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Court Cases

Uzbek Court Sentences Ten in Attempted Assassination of Allamjonov

On February 12, Uzbekistan's Military Court announced the verdict in the attempted assassination of Komil Allamjonov, sentencing ten individuals to prison. The convicted are Shukhrat Rasulov, Shokhrukh Akhmedov, and Ismail Jahongirov, who received 23-year sentences; Javlan Yunusov - sentenced to 18 years and 6 months; Doniyor Tashkhodjayev received a 7-year sentence; the remaining five defendants were given undisclosed prison terms. Following the verdict, Allamjonov took to Facebook to reflect on the challenges of the past five months and express gratitude that the case had been resolved. “The truth can be twisted or hidden, but it will always find its way to the surface. It is destined to be revealed. A thousand thanks to Allah. Those who flee from people cannot escape the Almighty. There is still much to accomplish and many trials yet to come. May Allah grant us the strength to face them with dignity and a clear conscience. May Allah bless us all with success!” Allamjonov, a former senior official in Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration, was attacked near his home in Qibray on October 26, 2024. Gunmen opened fire on his car, but he was unharmed. Authorities launched an immediate criminal investigation. By October 27, the first suspect had been detained. A month later, on November 25, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced the arrests of seven people, including Javlan Yunusov, who was extradited from South Korea. Another suspect was later detained in Kazakhstan. In December, Uzbekistan placed two Russian citizens, Bislan Rasayev and Shamil Temirkhanov, on an Interpol international wanted list. Authorities accuse them of involvement in the attack, as well as illegal border crossing, failure to report a crime, and illegal possession of firearms. Reports suggest that Rasayev and Temirkhanov were hired for $1.5 million to assassinate both Allamjonov and Dmitry Li, the director of Uzbekistan’s Agency for Promising Projects. On December 26, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov publicly denied any Chechen involvement in the attack. However, he also made remarks targeting Allamjonov and Li, warning that they would be held accountable for their "aspersions." Some Uzbek politicians condemned Kadyrov's statement, viewing it as interference in Uzbekistan's internal affairs or even as an act of terrorist intimidation.

Digitalization

Uzbekistan Sets Digital Performance Targets for Ministers and Khokims

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed the government to establish individual key performance indicators (KPIs) for each minister and khokim (local governor) to accelerate digitalization reforms. According to presidential spokesperson Sherzod Asadov, officials will not only be assigned specific KPIs but will also be required to meet strict deadlines for task completion. As an example, Mirziyoyev directed the State Committee for Tourism to develop a unified digital platform integrating hotel reservations, airline and rail tickets, museum and theater visits, and services for guides and interpreters. Another priority is expediting the issuance of electronic visas - the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice have been tasked with reducing processing time to three days. The president emphasized that competitiveness in the service sector is directly linked to the level of digitalization across industries. However, not all agencies are meeting their targets. For instance, the Ministry of Transport has failed to launch an online ticketing system for all types of passenger transport, despite more than six months of efforts. Similarly, the Cadastral Agency has been slow in developing a unified register of real estate addresses. “Any leader who postpones digitalization acts against our policy of openness,” Mirziyoyev stated. A key topic at the meeting was the optimization of state services. The president noted that, over the past three years, some functions have been transferred to the private sector, including conducting exams and awarding qualification categories to realtors and appraisers, issuing certificates to tour guides, and performing mandatory technical inspections of specialized and agricultural equipment. This privatization trend will continue. By March 1 this year, 11 additional state services are expected to be handed over to private enterprises, followed by 18 more by October 1.

Rule of law

Kazakhstan Proposes Polygraph Testing for Law Enforcement Officials

Kazakhstan’s General Prosecutor’s Office has drafted a decree proposing the use of polygraph examinations when appointing law enforcement officers to senior positions. Previously, there had been discussions about requiring all government job applicants to undergo lie detector tests. According to the proposal, polygraph testing could be applied to candidates for leadership roles in all law enforcement agencies, state protection services, and the State Courier Service. “The main objectives of the test are to identify hidden negative motives for seeking employment in law enforcement agencies, including affiliations with banned public associations, criminal organizations, and terrorist groups,” the draft states. Additionally, polygraph tests would aim to detect potential issues such as alcohol or drug addiction, gambling problems, concealed illnesses, suicidal tendencies, undisclosed income, dual citizenship, or the use of forged documents. Candidates may also be questioned about corruption-related offenses, unauthorized disclosure of classified or official information, and abuse of power. “The examination of an employee from a law enforcement agency, civil protection agency, or the State Courier Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be conducted when they are nominated for higher managerial positions - whether as part of regular or unscheduled attestation or through a competition for a leadership role. It may also be used during official investigations, with the individual's consent,” the draft decree states. The proposal, published on the Open NPA portal, is open for public discussion until February 14, 2025. Kazakhstan established a legal framework for polygraph use late last year. However, this is not the country’s first attempt to introduce lie detector tests for civil servants. In 2010, members of the Nur Otan party proposed using polygraphs to screen government officials involved in financial matters. At that time, the plan covered all government departments - both law enforcement and civilian - though it faced greater resistance from the latter. Ultimately, the proposal was not implemented in the civil service. Now, 15 years later, discussions have resumed, though with a narrower focus on law enforcement personnel. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Kazakhstan also has plans to establish a register of corrupt officials.

Media

Turkmen Civil Servants Could Lose Jobs for Misusing Newspapers with Pictures of Berdimuhamedovs

Authorities in Turkmenistan have warned civil servants that they could face dismissal for misusing state newspapers featuring images of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and his father, former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Officials have been explicitly banned from using these newspapers as toilet paper, food packaging, or firewood. Government employees are now required to sign pledges to “carefully keep the pages” containing photographs of the ruling family. According to civil servants, they have been instructed to ensure that images of the Berdimuhamedovs do not end up in the trash or repurposed for household use. Authorities are reportedly even considering introducing QR codes on each page of newspapers to track subscribers and monitor how printed materials are used. “Now we are afraid that children might accidentally tear or throw away a newspaper with the president’s image - because you can lose your job for that,” said one civil servant, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals. Human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), consistently rank Turkmenistan among the world’s worst countries for press freedom. Since Serdar Berdimuhamedov succeeded his father as president in 2022, the country’s media environment has remained tightly controlled. Despite officially stepping down, Berdimuhamedov Sr. continues to wield significant influence over decision-making in the government.

Government

Tax Troubles Trigger Shake-Up: Kyrgyzstan Names New Prime Minister

In Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, has replaced Akylbek Japarov and became the new Prime Minister of the country. The departure of the previous head came as a surprise to most citizens. However, the president of the Kyrgyz Republic explained that the dismissal was due to unfavorable developments in the sphere of taxes. New Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev was born on December 1, 1960, in the village of Dolon, in the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul region. Over his long career, he has held the positions of Minister of Finance of Kyrgyzstan, Chairman of the State Tax Service, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration. According to the Kyrgyz president, Kasymaliev’s predecessor, Akylbek Japarov, who served for more than three years in the government, made a number of mistakes in the area of taxes. “His departure from office, I think, should not be politicized," stated President Sadyr Japarov. "Unfavorable events in the tax sphere, which provides the funds for the budget, have impacted this decision. There have also been machinations with excise duties. This sphere was under Akylbek Usenbekovich's personal control, and he could have taken earlier measures to stop illegal activity. Because of illegal manifestations in this area, as well as an investigation into the leadership of the tax service, there is a need to eliminate a conflict of interests. Thus, I decided to remove him from his post,” the president told Parliament. Earlier, the State Tax Service of Kyrgyzstan underwent massive inspections, resulting in a number of high-ranking officials losing their posts, including the head of the State Tax Service and some of his deputies. Kyrgyz analyst Nasirdin Shamshiev told Times of Central Asia that the departure was unexpected, as Akylbek Japarov had established himself as a strong and progressive economist. “Akylbek Japarov has done a lot to increase tax collections and bring business out of the shadows. Today's appointments in the government speak of the previous course of the Cabinet of Ministers,” Shamshiev said. In addition, Bakyt Sydykov has been officially appointed as Kyrgyzstan's new Minister of Economy. Previously, Sydykov worked on attracting investments and coordinating donor aid to the country. "Sydykov's appointment was likely a preliminary measure," Shamshiev also told TCA. "He has performed well in his previous posts, but we have yet to assess his work, because the Ministry of Economy is not only about investment, it has to deal with a very wide range of issues. These include taxes, as well as standardization and customs policy. There are also many unresolved problems related to the Eurasian Economic Union. There is still a lot of work to be done on all of this.” Personnel rotations in the government of Kyrgyzstan are associated with a revitalization of the system of government management, Edil Baisalov, deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, wrote on his Facebook page. According to Baisalov, the president's decision is dictated by the desire to give new momentum to the country's growth. Baisalov also noted that Akylbek Japarov...

Government

Akylbek Japarov Dismissed as Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet Chief

On December 16, Kyrgyzstan’s head of the Cabinet of Ministers and Presidential Administration, Akylbek Japarov was dismissed from his position. Sources within the presidential administration confirmed the news to The Times of Central Asia. According to reports, President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree formalizing the resignation. Akylbek Japarov is expected to be appointed as an advisor to the president. In the interim, Adylbek Kasymaliev, the first deputy head of the Cabinet of Ministers, will serve as acting prime minister. The appointment of a permanent successor has yet to be announced. After a long political career including, holding posts under former president's Akayev an Bakiev, Akylbek Japarov’s return to the forefront of Kyrgyz politics under President Japarov began in 2021, when he was appointed as an advisor on financial and economic issues. He later served as Minister of the Economy and Commerce, and as Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. On October 13, 2021, he assumed the dual role of head of the Cabinet of Ministers and head of the Presidential Administration, a position he held until his dismissal. Akylbek Japarov’s tenure as head of government stands out for its longevity. Since Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991, the country has seen 33 prime ministers, many of whom served for less than a year, whilst some held office for only a few days. In this context, Akylbek Japarov’s relatively long tenure of more than three years marks a significant achievement in Kyrgyz political history. From 2000 to 2005, Akylbek Japarov served as a deputy in the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament). Over the years, he held various key positions, including first deputy prime minister, deputy, and chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance. Akylbek Japarov gained particular recognition during his tenure as Minister of Economy and Finance for championing the controversial idea of passports for livestock. This initiative aimed to help farms export meat by providing identification for livestock, thereby improving traceability and quality standards.