Turkey - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 190

Migration Policy

Uzbek Migration Agency Clarifies Legal Status Rules for Citizens in Turkey

Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency has issued an official clarification in response to social media posts and Telegram channel reports claiming that Uzbek citizens are no longer being deported from Turkey. The agency stated that such interpretations are misleading and do not reflect existing agreements or procedures. According to the agency, the issue at hand is not the cancellation of deportations, but rather the possibility of legalizing migration status strictly within the boundaries of Turkey’s current legal framework. “Responsibility for illegal stay and violations of migration law in Türkiye remains in force,” the agency said, urging citizens to rely exclusively on official sources and to view a detailed explanatory video published by the agency. The clarification follows what the agency described as inaccurate portrayals of ongoing consultations. Officials stressed that some outlets had distorted the nature of the discussions, leading to confusion among the public. The agency emphasized that the safety and legal protection of citizens abroad can only be guaranteed when migrants comply with the laws of host countries. Addressing the situation of undocumented migrants, the agency stated that Uzbek citizens currently residing or working illegally in Turkey may apply to Turkish migration authorities or to the agency’s representative office in Turkey to legalize their status, without facing deportation, provided they follow the established legal procedures. However, it warned that this does not mean individuals can leave Turkey without consequence if they have violated migration rules. The clarification comes amid heightened attention to the status of Uzbek migrants in Turkey following a high-profile criminal case in Istanbul. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, on January 24 the body of an Uzbek woman, identified as Durdona H., was found in a garbage container in Istanbul. Two Uzbek men were detained while attempting to flee to Georgia in connection with the case. The killing sparked protests in Turkey, where women called for justice for Durdona and other victims. On January 30, Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Istanbul announced that Durdona’s body and her two children had been repatriated. The consulate stated that all related expenses were covered by the diplomatic mission and the Migration Agency. The Migration Agency concluded its statement by reiterating its call for responsible information sharing, and warning against the spread of unverified claims that could endanger citizens abroad.

Mirziyoyev in Turkey

Uzbekistan and Turkey Set $5 Billion Trade Target at Strategic Council Meeting in Ankara

At the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Turkey on January 29, marking a new phase in the deepening partnership between the two nations. The visit was centered around the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by the two leaders in Ankara. Discussions focused on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Turkey, with an emphasis on political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, transport connectivity, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. The two presidents also exchanged views on regional and global developments, underscoring the growing coordination between Tashkent and Ankara on international platforms. Both sides highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade, the rising number of joint ventures, and increased direct flights between the two countries. Regular cultural exchanges and growing people-to-people contacts were cited as further evidence of the strengthening relationship. Key areas for future cooperation include joint projects in industry, agriculture, and social protection, as well as enhanced collaboration in defense, security, and combating cybercrime. The timing of the Strategic Council meeting was described as symbolic, taking place on the eve of Ramadan and ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the growing political dialogue and the convergence of their positions on many international issues. The presidents reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support in international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of Turkic States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Inter-parliamentary cooperation has also intensified, particularly through parliamentary friendship groups. The leaders set an ambitious goal to increase bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion in the coming years. Expanding the list of goods covered under the Preferential Trade Agreement will be a key step toward achieving that target. Ahead of the visit, new priority areas for industrial cooperation were identified and will be implemented under a separate program. Significant potential was noted for interregional cooperation, with delegations from all regions of Uzbekistan expected to visit Türkiye by the end of the year to develop joint projects. Cooperation will also be deepened in agriculture, horticulture, healthcare, and medical tourism. The two countries agreed to intensify cultural and tourism ties through joint initiatives such as theater festivals, cultural weeks, historical film productions, and heritage restoration projects. In the education sector, the fourth Rectors’ Forum will be held in Bukhara this spring. Following the Strategic Council meeting, Mirziyoyev and Erdoğan signed a Joint Statement and adopted a framework for cooperation within the comprehensive strategic partnership. A wide-ranging package of bilateral agreements was also signed, covering healthcare, education, military medicine, economic and financial cooperation, mining, transport corridors, special economic zones, nuclear safety, migration, religious affairs, foreign ministry cooperation for 2026-2027, light industry, and cultural collaboration. At the conclusion of the visit, Mirziyoyev extended an official invitation to Erdoğan to visit Uzbekistan, reflecting the continued momentum and growing trust in bilateral relations.

Energy Infrastructure

Why Workers Are Leaving the Çalık Enerji Power Plant Construction Site in Turkmenistan

One of Turkmenistan’s largest combined-cycle power plants is currently under construction on the Caspian coast. Despite offering record-high wages by local standards, the site is experiencing persistent staff turnover. The project is being led by the Turkish company Çalık Enerji, which is building a 1,574 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in the village of Kiyanly in Turkmenistan’s Balkan region. While the workforce is largely made up of local residents, retaining staff has proven difficult. According to former workers, even unskilled laborers can earn up to $2,856 per month, an exceptionally high salary for the region. This has attracted a steady stream of job seekers. However, many employees say the pay does not adequately compensate for the harsh realities of working on-site. The primary reason cited for resignations is the extreme natural environment. The construction site lies between the Caspian Sea and an open expanse of steppe, where strong winds are a near-constant presence. Conditions worsen in winter, when workers endure eight-hour shifts outdoors in cold and windy weather, conditions that many find intolerable beyond a few months. In addition to environmental challenges, workers point to strained relations with site management and internal conflicts among staff. They describe a lack of mutual trust between workers and middle managers, as well as growing tensions within crews. Some have also reported interethnic clashes, particularly between Turkmen and Azerbaijani workers, despite both groups being Turkmenistani citizens residing in the same region. These disputes have occasionally escalated into physical altercations, further contributing to resignations. Çalık Enerji signed a contract with the state-owned utility Turkmenenergo to carry out the Kiyanly project. The power plant will feature two units equipped with 9F.04 gas turbines, each with a capacity of 288 MW, and a D12 steam turbine produced by GE Vernova.

Agriculture

Turkish Cengiz Holding Plans $500 Million Investment in Kazakhstan’s Sugar Industry

Turkish industrial conglomerate Cengiz Holding has announced plans to invest $500 million in the construction of two sugar processing plants in Kazakhstan, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The announcement followed a meeting between Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Cengiz Holding board member Jengiz Shaban. The proposed facilities would have a combined annual capacity of up to 300,000 tons of sugar. North Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions are under consideration as potential locations for the new factories. The project has a 10-year investment horizon. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with production to commence within two years. According to Shaban, the initiative aims to boost domestic sugar supply while also supporting the development of by-products such as animal feed, food ingredients, and industrial alcohol. Saparov described the proposal as “strategically important” for Kazakhstan’s food security. “The creation of new processing capacities and the formation of a sustainable raw material base are key priorities for the state,” he said. The Ministry of Agriculture reports that Kazakhstan currently operates four sugar factories, three of which process domestically grown sugar beets. Despite this, annual consumption stands at approximately 500,000 tons, with local production meeting only 14% of national demand. Earlier, another Turkish conglomerate, Safi Holding, also expressed interest in establishing a sugar processing facility in Kazakhstan. The existing sugar factories include Aksu-Kant (Taldykorgan district), Koksu Sugar Factory (Almaty region), and the Merken and Taraz plants in Zhambyl region. Three of these process local sugar beets, while the Taraz facility relies on imported cane sugar. In 2024, Kazakhstan recorded a bumper sugar beet harvest of 1.2 million tons, yet only about 700,000 tons were processed, once again exposing deep-rooted inefficiencies in the sector.

Natural gas

Turkmenistan Halts Gas Exports to Turkey Amid Contract Talks

Turkmenistan has temporarily suspended natural gas exports to Turkey, according to an October 24 report by the Chronicles of Turkmenistan, which cited Maksat Babaev, chairman of the state concern Turkmengaz. Babaev made the announcement during a press conference following the Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2025 international conference. Gas deliveries began in March 2025 under a short-term contract for 2 billion cubic meters per year. The project was framed as a pilot initiative to assess technical and logistical challenges. Murad Archaev, Deputy Chairman of Turkmengaz, stated that the company is fully prepared to resume supplies. “The Turkish side was very pleased with the start of deliveries. We also support it, and once the existing issues are resolved, supplies will continue under the signed contract,” Archaev said, as quoted by MK Turkey. Babaev added that Turkmenistan has other potential buyers if an agreement on price or volume cannot be reached. “This is the market,” he said, according to Oilcapital, citing Reuters. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Turkey began importing Turkmen gas via Iran under a swap agreement, with deliveries totaling about 1.3 billion cubic meters by year-end. In May, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Ankara's intention to extend the deal for another five years. Meanwhile, Turkey’s Ministry of Energy said in October that it seeks to increase gas imports from Turkmenistan via the Caspian Sea. The ministry emphasized that the Turkish market could serve as a gateway for Turkmen gas to reach other countries, including European Union members. Earlier this year, both sides hailed the launch of deliveries as a milestone in regional energy cooperation.

Geopolitics

Cyprus as a Mirror of Turkish Geopolitics: How Ankara Uses Northern Cyprus to Project Influence in Central Asia

Northern Cyprus has become a microcosm of Turkish foreign policy, a space where Ankara combines military presence, the ideology of “Turkic brotherhood,” and economic leverage. For Turkey, this territory is not merely a long-standing geopolitical dispute but a laboratory for a new diplomatic model centered on the vision of a “great Turkic world.” As noted by Stratfor, despite the decisive victory of Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman in the October 19, 2025, presidential elections in the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a candidate who supports renewed negotiations with the Republic of Cyprus and advocates for a federal model, Ankara has shown no intention of revising its entrenched two-state doctrine. Analysts suggest Turkey may apply economic pressure and diplomatic isolation, including suspension of subsidies and credit lines, should Erhürman attempt to implement a federal solution. Concurrently, Turkey is lobbying for the TRNC’s recognition within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), aiming to set a symbolic precedent: if Turkic-speaking nations will not support each other, who will? For Central Asia, this initiative reflects Ankara’s commitment to unifying the Turkic world under its political leadership, extending far beyond cultural solidarity. Political Implications for Central Asia Turkey’s push to incorporate the TRNC into the OTS shifts the organization from a cultural bloc to a geopolitical instrument. Should Northern Cyprus gain observer status, Ankara will likely expect symbolic support from its Turkic partners. This poses a significant dilemma for Central Asian states. Aligning with Turkey could be perceived by Western actors as a breach of international law, while maintaining neutrality might be viewed as a rejection of Turkic unity. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan have so far emphasized adherence to international law and sovereignty. At the April 2025 EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand, these states jointly reaffirmed UN Security Council resolutions from the early 1980s, which declared the TRNC’s independence and all related separatist actions legally invalid. Kyrgyzstan may face a more delicate challenge due to its deep humanitarian and educational ties with Turkey. Northern Cyprus thus serves as a litmus test for Turkic integration: how closely can nations align without compromising their political autonomy? Economic and Energy Dimensions Cyprus plays a strategic role in Turkey’s energy policy, linking the Caspian region, the Caucasus, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish control over Northern Cyprus bolsters its influence over maritime logistics, offshore gas development, and export corridors. This holds direct relevance for Central Asia. A stronger Turkish position in the Mediterranean enhances its leverage over energy transit routes from the Caspian to Europe, particularly in relation to the Trans-Caspian pipeline and the Middle Corridor. Over time, Ankara is expected to use energy infrastructure as a tool for political engagement, promoting an “economy of Turkic solidarity”, offering mutual benefits, but often tied to strategic conditions. Security and Military Presence The TRNC functions as a prototype for Turkey’s military protectorate model, a way to retain control while presenting itself as a guarantor of stability. This model is echoed across the Turkic region through Turkey’s expanding military partnerships...