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Kyrgyzstan Seeks Legalization of Traditional Medicines and Practices

Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry has devised an initiative to legalize traditional folk medicine. A draft decree of the Cabinet of Ministers on the procedure for training specialists has now been submitted for public discussion. Proposed by Minister of Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, the initiative concerns the study of traditional healing methods such as phytotherapy, massage, acupuncture, apitherapy, and hippotherapy, conducted through specialist training programs. He has also mooted the establishment of a research institute or Academy of Traditional Kyrgyz Medicine offering courses in theoretical and practical skills taught by professionals in the field, alongside the foundation of a dissertation council for the defense of academic degrees in the discipline. Central to the project, is the introduction of a budget for traditional medicine specialists, such as acupuncturists and physiotherapists, in all medical institutions of the country. There are also plans to open a research institute to test the efficacy of medicinal plants and conduct clinical trials. In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers has proposed the implementation of medicinal herb plantations for the subsequent production of related medical drugs. It is worth noting that in both several former Soviet Union and countries worldwide, traditional medicine has been legalized and integrated into state healthcare systems. For example, Russia and Belarus practice traditional treatments, including phytotherapy, acupuncture, alongside modern medical procedures. Traditional Chinese medicine is widely practiced in China, Japan, and Korea, and Ayurveda and Yunani are actively being developed in India. The World Health Organization also supports the development of traditional medicine by helping countries develop recognized international standards.

Legislation Women's rights Gender Equality life and culture Women entrepreneurs

Social Researcher: Serious Effort Required for Women’s Representation in Kazakh Politics

According to Gulmira Ileuova, a sociologist and the head of the Strategy Centre for Social and Political Research, gender equality in Kazakhstan has severely deteriorated. In an interview with TCA, she explains how social regression and a depletion of human resources are making it difficult for women to participate in political parties, social movements, and public services. TCA: Sources illustrate that after the 2023 parliamentary elections, the representation of women deputies in the Mazhilis fell from 27% to 18%. In addition, Kazakhstan's performance in the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) has deteriorated. This year, the country fell from 62nd to 76th place. This index, which can be used to judge the economy's stability and legal security, has a serious impact on investors. What, in your opinion, is the reason for this deterioration? First of all, I would like to point out that until 2021, the Labor Code had restrictions on where women could work based on concerns about their health. Now that the restrictions have been lifted, progress is steadily being made in involving women in areas previously inaccessible to them. Some companies have already published data that women have begun operating heavy machinery, such as big trucks, which was not the case before. As for politics and the civil service, it appears that under the spread of influence from the south, the country is reinstating traditional social relations. Independent Kazakhstan has entered a new period where traditional and non-traditional forms of Islam thrive, and hyper-masculine and patriarchal attitudes are on the rise. I emphasize the patriarchal division of life through reinforced gender roles because it is gaining strength and spreading across all regions of the country. Furthermore, this trend is moving into the sphere of politics and civil services. Let's take a look at what preceded these trends. In many regions, primarily in the south, there is a huge number of women who wishing to undertake the important work of reproduction, were receiving TSA (targeted social assistance). According to statistics in 2019, there were 2 million and 221 thousand recipients of TSA (about 12% of the population). Today, their number has decreased six fold to about 350 thousand. These numbers include women who thought they would bypass employment through state support systems. And now these women are in trouble. The state is revising its social policy, but the paternalistic trend has long been developing and a large number of people have abused it. TCA: Are you saying that women, in receipt of child allowances, prefer to stay at home as opposed to actively entering economic relations or aspiring to participate in civil services or politics? Yes, and I am afraid that this trend cannot be overcome by quick measures or be alleviated by even quotas for women. In a 'strategy' study conducted by the Center for Social and Political Research in the Turkestan region, an official working in gender policy said that at some point, the political representation of women fell to 5%. There were actually no women in senior...

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Tokayev Pardons Chinese Scholar Konstantin Syroezhkin

The Kazakh political analyst Andrei Chebotaryov has announced on his Telegram channel that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pardoned a scholar of Chinese studies, Konstantin Syroezhkin, who was convicted of treason in 2019. “On the proposal of the Commission on pardon issues under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the head of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pardoned the doctor of political sciences and professor Konstantin Syroezhkin by an appropriate decree. In this regard, his criminal record was removed, and his rights were restored. In general, justice has triumphed! I wish our colleague and mentor good health and new scientific achievements!”, Chebotaryov shared. Syroezhkin was arrested in February 2019 in a criminal case of high treason. The case caused widespread outrage, especially in scientific circles. At the same time, little is known about it. The trial was closed, and the circumstances of the case were not disclosed. In October 2019, Konstantin Syroezhkin was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the specialized inter-district criminal court of Almaty. In April 2024, the appellate panel granted Syroezhkin's appeal and released him on parole with probation supervision for the remaining term of four years, five months, and 22 days. The board concluded that Syroezhkin's exemplary behavior, conscientious attitude to work, and participation in prison life proved he did not need to serve the entire sentence. Syroezhkin has been engaged in Oriental studies for many years and has had a long academic career in Kazakhstan. Earlier, he worked at the Institute of Uyghur Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR and at Kazakhstan's Center of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences. During the investigation that ended his career, Syroezhkin was chief scientific officer of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, from 2006 to 2019. Among his significant works are such studies as “Modern Xinjiang and its Place in Kazakhstan-China Relations,” “Kazakhstan-China: From cross-border Cooperation to Strategic Partnership,” and “Should Kazakhstan be Afraid of China: Myths and Phobias.” He has also researched the life of Kazakhs in China, which became his work “Kazakhs in China: Sketches of Socio-Economic and Cultural Development.” It is worth noting that other well-known scientists have also been convicted in Kazakhstan. For example, in 2011, the leader of the country's Sufi community and a Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Sayat Ibrayev, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of “organizing a criminal group.” The same year, he was nominated in absentia for the Alikhan Bukeikhanov Award of the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan.

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Citizens of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Warned Against Non-Essential Travel to Russia

Citizens of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are warned against traveling to Russia, reportedly due to “additional security measures and enhanced border controls” imposed by the Russian government. On September 10, the Tajik embassy in Moscow advised Tajiks “to temporarily refrain from traveling to the Russian Federation unless necessary.” Similar advice was issued by Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs the same advice on September 5, in the statement: “In connection with the continuation of additional security measures introduced on the territory of Russia and the regime of enhanced control over the passage of foreign citizens across the state border, the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Russian Federation recommends that citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic who do not have compelling reasons for entering the Russian Federation temporarily refrain from traveling to its territory until the above measures are lifted.” Given that remittances sent by Central Asian immigrants are the primary source of financial support for many families, the warning may have serious economic consequences for immigrants working in Russia. For context, this warning is one of many. After the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, restrictions on the entry of Central Asians into Russia were announced several times. The issue of immigrants remains controversial in Russia. For example, a Russian diplomat recently proposed a temporary moratorium on Russian citizenship for Central Asians, whilst another deputy suggested that the government impose a ban on immigrants.

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Kazakhstan Proposes Lowering Age of Criminal Responsibility

Kazakhstan has proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility Leading the initiative at a plenary session, Mazhilis Deputy Magerram Magerramov emphasized, “We, legislators, should probably revise the age of criminal responsibility threshold for some crimes, establishing responsibility not from 14, but from 12 years old, for example, in cases of rape." Magerramov drew attention to unsafe conditions in schools, citing cases of violence and murder committed by minors. In his opinion, bullying, and romanticizing banditry within the school environment create the basis for violence that continues in the army. The deputy also stressed the lack of a social protection system and called for strengthening educators' roles in preventing schoolchildren's destructive behavior. To this end, he recommended a revision of current approaches to the prevention of criminal behavior among teenagers in tandem with increased attention to moral and ethical education. Magerramov noted that Kazakhstan needs a comprehensive approach by authorized bodies to solving these problems as well as a revision of the current system which allows juvenile offenders to avoid punishment because of their age. In June 2024, a new law came into force in Kazakhstan, which introduced liability for bullying and cyberbullying of minors. However, the deputy believes that additional measures are needed to combat juvenile violence. The age of criminal responsibility varies from country to country. In Japan, Ireland, and Morocco, children can be held responsible for crimes from the age of twelve. In India, the minimum age of responsibility is set at 12, with the caveat that for serious offenses such as murder or rape, the court may take into account the child's conscious actions.

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Kyrgyzstan Adds First Three Organizations to List of Foreign Agents

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Justice has posted a list of non-profit organizations that have been given the status of “foreign agent”. On August 27 the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan adopted a decree “On non-profit organizations”. The new law came into force on September 9, since when any NPO engaged in political activities and receiving funding from abroad must apply for inclusion as a foreign agent. The first three organizations to declare themselves as "foreign agents" are the Eurasian Club association of entrepreneurs, the business association JIA, and a branch of the environmental organization Fauna and Flora International. “Applications shall be submitted to the authorized body to maintain the register of NPOs within two months from the date of entry into force of this decree,” the Ministry of Justice explained to The Times of Central Asia. After receiving an application, the ministry has 60 days to verify the information provided. The law stipulates that foreign agent status can be removed if an organization has not received funds or property from foreign sources in the past 12 calendar months, or if it has not been engaged in political activity in the past 12 months. Kyrgyzstan's president Sadyr Japarov has promised the public that the authorities would not prosecute foreign agents and their representatives. “I, as head of state, guarantee that there will be no persecution. We are not a nuclear country. We are not going to fly into space yet. Our state has no secrets to hide from you and your donors,” Japarov said earlier this year.