Is the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Project Losing Steam Again?
By Robert M. Cutler
The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway was first proposed in 1997. There seemed finally to be a prospect for a start to the project after agreements at the Xi'an summit amongst China and the five Central Asian countries in May 2023. Construction on the 523-kilometre route was scheduled to begin several months after, but this has still not happened. Disagreements over the route and—still worse—over the funding risk relegating the project ba...
Celebrating Russian Orthodox Easter in Central Asia: A Fusion of Traditions and Cultures
Russian Orthodox Easter, known as Pascha, is one of the most significant and joyously celebrated holidays among Russian communities worldwide, including those residing in the diverse tapestry of Central Asia. This celebration, deeply rooted in religious traditions, brings a unique blend of spiritual solemnity and communal festivities that stand out...
Kyrgyz Authorities Believe Negligence Caused Truck to Hit Students
Kyrgyzstan’s president has ordered the transfer by plane of ten seriously injured children to Bishkek for medical treatment after a truck hit students who had assembled on a hillside for a storytelling competition, Kyrgyz media reported on Friday. About 30 people were injured in the incident in the Suzak district,...
Kyrgyzstan Again Tells Citizens: For Now, Don’t Go to Russia
Kyrgyzstan has again urged its citizens to avoid travel to Russia if possible, citing media reports of “the mass refusal of entry” and saying people should wait until Russia lifts tighter security measures at its border points. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “recommends that fellow citizens who do not have...
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan May Swap Territories to Ease Border Tensions
In order to solve their long-running border demarcation dispute, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan may consider the option of exchanging territories. That's according to remarks made by Marat Imankulov, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, in an interview with state news agency, Kabar. According to him, the remarkable...
Central Asia Has a Problem, and It Is Russia
By Bruce Pannier The wave of xenophobia targeting Central Asians in Russia that has followed the terrorist March 22 attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall presents many problems for Central Asia, including concerns about what sort of friend Russia really is. As reports of attacks on Central Asians in Russia...
Czech Authorities Suspend Investigation of 2014 Explosions; One Suspect Allegedly Posed as a Tajik Citizen
The Czech Republic has suspended an investigation of ammunition depot explosions in 2014 that it blames on Russian military intelligence, including an agent who allegedly used a Tajik passport during the operation. Two Czech citizens died in the first of two explosions at warehouses in the village of Vrbětice, an...
Divisive Forces Prompt Tokayev’s “National Unity” Message
At the 32nd session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promoted peace and harmony as the state ideology and impressed on “national unity” by referring to all citizens of his country as Kazakhs regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or religious affiliation. “Society should not be...
Visit by UK’s Cameron Doesn’t Oblige Central Asian Countries to Do Anything, Expert Says
British Foreign Minister David Cameron's grand tour of Central Asia last month was an attempt to remind those of us in Central Asia about investment and sanctions, Kazakhstani economist Aidarkhan Kusainov has told The Times of Central Asia. Over several days in late April, Cameron visited the five countries of...
Turkmenistan’s Gas and Türkiye’s Plans to Become a Gas Hub
By Robert M. Cutler A series of ongoing political consultations between Turkmenistan and Türkiye continued on 25–26 April, as a Turkmen delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Gurbanov visited Ankara, hosted by Turkish counterpart Burak Akçapar. Beyond the regular bilateral agenda of political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian...
Without Security, There Can Be No Development in Afghanistan
Indian author Arundhati Roy once said, “Either way, change will come. It could be bloody, or it could be beautiful. It depends on us.” Almost three years after Taliban’s resurgence to power in Afghanistan, there are practically no developments to highlight in its relations with the outside world. The situation...
Growth of Non-Custodial Sentences in the Kyrgyz Republic Since 2020
The Kyrgyz Republic has reported a decrease of its prison population, which speaks to the ongoing humanization of its criminal justice system. In 2023, the prison population amounted to just 7,728 persons, a 20% decrease compared to 2020 (9,658 prisoners). Despite a 22% increase in the number of convictions, from...
Uzbekistan Seeks to Expand Trade Horizons with Europe
- Opinion by Robert Cutler Uzbekistan's economic landscape has been evolving, with announcements of major reforms and international cooperation aimed at economic modernization and increasing its profile in global markets. Its partnership with the European Union (EU) has focused on critical raw materials. At the same time, Tashkent plans...
The Taliban and its Neighbors: An Outsider’s Perspective
This is part two of a piece of which part one was published here. The topic of a regional approach to solving Afghanistan's problems is increasingly being discussed in various expert and diplomatic circles. The International Crisis Group (ICG), a reputable think tank whose opinion is extremely interesting as part...
Uzbekistan: From Silk Roads to New Horizons
Cradled by the embrace of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers, Uzbekistan boasts a rich tapestry woven from the threads of history. Being home to trade hubs like Samarkand and Bukhara, this land has been at the center of cultural exchange for over a millennia. From the Turkic-Mongol tribes...
The New Silk Road
In light of the current geopolitical situation in the world, many countries are puzzled by the search for new alternative transport routes. One of these is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and further to Turkey and European countries. New...
Taliban and its Neighbors: A Regional Format for Overcoming Challenges in Afghanistan and Beyond
The process of making Afghanistan an independent economic entity that can work constructively within globally accepted economic standards and formats will require addressing pressing security issues as well as strengthening regional partnerships and cooperation. In the long term, this will not only benefit the people of Afghanistan but also its...
How India is Becoming a Robust Soft Power in Central Asia
The middle-income trap, a pressing issue that has led to the stagnation of many successful developing economies, demands immediate attention. This trap, which occurs when a middle-income country can no longer compete internationally in standardized, labor-intensive goods due to relatively high wages, is a result of various factors, including countries...
The Priority of Maintaining a United and Stable Afghanistan
The issue of inter-ethnic relations in Afghanistan affects not only the country itself but also its surrounding region. Recent history has placed a heightened importance on the “nation” question in Afghanistan in terms of the country’s political and social stability. Since regaining power in 2021, the de facto Taliban authorities...
The Middle Corridor: How Kazakhstan is Carving its Niche in Europe-Asia Transport
In the aftermath of the pandemic and amid rising geopolitical tensions and sanctions – leading to the breakdown of traditional shipping and logistics chains – the need to develop new, alternative routes for trade has gained particular importance. One such route is the Middle Corridor, or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route,...
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: the EU’s Indecisive Strategy Towards Eurasia
Times of Central Asia Editorial Marking the next chapter in the geopolitical re-balancing competition between Russia and the West, the European Parliament (EP) on 13 March passed a resolution on deepening ties between the EU and Armenia. The document puts forth the possibility of granting Armenia candidate status for EU...
Turkmenistan’s Public Sector Employees Pay Up to Care for Mulberry Silkworms, Cotton Fields
To cover the costs of silkworm care and the weeding of cotton, money is being collected from employees of state institutions in the Mary region, according to a report by Radio Azatlyk. According to a verbal order issued by the authorities, 100 manat is being collected from each government employee...
Turkmenistan Ousts Uzbekistan from Tajikistan’s Market for Greenhouse Tomatoes
Turkmenistan has completely overtaken Uzbekistan in the market for greenhouse tomatoes in Tajikistan, according to a report by the EastFruit agricultural news portal. Analysis revealed that Turkmen tomatoes are winning due to competitive pricing and also, their attractive appearance and modern packaging. Despite problems related to the cultivation of tomatoes...
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan to Unite Their National Card Payment Systems
Kyrgyzstan's national payment system, Elkart, and Uzbekistan's Humo payments platform intend to launch a project on mutually acquiring, or guaranteeing payment security and authorizations according to Kyrgyzstan's Interbank Processing Center (IPC). The agreement was reached at a meeting in Tashkent. "We are going to develop payment systems and create an...
Tajikistan Faces Acute Shortage of Human Capital in Field of Land Reclamation and Irrigation
In Tajikistan, specialists are leaving the important sphere of land reclamation and irrigation due to low salaries. In the last five months alone, 1,000 employees of the Land Reclamation and Irrigation Department (LRID) in Sughd Province have quit their jobs. That could mean trouble for the agricultural sector sooner rather...
EBRD Launches New Training Program for Female Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) Women in Microbusiness training program is being launched in Kazakhstan to support women entrepreneurs facing social or economic obstacles in their business activities. Statistics show that whilst women manage 49 percent of all micro and small-sized businesses in Kazakhstan, their representation in...
Transshipment of Russian Oil Through Kazakhstan to China to Become More Expensive
The Parliament of Kazakhstan has approved an increase in the cost of transit of Russian oil across Kazakhstan to China. At the same time, the volume of transportation will increase to ten million tons annually from the previous figure of seven. The document amends the agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia...
Satellite Internet Connection to Start Working in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Digital Development says that work has been completed on an interface station for the OneWeb non-geostationary communication network at the Kokterek Space Services Center. Officials expect to achieve technical readiness to provide commercial services this year. Work is also continuing on infrastructure at the Spacecraft Assembly and...
Uzbekistan’s President Guarantees Protection of Foreign Investors’ Rights
Addressing the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev remarked that in recent years, his country had attracted more than $60 billion in foreign investment, in over 300 joint industrial projects. Regarding the goal to attract further foreign partnerships, he continued, "Our state guarantees development of market relations, reliable...
Turkmenistan’s Public Sector Employees Pay Up to Care for Mulberry Silkworms, Cotton Fields
To cover the costs of silkworm care and the weeding of cotton, money is being collected from employees of state institutions in the Mary region, according to a report by Radio Azatlyk. According to a verbal order issued by the authorities, 100 manat is being collected from each government employee...
Uzbekistan’s Schoolchildren to Sit International PISA Tests
In 2025, Uzbekistan, with the support of the World Bank, will participate in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) administered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with pilot testing starting this May. PISA testing assesses the ability of students from more than 80 countries in their...
New Case Against Nazarbayev’s Former Niece-in-Law Brought to Court
The Anti-Corruption Service of Kazakhstan has completed its investigation into the criminal case against Gulmira Satybaldy - the ex-wife of Kairat Satybaldy - nephew of former President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Ms. Satybaldy is accused of illegal imprisonment, extortion on a large scale, and arbitrariness which led to grave consequences....
Strapped For Cash: Officials in Turkmenistan Have to Buy Watches With the Berdymukhamedovs’ Faces on Them
In Turkmenistan's Balkan province, heads of government agencies are being forced to buy wristwatches with the current president Serdar Berdymukhamedov and his father, the previous president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on the face. They cost from 1,500 to 3,000 manats ($430-$860 at the state exchange rate or $75-$150 at the black-market rate),...
Divisive Forces Prompt Tokayev’s “National Unity” Message
At the 32nd session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promoted peace and harmony as the state ideology and impressed on “national unity” by referring to all citizens of his country as Kazakhs regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or religious affiliation. “Society should not be...
National Bank of Kyrgyzstan Slashes Its Key Lending Rate, Explains Move Amid Weaker Inflation
Kyrgyzstan's national bank has lowered its discount lending rate by 200 basis points to 11%, from 13% previously. As reported by the Kyrgyz National Bank's press service, its monetary policy since the beginning of 2022 has focused on limiting the growth of inflationary pressures and ensured stabilization of price dynamics...
Wages in Uzbekistan Continue to Rise in Early 2024
According to the Uzbek Statistics Agency, as of the end of the first quarter of 2024, the average monthly nominal salary in Uzbekistan reached $389. This translates to an increase of almost 20% compared to the same period last year. Average wages are among the highest in the capital of...
Kazakhstan Charges Former Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev With Abuse of Power
Kazakhstan's General Prosecutor's Office has confirmed its detention of a former high-ranking police officer. Yerlan Turgumbayev, the country's former minister of internal affairs, has been charged with abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences, during the public unrest and political upheaval in January 2022. "The Prosecutor General's Office continues to...
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan to Unite Their National Card Payment Systems
Kyrgyzstan's national payment system, Elkart, and Uzbekistan's Humo payments platform intend to launch a project on mutually acquiring, or guaranteeing payment security and authorizations according to Kyrgyzstan's Interbank Processing Center (IPC). The agreement was reached at a meeting in Tashkent. "We are going to develop payment systems and create an...
Transshipment of Russian Oil Through Kazakhstan to China to Become More Expensive
The Parliament of Kazakhstan has approved an increase in the cost of transit of Russian oil across Kazakhstan to China. At the same time, the volume of transportation will increase to ten million tons annually from the previous figure of seven. The document amends the agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia...
Kyrgyzstan Again Tells Citizens: For Now, Don’t Go to Russia
Kyrgyzstan has again urged its citizens to avoid travel to Russia if possible, citing media reports of “the mass refusal of entry” and saying people should wait until Russia lifts tighter security measures at its border points. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “recommends that fellow citizens who do not have...
Uzbekistan’s President Guarantees Protection of Foreign Investors’ Rights
Addressing the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev remarked that in recent years, his country had attracted more than $60 billion in foreign investment, in over 300 joint industrial projects. Regarding the goal to attract further foreign partnerships, he continued, "Our state guarantees development of market relations, reliable...
OPEC Fund to Allocate $500 Million for Tourism, Logistics Development in Uzbekistan
A delegation of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) International Development Fund headed by President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa participated in the events of the Tashkent International Investment Forum. The OPEC Fund and the Government of Uzbekistan signed agreements on joint activities and financial commitments worth $500 million. The funds...
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan May Swap Territories to Ease Border Tensions
In order to solve their long-running border demarcation dispute, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan may consider the option of exchanging territories. That's according to remarks made by Marat Imankulov, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, in an interview with state news agency, Kabar. According to him, the remarkable...
Kazakhstan Says It’s Ready to Host Azerbaijan-Armenia Talks; No Date Announced
Kazakhstan’s president said on Wednesday that he hopes planned talks in Almaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia will lead to a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, though he did not provide a date for the negotiations. “I welcome the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia...
American Company Launches CO2 Production in Uzbekistan
The American company Air Products is planning to open a carbon dioxide (CO2) production project in Uzbekistan. The corresponding agreement, worth $15 million, was signed with Navoi Nitrogen (Navoiazot) chemical complex. The plant will be the first and so far the only one of its kind in Uzbekistan, and will...
First Kazakh Kindergarten Has Opened in California’s Silicon Valley
The first Kazakh kindergarten in the U.S. has opened in the state of California, and its a project developed and operated by natives of Kazakhstan. The main purpose of the educational center is to work for the preservation of national culture abroad, reports the news site 24.KZ. The idea to...
Kyrgyz Authorities Believe Negligence Caused Truck to Hit Students
Kyrgyzstan’s president has ordered the transfer by plane of ten seriously injured children to Bishkek for medical treatment after a truck hit students who had assembled on a hillside for a storytelling competition, Kyrgyz media reported on Friday. About 30 people were injured in the incident in the Suzak district,...
EBRD Funds Upgrade of Major Highway in Uzbekistan
On 2 May, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the allocation of a loan of up to $238 million (€224 million) towards the renovation of around 81 km of the 4R156 road, as well as the construction of a bridge across the Amu Darya River in the...
First-Time Graduates of U.S. Program for English and Professional Skills in Central Asia
Last weekend, young and mid-career professionals in the energy and environment sectors, celebrated their completion of the U.S.-funded regional C5 + Opening Networks through English (C5 + O.N.E.) program. Spread throughout Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, they were the first graduates of a nine-month intensive course in English and...
A View from the Rally in Prague in Support of Saltanat Nukenova
On Sunday, 21 April in the center of Prague on Wenceslas Square, some 200 people attended a rally in memory of Saltanat Nukenova and in protest against violence against women. The event took place against the backdrop of the trial of former Kazakh minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, who is accused of...
The Art of Words: Writer Andrei Orlov Discusses the Development of Kazakhstan’s Literary Industry
Andrei Orlov is an acclaimed writer who has actively influenced the development of Kazakhstan’s literature through the creation of a community of writers and the organization of cultural events. In this interview, he offers his perspective of how the art of the written word shapes a nation’s cultural heritage and...
Kyrgyz Football Gets Boost as Construction Starts on New Stadium
Kyrgyzstan is building a 45,000-seat stadium designed to host Asian Football Confederation finals as well as FIFA group matches. This week, President Sadyr Japarov announced that construction on the new stadium near Bishkek had begun and would take two years. Local and Turkish architects and engineers are involved, and there...
Tennis World No. 4 Rybakina Wins Third Tournament of Year in Stuttgart
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is leading in 2024 tennis titles - three so far - after a comfortable victory over Marta Kostyuk in the Stuttgart final on Sunday. Rybakina, who has also won titles in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi this year, has now won a tour-leading 26 matches this season. That’s...
Czech Authorities Suspend Investigation of 2014 Explosions; One Suspect Allegedly Posed as a Tajik Citizen
The Czech Republic has suspended an investigation of ammunition depot explosions in 2014 that it blames on Russian military intelligence, including an agent who allegedly used a Tajik passport during the operation. Two Czech citizens died in the first of two explosions at warehouses in the village of Vrbětice, an...
Kazakhstan Charges Former Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev With Abuse of Power
Kazakhstan's General Prosecutor's Office has confirmed its detention of a former high-ranking police officer. Yerlan Turgumbayev, the country's former minister of internal affairs, has been charged with abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences, during the public unrest and political upheaval in January 2022. "The Prosecutor General's Office continues to...
Kyrgyz Authorities Promise Not to Persecute Human Rights Advocates Using Foreign Agent Law
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Edil Baisalov met with representatives of domestic non-governmental organizations (NGOs), where he assured participants that the new Foreign Agent's Law is not aimed at restricting the work of NGOs. All rights and freedoms have been preserved, and human rights...
Turkmenistan’s Policy of Suppressing Public Criticism, Dissent Continues, Says Amnesty
Amnesty International has published its annual report entitled, The State of the World’s Human Rights: April 2024. The document includes articles on 155 countries with AI-tracked human rights records through 2023, with the section on Turkmenistan stating that the government there has continued its policy of suppressing any form of...
Kuandyk Bishimbayev Pleads Guilty to Negligent Homicide
The judicial inquiry into the case of Kuandyk Bishimbayev concluded on April 24 in Astana. Aitbek Amangeldy, the brother of Saltanat Nukenova, announced that further court dates are scheduled for April 29, 30, and May 2-4. Bishimbayev, who formerly served as Kazakhstan's National Economy Minister, faces allegations of murdering...
Growth of Non-Custodial Sentences in the Kyrgyz Republic Since 2020
The Kyrgyz Republic has reported a decrease of its prison population, which speaks to the ongoing humanization of its criminal justice system. In 2023, the prison population amounted to just 7,728 persons, a 20% decrease compared to 2020 (9,658 prisoners). Despite a 22% increase in the number of convictions, from...
Kyrgyzstan’s Law on NGOs: What Alarms Human Rights Activists?
In April 2024 Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Now all NGOs must submit full financial reports and register with the Ministry of Justice. Despite the authorities' statements about the need for a document regulating the financing of such organizations, the law has numerous opponents....
Kyrgyzstan’s Special Services Take On The Drug Mafia
The head of Kyrgyzstan's National Security Service, Kamchybek Tashiyev, has commented that unless it is curbed, the country's already highly complex drug situation is likely to be beyond control within ten years. Speaking at a meeting with heads of Kyrgyzstan's police departments, Tashiyev said that the number of both drug...
ADB Allocates $56 Million for Sewage Treatment Plant to Protect Issyk-Kul
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to allocate money for the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan's main resort city on the northern shore of the high-mountain Lake Issyk-Kul, which is the crown jewel of the Kyrgyz tourism industry. . According to the State Agency of...
Military in Kazakhstan Head Back to Bases After Working to Contain Floods
Kazakh military units that deployed to help with flood control measures in the past weeks are returning to their barracks as the crisis that hit large parts of the country winds down. “Due to the stabilization of the situation and the drop in water levels, some of the personnel and...
Kazakhstan Repurposing Floodwater
In a strategic response to the unprecedented spring flooding this year, Kazakhstan is channeling its efforts towards harnessing the disastrous floods to its advantage. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in Kazakhstan has embarked on a program to utilize the massive floodwaters for future irrigation and environmental sustainability. In...
Mudslides in Kyrgyzstan Flood Over 200 Homes
Kyrgyzstan's emergencies ministry has formed an operational headquarters to deal with recent flooding in the south of the country. Rescuers report that hundreds of local residents have been evacuated to safety. Flooding due to heavy rains began last week in Kyrgyzstan's southern Osh region, prompting the region to declare a...
U.S. Government Discusses Data From Air Quality Monitor at Tashkent Embassy
On April 22, a press conference was held at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan with American air quality specialist and researcher Jay Turner speaking to media representatives about the air quality monitoring device installed at the embassy in Tashkent in 2018. According to Turner, the device monitors the concentration of...
Central Asian Countries Set 2024 Quotas for Amu Darya, Syr Darya River Water Usage
Last week in Kazakhstan, delegates came together for the 87th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of Central Asia, where they discussed the potential and limitations of regional water reservoirs ahead of the 2023-2024 agricultural growing season. According to the ICWC, some of the more pressing questions...
Kazakhstan: Floods Still a Threat, but Some Residents Returning Home as Waters Ebb
For weeks, it’s been a frantic grind of evacuations, pumping water and shoring up dams as Kazakhstan battles widespread floods. While the threat remains, water levels are declining in some areas and the country is working to help disaster victims in the long term. Some 22,700 people who fled their...
No Lessons Being Learned From Kazakh Floods, Says Political Analyst
Kazakhstan has been prone to flooding before, but the 2024 Kazakh floods have added a catastrophic page to the chronicles. Political analyst Marat Shibutov tells The Times of Central Asia that only extremely tough measures can motivate ministers and akims (local government executive) to actually work on flood prevention. ...
