Section: The Times of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan)
Russia tightens its grip on Uzbekistan’s oil and gas industry
TASHKENT (TCA) — The delay in the construction of the gas pipeline to China and the resumption of Turkmenistan’s gas supplies to Russia will make it harder for Uzbekistan to secure a high price for the natural gas it exports through Russia’s Gazprom. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Rauf Mammadov: A...
Turkmenistan redirects its oil exports from Azerbaijan to Russia
ASHGABAT (TCA) — Russia seeks to maintain and strengthen its influence on former Soviet republics — including Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan — in the oil and gas sphere. This gives Ashgabat an opportunity to resume natural-gas export to Russia. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Rahim Rahimov: Swiss firm Vitol and...
Foreign rights observers deported from Kazakhstan without seeing fired judge
ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakh authorities have deported two observers from the Italian Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) after not allowing them to meet a Kazakh judge who was fired following the acquittal by his court of an opposition activist earlier this month, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Colleagues and friends of Lyudmyla Voloshyna and...
Uzbekistan to host conference on interconnectedness in Central Asia
TASHKENT (TCA) — An international conference, “Interconnectedness in Central Asia: challenges and new opportunities,” will be held on February 19 and 20 in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov told journalists on February 8, the Jahon information agency reported. It is expected that the...
Russian language losing its position in Kyrgyzstan — and Moscow may be as well
BISHKEK (TCA) — For a number of political and economic reasons, Kyrgyzstan remains the last bastion of the Russian language in Central Asia, but the situation may change in the years to come. We are republishing this article on the issue, written by Paul Goble: Moscow has long celebrated that Russian enjoys a higher official status and greater...
Central Asia: ‘Very little progress’ in combatting corruption — report
BISHKEK (TCA) — This year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International on January 29, paints a bleak picture of anti-corruption efforts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In a region where only one country scores over 50 out of 100 and all other countries score 45 or less out of 100 on the index, there has...
Kazakhstan to expand geography of non-primary exports in 2019
ASTANA (TCA) — Over the first 11 months of 2018, Kazakhstan’s total exports grew by 26.4% compared to the same period in 2017, and non-primary exports amounted to $14.3 billion, Deputy Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Arystan Kabikenov said at a press conference in Astana on January 28, the official website of the Prime...
Lines, price rises and expensive booze – the cost of happiness in Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT (TCA) — Gas-rich Turkmenistan is experiencing an economic downturn largely caused by decreasing hard-currency revenues from natural-gas exports, and ordinary Turkmen citizens are the first ones who feel the pinch of the crisis. We are republishing this article on the issue, originally published by Eurasianet: Only on the 10th day of the...
After two years, Uzbekistan still looks wobbly on the reform tightrope
TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbekistan has so far taken some steps towards economic and political liberalization, but much is yet to be done on the country’s way to real democracy and economic success. We are republishing this article on the issue, originally published by Eurasianet: For its first 25 years of independence, Uzbekistan was a spiky...
Kazakhstan: Court sentences three men in case linked to fugitive tycoon
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (TCA) — A court in Kazakhstan has sentenced three men to lengthy prison terms in a case that prosecutors said was linked to a political movement founded by a fugitive tycoon, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. The court in Almaty on December 21 found Kenzhebek Abishev, Oralbek Omirov, and Almat Zhumaghulov guilty of...
