The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed concern over recently adopted amendments to Tajikistan’s law on the regulation of traditions and ceremonies, saying it worsens religious freedom violations in the Central Asian state, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported. The amendments, signed by President Emomali Rahmon on June 20, among other restrictions bans children’s games
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in cooperation with IT Academy on June 25 in Tashkent held an award ceremony for 25 graduates of the “IT4Everyone” regional project tailored for hearing-impaired individuals from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Between March 18 and April 29, 115 participants from these countries received online sign language-adapted
The construction of a garment factory near Bishkek to employ relatives of more than 80 Kyrgyz people killed during anti-government protests in April 2010 began earlier this month, according to factory construction foreman Jenish Nusubaliev, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The unrest toppled then-President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was later sentenced in absentia to several lengthy prison
Prospects for cross-border transport corridors in Eurasia, realising their economic potential, reducing costs and coordinating efforts of authorities and businesses will be key topics discussed by government representatives, businesspeople and experts at the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Annual Meeting and Business Forum on 27–28 June in Almaty. The session titled “The Eurasian Transport Network: Potential, Challenges
During Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov’s visit to Brussels on June 25, the European Union and the Kyrgyz Republic signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which will replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in 1999. The document was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev, High Representative of the
OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg on 25 June concluded his visit to Kazakhstan. The visit focused on strengthening regional cooperation and the OSCE’s engagement in addressing the broad range of security challenges the region is facing. In Astana, Minister Borg met with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chairman of
Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security said on June 25 that “a leader and nine members” of the Yaqyn Inkar Islamic group, which is banned in the Central Asian nation, were detained in the southern Batken region, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The State Committee added that 12 residents of the region denounced their membership in
According to the latest data released by the Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan, from January to May 2024 the country’s foreign trade amounted to $26.7 billion, with exports totaling $10.8 billion and imports — $15.8 billion. Compared to the same period last year, the country’s exports increased by 1.9% and imports — by 3.7%. China has
On June 24, during his first state visit to Uzbekistan, President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh held negotiations with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, with the main focus on deepening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, the two leaders tasked their governments to establish a joint working group on
The Osh regional court in southern Kyrgyzstan told RFE/RL on June 24 that a lower court had sentenced a local man, whose identity was not disclosed, to five years in prison two weeks earlier for joining Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. In January, a Bishkek court handed a suspended seven-year prison
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on June 24 said it is providing $56 million funding to the Kyrgyz Republic to improve wastewater management and enhance sustainable and inclusive tourism in Issyk-Kul region, renowned for its touristic appeal and importance. The funding comprises a $25 million concessional loan and a $31 million Asian Development Fund (ADF) grant. The Issyk-Kul region is particularly popular
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released its Macroeconomic Outlook for its six member states. According to the report, in 2024 Armenia’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.5%, Belarus’s by 3.4%, Kazakhstan’s by 5%, Kyrgyzstan’s by 5.5%, Russia’s by 3%, and Tajikistan’s by 8%. For most EDB member countries, the outlook has been upgraded
A court in Bishkek has sentenced Kyrgyz activist and Social Democratic Party member Alga Kylychev to 10 years in prison on a charge of hostage-taking, which he vehemently denies, calling it politically motivated, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Bailiffs immediately arrested Kylychev after a judge at the Alamudun district court in the northern Chui region pronounced the ruling
The World Bank on June 21 announced that Uzbekistan has become the first country in the world receiving a payment from the World Bank for reducing carbon emissions through a policy crediting program. This pioneering project – the Innovative Carbon Resource Application for Energy Transition (iCRAFT) – was crafted to support Uzbekistan in implementing energy efficiency measures,
On June 20, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate in strengthening the country’s education system and promoting sustainable development practices, UNDP Turkmenistan reported. The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration between UNDP and the Ministry of Education to improve the
On June 20 in Astana, representatives of the national company Kazakh Invest met with Vikram Vuppala, CEO of the Indian company NephroPlus to discuss the company’s plans for developing the dialysis market in Kazakhstan, Kazakh Invest reported. Vikram Vuppala told the Kazakh representatives that NephroPlus considers Kazakhstan as a new market for investment in the framework of
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed into law a bill on mass media that will hinder journalists from getting comments from officials and interviews, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Domestic and international rights groups and media experts have expressed concerns over the new law, saying it will compromise independent journalism and lead to self-censorship in the Central Asian
The ECG World Championship Coaching and Eurasian Creative Week will be held in Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Khiva, Nukus) from June 22 to 29. The event is organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild and the Elena Bezrukov Center. Participants of the festival are coaches and artists from Kazakhstan, Israel, USA, Italy, Finland, Belarus, Great Britain, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,
On June 16, the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty, Kazakhstan began the first delivery of molybdenum-99/technetium-99 generators to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy reported on its website. On June 17, the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Almasadam Satkaliev visited the Institute of Nuclear Physics, which is the only research organization in Kazakhstan in the
The Tajik parliament’s upper chamber, the Majlisi Milli, approved a bill on June 19 banning “alien garments” and children’s celebrations for two major Islamic holidays — Eid al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, known as idgardak, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported. The bill, approved on May 8 by the lower chamber, the Majlisi Namoyandagon, mostly targets the hijab,
