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Kyrgyzstan opposition cancels mass protest in country’s south

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — The opposition in Kyrgyzstan has canceled an anti-government protest scheduled for March 24 in the southern city of Osh. Continue reading

Authorities probe Kyrgyz opposition’s discussion on ways to overthrow government

BISHKEK (TCA) — Authorities in Kyrgyzstan are investigating two audio recordings apparently featuring the voices of opposition politicians discussing ways to overthrow the government, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Continue reading

U.S. seeks to prepare Tajikistan to increase its economic prosperity — ambassador

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The United States supports Tajikistan’s goals of security, democratic reform, and economic growth, the new U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Elisabeth Millard wrote in her introductory Op-Ed “Tajikistan and America: A Partnership for a Bright Future,” posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe on March 16. Continue reading

Terrorism in Central Asia: different names, same outcome

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — Russia’s sudden move to draw down its military presence in Syria has put some cards on the table regarding Central Asia’s exposure to Daesh terror in months if not years to come. As long as things stay as they are, the scenario will be limited to occasional threats demanding preventive measures to thwart “incidental” attacks. Ironically, the eventuality of Daesh being swept out of Syrian and Iraqi territory could drive tens of thousands of “fighters”, armed to the teeth and experienced in battle, to Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, capable of carrying out full-scale military campaigns towards the north. This will involve military capabilities that are not available in the states of the region. Continue reading

Organised crime in Central Asia: Uzbekistan and Tajikistan*

LONDON (TCA) — Lebanon, former Yugoslavia, Africa and Latin America where large-scale civil armed conflicts took place generate mobs and mobsters. While in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan such conflicts have been avoided, Tajikistan’s leading crime chiefs seem to have come very close indeed to sharing power with legitimate authorities while Uzbekistan seems to be balancing on the edge. Both post-Soviet republics appear to be in need of a national consolidation of public support for legitimacy, rather than letting criminal gangs control the economy first and possibly the state itself later. Continue reading

Japan provides $2.2 million for strengthening Tajik-Afghan border security

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Government of Japan has provided 267 million Japanese yens (approx. $2.26 million) to the project of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) aimed at strengthening capacities of law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan responsible for border control between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, as well as enhancing the border security in Tajikistan’s Khatlon region, UNODC said.   Continue reading