• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
19 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 124

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Salary Cuts for Underperforming Officials

The Kyrgyz presidential administration is developing new mechanisms to penalize officials for repeated disciplinary offenses, including salary reductions and forfeiture of bonuses. The initiative, aimed at improving accountability in the civil service, was announced by Azamat Osmonov, Head of the Department of Control of Execution of Decisions of the President and Cabinet of Ministers. According to Osmonov, 56 civil servants were disciplined in 2024 for misconduct. Among them: 7 officials, including akims (local governors), their deputies, and senior government officials, were dismissed. 27 officials, including one minister, received reprimands. 22 officials faced additional disciplinary actions. The presidential administration and the Cabinet of Ministers are set to convene a board meeting to review the performance of state agency heads for 2024. “Unfortunately, current regulations allow the same official to be reprimanded repeatedly without serious consequences. We intend to change this practice: if an official has already been disciplined, a repeated offense should lead to dismissal,” Osmonov stated. In addition to stricter dismissal policies, the government is considering financial penalties as an alternative punishment. “We are introducing the monetization of disciplinary measures: after receiving a reprimand, an official will be ineligible for bonuses, and their salary will be reduced. This should create additional motivation to comply with discipline,” Osmonov explained. The proposed mechanism is currently under development and will be integrated into the Code of Administrative Violations. Kyrgyzstan already enforces financial penalties for civil servants who fail to meet deadlines for addressing citizens' appeals. The current fine stands at 100 calculation indices (a fixed monetary unit used for penalties and state fees). “We will further refine this approach by drafting new legal regulations to enhance officials' accountability and improve the quality of work within state institutions,” Osmonov added.

U.S. Suspends Enforcement of Foreign Bribery Law: Should Kazakhstan Be Worried?

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order suspending enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), effectively allowing U.S. companies to offer bribes to foreign officials and politicians. This decision is expected to prompt tighter scrutiny of potential corruption among officials in Kazakhstan. On February 12, 2025, Trump signed an executive order pausing enforcement of the FCPA, a landmark anti-bribery law that has regulated U.S. business practices abroad since 1977. The order directs the U.S. Department of Justice to suspend enforcement of the law, which previously criminalized bribery of foreign officials by American companies. Trump argued that the FCPA puts U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage internationally. “The law looks good on paper, but in practice, it's a disaster,” Trump stated, emphasizing that excessive regulatory oversight harms U.S. economic and national security interests. Under the FCPA, companies and individuals could face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for offering or coordinating bribes. The law was enforced in 24 cases in 2024 and 17 cases in 2023. Trump’s executive order tasks the attorney general with reviewing the law’s provisions. U.S. companies have previously been linked to corruption scandals involving high-ranking Kazakhstani officials. The most infamous case, known as Kazakhgate, dates back to the late 1990s. American businessman James Giffen was accused of funneling tens of millions of dollars in bribes, along with luxury gifts, to secure access to Kazakhstan’s vast oil reserves. The investigation implicated former President Nursultan Nazarbayev and ex-Prime Minister Nurlan Balgimbayev, who allegedly received payments through offshore accounts in exchange for favorable investment conditions. However, Kazakhstani officials were never formally charged, and Giffen ultimately received a minor fine. In December 2024, Mazhilis deputy Yermurat Bapi warned that a similar scandal — dubbed Kazakhgate-2 — could soon unfold. “According to my information, a new grandiose scandal is brewing in the United States,” Bapi stated in an interview with Elmedia. “The U.S. Department of Justice is preparing a new criminal case against global kleptocrats who previously relied on American companies, insurers, and consultants. If they used these services, they will face prosecution.” Speculation surrounding Kazakhgate-2 intensified after Nazarbayev’s December 2024 trip to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Trump’s decree has now cast doubt on whether the case will proceed. Another major corruption-related dispute involving Kazakhstan is the Stati case. Since 2010, the Kazakhstani government has been embroiled in legal battles with Moldovan oligarchs Anatol and Gabriel Stati over the early termination of their subsoil use contracts. The dispute has led to litigation across multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S., U.K., and EU countries, with Kazakhstan's National Fund assets being temporarily frozen. Some sources suggest that Timur Kulibayev, Nazarbayev’s son-in-law, played a role in the case. Corruption concerns are not limited to Kazakhstan. In late January 2025, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin publicly criticized Kyrgyz authorities for allegedly extorting Russian businesses operating in Kyrgyzstan. “We urge the Kyrgyz leadership to cease administrative pressure on our companies and ensure the protection...

Citizens of Kyrgyzstan Can Now Choose Traditional Surnames Under New Law

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has approved a bill allowing citizens to adopt surname spellings that reflect national traditions and historical heritage, rather than the conventional Russian-style endings. The legislation passed its third and final reading. MP Mirlan Samyakozho, one of the bill’s authors, explained that the changes will allow citizens to choose surnames without Russian endings while retaining the option to keep them. According to amendments to the Family Code and the Law on Civil Status Acts, new naming formats can now be used in official documents. Specifically: The suffix "uulu" (meaning "son of") may be added to male names. The suffix "kyzy" (meaning "daughter of") may be used for female names. Other variations using the genitive and initial case endings will also be permitted, such as "dyn/tyn," "din/tin," "dүn/tүn" for boys and "dan/tan," "den/ten," "dөn/tөn" for girls. In these cases, a patronymic name will no longer be required. Under the new law, a name like Baktybekov Uson Zhakshylykovich could now be recorded as: Baktybekov tegi Uson Baktybektegi Uson Zhakshylyktyn Baktybek Uson Baktybek Uson Zhakshylyk uulu Similarly, Baktybektegi Nurgul Zhakshylykovna could now be recorded as: Baktybektegi Nurgul Baktybektegi Nurgul Zhakshylyktan Baktybek Nurgul Baktybek Nurgul Zhakshylyk kyzy Following Kyrgyzstan’s independence in the 1990s, many citizens adopted traditional Kyrgyz surnames incorporating "uulu" and "kyzy." However, in the 2000s, a mass return to Russian-style surnames occurred, which authorities attributed to increasing external migration. The new law is intended to restore the option for Kyrgyz citizens to preserve their historical naming traditions in official documents.

Kazakhstan Targets Bride Kidnapping

Kazakhstani parliamentarian Murat Abenov has proposed introducing a specific article in the Criminal Code to criminalize bride theft, suggesting prison terms of up to ten years. While some lawmakers support his initiative, others believe existing laws are sufficient to address such crimes. Proposal to Address Bride Theft According to Abenov, three crimes against women have been recorded this year under Article 125 of the Criminal Code, which covers “Kidnapping.” However, Abenov believes the actual number of such cases is significantly higher. For instance, over the past three years, 214 women filed complaints related to bride theft, but only ten cases went to trial. Abenov has proposed a separate article in the Criminal Code to specifically address bride theft, with penalties designed to reflect the severity of the crime. His proposal includes: A minimum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of 2,000 monthly calculation indices (MCI), equivalent to 7.8 million KZT ($15,000), for kidnapping a woman to force her into marriage; If the abducted woman is under 18, if force is used, or if the crime involves multiple perpetrators, the penalty would increase to a fine of 5,000 MCI (19.6 million KZT or $37,800) or three to five years in prison; and In cases where unintentional harm to the victim’s health occurs during the abduction, the sentence could be up to ten years in prison. "If a woman is held against her will and subjected to psychological or physical pressure, the law must protect the victim," Abenov emphasized, confirming that the proposal has already been submitted to a working group for consideration. Debate Among Lawmakers This is not the first time the issue of bride theft has been raised in Kazakhstan’s parliament. In December 2023, another Mazhilis deputy, Yedil Zhanbyrshin, introduced a similar initiative, which was supported by Mazhilis Speaker Yerlan Koshanov. However, that proposal was not formalized into legislation. Some deputies argue that existing laws, such as Article 125, are sufficient. This article provides for imprisonment of four to seven years for kidnapping, regardless of the victim’s identity. "We already have articles in the Criminal Code addressing illegal detention and kidnapping. I’m not convinced we need to specify that it’s a fiancée. What’s the difference? Whether I kidnap a child, an adult, or a senior citizen, it is already a criminal offense," said MP Aidos Sarim. Bride Theft in Central Asia As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, 18 criminal cases of bride theft were initiated in Kazakhstan in 2023. Six of these cases occurred in the country’s largest city, Almaty, while one was recorded in the capital, Astana. Circumventing the bride price, alyp qashu – “take and flee” - is a ritual form of bride-snatching endemic throughout much of Central Asia. With the Soviets having destroyed swathes of local identity, debate rages as to the ethnographic roots of the practice, but what is certain is that it was on the increase in the 2010s. Most prevalent regionally in Kyrgyzstan, where it is known as Ala...

Kazakhstan’s Parliament Approves Regulations for the Central Asia International Industrial Cooperation Center with Uzbekistan

On February 5, the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, approved an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on regulations for the Central Asia International Center for Industrial Cooperation. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration, the industrial center will be built along the border of the two countries, near the Gulistan checkpoint in Uzbekistan and the Atameken checkpoint in Kazakhstan. The complex will include: Industrial production facilities Warehouses Transport infrastructure The center aims to: Accelerate cargo transportation Reduce logistics costs Streamline supply chains Lower product costs for consumers Enhance industrial cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as part of the North-South corridor Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, informed parliament that the industrial center will cover 100 hectares, with 50 hectares on each country’s side. Part of the center will receive regional industrial zone status. Construction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026, with an official opening planned for the first half of 2027. Uzbekistan is one of Kazakhstan’s largest economic and trading partners, and both countries aim to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion annually in the medium term.

Criticism of Kazakhstan’s Health Insurance System Reaches Parliament

Members of Kazakhstan's Mazhilis (lower house of parliament) have voiced strong criticism of the country’s healthcare system, particularly the Social Health Insurance Fund, which they argue has lost public trust. Many citizens reportedly view the quality of medical services as unsatisfactory. Kazakhstan operates a system of compulsory social medical insurance, wherein doctors' services are funded through a combination of contributions from working citizens, their employers, and the state budget. These financial contributions are collected by the Social Health Insurance Fund, which then allocates the funds to medical institutions based on the volume of services provided to the population. Speaking in Parliament, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova defended the system, claiming that it has led to improvements in key health and demographic indicators since its introduction. “Today, 83% of Kazakhstanis are connected to the compulsory social health insurance system, 72% of whom are from vulnerable segments of the population. This demonstrates the availability of medical care in the country,” Alnazarova stated. However, Mazhilis Deputy Chairman Dania Yespayeva pointed out that despite increasing healthcare budgets, public satisfaction with medical services continues to decline. According to surveys, up to 47% of Kazakhstanis consider the quality of domestic healthcare to be poor. Deputy Askhat Aimagambetov echoed these concerns, accusing medical institutions of manipulating service statistics to secure additional funding from the Social Health Insurance Fund. He cited a case where a five-month-old child, who had not yet developed teeth, was recorded as having received dental services. Aimagambetov also claimed that hospitals sometimes charge the insurance fund for dozens of services provided to the same patient in a single day - an impossibility. “The financing system encourages such behavior because payments are based on the quantity of services rendered, not on the effectiveness of treatment. As a result, the [Social Health Insurance Fund] has become a de facto bank for the Ministry of Health. Citizens and doctors alike have become hostages of inconsistent and poorly planned reforms, while the availability and quality of care have deteriorated. The system remains underfunded, and the resources it does have are spent inefficiently,” Aimagambetov stated. He emphasized the need for stricter oversight of the reports submitted by medical institutions to the insurance fund for reimbursement. Currently, inspections cover only about 1% of these reports, a figure Aimagambetov described as insufficient. Public dissatisfaction with health care is also reflected in broader trends. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, approximately 5% of Kazakhstanis considering emigration cite access to better medical services abroad as a primary reason.