J2-8243, crashed on December 25, 2024, near Aktau in western Kazakhstan. The disaster claimed the lives of 38 people, including three crew members, while 29 others sustained injuries of varying severity. The investigation is being led by a special commission under the Ministry of Transport, established by ministerial order the day after the crash. The ministry emphasized that the investigation is being conducted in full compliance with Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Under these international standards, the purpose of an aviation accident investigation is solely to prevent similar incidents in the future, not to assign blame or determine legal liability. Separately, the Kazakh authorities confirmed that a parallel criminal investigation is being conducted by law enforcement agencies. As required under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules, these two processes are proceeding independently. The interim report notes that accredited representatives from Azerbaijan, Russia, and Brazil are participating in the investigation, along with an observer from ICAO. A preliminary report was previously issued on February 4, 2025. [caption id="attachment_28337" align="aligncenter" width="923"] Image: Department for Investigation of Accidents and Incidents in Transport preliminary report from February 2025[/caption] Investigators have collected and analyzed a broad array of data, including information on the flight crew, air traffic control, airline operational procedures, flight planning documents, weather conditions, and maintenance records. Copies of the aircraft’s logbook and other relevant documents have also been obtained. Significant progress has been made in examining the aircraft’s flight recorders. Information from the flight data recorder has been successfully extracted and decoded, and the cockpit voice recorder has been fully analyzed. A detailed inspection of the crash site has been conducted, including mapping the distribution of debris. Key components were documented, photographed, collected, and transported for further study. Several specialized forensic examinations were also conducted. Analyses of foreign metallic objects found at the site, including trace, ballistic, explosive, and fire tests, did not reveal any traces of explosive substances. No signs of detonation were found on the three oxygen cylinders submitted for testing. However, investigators concluded that damage to the aircraft was likely caused by external metallic fragments “consistent with fragments that may resemble warhead components,” although their origin could not be definitively identified. A separate analysis of hydraulic system No. 2 revealed that the tubing had sustained rupture damage due to impact with solid objects. Experts determined that the punctures were likely caused by external metal fragments composed of iron-based...