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Kazakhstan Opposition Tokayev Time Zone Political issue Bektenov

Time Zone Turmoil: Kazakhstan’s Shift Sparks Backlash and Political Action

Kazakhstan is preparing to put an end to a year-long debate over its transition to a single time zone (UTC+5). However, opposition to the change has evolved beyond public discontent. Critics, including well-known public figures, are now considering the creation of a political party with the goal of overturning what they argue is one of the most unpopular government decisions in the country’s history. Even a year later, many citizens remain unconvinced of the benefits of the time zone shift, while the government continues to defend it with unwavering determination. Origins of the Controversy Discussions about adopting a single time zone in Kazakhstan have surfaced multiple times over the years. In 2021, the proposal failed to gain widespread approval. However, in the fall of 2023, a clutch of parliamentary deputies once again pushed for unifying the country’s time zones, citing public requests and scientific studies. Supporters of the transition argued that a single time zone would eliminate time barriers between regions, improve transport coordination and business operations, and enhance government and emergency service interactions. Advocates also referred to the Barcelona Declaration on Time Policy (adopted in October 2022), which suggests that maintaining permanent time zones aligned with solar time is beneficial for health, the economy, and safety. Additionally, they pointed out that 175 countries operate within a single time zone, whereas only 22 nations use multiple zones. Despite earlier resistance, the government proceeded with the change. At midnight on March 1, 2024, Kazakhstan moved its clocks one hour back, effectively adopting UTC+5, barring a few regions. Public Backlash and the Petition Movement The reaction was swift. On April 22, 2024, an online petition titled "Return the Time Back" appeared, addressed to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and key ministers, including those responsible for energy, health, and labor. The petition was also directed to the head of KazNII Oncology and Radiology, though the reason for this remains unclear. Petition organizers listed several negative effects of the time change: Increased darkness during morning and evening hours, impacting public safety and economic activity. Disruptions to biological rhythms leading to fatigue, reduced productivity, and poorer sleep quality. Economic losses, as changes in daylight hours affected certain industries. The petition quickly gathered over 50,000 signatures, compelling the government and parliament to formally consider the issue. On June 21, 2024, an initial public hearing took place, where opponents of the time zone shift voiced their concerns. However, after three rounds of discussions, no changes were made, and Kazakhstan remained in UTC+5. Renewed Opposition in Parliament Despite the government's firm stance, opposition to the change resurfaced in September 2024 when deputies returning from summer recess reported that the time zone issue was the most frequently raised concern among voters. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reaffirmed that the decision was final but instructed the Ministry of Health to conduct a three-year study on the impact of UTC+5 on public health. This announcement only fueled opposition claims that the transition was an unwarranted experiment affecting 15 million citizens, the number of people...

Opposition Justice Court Cases Local politics

Tajikistan’s Supreme Court Breaks Silence on Alleged Coup Case

For the first time, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has publicly commented on a high-profile case involving leading politicians accused of high treason and attempting to seize power by force. Shavkat Lutfullozoda, first deputy chairman of the Supreme Court, told a press conference on February 13 that “the case materials contain circumstances indicating that their actions were directly aimed at high treason and the violent seizure of power.” However, he declined to disclose further details, citing the closed nature of the trial. The proceedings were held behind closed doors, but Lutfullozoda stated that they took place “with the participation of the judge and people's assessors.” The following individuals were convicted and sentenced on February 5, 2025, at the Dushanbe Detention Center. The verdicts take effect on February 15: Hamrohon Zarifi, former foreign minister: 27 years in prison and a 10,000 somoni fine on five counts, including high treason and the forcible seizure of power. Saidjafar Usmonzoda, former head of the Democratic Party: 27 years for high treason and inciting discord. Jamshed Boboyev, retired GKNB colonel: 21 years for high treason and forcible seizure of power. Akhmadshokh Komilzoda, former deputy chairman of the Democratic Party: 19 years for attempted violent seizure of power. Akbarshokh Iskandarov, former head of the Supreme Soviet: 18 years on similar charges. Shokirjon Khakimov, lawyer and first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party: 18 years for inciting discord and high treason. Nurahmad Ganizoda, retired GKNB colonel: 18 years for violent seizure of power. Abdulfayiz Atoi, former head of the Foreign Ministry’s press service: 17 years for forcible seizure of power and document forgery. Rukhshona Khakimova, journalist: 8 years for complicity in state treason. Mass arrests began in June 2024, following the detention of Saidjafar Usmonzoda. Authorities soon arrested Zarifi, Iskandarov, Komilzoda, Khakimov, Atoi, Ganizoda, and Boboyev. Prosecutor General Yusuf Rakhmon stated that most of the detainees were linked to Usmonzoda’s case. Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova initially remained at large due to having a young child. However, she was arrested after the verdict was handed down. The first court hearing took place on November 14, 2024, and the trial lasted more than six months, held behind closed doors at a pre-trial detention center.

Opposition OSCE Mass Media Emomali Rahmon Elections

Citing Restrictions, OSCE Withdraws Observer Mission Ahead of Tajikistan’s Elections

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has canceled plans to observe parliamentary elections in Tajikistan in March, saying the authorities have not provided assurances that its mission observers will be accredited for the event. The Dushanbe-based election experts of the OSCE haven’t been able to start working since their observation mission opened on Jan. 22, according to the group’s office for democratic institutions and human rights. The office had concluded that it needed 20 long-term observers and 150 short-term observers to monitor concerns about the impartiality of Tajik election officials, the lack of independence of the judiciary and law enforcement and a deterioration in the rights of expression and assembly. The OSCE office said on Tuesday that it “deploys election observation missions at the invitation of states, and host governments need to provide the necessary conditions for their effective and unrestricted operation. Prolonged uncertainty surrounding accreditation undermines the integrity of this process.” Tajikistan has a presidential system of power and longtime President Emomali Rahmon had said that elections to the lower parliamentary chamber, the 63-member Majlisi Oli, would be held on March 2. Elections to the upper chamber, the Majlisi Milli, will be held on March 28. Rahmon’s eldest son, Rustam Emomali, is chairman of the upper chamber, positioning him as a possible successor to his father, and some of the chamber’s 33 members are appointed by the president. International concerns are growing about the harsh environment for government opponents and journalists not affiliated with the state in Tajikistan, some of whom have been imprisoned. The government often casts critics as a threat to stability in a country that endured a civil war in the 1990s and – with its long border with Afghanistan - points to Islamic extremism as a perpetual threat. The biggest opposition party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, was labeled a terrorist group and banned in 2015. Rahmon leads the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan and there are half a dozen other parties with small numbers of seats. In a speech to parliament in late December, Rahmon said “national security and sustainable economic development” were among the key goals of his administration. Despite criticism that he is authoritarian, he used the language of democracy in a brief reference to the elections. “The upcoming elections should be held in a transparent, free, and high-level manner in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Tajikistan, and voters should choose their worthy candidates,” said Rahmon, who has been in power since 1994. Observers from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a group of post-Soviet states, will monitor Tajikistan’s elections.

Activist in Exile: Tajikistan Pressures Family Over Political Dissent

Mahmadsobir Abdukakhor, an activist associated with the banned Group 24 in Tajikistan, has accused law enforcement agencies in the Rasht District of pressuring his family. According to Abdukahkhor, authorities are demanding that his relatives persuade him to renounce his political activities and return to Tajikistan. “They came to my parents and brother, demanding that they convince me to return and ask for forgiveness from the authorities. But my parents are not responsible for my actions,” Abdukahkhor told Radio Ozodi on December 16. Abdukahkhor stated that such tactics are not new but reaffirmed that he would not stop his political activities or “repent,” as he does not trust the authorities’ assurances. “If I go back, I will either be killed like Umarali Kuwwatov or arrested like Sukhrob Zafar,” he said, referring to other opposition figures. Attempts by Radio Ozodi to obtain comments from Rasht District law enforcement agencies were unsuccessful. Tajik authorities have placed Mahmadsobir Abdukahkhor and other members of Group 24 — a political movement recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the country — on a wanted list. Abdukahkhor initially moved to Russia in 2012, where he ran a business and became involved in the movement before relocating to Europe. In 2014, Tajikistan amended its Criminal Code, allowing individuals accused of extremism to be exonerated if they return and “sincerely repent.” President Emomali Rahmon instructed law enforcement agencies to facilitate the return of such citizens. However, human rights activists claim that despite promises of amnesty, some returnees — including former members of ISIS and the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRP) — were subsequently arrested and imprisoned.

UN Expresses Concern Over Arrest of Kyrgyz Lawyer Samat Matsakov

The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has voiced concern over the arrest of lawyer Samat Matsakov in Bishkek. In a statement published on social media platform X, Lawlor highlighted potential violations of procedural safeguards. “Received disturbing news about the arrest of human rights lawyer Samat Matsakov in Kyrgyzstan, which is a clear violation of procedural safeguards for arrest and fair trial standards. Lawyers must be protected from harassment and persecution,” she wrote. Detention and Charges Samat Matsakov was detained on November 29 on fraud charges. However, Matsakov claims he has not been provided with a clear explanation of the allegations against him. During a search of his apartment, an investigator from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) confiscated a dictaphone and disks connected to a client’s case. The client, Imamidin Tashov, is the former director of the KG Group construction company. Matsakov has been placed in pre-trial detention until December 30. His arrest has sparked criticism from human rights activists and lawyers, who describe it as an unprecedented violation of the law. An appeal against the pre-trial detention order is currently being prepared. Professional Legacy Matsakov is well-known for defending journalists, the akyn (poet-singer) Askat Zhetigen, and various high-profile individuals, including company executives and public figures. His detention has drawn significant attention from human rights organizations and the international community. Critics argue that the arrest reflects broader challenges facing legal professionals in Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing the need for greater protections to ensure that lawyers can perform their duties without fear of harassment or persecution.

Tajik Lawyer Jailed After Exposing Alleged Corruption in Prosecutor’s Office

In Tajikistan, 74-year-old lawyer Faizi Oli, also known as Faizali Yuldoshev, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison after raising allegations of corruption within the prosecutor’s office. The Sino District Court in Dushanbe delivered its verdict on November 29. Oli was found guilty of “knowingly making a false denunciation” against employees of the prosecutor's office. However, he asserts that he merely exercised his right to file complaints with anti-corruption bodies, the Security Council, and the presidential administration, detailing what he described as evidence of corruption. A Controversial Case According to Oli’s lawyer, his complaints should have prompted an investigation, not legal proceedings against him. The court considered his advanced age when issuing the sentence, which fell below the minimum term of five years prescribed under Article 346 of the Tajik Criminal Code. The prosecution had sought a six-year prison term. Oli was arrested immediately after the verdict. Over the course of the five-month trial, he consistently maintained that the charges were baseless, and that filing complaints with the authorities is a legal right. This is not the first time Oli has been involved in a high-profile case; he previously defended his colleague, Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov, who was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison on similar charges of false denunciation. At that time, Oli stressed the right of citizens to address grievances directly to the president and the Prosecutor General’s Office, a principle he believes is now being criminalized. Broader Context International human rights organizations have frequently criticized Tajikistan for targeting lawyers and human rights defenders. Many prominent figures, including Buzurgmehr Yorov, are serving lengthy prison sentences under controversial circumstances. Oli, known for his outspoken social media presence and comments on government operations, believes his activism may have influenced the court’s decision. He has announced plans to appeal the verdict after receiving the court’s written decision. The Prosecutor General's Office declined to comment on the case.