China’s involvement in the race for vaccinations in Central Asia confirms its aim to increase relations with neighbouring countries, primed for over a decade with the New Silk Road project. However, resistance among citizens continues to slow Chinese ambitions. This article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 1st of March 2021. While the development of Coronavirus vaccinations takes a strategic turn, China plays its hand in Central Asia. According to the Chinese press agency Xinhue, Beijing pledged to provide doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines to Kyrgyzstan on the 5^th of February 2021, the first case of such an offer worldwide. At the same time, Uzbekistan began testing of another Chinese vaccination, developed by Anhui Zhifei Longcom. The trials launched in November 2020 and are set to continue until May 2021. Radio Ozodlik, the Uzbek branch of the American media Radio Free Europe, confirmed that Tashkent could even share co-authorship of the Chinese vaccine as they plan to produce it. Read More on Novastan : Mass Vaccination Programme Starts in Uzbekistan Diplomacy surrounding vaccinations is particularly delicate in Central Asia, where Russia and China both try to promote their respective vaccinations as a part of their competition for regional dominance. The Russian vaccination Sputnik V has been chosen by the Uzbek, Kazakh and Kyrgyz authorities for their mass vaccination programs. Read More on Novastan: Covid-19: Kazakhstan Starts Rollout of its QazVac jab The race to deliver vaccinations is not, however, the only outcome of the current health crisis: the economic situation in Central Asian countries is rapidly deteriorating due to the shrinking global economy. This is particularly true for Turkmenistan, a country that depends almost entirely on oil exports, China being their main buyer. However, China’s decreased oil demand, which is linked to the pandemic, has destabilised this unique source of foreign income for Turkmenistan. The country’s difficulty of exporting oil has paradoxically led to closer relations between the two countries, as Ashgabat depends more than ever on Chinese imports.

The New Silk Road

The new strategy is only the latest in a long list. In an interview with French media Le Monde, researcher Niva Yau describes China’s strategy in Central Asia, which has long favoured importation of mineral and energy sources from Central Asian countries to meet the extremely high demands of the Chinese economic system. Certain Central Asian countries have therefore adapted their production to satisfy Chinese demand, especially oil production. Both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are an example of this, two countries whose oil exportation is largely dependent on Chinese demand.

The New Silk Road project, launched in 2013 in Astana, aims to create rail links between China and Europe, as well as seeks to promote cooperation within Eurasia. According to Niva Yau, China intends to work towards strengthening oil infrastructure in Turkmenistan and gas infrastructure in Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, China’s strategy is not limited to simply building new infrastructure. In 2013, China launched a program to outsource their industrial capacities, aiming to share industry expertise with the countries of Central Asia. What’s more, several Central Asian cities use Chinese ‘smart city’ technology, developed by Huawei, which aims to control populations with security cameras. In the Tajik capital Dushanbe, for example, there are over 800 of these cameras in operation. American media Eurasianet reported that other than outsourcing industrial expertise, China aims to gradually open its market to the countries of Central Asia, thus demonstrating new interest in this area. Indeed, since 2019, Beijing has signed numerous agreements relating to agrochemical standards, approving importation of food items, and even encouraging Central Asia businesses to enter the Chinese market. Kazakh media Astana Times reported that in September 2019, Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promised a three-time increase in wheat exports to China as a response to China’s gestures. Similarly, in September 2020, Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev promised a fivefold increase in food exports. However, two hurdles remain before entering the Chinese market, according to Eurasianet: while China is an ultra-competitive market, the Central Asian countries would have to improve their border infrastructure and logistical systems in order to transport their goods to China at a low cost.

China’s Presence in Central Asia is Highly Contested

Opinions in Central Asia remain divided when it comes to China’s increased presence. Researcher Niva Yau states that several anti-Chinese protests have taken place, particularly over the past few years. Le Monde reminds readers that Kyrgyzstan in particular has been the stage of anti-Chinese sentiment, exemplified by the cancellation of a project to create a Chinese logistical centre in At Bashy in February 2020. In February 2019, several demonstrations organized by Kyrk Shoro, a nationalist movement, undermined local Kyrgyz authorities. Sinophobia is equally present in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country heavily implicated in the New Silk Road project with Khorgos, their free trade zone. These movements are obstacles to China’s strategy, which needs full cooperation and loyal allies in the long term. Niva Yau notes that Central Asians are generally opposed to Chinese projects on their territory because of the policies linked to Chinese investment. These policies benefit local governments but leave local communities behind because of the total absence of redistribution of wealth by the ruling elite. In this regard, the diplomatic push for vaccines is unlikely to have any effect.

Corentin Goupil Editor of Novastan

Translated from French by Alice Coveney

Edited by Dagmar Nared

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The post Coronavirus in Central Asia: An Opportunity for China? appeared first on Novastan English.

This Monday 26 April, Kazakhstan started rolling out its homegrown Covid-19 vaccine, QazVac. A symbol of Kazakhstan’s scientific potential, QazVac should eventually lead to a significant increase in vaccinations in the country. Its production also marks new cooperation with Turkey.

This article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 26 April 2021.

It’s a first in Central Asia. On Monday 26 April 2021, Kazakhstan’s health minister Alexei Tsoi received one of the first injections of the QazVac vaccine against coronavirus, Kazinform reports. This vaccine was produced and developed in Kazakhstan.

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Currently 50,000 doses of QazVac are planned. This is enough to vaccinate 25,000 people, with two doses 21 days apart. The start of this campaign fulfills Kazakh President Qassym-Jomart Toqaev’s October 2020 commitment to a Kazakh vaccine. Combined with an app-based colour-coded immunity status check to enter venues, it should allow a gradual resumption of activity in the areas heavily affected by the pandemic.

A complement to the Russian vaccine

Kazakhstan has already started vaccination with the Russian Sputnik V jab, which it has secured 2 million doses of and is now manufacturing domestically. In addition, as the Kazakh media outlet Tengrinews reports, Kazakhstan ordered 3 million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine on 26 March.

An additional 50,000 doses of the QazVac vaccine will be produced in May, Deputy Prime Minister Eraly Toǵjanov said in a statement published on the prime minister’s website. QazVac production should gradually increase to 500,000-600,000 doses per month, the statement added. QazVac production is currently installed in a plant in the Qordaı district, in the south, while Sputnik V is manufactured in Qaraǵandy, Kazakhstan’s fourth city.

One of few countries producing its own vaccine

With QazVac, Kazakhstan joins the very select club of countries that have developed their own vaccine against Covid-19, comprising the US, China, Russia, the UK, Cuba and India. QazVac was developed by the Kazakh Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems. It was approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Kúnsulý Zakarıa, the director of research institute that developed the vaccine, said QazVac was reliable and effective against Covid-19 variants. It is based on the messenger RNA model, like the Pfizer and Moderna jabs, and has demonstrated high immunostimulant activity, Kazinform explains, quoting the researcher. It can be stored between 2 and 8°C, which will greatly facilitate its transport.

Vaccines: a strategic question

Large-scale QazVac production on Kazakhstan’s territory is not expected to begin before the end of the year. Meanwhile, the country is looking for partners: the Kazakh jab is bottled in Turkey, KazInform reports.

This comes after Kazakhstan’s foreign minister Muhtar Tıleuberdı visited Ankara, where he discussed military, economic, cultural and medical subjects, on 17 March. Kazakhstan could thus make use of Turkish production sites to reach its production goal of 500,000 to 600,000 QazVac doses monthly.

Read more: Kazakhstan’s second lockdown told by those who lived it

Turkey, which mainly uses Sinovac and the German Pfizer-BioNTech for its vaccination campaign, could diversify its vaccine supply. At the same time, it would strengthen its ties with Kazakhstan in a bid to form new alliances and break out of its relative diplomatic isolation.

Kazakhstan has not yet indicated any desire to export QazVac to its regional neighbours. The government has indicated that the priority remains the vaccination of its population, Zona.kz reports.

Leo Friedrich
Novastan.org

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The post Covid-19: Kazakhstan starts rollout of its QazVac jab appeared first on Novastan English.

Uzbekistan’s Covid-19 vaccination programme has started in Tashkent, Nukus and 12 regions across the country. In the first stage, vaccines are free and prioritised for clinically vulnerable groups and medical professionals.

Uzbekistan started the mass distribution of coronavirus vaccines on 1 April in Tashkent, Nukus and 12 other regional centres. It hopes to expand throughout the whole country including more remote areas by June. According to the ministry of health, the programme uses the Oxford-AstraZeneca (renamed Vaxzevria) and the Chinese-Uzbek ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 vaccines.

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The first phase of the vaccine rollout will prioritise medical personnel, people over the age of 65 and other clinically vulnerable groups. In an official statement, the deputy head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service Nurmat Atabekov talked of how the country has prepared for the rollout, saying that “more than 4000 doctors and 11000 nurses have been trained in the vaccination process”.

After outlining the country’s plan until June, which includes vaccinating 142 300 people in 219 vaccination centres in April alone, Atabekov ended his statement with a message of hope: “A vaccine against coronavirus is the greatest achievement of modern medicine, and there is no reason to be sceptical of it.”

Two vaccines available

On 31 March 2021, the minister of health Abduhakim Xajiboev stated that as part of the rollout the country has secured 660 thousand doses of the Vaxzevria vaccine (AstraZeneca) and 1 million doses of the ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 through COVAX. The latter was developed by China’s Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical and registered for use on 1 March 2021. 

In addition, Uzbekistan will receive a further 2 million doses of the Vaxzevria vaccine between May and June, and 3.5 million doses of the ZF-UZ-VAC2011 between April and June through COVAX. Xajiboev also announced an agreement with the Russian Federation for 1 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.

In an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel in early April, the minister of health spoke of the plan to vaccinate 4 million people by the end of June, over 11.5% of Uzbekistan’s 35 million population.

Speaking to Uzbek media-outlet Gazeta.uz on 17 March 2021, before the start of the vaccine rollout, Bahodir Yusupaliyev, the deputy minister of health, stressed that receiving the vaccination is entirely voluntary. The choice of which particular vaccine is taken is at the patient’s discretion: “if you want, have the AstraZeneca vaccine; if you want, have the Chinese vaccine; if you want, have the Chinese-Uzbek or Russian Sputnik V vaccines,” Yusupaliyev said. 

First dose of the Chinese-Uzbek jab

As the first vaccination centres opened, a correspondent from Gazeta.uz visited the clinic in which the first dose of the ZF-UZ-VAC 2001 vaccine was given to the clinic’s head doctor, Nargiza Xolmuxamedova. She told Gazeta.uz’s journalist that her clinic has two vaccination points with other mobile teams formed in order to vaccinate employees in hospitals, dental clinics and other medical institutions in the district. Upon getting the vaccine, she explained her decision: “As a leader, I have to be an example for my 152 employees in the clinic”.

Read more: Tajikistan declares itself coronavirus-free

The start of Uzbekistan’s vaccine programme comes as Tajikistan began its vaccination programme on 23 March 2021 with free doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine provided through the COVAX scheme. Earlier this week, Kyrgyzstan’s minister of health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev began the country’s vaccine rollout with the help of free batches of China’s Sinopharm vaccine.

As it stands on 1 April 2021, Uzbekistan has reported a total number of 83,050 coronavirus infections, with 630 deaths.

Molly Arnold
Novastan.org

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The post Mass vaccination programme starts in Uzbekistan appeared first on Novastan English.

According to official statistics the number of tourists visiting Tajikistan fell by 72 per cent from 2019 to 2020.

A version of this article was published on Novastan’s French website on 23 February 2021.

Tajikistan’s latest tourism statistics reveal an undeniable conclusion: the sector has collapsed and the country’s economy is on the brink. On 12 February 2021, Tajik news outlet Asia-Plus reported that the number of visitors to the country fell to 350,000 in 2020, down 72% from 1,254,000 in 2019. The tourism sector, which in 2019 accounted for 2-2.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), represented only 1% of GDP in 2020.

The official statistics do not provide a breakdown of people’s reasons for visiting the country, and therefore do not distinguish between business trips and tourism. In 2019, the Tajik authorities used this loose definition to their advantage, announcing statistics that were 10 times higher than in reality. Nevertheless, the 2020 statistics represent a steep decline.

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While Tajikistan has recorded the lowest number of COVID-related deaths in Central Asia—90 registered deaths compared to 1,450 in Kyrgyzstan and 3,150 in Kazakhstan—strict measures imposed in response to COVID have taken a toll. Despite receiving $400 million in aid funding, Tajikistan has failed to indicate clear economic measures to protect against the impact of COVID-19, according to Radio Ozodi (the Tajik branch of Radio Free Europe). The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that overall economic growth was 1% in 2020, compared to a rate of 7.5% in 2019.

Signs of an exhausted economy

The collapse of the tourism industry in Tajikistan is, in reality, just one visible signpost of the country’s suffering economy. One of the poorest countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Tajikistan was already heavily dependent on foreign aid before the COVID crisis and is now facing staggering financial difficulties.

The revenue that contributes to Tajikistan’s GDP can be divided into three main economic sectors. According to 2019 World Bank statistics, agriculture generated 19% of the country’s wealth, industry and manufacturing accounted for 27%, and the “services” industry generated over 42% of GDP. In reality, the majority of the “services” category is represented by money sent home by Tajik workers living abroad—mainly in Russia.

These remittances represented 28.6% of Tajikistan’s GDP in 2019, with 70% of the Tajik population relying on these funds to survive. But with successive COVID lockdowns—particularly in Russia—the amount of money sent back to the country has drastically declined. At the same time, foreign direct investment diminished by nearly 47% in one year, as reported by Radio Ozodi. In light of these difficulties, the collapse of the tourism sector has devastated an already weakened economy.

A sector in need of development

For several years, the Tajik government has expressed the intention of developing the country’s tourism industry. Designating 2018 “the year of tourism”, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon hoped his country could overcome some of the structural difficulties that limit Tajikistan’s ability to cater to and attract foreign visitors.

Issues such as the lack of transport facilities, banking services, and high-quality accommodation outside big cities prevent Tajikistan from becoming a mainstream tourist destination. Unfortunately, these challenges are yet to be addressed by the Tajik government.

However, in April 2018, the Tajik president extended the visa-free period for foreign visitors from three to ten working days in an effort to attract tourists. Large hotel chains such as the Hyatt Regency, Hilton Hotels and Serena Hotels have established hotels in the capital Dushanbe, and 2020 saw the creation of 22 new tourist agencies in Tajikistan (now totalling 224).

Tajikistan’s high geographical elevation—with mountain peaks between 6,000 and 8,000 metres­—represents opportunities for the further development of adventure tourism, which has rapidly expanded over the past few years. The richness of Tajik poetry and folklore, and the fantastic natural landscape along the Pamir Highway also represent great tourist potential. 

Domestic tourism presents opportunities

On 26 January, the Tajik authorities announced that the country had beaten coronavirus. Health Minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda attributed this success to government health measures, claiming that the absence of a lockdown in favour of a home quarantine program assisted in the eradication of COVID-19. This “victory” led Emomali Rahmon to announce the reopening of mosques from 1 February and may signal a wider reopening of the country.

Read more on Novastan: Is Tajikistan really free from coronavirus?

Tojiddin Jurazoda, the head of Tajikistan’s Tourism Development Committee, told Asia-Plus that reviving the tourism industry is both an opportunity and a necessity. To achieve this, new projects are being planned for 2021, including the reconstruction of the Yamchun Fort, which once guarded a strategic passage along the Silk Road between India and Iran, and the restoration of the majestic Hulbuk citadel, located in the Vose District in the south-west of the country. The Khoja Mashkhad complex, a major pilgrimage destination tentatively listed for consideration of UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999, will also be renovated in 2021 in an effort to attract believers and visitors.

Jurazoda also discussed the Committee’s plans to expand rural tourism through the establishment of hostel-style accommodation and homestays. Whether these initiatives will be enough to revive the Tajik tourist industry­—and the country’s economy with it—remains to be seen.

Caroline Deschamps
Novastan.org

Translated from French by Alice Coveney

Edited by Clare Hodgson

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The post Tajikistan’s tourism industry collapses in the wake of COVID appeared first on Novastan English.

As parts of Kazakhstan face new restrictions in 2021, Novastan looks back at life during the country’s second lockdown, from 5 July to 16 August 2020. Strict measures were enacted to slow down the crisis, impacting people’s daily lives.

A version of this article first appeared on Novastan’s French website on 11 August 2020.

The health crisis is still ongoing in Kazakhstan. In order to deal with the situation, new restrictions are in place in Nur-Sultan, the capital, and Almaty, the largest city.

It’s not the first time Kazakhstan faces restrictions due to Covid-19: one after the other, cities and regions imposed quarantine measures from March 2020, starting with Almaty and Nur-Sultan. These measures were lifted on 11 May, only for the country to enter a second lockdown on 5 July. Initially planned for 14 days, this second period of quarantine was extended to mid-August.

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During the second lockdown, Novastan interviewed five locals about their experience. From Nur-Sultan to Almaty, this is the story of ordinary people fighting against an unprecedented health and economic crisis.

The first lockdown quickly established strict measures

After the appearance of the first cases of coronavirus in Kazakhstan on 13 March 2020, the largest country in Central Asia declared a first lockdown from mid-March to mid-May. The unprecedented situation considerably modified the population’s habits, who are usually more inclined to enjoy the great outdoors that Kazakhstan has to offer.

“The first quarantine was strict in our city,” Tasha Parshina, who lives in Almaty, told Novastan. “All of our outings were restricted, nobody was outside and there were nearly no cars around. Our city is very green and people like spending time outside, in terraces, in parks or just out on walks. It was unusual for our people to stay home, it was probably the first time in their lives this happened.”

However, the first lockdown did not stop the virus from spreading. As the harshest measures were lifted, precursory signs of a major resurgence of cases appeared.

“While the government decided to impose an early lockdown and declare a state of emergency as soon as the virus arrived in Kazakhstan, we found ourselves in a rather dramatic situation three months later,” Asel, another Almaty resident, said. “On 11 May, as soon as the relaxation of lockdown began, the number of cases started increasing. Towards the end of June, we also saw many pneumonia cases that appeared to come from complications of the virus.”

Hospitals rapidly found their capacities stretched, despite Kazakhstan being the richest country out of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia.

“I have many colleagues who work in hospitals that tell me how critical the situation really is. There are no more medical gowns, no medicine, no government support,” Aidana Ramazanova, who lives in Nur-Sultan, said.

Read more: Covid-19: Kazakhstan to use colour-coded system through new app

When the country recorded the most coronavirus cases in the region the government decided on less restrictive measures for the second lockdown, in an effort to revitalise the economy.

“This time the lockdown is lighter, so we could say that it’s only a partial lockdown. We can go out, we can move around,” Asel said. ‘‘It is recommended to stay at home, but it’s not forbidden to go out either. So I see a lot of people outside, even if places like markets or malls are closed. Cafés and restaurants cannot welcome clients inside: they are limited to 30 people on their terrace,” the young woman explained.

“The second lockdown is way less strict, people go to work and go out all the time,” Tasha Parshina agreed.

Economic weakening and distrust of the government and the media

The pandemic impact has had a severe impact on Kazakhstan’s economy. For many households, the crisis has accentuated the fragility of their situation.

“Many companies and shops have closed, including mine, and some haven’t reopened. This situation has put a lot of people in danger because there were many who didn’t have the necessary financial stability to allow them to be without work for several months,” Tasha Parshina said. “I think we are heading towards a very impactful crisis.”

Adana Ramazanova agrees: “Banks await people to pay their mortgages and their rents while unemployment has risen and new job opportunities are rare. It’s a vicious circle!”, says Aidana Ramazanova.

This worrisome economic situation leads to more and more citizens questioning the handling of the crisis by the government. “I don’t think that the second lockdown has been correctly understood or felt necessary as it’s not strict enough, everyone is going out,” Tasha Parshina said. “Some measures are incoherent, such as the restrictions on transport which are ridiculous: the number of buses on some lines have been reduced, leading to an over-attendance on those lines left. Social distancing is not respected on there, which generates more infections.”

“Public transport has completely stopped on Saturdays and Sundays: it forces me to go grocery shopping during the weekdays when I’m supposed to be working,” she added.“The list of measures that don’t make sense is still long. The tighter the lockdown, the more I feel the population’s anger. Nowadays, I don’t know a single person who feels favourable to the lockdown.”

Exacerbating inequalities

“Communication was badly handled: measures haven’t been planned properly nor coherently explained,” Asel said. “For example, when the health minister announced the relaxation of lockdown, shopping centres and markets prepared to reopen. But two days later, the president announced an extension of the same lockdown.”

Facing confusion between communication errors, real news, rumours and malicious misinformation, some of the population distrust traditional forms of media.

“Trust towards traditional media has never been that high and lots of fake news, each item more absurd than the last, circulates on social media and people really believe them!,” Tasha Parshina said. “Many throw the blame on emigration. Others have been convinced for a while that we are the only central Asian country to face such difficulties.”

On the other hand, with official media becoming less and less credible in the eyes of the population, the alternatives provided better information: “Independent media organisations united to launch their own website to count victims. It put pressure on the government and is partly the reason that the pneumonia cases will now be counted in the official statistics,” Asel explained.

Read more: Central Asia in 2020: the year in review

The miscommunications and lack of clarity in the government’s action has made much of the population question the credibility of the whole situation. “No one is fighting against the virus, but the government is fighting its people,” Sana Aikyn, from Nur-Sultan, said.

Aidana Ramazanova said: “I am sure that most of the people do not support the government’s strategy concerning Covid-19. Some don’t even believe in coronavirus. All the same, I don’t think that the government made all the right choices.”

“The fact is that we still are a young nation. Before independence [December 1991], our doctrine was based on a welfare state, the idea that government serves all,” Tasha Parshina went on. “The current situation showed that we have to count on ourselves first, before the government. And this reality is not easily accepted by most of the people.”

The pandemic and its consequences have highlighted social and economical inequalities, as all crises do. Kazakhstan is not an exception, with the daily news shedding light on a worrisome situation: “There wasn’t any space left in hospitals, the emergency services weren’t coming to people’s houses, it was impossible to take a test, those who became sick stayed at home without a chance to visit the hospital or see their doctors,” Aya Sharifkanova, of Nur-Sultan, said.

Similarly, Asel points out the importance of connections to get treatment: “A lot of people used personal connections such as relatives in order to get hospitalised, an X-ray or a test.”

Tasha Parshina added: “I think there is a separation between those who are able to work from home and are concerned by the health crisis, and those who don’t consider lockdown an effective measure but only economically damaging.”

Uncertain future

Will Kazakhstan have the resources to recover? Nothing is certain, as the situation seems fragile. “We are aware that the country is facing a great crisis. The health crisis should be over soon, but we will find ourselves in an economic crisis,” Asel said at the time.

“A third of small and medium-sized companies have closed or are about to. Lockdown has lasted so long and many people will continue being unemployed. We don’t know if the government will have sufficient resources to support the economy or social programs,” she added. “I do hope that from now on, the number of Covid cases will drop but at the moment there is no decrease, we count about 1,500 new cases per day”

Some Kazakhstanis assess their government’s difficulties in responding to the crisis as a disappointment. “This crisis has been a real ordeal for the government, for the people and for the healthcare system. Unfortunately no one has been up to the task,” Asel said.

However, others see the potential for political renewal. “When lockdown is over, I think a lot of shops and companies will have closed, a lot of people will be angry. There will be a number of people willing to emigrate and an overall feeling of general dissatisfaction towards the government’s actions. Maybe there will be a collective realisation,” Tasha Parshina concluded.

Some names have been changed.

Alexandra Tivet
Novastan.org

Translated from French by Lorraine Lavolley

Edited by Tommy Hodgson

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The post Kazakhstan’s second lockdown told by those who lived it appeared first on Novastan English.

Kazakhstan is testing a new app, Ashyq, to restrict access to businesses depending on the user’s Covid-19 status, indicated by one of four colours. The app, currently in its testing phrase, has met with criticism online.

This article was originally published on Novastan’s French website on 17 February 2021.

Kazakhstan’s government is planning to restrict public places to people who are not carrying Covid-19 by using a new mobile application, Ashyq, the Kazakh news agency Kazinform reports.

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This mobile app will determine, through a four-colour system, whether or not a visitor can enter a specific business.

Access restricted to “blue” and “green” citizens

As Kazinform reports, users must sign up on Ashyq with their national personal identification number. The app, connected to data from the ministry of health, has access to the user’s official immunity status.

A colour is then assigned to the user: green if a negative PCR test has been performed in the last three days; blue if not, and the individual is not registered as someone having been in contact with infected people; yellow for people who are designated in the database as contact cases; red if the user is registered with a positive result for Covid-19. These statuses are temporary as they evolve with each person’s health status development.

In turn, the participating businesses will each receive a QR code. Each person seeking to access the facility will first have to scan this code upon entering the premises. The screen will display the immunity status of the customer. Only the individuals who are not listed as “having been in contact with infected people” or “Covid-19 positive” will be able to access the facility.

Pilot phase

This project was launched a few days before the official kick off of the vaccination rollout in Kazakhstan, on 1 February. Although the app was launched shortly before the vaccination campaign, being vaccinated is not a factor in the colour attribution.

The app is currently being tested by around 40 local businesses, in Almaty, Karaganda and in the capital Nur-Sultan, the health minister Alexei Tsoi specified on 10 February. These include cinemas, fitness centres and spas. While this solution is officially deemed to run on a “non-mandatory”, “voluntary” basis, the authorities claim that the goal is to lift opening restrictions for some 13,000 businesses brought to a standstill by the health crisis.

Read more: Central Asia in 2020: the year in review

Alexei Tsoi explained he drew inspiration from South-East Asian countries that have already implemented QR scans at store entrances. Malaysia, in particular, has had such a system since May, as reported by the French public radio RFI, and South Korea since June. As the minister mentioned, Ashyq was developed by a Kazakh company.

The authorities believe that the application will create conditions for “a safe environment” without necessarily tracking people’s movements.

A controversial project

The government also wants this system to work without a smartphone. “In the absence of a smartphone, the application has a feature for employees who control the entrance to the premises. They will be able to check the status of the visitor by means of the IIN or by scanning the barcode located on the ID card”, explained the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development.

The results of the pilot project will make it possible to determine the future terms of replication of the mobile application for entering other public places such as restaurants. The government has however stated that they were not planning to include public transportation, shopping centres and public markets to the project, specified Kazinform.

In the meantime, this project is causing online uproar in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh media outlet KP.kz reported outraged comments on 17 February, with some users denouncing a violation of constitutional rights. Toppress.kz, another Kazakhstani media outlet, also reports very negative reviews on Apple’s app store.

Elliot Obadia
Novastan.org

Translated by Joana da Silva Pina

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The post Covid-19: Kazakhstan to use colour-coded system through new app appeared first on Novastan English.

In an address to parliament, the president of Tajikistan announced there hadn’t been any new cases of Covid-19 in the country this year. Yet, observers and experts say the Central Asian republic has not been a reliable source of information about the virus.

Tajikistan is Covid-free, President Emomali Rahmon announced on 26 January. “Today we are grateful that there have been no cases of coronavirus infection in the country since the beginning of January, that is, I confidently declare that there is no COVID-19 in Tajikistan,” he told parliament. Rahmon had already claimed that the virus had “nearly disappeared” from Tajikistan in his New Year’s address to the nation at the end of 2020.

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It is a surprising declaration at a time when other Central Asian states, and countries around the world, are showing high numbers of new infections and deaths from the virus: Kazakhstan is registering over 1,000 new cases a day. In addition, the new variant of Covid-19 originating in Britain was registered in Uzbekistan for the first time on 30 January.

Following Rahmon’s speech, the government reopened mosques on 1^st February but, as Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports, said they would have to observe sanitary measures. The president also warned citizens should still respect sanitary regulations such as wearing masks.

An unreliable track record

The official coronavirus count from the Tajik authorities shows 13,308 cases and 90 deaths, with no new cases since 10 January. This contradicts Rahmon’s assertion that there were no new cases in 2021: covid.tj shows a dozen new infections between 1 and 10 January.

But even these numbers are in doubt. “To put it mildly, the Tajik government does not have the best track record of transparency and accurate information surrounding the pandemic,” Edward Lemon, a research assistant professor at Texas A&M University and president of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, said.

Read more: Is Tajikistan really free from coronavirus?

Last year, Tajikistan did not record any Covid-19 cases until 30 April, despite local media reporting suspicious deaths as early as March. Even after that, an online list by local activists, since then taken down, gave a much higher death toll. In June, RFE/RL said it had been able to verify that 152 people on the list had in fact died from Covid-19. What’s more, using government data, the Tajik media Asia-Plus showed there had been approximately 4000 more deaths in 2020 than in 2019.

A leader “who can address any issue”

“There is always a desire from the government to portray itself as being successful and to portray Emomali Rahmon himself as a leader of global standing who is able to address any issue,” Edward Lemon said. In this light, Emomali Rahmon’s declaration is a way to reassert his authority after a year of economic crisis and inflation. An analysis shared by the Tajik political scientist and civil society activist Parviz Mullojonov, who sees in Tajikistan’s Covid-19 figures “an intentional exaggeration for political and economic reasons”.

“Social tension is increasing because there are no jobs in the country and Tajik workers cannot go to Russia,” Parviz Mullojonov explained. Tajikistan’s economy relies on its labour migrants, for the most part in Russia. According to the World Bank, personal remittances represented 28.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. As Russia’s borders closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on 18 March, many seasonal workers have stayed in Tajikistan. According to Russia’s central bank, remittances from Russia to Tajikistan have fallen by nearly 40% in the first half of 2020, Asia-Plus reports.

There are nevertheless other factors to take into account. “The composition of the Tajik population could also explain the low numbers,” Mullojonov said, pointing out that Tajikistan’s population is younger than that of European countries such as France or the UK. Only 3% are over 65, which could mean there are fewer at-risk people and thus more asymptomatic coronavirus cases. In contrast, 18.5% of the UK population is over 65 years old.

Valentine Baldassari

Additional reporting by Clara Marchaud

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The post Tajikistan declares itself coronavirus-free appeared first on Novastan English.

As Tajikistan boasts a lack of coronavirus cases, both experts and the population raise doubts about the authorities’ sincerity. Could the government be hiding the truth, fearing panic and a possible economic collapse? 

This article was originally published by Novastan’s French website in April 2020.

With Turkmenistan, Tajikistan is the only country in Central Asia that has not reported any cases of Covid-19. However, in April, numerous deaths from pneumonia, tuberculosis or heart failure, mostly linked to quarantine or returning from abroad, have cast suspicion on the official toll. According to local reports, a few suspicious deaths are registered every day. 

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The situation is particularly tense in the North-Western region of Sughd, especially in Khujand, the second biggest city, near the border with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In mid-March, president Emomali Rahmon took part in spectacular celebrations of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Khujand, surrounded by 12 000 dancers, singers and spectators. This went against the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations to cancel mass gatherings.

Suspicious deaths due to a “seasonal” pneumonia

The first suspicious death to be reported was that of Habibullo Shodiyev, a 60-year-old man who entered the Central hospital of the Northern region with severe pneumonia during Nowruz. He died in ICU on March 31, according to Radio Ozodi, the Tajik branch of American media Radio Free Europe. His relatives told Radio Ozodi that he had returned from a wedding in Kyrgyzstan with a high temperature and symptoms of pneumonia.

As Tajik media Asia-Plus reported, officials later denied this information, asserting instead that Habibullo Shodiyev had fallen ill after playing football outside. According to officials, cited by Eurasianet, samples from the deceased were tested for coronavirus in Dushanbe, and came back negative. These deaths would have gone unnoticed had local media not reported that the whole hospital had been placed under quarantine. What’s more, another resident that had been in contact with Habibullo Shodiyev’s brother died on 11 April, reportedly from heart failure.

The toll from “pneumonia” and other respiratory diseases sharply increased through the month, with new deaths reported every day. Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Shodihon Jamshed attributed this sudden rise to “adverse weather conditions”, Asia-Plus reports. He added that the number of respiratory diseases, including pneumonia, had sharply increased in recent days.

Sometimes, these people are not even tested for Covid-19. Jamsher, a Tajik citizen from Dushanbe contacted by Novastan, was told that his 81-year-old grandfather died from pneumonia on 17 April, without any testing. “We were told that he is old and that it’s normal at his age to die from some illness”, he said.

An “alternative” death toll

This “suspicious pneumonia” has not spared healthcare workers at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19. In mid-April, a 58-year-old nurse, who worked at a hospital in the city of Bokhtar with people in quarantine, died, reportedly from tuberculosis and heart issues. Relatives mentioned that they did not know she had suffered from tuberculosis. Her funeral also happened without a body, as reported by Asia-Plus on 16 April.

But the case that stands out most happened in Dushanbe. On 19 April, a 38-year-old employee from the prosecutor’s office died from severe pneumonia. He had returned from abroad on 6 April, alongside other Tajik residents, but had not stayed 14 days in quarantine, reports Russian media Sputnik. Before his hospitalisation on 16 April, he had gone to work and been in close contact with many others. In the hospital, he was treated as a regular patient, with no special protection measures. His body was brought in a closed plastic bag directly to the funeral. Usually, the deceased is washed before the funeral.  

Citizens worry about this “alternative death toll” as schools, markets, government bodies and companies stay open. “This is chaos, what is happening around. Every day we hear about new deaths”, Tahmina*, a craftswoman from Khujand complained to Novastan. She gets regular worrying updates from friends in the hospital.

“The strange thing is that the bodies of these people are not always given back, or they are given in closed plastic bags with instructions not to open it. So, the people can’t follow religious rules and wash the body before burial,” says a citizen of Khujand who wished to remain anonymous. What’s just as troubling is that those who have been in contact with people killed by a suspicious illness are put in quarantine by the authorities, as described by Radio Ozodi. 

Making provisions for two years

Some experts believe that this increase in suspicious deaths from respiratory problems is not a coincidence. According to Andrea Schmitz from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the reasons for this national secret might be demographic. The Tajik population is young and therefore less at risk of dying, with only 9 % of it over 55. “The health service is in a catastrophic state and quarantine facilities’ conditions are more likely to accelerate than slow the spread of the virus”, she adds. 

It was expected that some cases would be acknowledged once the president’s son Rustam Emomali was elected as Speaker of Majlisi Mili, Tajikistan’s upper chamber of Parliament, on 17 April. This position is the second-highest political role in Tajikistan. But president Emomali Rahmon did not announce any cases after all.

His speech gives some indication of why the Tajik state is waiting so long to recognise the presence of the virus. Indeed, Emomali Rahmon stressed that the effects of panic-buying and of a lockdown could be more dangerous for the country than the coronavirus itself. In a country where many sectors of the economy are in the hands of relatives or people close to the President’s family, an economic crisis would make them lose a lot of resources.

Two days before his speech, as Asia-Plus mentioned, Emomali Rahmon also urged Tajik families and farms to prepare two years of food supplies. He also recommended citizens follow all disinfection rules, as well for those over 65 to stay home and not go out without good reason. “The government of Tajikistan is following all kind of measures to prevent the spreading of the virus,” admitted the president, without explaining what those measures were.

WHO confirms then doubts

With no clear instruction from their government, some Tajik citizens feel safe and only loosely follow safety measures such as washing hands. This attitude was reinforced by the encouraging conclusions of the World Heath Organisation (WHO) representative in Tajikistan, Galina Perfileva.

The international organisation confirmed Tajikistan’s toll, affirming they collaborate with labs who do the testing. On social media, Galina Perfileva’s declaration has become a widely shared argument to counter any scepticism about the official death toll.

But this situation changed on 22 April, when Galina Perfileva told Russian media Kommersant that “we cannot categorically say that there are no cases of the disease in the country.” WHO will also check Tajik tests to make sure there were no false negatives and send a team in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to check the situation on the ground, reports Russian agency TASS.   

“Unexpected holidays” and cancelled gatherings

Despite not naming the virus, Tajik authorities have started taking preventive measures, such as once again closing mosques from the middle of April and stopping international flights from 20 March.

On 25 April, Tajik state agency Khovar announced that primary and secondary schools would have “unexpected holidays” from 27 April to 10 May. In addition, Dushanbe’s townhall declared on 25 April that “in accordance with the decision of the Republican Committee, the organisation and holding of all public events, such as rallies, sports events, film shows and theatrical productions, are prohibited throughout the country”.

The feast of Dushanbe, planned on April 19th, was officially cancelled, reports Asia-Plus. This did not prevent mostly young people from gathering for dances and songs. On that day, loud music sounds coming from parks could be heard. Whether the new containment measures are too little too late remains to be seen.

Taking matters into their own hands

“Three weeks ago, I had a temperature and I felt tired. I started to worry about coronavirus possibly, and I called the hotline that had been set up for citizens”, remembers Asimalov*, a young man from Dushanbe. “They asked me to go to hospital, where they checked my mouth and took my temperature. The doctor, who had a medical mask and protective clothes, said I had very mild symptoms, so I shouldn’t worry at all. They prescribed antibiotics for a few days and let me go home”, he added. He was neither tested nor told to quarantine.

Asimalov’s mother soon experienced the same symptoms. “To prevent the virus, I burnt dry esfand, a herb that we widely use as to disinfect the air in case of sickness. Since I was so worried about my mum, I burnt extra esfand. My mum was so wrapped in smoke I couldn’t see her face,” Asimalov remembers, laughing. His mother believed that the smoke helped and went shopping the same day, despite her son’s disagreement. 

The attitude towards sickness and health is “heavily influenced by traditional medicine and religious ideas”, Andrea Schmitz explains. Facing a lack of instruction from the government, Tajik citizens rely more and more on religion and local belief like the use of esfand. “In view of the lack of capacity to take meaningful action, making society immune by mobilising cultural resources is an obvious option,” explains Andrea Schmitz. She believes that a few cases will be reported, “for reasons of credibility”, but at a low level. “Who is going to them verify anyway?”, she adds. 

*Names have been modified to protect the anonymity of our sources.

Laura Liepa
Dushanbe

The post Is Tajikistan really free from coronavirus? appeared first on Novastan English.