World Nomad Games Opening Ceremony: A Fusion of the Ancient and the Modern
With much pageantry, August 8 saw Astana host the opening ceremony of the 5th World Nomad Games, themed as the "Gathering of the Great Steppe." A procession of singers and dancers in tall white telpek hats and flowing red and gold robes opened proceedings, marrying modern beats to traditional music. This fusion of the ancient and the present was a key theme running through the entire event.
With the melodies building to crescendo, the flag-waving crowd lifted their torches aloft, chanting “Kazakhstan,” before the national anthem peeled out from the stage.
With 89 countries participating in this edition, the parade of athletes followed, each nation led forth by a white steed and a woman in a traditional, sparkling costume. From the hundreds representing the Kyrgyz Republic – a perennial champion at the World Nomad Games – to far smaller contingents, such as the three representatives from Benin, each nation was afforded their moment in the spotlight. Last, but far from least, the athletes from Kazakhstan emerged to a huge roar of appreciation.
Taking to the podium with the keynote address, President Tokayev told the crowd Kazakhstan is “known to everyone as a land of peace and coexistence. The games, he stated, are a “great event on a global scale… Nomadic civilization has left a deep mark on world history. The new technologies they developed provided the impetus for global progress. Five thousand years ago, nomads domesticated the horse and shaped a horseback riding culture that spread across the world… Serving as a bridge between East and West, nomads played a crucial role in the rapprochement of various cultures.
“The great nomadic life will never cease to exist,” Tokayev concluded. “Even amid globalization, the nomadic lifestyle that existed for a thousand years is reviving and taking a new shape. Modern nomads are making efforts to reclaim a central place in history. We are moving and traveling easily all over the world in search of education and job opportunities.”
First Deputy Prime Minister, Roman Skylar took the opportunity to emphasize that in the wake of unprecedented floods, the nation had grasped this moment to show “resilience in our commitment to our traditions.” Respect and solidarity were at the core of his address, whilst without naming specific conflicts which continue to cast a long shadow over the region, Skylar stated that there can be “no peace without unity.”
Specifically mentioning the conflict in Gaza, the son of Turkey’s President, Bilal Erdogan, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation echoed these sentiments, remarking that the games represent the “bonds of unity that the world needs today more than ever.”
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Also in attendance at the event hosted by President Tokayev were the President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic, Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedow, the Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Aisen Nikolayev.
Dazzling visuals marked the end of the ceremony, as trapeze artists pirouetted through the air, Dimash Qudaibergen serenaded the audience, and wolves, camels and eagles took center stage.
The Onset of “Friend-Shoring” in Central Asia
As Central Asia’s significance for global supply chains grows, the world’s major economic powers are seeking closer economic ties with the region’s countries. China, Russia, and the West all curry favor through investments and initiatives to bolster the region’s exports and secure their supply chains. Bordering China and Russia, Central Asia spans a land surface area corresponding to 87% the size of the entire European Union (EU). The region has a combined market of 76 million people and gross domestic product of 450 billion U.S. dollars. It is critical to global energy supply chains as it possesses 20% of the world's uranium reserves, as well as 17.2% of total oil and 7% of natural gas deposits. Kazakhstan produces over half of the EU’s critical raw materials, i.e. substances used in technology which are subject to supply risks and are hard to replace with substitutes. In the first seven months of 2024, rail cargo across the Middle Corridor, a trans-Caspian trade route linking China to Europe, has increased 14-fold compared to the same period last year. As the region opens up and undergoes significant economic transformation, supply chains are increasingly directed there, sparking competition for control over its vast natural resources and production capabilities. Major economic powers are stepping in to strengthen bilateral ties to ensure reliable trade partnerships. These strategies, known as “friend-shoring,” aim to reduce geopolitical risks, enhance supply chain stability, and transform Central Asian countries into trusted allies by fostering strong bilateral relationships and deeper economic ties. China and Russia remain at the helm of regional activity China has been actively engaging with Central Asian countries through strengthening economic ties and building strategic partnerships. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to enhance infrastructure and trade connectivity across the region, China has helped strengthen the region’s rail network. China supplies equipment and invests in Uzbekistan’s electric vehicles, scooters, and leather production. Uzbekistan, in partnership with PowerChina and Saudi company ACWA Power, is also constructing the country’s first green hydrogen plant. Kyrgyzstan’s bilateral trade with China was up 30% in 2023 compared to 2022. This year, Turkmenistan has surpassed Russia in gas exports to China. In 2023, Kazakhstan's agricultural exports to China doubled to $1 billion compared to 2022, making China the largest importer of agricultural products from the country. Historically, Russia has been a major trading partner for Central Asian countries due to the Soviet legacy of a command economy, which established strong economic interdependencies that persisted in post-USSR period. While the region is aggressively diversifying its trade relationships, Russia is increasing gas supplies and energy infrastructure investments, specifically in renewables and nuclear facilities. Kazakhstan delivers most of its oil to Europe through Russia. Russian-led organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), promote cooperation and economic integration with free movement of goods, services, and capital among member states. Russia's war against Ukraine has disrupted supply chains, but it has also opened up new trade opportunities, especially for Kazakhstan, as Western companies look for alternatives to conducting business in Russia. In 2022, over 50 international companies relocated to Kazakhstan. Are the EU and the U.S. doing enough to catch up? The EU is turning to partner countries in Central Asia to provide critical imports as a way to lessen its riskier dependencies (such as on Russian supplies). Various initiatives by the EU, Germany, France and the United Kingdom are working with Kazakhstan to further the green transition through harvesting critical raw materials (CRMs), green hydrogen and battery components to further the green transition. The EU is cooperating with Uzbekistan in the field of CRM development, as well as the import of green energy. The European Union's Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) program strengthens ties with developing countries with relatively low incomes through trade incentives. As beneficiaries of this program, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have gained better access to the EU market via tariff reductions, most notably on exports of food, chemicals and textiles. Unlike China, Russia, and Europe, the U.S. lacks state-backed companies to carry out its trade and investments. However, a Chevron-Exxon project in Kazakhstan, budgeted at $48.5 billion, is by far the largest private sector investment in the region. Like China and Europe, the U.S. is also interested in developing and sourcing Central Asia’s critical materials deposits. In February 2024, the U.S. Department of State hosted the inaugural meeting of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialog (CMD) which aims to increase the region’s involvement in global critical minerals supply chains and strengthen economic cooperation. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan participated in the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the largest and oldest U.S. trade preference program, until it expired on December 31, 2020. It fosters bilateral partnerships by promoting economic development through duty-free imports of thousands of products into the U.S. The program's renewal is currently pending action by the U.S. Congress. Unlike the EU’s GSP+, the U.S. version supports trade in goods that are produced less domestically, emphasizing areas of comparative advantage. It also encourages "friend-shoring," i.e., aiming to build robust supply chains with allied nations, thereby reducing reliance on rivals for essential materials. During a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) underscored the consequences of not renewing GSP: “For the United States, they [programs such as GSP] can help facilitate equitable market access and, strategically, help partners become more competitive vis-à-vis China”. In Central Asia, the U.S. has partners as well as a strategic need to source critical materials and diversify away from rivaling states such as Russia and China. A strategic contest Friend-shoring in Central Asia represents a strategic contest over the region's natural resources. As the countries of Central Asia seek to diversify their partnerships and engage with multiple countries, businesses from nations that actively reduce trade barriers (such as tariffs) and maintain favorable diplomatic relations with these countries will have a competitive edge in the region. Strengthening bilateral trade ties with Central Asia offers significant benefits for global supply chains, while neglecting these relationships could result in substantial economic and strategic losses.
Ecological Limit: Five Year Countdown to Water Scarcity in Central Asia
Combating climate change requires collective action by all or a sufficient majority of the world's players supporting global initiatives. Otherwise, it may soon be too late to take any action. To address the issue, the Eurasian Development Bank, the CAREC Think Tank, and the Asian Development Bank organized a two-day forum entitled “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Focusing on means of achieving genuine regional cooperation on Asian climate action, the eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum was attended by policymakers, experts, and opinion leaders from more than 30 countries. The extensive two-day dialog, consisting of eight sessions, opened with a discussion on the effectiveness of current global initiatives related to climate change: the Paris Agreement, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund. Attention then turned to deepening cooperation among as many stakeholders as possible through multilateral platforms such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Asia's role in the global fight against climate change, and the difficult balancing act between economic growth and decarbonization efforts were discussed at length. Simply put, the rapid growth of the Asian economy is inevitably accompanied by an increasing consumption of energy, the generation of which leads to increased emissions and pollution. Climate damage due to human impact can be halted and even reversed. However, because this can only be achieved with technological intervention, it poses problems for developing economies unable to afford advanced technologies. Hence, establishing a framework and mechanisms for global technology transfer were key to discussions. Water and finance were also high on the agenda and the subject of a paper presented by Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research of the Eurasian Development Bank on “Ways to close the investment gap in the drinking water supply and wastewater sector in Central Asia." Ahunbaev reported that 10 million people, or 14% of the population in Central Asia, do not have access to safe drinking water and warned that without intervention, the situation would reach the point of no return in the coming years. To prevent this from happening, he stressed the urgent need for solutions to four problems. The first problem is a twofold increase in the volume of water intake for municipal and domestic needs, based on past figures which showed a growth from 4.2 cubic kilometers in 1994 to 8.6 cubic kilometers in 2020. The second problem is the severe deterioration of water supply infrastructure and treatment equipment, and the third, technological and commercial water losses in distribution networks. The fourth problem is related to the demographic boom and, consequently, the rapid urbanization of Central Asia's population. Cities are expanding and their infrastructure needs to develop accordingly. According to experts, in 2023, urbanization in Central Asian countries will reach 49%, and by 2050, 61%. By 2030, the urban population will exceed that in rural areas. Ahunbaev noted the need for improvement in financing the water supply and sanitation sector in Central Asia since according to rough estimates, the regional deficit in this area is around 12 billion dollars or 2 billion dollars annually. He proposed strengthening public-private partnership as a potential solution, whereby the water sector would be reformed to allow expansion of ownership and management of its enterprises. “It is necessary to improve legislation so that there would be an opportunity to attract, among other things, private capital. We see that the state's budget is limited. Hence, the idea is to develop public-private partnerships and open the possibility of attracting private capital,” Akhunbayev explained. The expert clarified that rather than transferring the sector's enterprises and facilities entirely into private hands, his proposal would provide an opportunity for private investors to invest alongside the state, to help it fulfil its remit. “But the state must retain its leading role," stressed Ahunbayev. " International experience only talks about this. But private capital can greatly help professional management.” Another possible measure to correct the situation regarding the region's water sector is to prioritize investments, optimize the volume of funds attracted, and free up a significant share of capital investments. The EDB also believes it necessary to improve tariff policy, i.e., to raise tariffs, which in Central Asian countries today, are around five times lower than those in Europe. “Tariff setting functions should be gradually transferred to the water supply and wastewater sector enterprises. But -should only be implemented- under the supervision of local executive bodies or an independent regulator and with public participation,” added Ahunbayev. To prevent possible water shortages, Central Asian countries need to make institutional and legal decisions regarding the creation of precise inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms, help restore project expertise, train engineering and technical personnel and the systematic instigation of water protection principles. Ahunbayev closed by emphasizing the need for the immediate implementation of all of the above recommendations. In addition to the demographic explosion, Central Asia is experiencing relatively rapid economic development, which in turn, leads to increasing water consumption. If we do not take care of it right now, it will be too late in five years' time.
With the Russian Language Waning in Central Asia, Will Other Languages Replace It?
Russian is still the most widespread foreign language in Kazakhstan, though its role is declining there, and across Central Asia in general. At the same time, the people of the region have been slow to learn other languages, in part due to economic factors such as slowing globalization, according to the Kazakhstani political analyst Zamir Karazhanov, who is head of the Kemel Arna Public Foundation. The language of cities Since declaring independence in 1991, all the counties of Central Asia have made promoting their national languages a priority. But foreign languages, which link the region with the rest of the world, have also historically been seen as critical. In practice, however, the study and use of foreign languages other than Russian is not widespread. The Russian language is losing its prominence in Kazakhstan as the number of ethnic Russians declines. According to official statistics, as of January 1, 2024, Russians made up 14.89% of the country’s population, down from close to 40% in 1989. Nevertheless, thanks to the education system and Kazakhstan’s proximity to Russia, the level of proficiency in Russian remains high. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Russian is a second official language. In Tajikistan, it is called the “language of interethnic communication”. In Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, however, it does not have an official status. More than 90% of Kazakhstanis know Russian to some degree, while 20% of the population considers it their native language. Meanwhile, those figures for Turkmenistan are 40% and 12% respectively. In Kyrgyzstan, about 44% know Russian and 5% consider it their native language; in Uzbekistan, it is about 50% and 2.7%; and in Tajikistan, 55% and 0.3%. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly spoken about the need to preserve the Russian language in Kazakhstan, and the unacceptability of language-based discrimination. Last year, he unveiled the International Russian Language Organization, established by the CIS Heads of State Council. “The new organization is open to all countries and, of course, very relevant from the point of view of global humanitarian cooperation,” explained Tokayev, while underlining that measures to promote the Russian language in the Eurasia region and elsewhere are congruous with the trend of strengthening national identities. “Kazakhstan will continue the policy of bolstering the status of the state language of Kazakh,” Tokayev said at the time. Today, Kazakhstan has many Russian-language media, while Russian remains the lingua franca at meetings among post-Soviet countries. Even though Russian is concentrated in big cities, all Kazakhstanis receive a significant amount of western and other foreign news from Russian sources. “Russian is spoken in most of Kazakhstan. In the biggest city, Almaty, communicating in Russian is not a problem. But, if you move 30-50 km outside the city, it gets harder to speak it. Russian is the language of cities and the language of interethnic interaction,” the political analyst Karazhanov told The Times of Central Asia. “Of course, the number of native speakers of the Kazakh language is growing, and the number of Russian speakers is declining, but Kazakh cannot yet be the language of interethnic communication. To raise its status, large investments are still needed, including accessible, preferably free, linguistic courses so people of other nationalities can learn Kazakh. This is a long process. Historically, the Russian-speaking population did not come into contact with Kazakh, except in the provinces where mainly Kazakhs lived. Overall, across the country, the opposite process [compared to now] was taking place. Currently, geopolitical events are a factor. After the announcement of mobilization in 2022 [for Russia's war in Ukraine], migrants poured into Kazakhstan from Russia, which increased the need for Russian,” Karazhanov added. The role of slowing global growth Central Asia has slowly adopted the English language. In a global ranking of English proficiency by the language education company Education First last year, Kazakhstan ranked 104th out of 113 countries surveyed, and 22nd out of 23 in Asia, behind Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan. In 2022, Uzbekistan overtook its Central Asian neighbors in terms of English proficiency, though that meant just 89th place overall – its score was still considered “very low”. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan was ranked 91st, Kazakhstan 99th, and Tajikistan 106th. In the breakdown by city, Tashkent trailed Astana and Bishkek, which nevertheless had a low score. “The prevalence of foreign languages, including English and Chinese, which are in great demand abroad, is linked to the population’s need for them. People need these languages mainly for work, and/or to leave [Kazakhstan] to live permanently in another country. Even if the study of foreign languages goes up, this will not lead to an increase in the level of proficiency in them inside Kazakhstan, since it is linked to intentions to leave the country. For someone who [fluently] speaks a foreign language to stay in Kazakhstan, he needs a job where that language is required. In turn, the availability of such jobs mainly depends on investors who are native speakers of a foreign language, and there are not so many of them right now. Investment is rising, but we are not seeing an influx of foreign companies in which big capital would flow not to one group of industries (in particular, extractive industries), but to many groups or entire sectors of the economy at once. Chinese and English are needed in mining and the oil sector; in other areas, foreign businesses find translators, meaning this is not a mass process; the population [at large] is not included in it. In other words, a foreign language is needed either to travel abroad or to work for a foreign company, which is not very common. Therefore, the percentage of people who speak foreign languages remains low, since the population does not particularly need them for ordinary life,” says Karazhanov. Karazhanov also attributes the slow adoption of the English language in Central Asia to the lack of colonial influence in the region, meaning the language was not studied for generations. Today, he believes, the study of foreign languages is slowing, as the pace of globalization and economic growth weakens broadly, together with “people shooting all around.” In the near future, Karazhanov argues that no foreign language in Kazakhstan and in the region as a whole will be spoken proficiently by 20-30% of the population. On the contrary, if the geopolitical tensions fail to abate, the role of regional languages, including Russian, will only rise. Back to the roots Over the years, proposals have been made to add Chinese and Arabic to the compulsory study of Kazakh, Russian, and English in Kazakhstani schools, though they were never considered at the government level. Experts say interest among Kazakhstanis in learning Chinese, Turkish, Arabic, Korean, and even Uzbek (in areas along the two countries' border) is growing steadily but very slowly. The situation in Kazakhstan, Karazhanov thinks, can be extrapolated to the whole of Central Asia, though not without some reservations. “A person begins to learn a foreign language only when he faces a problem. He wants to get something, but first, he needs to learn another language. There is no such acute problem in the countries of Central Asia at this point. It is not that investors are coming, paying extra money to study [a language] and hiring huge staffs who speak Chinese or English. In terms of investment, Kazakhstan ranks first in Central Asia, so if there is no such need here, then there is definitely none in Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan,” the analyst noted. The situation with the Russian language varies across the region. Kazakhstan’s neighbors have always had a lower share of Russian speakers, so it is no surprise that Uzbek and Tajik are gradually becoming the lingua franca in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In Kazakhstan, the transition to Kazakh is also proceeding relatively painlessly, without the bumps in the road that one might expect amid such a major shift in the national makeup of the population. As for other foreign languages, Arabic is of interest as the language of the sacred texts of Islam, while Turkish has an appeal given the Turkic roots of the Kazakh language. Demand for learning them is growing steadily, explained Karazhanov, and depends less on economic and demographic factors. “I cannot say that the number of Muslims in Kazakhstan is increasing since it surged back in the 1990s, but some religious people are really trying to learn Arabic. Others are starting to learn Korean so that they can go to South Korea to work. There is a Korean diaspora in Kazakhstan, which has its own language schools, and it is not only Korean Kazakhstanis who study there. Many Kazakhstanis travel to Turkey to buy real estate. But, as I said, people must need to learn languages; if there is none, then the percentage of those who speak them will grow to some small figure and plateau there,” Karazhanov concluded.
CAREC Think Tank Development Forum to Focus on Climate Solutions
The 8th CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF) will be held on August 27 and 28 in Almaty. Themed “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” the forum aims to address regional climate challenges by fostering collaborations for policy recommendations and joint research. The CAREC Institute, the Eurasian Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and other partners will organize the forum, which will bring together policymakers, experts, and leaders from across Asia to advance regional cooperation on climate action. Headquartered in Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang, the CAREC Institute is an intergovernmental organization contributing to the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program through knowledge generation and capacity building. The Institute is jointly shared and governed by the CAREC's eleven member countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The forum participants will engage in meaningful policy discourse to identify solutions for a climate-resilient region, explore joint research opportunities, and facilitate innovative climate studies beyond mainstream agendas. Representatives from international organizations, high-level government officials, esteemed university scholars, and experts from leading think tanks will be key speakers. The Director of the CAREC Institute and the Vice President of the Asian Development Bank will address the opening ceremony. The forum will include a research presentation by Arman Akhunbaev, Eurasian Development Bank’s head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research, with insights into the financial solutions to close the investment gap in Central Asia's drinking water and sanitation infrastructure. The forum will also feature presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and interactive sessions designed to foster dialogue and develop actionable strategies for climate resilience in the CAREC region.
Gods and Demons of Central Asia
In today's dynamic world, Central Asia is emerging as a trendsetter in fashion, culture, lifestyle, and worldview. The ancient Tengrian faith, deeply rooted in Central Asian mythology and superstitions, may soon resurface creatively among the region's people, though it is unlikely to be reinstated as an official religion. While some in Kazakhstan attempt to distance themselves from Abrahamic religions, Tengrism remains a vital part of the cultural heritage, featuring gods, demigods, and dark entities that shaped the beliefs of our ancestors during the pre-Islamic era.
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photo: pininterest: Tengri's domain[/caption]
Divine entities
According to Tatar scientist and writer Gali Rahim, shamanism attributes significant roles to various spirits and deities. Among the Turkic peoples, the supreme deity is Tengri, the eternal blue sky. Rahim's lectures on “The Folklore of the Kazan Tatars,” presented at the East Pedagogical Institute in the 1920s, describe Tengri as the primary god in Turkic cosmology, with the earth and humanity emerging from the union of the sky and the earth.
Umai, the goddess associated with motherhood and children, stands next in importance. Ancient Turkic inscriptions and symbolic artifacts, such as the stone carving discovered in 2012 in the Zhambyl district of Almaty, Kazakhstan, depict her as a protective figure for children. Teleut pagans represented her as a silver-haired, young woman who descended from heaven on a rainbow to guard children with a golden bow, and the Kyrgyz appealed for her help during childbirth and when children fell ill. Motifs dedicated to Umai by Shorian shamans, were positioned around cradles. Boys' cradles were pierced with an arrow, girls' with a spindle, and wooden arrows were placed within the those of both.
Another prominent character common to Turkic, Mongolian, and Altaic mythology is Erlik or Yerlik Khan. Ruler of the underworld, the horned deity presides over the realm of the dead from a palace of black mud or blue-black iron on the bank of the Toibodym, a river of human tears. A single horsehair bridge is guarded by monsters known as dyutpa whilst the palace is protected by Erlik’s sentries or elchi, brandishing pike poles known as karmak. His breath, carried by a tan, a light warm breeze, was believed to paralyze anyone who inhaled it, which is why the Khakas term for paralysis, tan sapkhany, literally means “wind blow.”
Kudai (Khudai), also known as Ulgen, is another central deity who, alongside his brother Erlik, created the land, its vegetation, mountains, and seas. Kudai created man from clay, and Erlik gave him his soul. Kudai created a dog but it was Erlik who clothed it in hair. Whilst Kudai created the first animals, the horse, the sheep, and the cow, Erlik created the camel, the bear, the badger, and the mole. Kudai brought down lightning from the sky and commanded thunder. In a dispute over who was the mightiest creator, Kudai won. The brothers parted ways, and after producing nine sons, from whom the tribes of Kpchak, Mayman, Todosh, Tonjaan, Komdosh, Tyus, Togus, Cousin, Kerdash originate, Kudai became creator of humanity.
Demons and Evil Forces
The Turkic pantheon also includes various demonic entities. Al Basty, evil female spirits, were believed to cause illnesses and nightmares. Zhalmauyz Kempir, similar to the Russian Baba-Yaga, is a forest-dwelling creature, often described as having seven heads, few teeth and an appetite for human flesh, that preys on lost people. Zheztyrnak, a female demon with copper claws and an eagle’s beak, and Kuldyrgysh, a siren-like spirit that tickles men to death, are other fearsome figures. In Tajik and Uzbek folklore, Ajina, a goat-headed giant who lies in wait for naughty children in ash piles and empty houses, and the werewolf -like Gul Yoboni, are but two more malevolent spirits that illustrate the region's rich and diverse mythology.
This overview of Turkic mythology reveals a heritage as captivating and complex as the celebrated legends of the Mediterranean. Just as Greek mythology incorporates elements from various ancient cultures, it is possible that Turkic mythological beings have influenced other pantheons.
Turkmenistan Celebrates Caspian Sea Day
The Caspian Sea Day is currently being celebrated in a series of festive events in Turkmenistan's national tourist zone, Avaza, With a key focus on environmental awareness, specialists from the Nature Protection Society of Turkmenistan have organized a programme of educational activities in schools and public spaces to instil in children, a love and respect for nature, encourage them to live in harmony with the environment, and develop a strong sense of responsibility for nature conservation. As part of the Caspian Day celebrations, the Society has conducted creative contests on environmental themes, exhibitions demonstrating the beauty of nature, photo contests, and cultural and sports competitions dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea. In addition to the above, Turkmenistan has organized international conferences, scientific meetings, and environmental events, with special attention paid to protecting the marine environment, preserving the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea, and developing regional cooperation. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan has consistently advocated turning the Caspian Sea into a zone of peace, trust, and ecological well-being, and is actively involved in developing trade, economic, and socio-cultural ties in the region. The Caspian Day on August 12 - a date chosen in connection with the instigation of the Framework Convention on the Protection of the Caspian Sea and the Environment from Pollution - has been celebrated annually since 2006, by the five Caspian littoral states: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
Olympic Success Nudges Central Asians Closer Together in Paris
Uzbekistan’s athletes grabbed the most glory for Central Asia at the Olympic Games, delivering eight gold medals, mostly in boxing, and propelling the nation to 13th on the medal table in Paris. But the occasional displays of solidarity among competitors, coaches and fans from Central Asia were just as inspiring for those who want the region’s countries to draw closer together – at a time when the world seems increasingly perilous. One video clip from the games showed ebullient Uzbek fans in the stands with the flags of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan held aloft in the background. “This moment reflects the shared bonds of our region, showcasing Central Asia’s presence on the global stage at Paris 2024,” said the International Institute of Central Asia, a state-run center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that promotes regional cooperation. Then there was Uzbek coach Akmal Hasanov, who helped out Kyrgyz boxer Munarbek Seyitbek uulu because his personal trainer and head coach were absent. Competing in the 57kg category, Seyitbek uulu lost to Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov in the final, but it was the first Olympic medal for a Kyrgyz boxer. “Unprecedented unity of fans from all five countries. Love, mutual cheering. Before it wasn't like this at all. I hope politicians will see a potential and will speed up integrational processes. People want it,” Nikita Makarenko, a journalist and producer from Uzbekistan, said on the X platform. The politicians see that potential, judging by recent meetings. On Thursday, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in Kazakhstan and the leaders talked about cooperation, especially in trade. There are plans, for example, for an industrial facility on the border between the two countries that will speed up cargo delivery and reduce logistics costs. On Friday, Kazakhstan hosted a meeting with the leaders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, all former Soviet republics that today seek to balance their relationships with neighboring powers Russia and China, the United States and Europe, as well as relatively new partners in the Middle East and elsewhere. The goal of Central Asian solidarity – and regional security – is getting more attention as geopolitical tensions simmer, and the war in Ukraine, another former Soviet republic, shows little sign of resolution well into its third year. “Today we notice that the fundamental foundations of the system of international relations have changed. This is a dangerous phenomenon,” Tokayev said at the regional meeting. “It is clear that the current challenges can be overcome only through political dialogue and strengthening measures of mutual trust between our states.” There are moves to translate rhetoric into action. The forces of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan clashed as recently as 2022 over a border dispute, but negotiators of the two countries have pushed methodically toward resolution of the dispute. Last month, several Central Asian countries, plus Azerbaijan, held joint military exercises – Russia, the erstwhile security guarantor in the region, was absent. Water scarcity is acute in Central Asia, whose governments acknowledge they need to collaborate more to get a grip on the problem. Turkmenistan has a self-declared policy of neutrality and tends to shun membership in regional blocs and alliances, though its president, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was on hand for the regional meeting in Astana on Friday. If the flashes of Central Asian solidarity at the Olympic Games were just feelgood moments, they still showed a spontaneity that is often absent from the diplomacy and realpolitik of the sometimes protocol-heavy governments in the region. The solidarity wasn’t restricted to people from Central Asia. Two members of the British team’s medical unit rushed to the aid of Uzbek boxing team coach Tulkin Kilichev, who went into cardiac arrest while celebrating the gold medal won by Uzbek boxer Hasanboy Dusmatov in the men’s 51-kilogram weight category on Aug. 8. Kilichev was in stable condition in a hospital, the BBC reported.
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Kazakhstan’s Return to Nuclear Power
