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Tajikistan to Strengthen Protection of Mulberry Trees

In a move to strengthen its silk industry, Tajikistan's parliament has approved amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences, increasing fines for damaging mulberry trees. Bakhodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee, who forwarded initiative, emphasized that the new measures will help protect the environment and restore mulberry plantations, which are vital for silkworms. Under the new rules, individuals damaging mulberry or other crops will face a fine of three to five calculation indexes. In comparison, officials can be fined seven to ten indexes (for 2024, 1 calculation index is 84 somoni, equivalent to $7.50). The final amounts will be approved following the adoption of amendments to the Code. Because the leaves of the trees  are the main food base for mulberry silk worms, their preservation is critical for the restoration of an industry which has suffered a sharp decline over the last 30 years. In 1991, the country produced 4,528 tons of silk cocoons but by 2024, this figure had fallen to 361 tons. According to experts, the reason for the decline is a reduction of mulberry plantations, especially on private land  on which  trees have been felled and sold as firewood. Back in 2021, in an address to parliament , Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, called for special attention to be paid to the development of silk farming, emphasizing its importance in creating jobs, especially for women and girls. To encourage cocoon processing, he also waived land tax for a period of ten years on areas where mulberry trees are grown. Despite such measures, the situation barely improved. In response and to achieve its aim of increasing silk production to 1,867 tons by 2027, the Tajik government has introduced a program to plant over 4.3 million mulberry trees across the country. The total area covered by mulberry trees in Tajikistan is currently about 5,500 hectares. In addition to their economic importance, mulberries play an essential role in environmental conservation. Mulberry trees prevent soil erosion and the spread of dust storms. Also of note, is that rich in vitamins C, K, iron, and potassium, the berries provide an important food source and are widely used in traditional medicines. Additional measures to protect mulberry trees include strengthening local authorities' control over land allocation for new plantations and preventing the felling of existing trees. A comprehensive approach, including economic incentives and administrative measures, is expected to help Tajikistan bring silk production back to its previous level and make it one of the country's leading agricultural sectors.  

Uzbekistan to Fine Parents of Quadrobers

Parents in Uzbekistan have been threatened with fines for the inappropriate behavior of their children who belong to the quadrobika subculture. The Interior Ministry said failure to comply with parental duties will be punishable as parents are responsible for educating their children to respect social norms and preventing inappropriate behavior. The quadrobika subculture, which has emerged among young people, involves using masks and accessories to imitate animals and their habits. This movement has already been noticed in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine, and recently, cases of such behavior have been registered in Tashkent. On October 10, a teenager wearing an animal mask frightened people, and the next day, a quadrober imitating a dog attacked a person and frightened children. Specialists warn that such behavior can harm the mental health of minors, affect their social integration, and even lead to aggression. In this regard, the authorities are pressing home parents' legal obligations to ensure their children's upbringing and education under the Constitution and the Education Act of Uzbekistan. Violating these duties carries a fine of up to five times the basic calculation unit (up to 1.875 million UZS ($147). The Interior Ministry has urged parents to take care of their children's all-round development, reacting in time to the emergence of dangerous sub-cultural phenomena. If necessary, a psychological examination of children may be conducted to determine the impact of quadrobics on their emotional health. In Russia, the issue of administrative responsibility of parents who fail to oversee the upbringing of their children who are addicted to quadrobics has also been raised. The problem has not yet been resolved, a the request to the State Duma has been submitted calling for fines and criminal liability violations. In addition, Gennady Shkil, a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, suggested in a sermon that mothers and fathers of quadrobers should be deprived of parental rights. Shkil believes that such “tough measures” are necessary as it is “for the salvation of mankind.”

Uzbekistan Joins International Agreement on Space Exploration

On October 10,  President Shavat Mirziyoyev signed a law sealing Uzbekistan's agreement on the activities of states on the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. The Outer Space Treaty was signed on January 27, 1967, by London, Moscow, and Washington. Since then, 115 countries have joined this agreement, and a further 22 have yet to ratify it. According to the CIS countries' rules, the Interstate Space Council chair is transferred among the participating countries in alphabetical order. Following Tajikistan, Uzbekistan will take the lead from 2024 to 2025. To this end, the Uzbekkosmos agency has announced a series of events in celebration of World Space Week, scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan in collaboration with NASA. This global event, commemorated in nearly 100 countries, was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1999 in recognition of the importance of space exploration.

UAE Player Fails to Attend World Cup Qualifiers Due to Fake Uzbekistan Passport

On October 15 , Uzbekistan's national football team will compete against the UAE in the 3rd round of the 4th round of the World Cup Qualifiers. According to a report  issued by the Uzbekistan Football Federation, Fabio de Lima, a Brazilian player in the UAE, will not be joining his team in Uzbekistan for personal reasons. It transpires that although Fabio de Lima received citizenship in Uzbekistan in 2013 and was registered as an Asian legionnaire in the UAE Championship, his documents were fake. Uzbek football specialist Alisher Nikibayev however, claims there is no legal reason preventing the player from entering Uzbekistan: “They are asking if Fabio can come to Uzbekistan. I don’t see any legal obstacle to it; it is unlikely that a criminal case was opened against him. In addition, it is necessary to check the statute of limitations for such violations. Don’t forget that Fabio, as a citizen of Uzbekistan, has never seen his ‘passport’ and, of course, has never used it anywhere. This fake document was only needed to enter the Emirates Championship. Why is he not coming? He fears the case is still open and doesn’t want to take any chances. As for his UAE passport, everything is legal in the Emirates."

Uzbek Blogger Prosecuted for Post about Daughter’s Birth

A criminal case has been opened against Kashkadarya-based blogger Sardor Safarboyev, aka 'Sardor Gangster', on account of his statement on TikTok that he does not want to have a daughter. “I'm not having a daughter. If a daughter is born, I'll throw my wife out. I don't need a daughter... if it's a girl, I'll throw it straight into the dustbin. I don't need a daughter. Even if I go to hell, I will [have] a son,” Safarboyev said on air. Following heavy criticism from social media users and activists, the blogger apologized, saying that his words had been provoked by live comments on air. A girl who participated in the broadcast also spoke in Safarboyev's defense, stating that users of the site had deliberately provoked him. Iroda Rasulova, head of the press service of the Kashkadarya Oblast Department of Internal Affairs, announced that the Nishan District Department of Internal Affairs had opened a case under Article 140, Part 2 of the Uzbek Criminal Code. This article deals with insults published in the media or on the internet and provides for punishments such as a fine, community service, or correctional labor.  Investigative work into the case is ongoing. Prior to TikTok being blocked in Uzbekistan, Safarboyev had over 700,000 followers on the platform and over 500,000 on Instagram. This recent incident is not the first time the blogger has been condemned. As recently as February, Safarboyev was arrested for ten days after being found guilty of petty hooliganism and manufacturing, possession, or distribution of materials propagandizing national, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred. In Uzbekistan, the preference for the birth of sons persists due to traditional attitudes and gender stereotypes. This problem, characteristic of many Asian countries, is deeply rooted in cultural and social norms. According to reports by international organizations such as UNFPA, the preference for sons leads to gender imbalance, limits women's rights, and is an issue frequently raised in international forums concerning the combating of gender discrimination.

Death in Peacetime: Navigating Challenges and Responses in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces

Deputies in the Mazhilis have raised the issue of violent deaths and suicides in the armed forces, whilst sections of the public have also called for the army to be converted to a contract basis and the draft age to be raised.   Alarming statistics In late September, Konstantin Avershin, a member of the Mazhilis Committee on International Affairs, Defense, and Security, spoke about the results of an investigation into suicides in law enforcement and security agencies. Over the past four years, 86 suicides have occurred in across said agencies, Avershin stated, with this data pertaining to the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard of the Interior Ministry, the Border Service of the National Security Committee, the State Protection Service, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. “In four years, 40 suicides have been registered in the Armed Forces. In 2021 - 10, 2022 - 7, 2023 - 12, and 2024 - 11. By category these were: officers - 7, contract servicemen - 22, cadets - 4, conscript soldiers - 7. Pretrial investigations have been completed in 34 cases, and final procedural decisions have been made. In none of them were signs found of 'leading' to suicide,” according to Avershin. The proceedings in these cases were terminated due to a lack of corpus delicti. Despite this, based on the results of official investigations, disciplinary measures were taken against 180 persons: eleven were relieved of their posts, two were demoted, and 167 service personnel received various disciplinary sanctions in line with their rank. On October 8, Avershin raised another problem: the poor quality of food being provided to service personnel. According to his data, the funds allotted for rations per soldier is 2,250 tenge ($4.6) per day. By comparison, chess players, sport fishermen, ship modelers, and players of togyzumalak (a national board game) and checkers are entitled to 6,276.4 tenge ($12.9) per day, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sport's regulations for 2024. “A soldier cannot be fed almost three times worse than a checkers player,” Avershin stated. Earlier, MP Nartai Sarsengaliyev asked Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov about the current situation in Kazakhstan's army. The deputy highlighted numerous high-profile cases, stating that over the past three years, 270 servicemen have died in Kazakhstan. “In August 2023, a commanding officer beat a recruit with a chair in a military unit. The case was closed after the parties reconciled. In June 2024, in one of the military units in the Zhambyl region, a soldier who had been in the army for only one month was admitted to intensive care in an unconscious state. The situation caused shocked society. National Guard soldier Yerbayan Mukhtar has been unconscious for five months after suffering a head injury. Those in charge say that 'Yerbayan 'fell in the bathroom and sustained a head injury.' Who would believe this? As a result of the injury, half of the soldier's skull was removed. Now, he needs constant care. Now his parents are taking Yerbayan abroad for treatment,” Sarsengaliyev stated. In...