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Refugees

Tajikistan Gives Afghan Refugees 15 Days to Leave

Tajikistan has launched a large-scale campaign to detain and deport Afghan refugees, giving them just 15 days to leave the country. The move, reported by Afghanistan’s Khaama Press and confirmed by the UN refugee agency UNHCR, has sparked fear and confusion among thousands of Afghans in Tajikistan, including many with valid residency permits or official asylum documentation. According to Khaama Press, detentions have intensified in recent days, particularly around Vahdat township and Rudaki district near the capital, Dushanbe. Afghan men are reportedly being arrested in large numbers, often directly from their workplaces, with little to no warning or opportunity to contact family members. The deportation order is believed to affect thousands of Afghans, including individuals legally residing in Tajikistan while awaiting resettlement to countries such as Canada. Many are former civil servants, military personnel, or others affiliated with the pre-Taliban Afghan government who fled after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Human rights advocates warn that forced repatriation could expose them to immediate danger UNHCR Condemnation and International Concerns The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed deep concern over Tajikistan’s actions. In January 2025, UNHCR urged Dushanbe to cease deportations after confirming that at least 80 Afghan refugees were forcibly returned in December 2024, despite holding UN-issued refugee documents. UNHCR stated that these deportations violate international protection obligations and risk exposing vulnerable individuals to persecution, detention, or violence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. As of late 2024, approximately 9,000 Afghan refugees were officially registered in Tajikistan. With the new 15-day ultimatum and ongoing arrests, many more are now at risk. Refugee advocates report that detentions are being carried out indiscriminately, often without regard for legal status. Part of a Wider Regional Crackdown Tajikistan’s campaign mirrors broader regional trends. In recent months, both Iran and Pakistan have undertaken mass deportations of Afghan nationals. Human rights organizations have documented widespread reports of abuse, intimidation, and even killings of returnees by Taliban forces. Observers warn that options for Afghan refugees are rapidly diminishing. Resettlement programs remain slow, and few countries have opened new asylum pathways. As a result, thousands of displaced Afghans across Central and South Asia face a stark choice: live under constant threat of arrest and expulsion or return to a homeland where persecution may await.

Human rights

UN Rules Gulnara Karimova’s Arrest Was Unlawful and Arbitrary

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that the 2014 arrest of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of Uzbekistan’s late President Islam Karimov, was both unlawful and arbitrary. The finding was published in a recent report on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Working Group reviewed the case under its standard communications procedure following a petition submitted in late 2024. According to the report, Karimova was detained in February 2014 without a warrant and held under varying conditions, including 18 months of house arrest alongside her child. Her first judicial appearance occurred only on August 21, 2015, reportedly in a hearing conducted in her kitchen. During this period, she was denied a genuine opportunity to contest her detention or understand the charges brought against her. The UN body concluded that Uzbekistan violated several provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the rights to prompt judicial review, to be informed of the charges, and to access legal counsel. International and Domestic Legal Violations Parallel to domestic proceedings, legal action in a third country led to convictions of several co-defendants for laundering over $600 million through companies connected to Karimova. Although her legal team contested asset forfeitures abroad, Karimova has alleged that Uzbek authorities pressured her lawyers to withdraw their motions. The Working Group has called on the Uzbek government to provide Karimova with reparations, including financial compensation, and to conduct a “full and independent investigation” into her arbitrary detention. It also urged accountability for those responsible. The UN panel initially requested the government’s response by February 24, 2025. However, Uzbekistan submitted its response one day late, rendering it procedurally invalid. As a result, the Group issued its opinion based solely on the information available. Both the Uzbek government and the petitioner have been requested to submit updates within six months. These should address whether compensation has been provided, whether an investigation has been conducted, and whether any legal reforms have been implemented in response to the ruling. The decision strengthens the UN’s ongoing calls for Uzbekistan to bring its judicial practices in line with international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Asset Recovery Agreement with Switzerland In a related development, Uzbekistan and Switzerland signed an agreement in February 2025 to return approximately $182 million in assets confiscated from Karimova. The funds had been frozen by Swiss prosecutors in 2012 as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation. Under the agreement, the funds will be transferred to Uzbekistan through the UN-administered Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund. This follows an earlier accord in August 2022 to return $131 million, bringing the total amount of repatriated assets to $313 million. The case of Gulnara Karimova continues to draw comparisons to that of Dariga Nazarbayeva, the eldest daughter of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. While Karimova faced prosecution and widespread asset seizures, Nazarbayeva retained her political influence and substantial wealth.

Agriculture

Uzbekistan Elected to the UN FAO Council for the First Time

Uzbekistan has been unanimously elected to the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for the 2028-2029 term, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced. This marks the first time Uzbekistan has secured a seat on the Council, which plays a pivotal role in shaping global agricultural and food policy. The FAO Council consists of 49 member states, selected to ensure equitable geographic representation. It is tasked with reviewing the FAO’s budget and programs and making strategic recommendations to the FAO Conference. Uzbekistan’s election is widely viewed as international recognition of the country's recent reforms in agriculture and food security. Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the government has prioritized sustainability, food safety, and environmental protection. Council membership will provide Uzbekistan with a stronger voice in international agricultural discussions. It will enable the country to participate in the development of global standards, support national and regional initiatives, and attract international funding to advance key development goals. In recent years, Uzbekistan has collaborated closely with the FAO on several high-profile projects. In May 2024, the FAO and the Ministry of Ecology organized a workshop in Tashkent to launch a joint initiative on hazardous chemical management. Supported by the European Union, the project aims to reduce reliance on harmful pesticides by promoting safer alternatives to local farmers. Earlier, in March 2024, the FAO and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture hosted a seminar on the “Recarbonization of Agricultural Soils” (RECSOIL), culminating in an approved national action plan. The RECSOIL initiative complements two ongoing FAO projects focused on sustainable land management in drought-prone and dryland areas. These efforts are already benefiting Uzbek farmers through the adoption of modern, resource-efficient practices that improve productivity while preserving the environment.

Environment

Kazakhstan’s ECOJER Association Granted UN Consultative Status

The Kazakhstan Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives, ECOJER, has been granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the organization’s press service announced. This designation allows ECOJER to participate in UN sessions and conferences held in New York, Geneva, and Vienna. The association can now submit written and oral statements, and engage in direct dialogue with ECOSOC bodies and the UN Secretariat. The recognition significantly enhances ECOJER’s international presence and influence in advancing sustainable development and environmental policy. “Obtaining this status significantly expands our opportunities. Now we can convey the consolidated position of the Kazakh expert community and responsible businesses at the international level. Our task is to demonstrate how Kazakhstan is seeking and finding a balance between industrial development and environmental sustainability,” said ECOJER CEO Rustem Kabzhanov. Expanding Environmental Influence Founded in 2017, ECOJER focuses on promoting environmentally sustainable economic growth and formulating policy recommendations for government agencies. The organization has pursued a range of practical initiatives, including becoming an authorized issuer for the International REC Foundation (I-REC) in Kazakhstan in 2022. I-REC certificates verify the origin of green electricity. In 2024, ECOJER issued 2.6 million such certificates, up sharply from 200,000 the previous year. With its new ECOSOC status, ECOJER joins a select group of organizations in Central Asia with direct access to UN consultative mechanisms. This development marks a milestone in Kazakhstan’s growing role in the global environmental dialogue and reflects international recognition of its contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In March 2025, the UN Green Climate Fund allocated $280 million to Kazakhstan for environmental projects, as previously reported by The Times of Central Asia.

Astana International Forum

Can Kazakhstan Lead Small and Middle Powers in Reforming the UN?

ASTANA – The United Nations, envisioned as a pillar of global cooperation, has often struggled to rise to the challenges it was created to address. Its inability to bridge cultural divides hampers meaningful solutions to regional issues, while structural weaknesses and the exclusion of diverse regional voices from the Security Council deepen its shortcomings. Compounding these flaws is the frequent deadlock among permanent members, whose competing agendas stifle consensus and action. These inefficiencies cast doubt on the organization's ability to hear and respond to regional voices, grievances, and expectations in a rapidly changing world. Amid these persistent challenges within the United Nations, Kazakhstan's proactive stance on global issues highlights its potential to lead efforts toward fostering peace and addressing critical gaps in international cooperation. For example, although Kazakhstan prioritizes nuclear energy in its national strategy, it simultaneously remains committed to advocating for the non-proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons. Such an approach, combined with its balanced foreign policy, enables the largest Central Asian nation to seek to position itself as a leading advocate for global peace. But how realistic is that in the current geopolitical climate? As conflicts and wars continue to rage around the world, leaders from several countries have gathered in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, for the Astana International Forum (AIF) to discuss key global challenges ranging from energy security and geopolitical cooperation to international trade and sustainable development. For Kazakhstan’s leadership, the event serves as an ideal opportunity to reaffirm its aspiration to position the country as a middle power. According to the Central Asian state’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, it is middle powers that should be prepared to take on greater multilateral responsibilities. “We all should strongly remain adherent to the United Nations Charter with no biased and selective approaches to its principles,” Tokayev said on May 29 in calling for the expansion of the United Nations Security Council that, in his view, should include broader regional representation. This idea was firmly supported by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova of North Macedonia, who numbered among the major guests in Astana. She argues that small countries, along with middle powers, should be "the greatest advocates of effective multilateralism," as they stand to gain the most from institutions like the United Nations. “The Security Council should be expanded, reformed and democratized to make it more accountable and more responsible in maintaining international peace and security,” Siljanovska-Davkova stressed, adding that the international institution “should take its rightful place as a principal representative body, not only for debate and deliberative democracy but also for policymaking.” The problem, however, is that major global powers, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, are unlikely to voluntarily relinquish their positions within the organization. Small and middle powers will, therefore, undoubtedly have to work hard to achieve their ambitious geopolitical goals. In the meantime, they are expected to continue developing bilateral relations. “The task before us is clear – to preserve cooperation where it still exists and to restore it where it has broken down. We must widen this...

Rukhshona Khakimova

UN Official Urges Tajikistan to Release, Retry Woman Convicted of Treason

A United Nations human rights expert has joined in calls for the release and retrial of a 31-year-old mother in Tajikistan who was convicted of treason and sentenced to eight years in prison after her research on Chinese aid to the Central Asian country allegedly aroused the suspicion of authorities. A U.N. statement described Rukhshona Khakimova as a “journalist and woman human rights defender” and said it appeared that she had not received a fair trial and may have been targeted for “legitimate human rights journalism” rather than any wrongdoing. “The case was part of a broader criminal investigation involving former senior officials and politicians allegedly accused of extremism, espionage, and an attempted coup,” said the U.N. announcement, which was released on Wednesday. “Her charges allegedly stemmed from interviews she conducted for a research project on international aid from China to Tajikistan, where she reportedly spoke with two defendants, asking general questions not related to classified information.” In recent years, China has developed an increasingly robust role as an investor and security partner for Tajikistan, which has a long border with Afghanistan and concerns about militant infiltration. Mary Lawlor, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said it was “heartbreaking” that Khakimova had been separated from her two young children because the court sent her to jail. Lawlor said Khakimova had a right to a fair and transparent trial and that she was in contact with the Tajik government about the matter. Tajikistan’s Supreme Court convicted and sentenced Khakimova on Feb. 5. The verdict was upheld on April 2. International human rights and media groups have also called for Khakimova’s release. So far, Tajik authorities have not responded publicly to the appeals, which reflect concern about a deteriorating human rights situation in Tajikistan. However, President Emomali Rahmon removed one restriction on Wednesday, signing a law that “abolishes criminal liability for posting likes or other marks on social networks,” according to the president’s office. The restriction had previously been used to prosecute people accused of endorsing extremist posts on social media, though critics alleged the ban was a way to muzzle opposition to the government.