This is a copy of our newsletter dated 4 May 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region.

In the news

Hello from Novastan! Apologies for the change in schedule for this week, yesterday was a bank holiday in the UK, where our editor and newsletter writer is based. Next week’s newsletter will be on Monday, as usual.

This week, we’re looking at the conflict at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, legal amendments in Kyrgyzstan, following up on the case of the Uzbek blogger Miraziz Bazarov, and more…

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have engaged in border clashes of unprecedented violence since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The detailed course of events differs depending on sources, but the initial trigger seemed to be (ENG) the disputed use of a water supply facility located on the Kyrgyz road connecting Tajikistan to the exclave of Vorukh. What started as usual skirmishes between local communities on 28 April turned into a conflict between armed forces of both countries the next day. After an unsuccessful first ceasefire, both sides reached an agreement to demarcate the border on Sunday night without publishing details. According to RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz service (ENG), the situation is now stable.

The Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan said 36 Kyrgyz citizens were killed. Tajik authorities have not published information on casualties, but RFE/RL’s Tajik service Radio Ozodi reports (RU) that at least 18 Tajik citizens were killed.

On Friday, Novastan spoke with (ENG) political scientist Parviz Mullojonov to understand the underlying reasons for border disputes in the region. 

Human Rights Watch says (ENG) legal amendments under consideration in Kyrgyzstan would “put the political opposition and human rights groups at heightened risk”. According to the rights group, the change would broaden the scope for criminal prosecution of “extremist” organisations to include those found to incite “political enmity,” along with national, ethnic, or racial enmity, and make financing such “extremist” organisations a criminal offense.

Also in Kyrgyzstan: tomorrow, 5 May,Sadyr Japarov, the president, will sign (RU) the country’s new constitution.

The Uzbek blogger and activist Miraziz Bazarov, who was beaten by unknown attackers in March, has been released from the hospital and put under house arrest, RFE/RL’s Uzbek service reports (UZ).

The number of ethnic Russians in Turkmenistan has decreased to about 100,000, about 2% of the population, the lowest figure since the 1930s, Turkmen.news reports (RU). 

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 3 May 2021, there were officially 528,448 cases, 6,094 deaths and 470,548 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan: 327,995 cases, 3,733 deaths, 280,342 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 96,337 cases,  1,622 deaths, 89,921 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 90,808 cas, 649 deaths, 87,067 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)
 
Anyone arriving in Kazakhstan from India, including via a third country, will have to spend two weeks in quarantine, Kazakhstan’s health minister announced today (RU). 

In 2020, Kyrgyzstan spent $43.8 million on public procurement of goods and services to combat coronavirus, concluding about 9,300 contracts. The Kyrgyz media outlet Kloop looks (RU, graphs in English) at how the money was spent and why the country did not have enough PPE and medicine. 

Uzbekistan has started administering the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine, the news agency AKIpress reports (ENG).

Our photo of the week

Nurlan leaves his mountain hut to find out what is happening to his horses. Click on the photo for more information.

Credit: Antoine Béguier

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Article of the week

A disappearing river: the fate of the Ural

LIFE BY THE RIVER. More than four million people in Kazakhstan and Russia live in the Ural river basin. They are watching the river grow shallower as time goes by. The main reason for this is human activity, scientists say. Can the Ural River’s fate be altered?

Novastan news

On 28 April, Novastan hosted a panel discussion on Central Asian migrants and Covid-19. Watch it again on YouTube or Facebook.

That’s it for this week! For the Russian speakers among you, we recommend this Vlast article (RU) about the mosaics of Kazakhstan and the activists trying to save them.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Deadly clashes at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 26 April 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region.

In the news

This week we’re looking at arrests in Kyrgyzstan, potential World Heritage sites in Tajikistan, new energy projects in Uzbekistan, and more…

The past few weeks have seen the arrest of a number of academics and activists in Kyrgyzstan. As we mentioned last week, on 13 April the State Committee for National Security (known by its Russian acronym GKNB) detained the political analyst Marat Kazakbaev for treason. The same day, Marat Toktouchikov, who local media describe as a “former leader of the Kazakh diaspora”, was also arrested for treason (RU).

Another academic, Gulzat Aalieva, is suspected of inciting interethnic and interreligious hatred after complaints about her Facebook posts, which are alleged to contain “provocation against religion … as well as humiliation of a particular religion and its followers”, Kloop reports (RU). A Bishkek court put her under house arrest on 23 April. She faces 5 to 7.5 years in jail if found guilty.

Also under house arrest from today is the activist Tilekmat Kerenov, who was detained on 15 March (RU) for online posts containing “calls for a violent seizure of power and for riots” according to the investigation.

Tajikistan has submitted (ENG) nine historical and cultural sites in the Zarafshan-Karakum corridor for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

Germany’s Siemens has signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan’s energy ministry and agreed on a roadmap for future joint projects, New Europe reports (ENG). In other energy news, Reuters reports (ENG) that Uzbekistan has signed a $1.2 billion deal for the Dutch-registered company Stone City Energy  to build a power plant.

The Kyrgyz Football Federation celebrated 100 years last month but it’s as active as ever. We look back (ENG) at the game’s history in the Central Asian nation.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 26 April 2021, there have officially been 505,809 cases, 5,889 deaths and 450,852 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan: 309 116 cases, 3,570 deaths, 263,446 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 94,030 cases,  1,584 deaths, 88,212 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 89,355 cases, 645 deaths, 85,976 recvoered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)
 
Vaccination with the domestic QazVac jab started in Kazakhstan today. The health minister Alexei Tsoi and his first deputy were among the first to receive the vaccine this morning, live on the Khabar 24 TV channel (RU). The population can therefore now choose between QazVac and the Russian Sputnik V.

In Kyrgyzstan, vaccination with Sputnik V started on 23 April, Kloop reports (RU). According to health minister Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, it is currently reserved for people over 65 or those with chronic diseases. The Chinese Sinopharm jab is available to everyone.

Our photo of the week

Buunisa Termechikova, 58 years old, stands at the ethnological museum in Sary-Mogol, which she started in July 2020 for tourists. Buunisa specialises in making traditional clothing and other felt products. She also owns a guest house in the village of Burgan-Suu, located on the other side of the river Sary-Mogol.

This picture is part of the UNDP Eurasia project “Surviving a pandemic: Visual impacts of Covid-19”.

Credit: Danil Usmanov

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Article of the week

Talas and its people: life by a Central Asian river affected by climate change

LIFE BY THE RIVER. Three million people in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan live by the Talas River, where there is less and less water every year. How will people’s lives change when the region becomes even hotter and the water level even lower? A group of journalists and environmentalists travelled hundreds of kilometres along the Talas to find out.

Novastan news

On 28 April, Novastan will host a panel discussion on Central Asian migrants and Covid-19, with Sherzod Eraliev, member of Kone-funded research project “Migrants, Shadow Economy and Parallel Legal Orders in Russia”and Sandra Pellet, postdoctoral researcher at INED specialised in Central Asian migrations.

To access our Zoom call, please sign up here: https://forms.gle/MoAvctViaMV6zJPi6. The talk will also be streamed on our Facebook page.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Arrests and detentions in Kyrgyzstan appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 19 April 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region.

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we’re looking at Uzbek politics, further developments in the Matraimov case in Kyrgyzstan, protected species in Kazakhstan, and more…

The Uzbek party Erk intends to field a candidate at the presidential election (ENG) this October. The opposition party was banned in the 1990s and its leader fled the country.

The former deputy head of Kyrgyzstan’s customs service Raimbek Matraimov, who was implicated in a scheme (ENG) funneling hundreds of millions of dollars out of the country, has been released from custody and his case closed (RU).

Also in Kyrgyzstan, the political analyst Marat Kazakpaev was detained on suspicion of treason (ENG) on 14 April. The details of the case are still unknown.

The Kazakh ministry of ecology has announced that the tiger, Persian leopard and Przewalski horse are now listed in Kazakhstan’s “red book” of protected species (RU). These species are subject to increased surveillance to prevent their extinction.

On 8 March, hundreds of women marched in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for International Women’s Day. In response, on 31 March, MP Bekbolat Tleuhan asked the government (ENG) to consider the march and the demands of the protestors “an attack on spiritual values”.

On 15 April, campaigners held a rally against gender-based violence in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz media outlet Kloop reports (RU) that participants of a concurrent rally against NGOs and LGBTQ rights interfered, accusing women’s rights activists of using the recent murder of a young woman (ENG) to promote their interests. 

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 19 April 2021, there have officially been 482,105 cases, 5,689 deaths et 432,677 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan: 289,720 cases, 3,406 deaths, 248,096 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 92,095 cases,  1,555 deaths, 87,056 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 86,982 cases, 638 deaths, 84,307 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)

Kyrgyzstan’s president Sadyr Japarov recommended a brew made out of a toxic root as a coronavirus cure.“A drug that has not undergone clinical trials cannot be registered and recommended for widespread use by the population,” the World Health Organization warned (ENG)

In Kazakhstan, 679,700 people have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine (3.6% of the population) and 118,500 both doses (0.6%), Vlast.kz reported (RU) yesterday. In addition, 50,000 doses of the QazVac vaccine should be distributed (RU) by the end of the month. 

Uzbekistan is expected to receive 300,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine by the end of April, Ozodlik, the Uzbek branch of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, reports (RU). Quarantine restrictions have been tightened (RU) on 18 April due to the increase in the number of infections. 

Our photo of the week

Song-Köl swing, by Simon Massicotte. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

On 28 April, Novastan will host a panel discussion on Central Asian migrants and Covid-19, with Sherzod Eraliev, member of Kone-funded research project “Migrants, Shadow Economy and Parallel Legal Orders in Russia”and Sandra Pellet, postdoctoral researcher at INED specialised in Central Asian migrations.

To access our Zoom call, please sign up here: https://forms.gle/MoAvctViaMV6zJPi6. The talk will also be streamed on our Facebook page.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Uzbekistan’s Erk party wants to take part in presidential election appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 12 April 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region.

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we’re looking at a constitutional referendum in Kyrgyzstan and, in the same country, the murder of the 27-year-old Aizada Kanatbekova sparking protests. Plus more from Uzbekistan and, as usual, our Covid-19 round up.  Please note the links about the tragic case of Aizada Kanatbekova below contain descriptions of violence which may be distressing to readers.

A new Kyrgyz constitution, proposed by referendum, was approved by 79.3% of voters (ENG) according to preliminary results. Turnout was low with 35.9% of registered voters casting a ballot. The minimum turnout for the referendum to be valid was 30%.

Critics say the new constitution gives too much power to the president and, in the words (ENG) of the European Union’s Venice Commission, “creates a real risk of undermining the separation of powers and the rule of law in the Kyrgyz Republic”. For the president and the constitution’s supporters, however, the change is necessary to establish order and bring stability to the country. Last month we described the proposed changes in more detail (ENG).

The referendum was held the same day as local elections. According to preliminary results, six parties have earned enough votes (RU) to join Bishkek’s city council, with Emgek (“Labour” in Kyrgyz) coming first with nearly 14%. As Eurasianet notes (ENG), Emgek includes former MPs once close to those in power, for instance Janybek Abirov, a friend of former president Almazbek Atambaev. 

Also in Kyrgyzstan, the murder of Aizada Kanatbekova, who, according to preliminary investigation, was strangled by her abductor, has led to widespread anger and calls for the resignation of police leaders. The outrage is directed in part at the police because of their failure to find Kanatbekova or her suspected abductor despite the kidnapping being caught on camera.  RFE/RL reports (ENG) that Bishkek’s police chief was dismissed on 10 April alongside other senior officers over their handling of the case.

The European Union has officially added Uzbekistan to the list of countries benefiting from its Generalised System of Advanced Preferences (GSP +). 6,200 Uzbek products will have access to the European market (ENG) without customs duties.

Last week, we mentioned the electrification of the railway line connecting the Uzbek cities of Bekobod and Qo’qon (Kokand). Our article on the subject is now available in English.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 12 April 2021, there have officially been 460,603 cases, 5,488 deaths et 416,854 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan: 271,809 cases, 3,236 deaths, 234,665 recoveries
– Kyrgyzstan: 90,372 cases,  1,528 deaths, 86,028 recoveries
– Uzbekistan: 85,114 cases, 634 deaths, 82,943 recoveries
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)

Kazakhstan‘s health minister Alexey Tsoi said on 12 April that infections were three times higher in April than in March, the Kazakh outlet Tengrinews reports (RU). Tsoi also noted that 61% of new infections were in Nur-Sultan, Almaty and the Almaty region.

Despite not officially registering any cases, Turkmenistan is experiencing a “fourth wave of coronavirus”, Azatlyk, RFE/RL’s Turkmen service, reported (RU) on 9 April. Still according to Azatlyk (RU), the country has started vaccinating teachers in Ashgabat, the capital.

Our photo of the week

Siblings on horseback in Kyrgyzstan, by Mareike Müller. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Novastan is looking for freelance journalists based in Central Asia. Click here for more information.

The team is still otherwise volunteer and we’re looking for help! Here is how you can join us: Contribute.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Kyrgyzstan backs change to constitution in referendum appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 5 April 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region.

In the news

Hello from Novastan! A very happy Easter Monday to those who celebrated yesterday. This week, we’re looking at flights between Russia and Central Asia, new laws in Uzbekistan, Turkmen contracts, and more…

Regular direct flights from Russia to several countries including Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have officially resumed (ENG). Passengers will have to follow strict measures to minimise transmission of Covid-19.

Uzbekistan has made “insult and slander” of the president a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. The changes to the criminal code also include up to five years in prison for public calls for mass disorder and violence and up to 10 years for doing so in groups using media, telecommunication networks, or the Internet, RFE/RL reports (ENG). This comes in an election year for Uzbekistan: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is expected to run for a second term this October.  

The Franco-Italian aerospace maufacturer Thales Alenia Space is currently the only company in the running (FR, paywall) to build a second Turkmen communication satellite. It also wants to design two observation satellites. 

The railway line connecting the Uzbek cities of Bekobod and Qo‘qon (Kokand) via Tajikistan should be electrified (FR) by the end of 2021.

Izzat Amon, an activist for migrants’ rights in Russia, has been deported to Tajikistan (RU).

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 5 April 2021, there have officially been 440,539 cases, 5,337 deaths and 404,826 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 255,028 cases, 3,110 deaths, 225,256 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 89,153 cases,  1,507 deaths, 85,217 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 83,050 cases, 630 deaths, 81,135 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)

Uzbekistan’s vaccination programme has started (ENG) 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.

Adventure travel in Kyrgyzstan

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Our photo of the week

In the summer, Alisa, 15, helps her mother to run a little yard restaurant where they serve homemade dishes. By Irina Unruh. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Novastan is looking for freelance journalists based in Central Asia. Click here for more information.

The team is still completely made up of volunteers and we’re looking for help! Here is how you can join us: Contribute.

That’s it for this week!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Russia resumes flights to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 29 March 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

In the news

Turkmenistan was China’s top gas supplier in January (FR), ahead of Russia and other gas producers in the region. In January 2021, a total of 2.786 billion cubic metres of Turkmen gas were delivered to China, out of the 4.685 billion cubic metres the country imported.

The Uzbek LGBT rights campaigner Miraziz Bazarov has been hospitalised after being attacked on 28 March, RFE/RL reports (ENG). Earlier that day, a crowd marched in Tashkent, the capital, against LGBT rights. In Uzbekistan, sexual relationships between men are punishable for up to three years in prison.

The chair of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev said Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have come to an agreement on disputed territory. According to him, the agreement includes (RU) easier travel in and out of Sokh, a Uzbek exclave surrounded by Kyrgyzstan, and exchanges of territory.

Charlotte Adriaen is the new EU ambassador to Uzbekistan (FR). The new head of the European Union delegation in Uzbekistan wants to support cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Early last month,the prime minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Oripov, announced his government planned to(ENG) invest 2.5 billion US dollars (£1.8 billion) in the country’s digital infrastructure by 2023.

Also last month, a meeting between South Korea and Uzbekistan (ENG) focused on space exploration and exploitation for peaceful purposes. It was one in a series of diplomatic gatherings showing Uzbekistan’s growing ambitions to travel to space.

In early 2021, Khurshed Mustafoev became artistic director of the Mayakovsky Theatre in Dushanbe. The actor, director and set designer has been working with the theatre company – the only Russian-language troupe in Tajikistan’s capital – for the past 20 years. He told Novastan about his plans for his new role (ENG)

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 29 March 2021, there have officially been 425,684 cases, 5,227 deaths et 395,562 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 241,873 cases, 3,014 deaths, 217,168 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 88,163 cases,  1,497 deaths, 84,653 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 82,340 cases, 626 deaths, 80,523 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)

Our photo of the week

Portrait after a football match by Antoine Béguier. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

That’s it for this week! If you’re in the UK and looking for something to watch, the newly launched Klassiki platform is showing several classic Central Asian movie, including Novastan favourite Igla.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] LGBT campaigner hospitalised after attack in Uzbekistan appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 22 March 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: Vladimir Putin attended the inauguration of the Jeeroy gold mine via video link on 17 March. Source: president.kg

In the news

First of all, happy Nowruz to everyone who celebrated this weekend or is celebrating this week! Today, we’re looking at the Jeeroy gold mine, the environment in Turkmenistan, tourism in Tajikistan, and more…

Sadyr Japarov and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin launched (EN) operations at Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest gold deposit, Jeeroy. The launch took place on 17 March via video link. As Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty notes, mining projects, especially the Kumtor gold mine, have been the cause of protests in Kyrgyzstan in recent years. At the same time, they are an important part of the country’s economy.

The national companies Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, KazMunayGas and Kazatomprom may go public in 2021, Vlast.kz reports (RU). They are, respectively, the national railway, oil and gas, and uranium companies. Note that Kazatomprom is also the world’s largest producer of natural uranium.

In an article (RU) published on the Turkmen news site Orient.tm on 16 February 2021, the journalist Gozel Sahatova praised Turkmenistan’s environmental record as it prepares to celebrate 30 years of independence. But what does Turkmenistan’s past and current environmental policy look like, and what does it reveal about the country? (EN)

According to official statistics the number of tourists visiting Tajikistan fell by 72% from 2019 to 2020 (EN). The number of visitors to the country fell to 350,000 in 2020, from 1,254,000 in 2019.

Who is Manizha, the Tajik-born singer representing Russia at the Eurovision? We look back (EN) at the musician and activist’s career.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 22 March 2021, there have officially been 413,923 cases, 5,126 deaths et 388,134 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 232,906 cases, 2,924 deaths, 211,754 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 87,462 cases,  1,490 deaths, 84,223 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 80,247 cases, 622 deaths, 78,939 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)

As parts of Kazakhstan face new restrictions, Novastan looks back (EN) 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.

Our photo of the week

Kok boru fans attend a game as part of the Nowruz festivities in 2019, by Antonin Lechat. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Speak French? Join Novastan France on 24 March to talk about everything Nowruz in an informal (virtual) setting. Click here to sign up.

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

That’s it for this week!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Russia and Kyrgyzstan open operations at Jeeroy gold mine appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 15 March 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week, we’re looking at a referendum on constitutional amendments in Kyrgyzstan, ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang, cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan’s tourism industry, and, in lighter news, the Eurovision.

On 11 March, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved (RU) the final reading of a bill to hold a referendum on constitutional amendments. The referendum is planned for 11 April. The amendments would give more power to the president, create a people’s assembly (kurultay) with, among others, authority to propose laws to the parliament, but also prohibit the dissemination of information that goes against the “moral values and the public consciousness of the people of Kyrgyzstan”. The president, Sadyr Japarov, signed the bill (RU) into law on 12 March.

Kazakhstan’s ministry of foreign affairs has asked China to help “resolve issues” (EN) raised by picketers at the Chinese consulate in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. The protesters are demanding their relative be allowed to leave the Chinese region of Xinjiang.

Kyrgyzstan’s president Sadyr Japarov made an official visit to Uzbekistan, where he met with his Uzbek counterpart,  Shavkat Mirziyoyev. According to the Uzbek media Gazeta.uz (RU), they agreed to create a joint investment fund, open air traffic to Sox, an Uzbek exclave surrounded by Kyrgyzstan, resolve issues about the disputed enclave of Unkar-Too, fund 100 places for Kyrgyz citizens in Uzbek universities and work on the construction of a hydroelectric power station, among others. 

Last month, the Uzbek government announced an action plan (ENG) to develop the country’s tourism industry. The new measures, targeting transport, visa requirements and taxes, came into effect in March. Uzbekistan hopes to promote its tourism industry despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Tajikistan-born singer Manizha will represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest. Manizha Sangin, who grew up in Russia after her family left Tajikistan during the civil war, will perform “Russian Woman”. The song denounces gender stereotypes and celebrates women.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 15 March 2021, there have officially been 405,203  cases, 5,051 deaths et 382,864 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 224,731 cases, 2,856 deaths, 206,832 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan : 86,917 cases,  1,483 deaths, 83,875 recovered
– Uzbekistan : 80,247 cases, 622 deaths, 78,939 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered (no cases according to official figures)

Last month, Kyrgyzstan’s president Sadyr Japarov announced  (FR) that the country will use the Sputnik V vaccine for its mass vaccination campaign against the coronavirus.

Our photo of the week

School pupils in Kyrgyzstan by Irina Unruh. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Speak French? Join Novastan France on 24 March to talk about everything Nowruz in an informal (virtual) setting. Click here to sign up.

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

That’s it for this week!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Kyrgyz parliament approves referendum on 11 April appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 8 March 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we’re looking at International Women’s Day marches in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, Central Asian journalism in Russia, criticism of the new Kyrgyz constitution, and more…

Activists gathered to march for women’s rights in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. According to the Kyrgyz media Kloop.kg (RU), up to 600 people marched in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and around 50 in the southern city of Osh.  This is a record number of people for International Women’s Day in both cities. Last year, masked men had attacked the Bishkek march and the police had detained around 70 activists.

In Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and former capital, a “few hundred” marched according to Vlast.kz, who also calls it (RU) “the largest women’s march in recent history”.

Fergana News, the biggest Russian news site dedicated to Central Asia, is experiencing major financial difficulties and is at risk of closing down (ENG).

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Kyrgyzstan’s draft constitution “undermines human rights and weakens checks and balances necessary to prevent abuses of power”. In a statement (ENG), the human rights organisation calls on the country’s parliament to postpone consideration of the draft until a new parliament is elected- The current parliament should have been renewed during elections in October, but the results were annulled following mass protests.

In Kyrgyzstan, Kamchybek Kolbaev was released from custody on 2 March. Kolbaev was detained (ENG) in October last year on suspicion of organising a criminal group and participating in the activities of an organised criminal group. The United States is “deeply concerned” about Kolbaev’s release, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek said in a statement (ENG), describing him as a “convicted murderer whose criminal network engages in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and other dangerous criminal activity.”

Kazakh bank Jýsan Bank has launched (FR) the JPAY mobile application, which allows contactless payments from a smartphone and is intended to compete with Apple and Samsung services. 

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will provide (ENG)a $3 million loan to Kyrgyzstan’s largest private wholesale broadband operator. This is IFC’s first investment in the country’s telecommunications sector.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 8 March 2021, there have officially been398,680 cases, 4,997 deaths et 377,610 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 218,754 cases, 2,812 deaths, 202,230 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan : 86,583 cases,  1,473 deaths, 83,575 recovered
– Uzbekistan : 80,035 cases, 622 deaths, 78,587 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

Turkmenistanreceived (ENG) Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday.

Our photo of the week

A village in winter by Irina Unruh. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

That’s it for this week! If you don’t know what to watch tonight, we recommend the Kazakh film The Wounded Angel.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan march for International Women’s Day appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 1 March 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: Kazakhstan’s Ashyq app assigns a colour to the user depending on their infection status. For example, green if they have had a negative PCR test in the last 72 hours. Source: Kazinform

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we look at secret palaces, Japarov in Russia, a new Covid app in Kazakhstan, Spotify’s launch in two Central Asian countries, and more…

An investigation by the American media RFE/RL’s Uzbek branch revealed [ENG] evidence of a secretive resort, including a luxurious mansion, built for Uzbekistan’s president not far from the capital Tashkent. The investigation also alleges the complex includes a dam and reservoir, blocking a nearby village’s access to water from the Shovvozsoy river.

According to the investigation, the state-run Uzbekistan Railways oversaw the construction of the resort. The company said [ENG] RFE/RL’s report was “unfounded and untrue”.

Sadyr Japarov, the president of Kyrgyzstan, went to Russia and met with Vladimir Putin for his first foreign visit last week. “(We discussed) economic cooperation between our countries, military cooperation and other areas of cooperation. We talked about Covid. Our Russian colleagues gave us the vaccine and promised to provide Kyrgyzstan with additional volumes,” Sadyr Japarov told [RU] the Russian state newspaper  Rossiyskaya Gazeta. They also talked about reestablishing transport links and ensuring Kyrgyz labour migrants had access to the coronavirus vaccine in Russia.

After decades of disagreement over the use of oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed a memorandum of understanding via video conference on 21 January 2021, opening up the possibility for a Trans-Caspian pipeline [ENG] between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Spotify is expanding to Central Asia[ENG]. On 22 February, the Swedish audio streaming service announced it would launch in over 80 new markets, including Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Local music distributors see its arrival not as a game changer but rather as a sign of the growth of music streaming in Central Asia.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 1 March 2021, there have officially been 392,739 cases, 4,718 deaths and 371,569 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 213,431 cases, 2,540 deaths, 196,889 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan : 86,251 cases,  1,466 deaths, 83,210 recovered
– Uzbekistan : 79,749 cases, 622 deaths, 78,252 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

Kazakhstan is testing a new app [ENG], Ashyq, to restrict access to businesses depending on the user’s Covid-19 status.

Our photo of the week

Khiva by Charlotte Bonin (France). Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

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That’s it for today! If you haven’t read it already, we recommend this long read about the Uyghur camps in China’s Xinjiang region in The New Yorker.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Palaces and pipelines appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 22 February 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: Raimbek Matraimov in 2019

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we look at (even more) developments in the Matraimov case in Kyrgyzstan, political appointments in Turkmenistan, and more.

The former deputy head of Kyrgyzstan’s customs service Raimbek Matraimov will spend two months in pretrial detention [ENG], a Bishkek court ruled. This comes after a first sentence for corruption on 11 February resulted in a fine. Investigations in 2019/2020 implicated Matraimov in a scheme to secretly transfer hundreds of millions of dollars out of the country.

Turkmenistan’s president has named his son deputy prime minister[ENG]. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow made his son Serdar deputy prime minister for digitisation and innovative technologies on 11 February. This appointment goes hand in hand with a cabinet reshuffle.

The UK foreign secretary called for the UN to investigate Uyghur camps in the Xinjiang region of China. “The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, or another independent fact-finding expert, must – and I repeat must – be given urgent and unfettered access to Xinjiang,” Dominic Raab said [ENG] to the United Nations Human Rights council today.

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will resume negotiations [RU] to define their borders in March. Demarcating borders has been an issue since the end of the Soviet Union. This is especially the case in the Ferghana Valley “where a myriad of enclaves exist, and all three countries which share it — Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan — have both historical claims to each other’s territory and economic interests,” the International Crisis Group explained in 2002 [ENG].

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 22 February 2021, there have officially been 387,035 cases, 4,710 deaths and 365,931 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 208,117 cases, 2,540 deaths, 191,739 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 85,929 cases, 1,458 deaths, 82,803 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 79,681 cases, 622 deaths, 78,171 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

New research shows that official Covid-19 figures in Central Asia are “undercounts”, Eurasianet reports [ENG]. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan show the biggest disparity between the excess mortality rate and the official COVID-19 death count, followed by Belarus, Egypt and Russia.

Our photo of the week

“On the road with Maksat” is an ongoing project by the photographer Irina Unruh. During her travels in Kyrgyzstan, she spent many hours in a car with the driver Maksat. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

The short documentary The Wife sheds light on domestic abuse in Kazakhstan. Director Kana Beisekeyev spoke with Novastan contributor Tommy Hodgson about the film. Read their conversation here.

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Matraimov’s millions appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 15 February 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: Uzbekistan has published an environment, social and governance (ESG) report. (Photo: David Stanley)

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we look at the latest developments in the Matraimov case in Kyrgyzstan, sustainability in Uzbekistan, human rights in Kazakhstan and more…

Raimbek Matraimov was found guilty of corruption and fined 260,000 som (just over £2,200). A 2019 investigation [ENG] implicated the former deputy head of Kyrgyzstan’s customs service in a scheme to secretly transfer hundreds of millions of dollars out of the country. As the Kyrgyz media Kloop.kg reports [RU], Matraimov had made a deal with the prosecution, allowing him to avoid a prison sentence in exchange for voluntary repayment of 2bn som, or around £140,000.

On Sunday, hundreds of protesters in Bishkek marched “for justice” and against corruption. As Radio Azattyk, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz service, notes [RU], participants mentioned Matraimov’s sentence, recalling President Sadyr Japarov’s promise to jail the former official.

Uzbekistan has published [ENG] an environment, social and governance (ESG) report. While ESG reports are common practice in the corporate world, Uzbekistan is the first country to publish one.

A new satellite detected [ENG] a methane leak in Turkmenistan. This is not a first: a French data analytics company reported [FR] such a leak in October last year, and, before that, a 2019 study pointed out [FR] a large methane cloud originating in western Turkmenistan.

On 11 February, the European parliament adopted a resolution [ENG] urging Kazakhstan to respect human rights. The text “calls on the Government of Kazakhstan to drop politically motivated charges and end all forms of arbitrary detention, reprisals and harassment … and to allow people to freely express their political, religious and other views“.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 15 February 2021, there have officially been 380,839 cases, 4,694 deaths and 358,657 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 202,573 cases, 2,540 deaths, 185,205 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 85,516 cases,  1,442 deaths, 82,306 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 79,442 cases, 622 deaths, 77,928 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

Turkmenistan still officially states Covid-19 is entirely absent from the country despite many signs to the contrary.

Tajikistan has declared itself Covid-free, but experts say the country’s authorities are an unreliable source [EN] when it comes to coronavirus figures. Last week, the health minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda, repeated that there hadn’t been any new cases in the country in 2021, which contradicts the official count on covid.tj.

At the same press conference, he clarified [RU] Tajikistan’s vaccine situation: “20% of vaccines for the population of Tajikistan will be provided under the COVAX program”, he said. “We are negotiating with the Russian side regarding the purchase of the Sputnik vaccine, and we will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine for free.”

Our photo of the week

Sunset over Khujand by Simon Massicotte. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

That’s it for this week! We recommend starting your evening with some Central Asian rap.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] A fistful of som appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 8 February 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: Ulukbek Maripov is the new prime minister of Kyrgyzstan (Photo: kenesh.kg)

In the news

Hello from Novastan! This week we’re looking at a new government in Kyrgyzstan, Talibans in Ashgabat, journalism in Kazakhstan and more…

Ulukbek Maripov is the new prime minister of Kyrgyzstan. The new, deeply restructured, cabinet has only 16 members. Ulukbek Maripov could go down in history as the last prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, as President Sadyr Japarov stated his intention to abolish the position on his Telegram channel (KG) last week. “The post of the prime minister will be abolished, as well as overlapping government positions,” the message states.

The new cabinet also shows Japarov’s desire to “optimise the government”. As Radio Azattyk (RU) points out, the number of deputy prime ministers has been halved, from four to two. In addition, the number of government ministries, agencies and committees has gone from 48 to 12. Only five ministries remain intact, with all the others subject to restructuring or mergers.

The leadership of Turkmenistan’s ministry of foreign affairs met with Taliban representatives on 6 February, Orient.tm reports (RU). The delegation was apparently in Ashgabat to express their support of the TAPI, a planned natural gas pipeline which would go from Turkmenistan to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan. As Eurasianet notes (EN), this is good news for Turkmenistan, which has been looking for buyers for its natural gas besides China.

In Kazakhstan, the activist Maks Bokaev was released on 4 February after serving a 5-year sentence for his involvement in organising protests. The day before, the journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov, was detained (RU) on his way to cover Bokaev’s release. There is also a criminal case (RU) against Lukpan Akhmedyarov for “disclosure of data from pre-trial proceedings or a closed trial” because of an article he published alleging corruption in Oral (Ural’sk in Russian), in western Kazakhstan.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 8 February 2021, there have officially been 373,698 cases, 4,682 deaths and 349,240 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 196,115 cases, 2,540 deaths, 176,744 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 85,113 cases,  1,431 deaths, 81,714 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 79,162 cases, 621 deaths, 77,564 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered (no new cases according to official figures)
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

Turkmenistan still officially states Covid-19 is entirely absent from the country despite many signs to the contrary.

Tajikistan, as we mentioned last week, has declared itself Covid-free, but experts say the country’s authorities are an unreliable source (EN) when it comes to coronavirus figures.

Our photo of the week

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

And finally, if you’d rather listen to Viktor Tsoi than read the news (don’t we all), we recommend the 1988 Soviet film Igla.

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] The last prime minister of Kyrgyzstan? appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter dated 1 February 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: “I confidently declare that there is no COVID-19 in Tajikistan,” the president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, said last week.

In the news

Another Monday, another newsletter from Novastan! Thank you for sticking with us in January, our first month writing in English . This week, we look at Covid in Tajikistan (or, maybe, lack thereof?), a presidential inauguration in Kyrgyzstan and more…

Officially, Tajikistan is Covid-free. In an address to parliament, President Emomali Rahmon announced that his country had defeated Covid-19. However, researchers and local sources interviewed by Novastan France (FR, paywall) say it is “possible” but “very unlikely” that the number of cases has fallen to zero in the past two weeks.

Last year, Tajikistan did not officially declare any cases until the very end of April. Then, as now, there were doubts about the authorities’ version of events.

The new president of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, took office last Thursday, 28 January. The perfect occasion to look back on his eventful political career, which started just before the first Kyrgyz revolution in 2005.

Sadyr Japarov has already signed several decrees. The very first one concerns “spiritual and moral development and physical education” and sets out plans for the government to work on a “new conception” of these two ideas. As the Kyrgyz media outlet Kloop.kg reports (RU), the government will then revise existing documents to align them with its new definitions.

Another decree includes a ban on foreign companies participating in future large mining projects. This does not affect current license holders.

Finally, in a previous newsletter, we wrote about a controversial comedy show in Kyrgyzstan. Our article about it is now available in English.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

Our photo of the week

Portrait of Tariel, whose brother Ruslan is a renowned kok boru player, by Théo Saffroy. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

We had a great time talking about popular music in Central Asia. On 27 January, Novastan organised an online conference bringing together four experts on the subject. Rewatch our conversation here.

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Is Tajikistan Covid-free? appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our newsletter from 25 January 2021. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

Above: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United States have signed a partnership to promote investment in Central Asia. Photo via Visual Hunt

In the news

Hello from Novastan! After a presidential inauguration in America and protests in Russia, we’d forgive you for not keeping up with Central Asian news. Here’s what you might have missed.

Kazakhstan is cracking down on activists and human rights organisations. Two NGOs, the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law (KIBHR) and the International Legal Initiative (ILI) are facing fines and temporary closures [RU] for alleged financial irregularities. This comes after officials fined the election-monitoring group Echo and human rights group Erkindik Kanaty earlier this month. In November 2020, 13 other groups were given similar fines.

On 7 January, the United States, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed a partnership to promote investment and support economic development in Central Asia. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade and the Astana International Financial Center will raise at least $1 billion over the next 5 years. More on our French website [FR].

The Turkmen journalist Soltan Achilova is one of the three finalists of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. She is not the first Central Asian woman to be nominated for this prize: in 2008, it was awarded to the Uzbek journalist and activist Mo’tabar Tojiboyeva.

Iran and Uzbekistan’s joint infrastructure projects are picking up steam despite the coronavirus pandemic. More particularly, the port of Chahabar in Iran stands as a potential gateway to world trade for the Uzbek economy.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 25 January 2021, there have been 354,162 case, 4,515 deaths and 330,418 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 178,454 cases, 2,403 deaths, 160,313 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 83,971 cases,  1,401 deaths, 80,025 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 78,429 cases, 621 deaths, 76,862 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

Turkmenistan maintains Covid-19 is not present in the country, hence the statistics above. Last week, it approved the use of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine and is working on registering different vaccines, too [RU]. Officially this is for foreign athletes visiting Turkmenistan for the 2021 Track Cycling World Championships in October.

Correction: last week, we wrote Tajikistan had not reported new cases since 1st January – it had in fact reported 12 cases between 1-18 January. Since then, there are no new cases according to the official figures.

Kazakhstan is planning to start mass vaccination on 1st February [RU].

Our photo of the week

Rangkul (Tajikistan) by Cyril Caldero. Click on the picture for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo of the day from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

Events. This Wednesday at 4pm GMT (5pm in Paris and Berlin, 10pm in Bishkek), Novastan France is organising an online conference on popular music in Central Asia. More information here. Last week we wrote 11pm Bishkek time instead of 10pm, many apologies for the error.

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] Kazakhstan cracks down on activists appeared first on Novastan English.

This is a copy of our 18 January 2021 newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox every Monday. Happy reading!

This newsletter is dedicated to post-Soviet Central Asia. Each week, we let you know the latest from the region. Question, comments, suggestions? Reply to this newsletter or write to us at editorial@novastan.org.

In the news

Hello and welcome to Novastan’s English newsletter! Thank you for subscribing. We’re very grateful for the support we’ve received since the English website’s launch two weeks ago.

After the parliamentary election on 10 January, Kazakhstan has a new government. This doesn’t imply change, however: Asqar Mamin, who has been prime minister since February 2019, has been reappointed to the same position. As the Kazakhstani outlet Vlast.kz notes (RU), almost all of the members of the previous government have retained their post.

Vlast.kz also looked at the composition of the Majilis (RU), or lower house: the same three parties are in parliament, but 70% of current deputies are newcomers.

After a controversial comedy show on YouTube, Kyrgyzstan’s culture minister is considering stronger state control of musicians. After just two episodes, the show “V pi#du zvezdu”, hosted by the pop singer Kural Chokoev, became a controversial topic on social media. Obscene language and off-colour jokes led some internet users to call for a boycott of the show’s sponsors.

Coronavirus, border clashes, a political crisis in Kyrgyzstan… need to catch up? Last week, we looked back at 2020 in Central Asia.

Covid-19 in Central Asia

As of 18 January 2021, there have been 343,621 case, 4,445 deaths and 322,363 recoveries. In more detail:

– Kazakhstan : 169,099 cases, 2,349 deaths, 153,503 recovered
– Kyrgyzstan: 83,178 cases,  1,387 deaths, 79,104 recovered
– Uzbekistan: 78,036 cases, 619 deaths, 76,538 recovered
– Tajikistan: 13,308 cases, 90 deaths, 13,218 recovered
– Turkmenistan: 0 cases, 0 deaths, 0 recovered

Turkmenistan maintains Covid-19 is not present in the country, despite measures such as extending school holidays this month. Tajikistan, which only officially recorded its first case in May 2020, has not reported new cases since 1st January. [ERRATUM: Tajikistan has not reported new cases since 10 January, not 1st. There have officially been 12 new cases since the start of the year]

Last week, the vice prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, Elvira Jyrgalbekova, said the difference between the official count and the real number of deaths due to Covid-19 in the country was “in the thousands”.

Our photo of the week

Central Khujand (Tajikistan) by Gina Bates. Click here for more information.

Every day, we publish a photo of the day from Central Asia. You can find it on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Novastan news

New year, new events. On 27 January at 4pm GMT (5pm in Paris and Berlin, 10pm in Bishkek), Novastan France is organising an online conference on popular music in Central Asia. This event will be in English. More information here.

What/Who/Where/Why is Novastan? Good question. All the details are here.

Help Novastan grow. Click here for more information about how to contribute. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!

Thank you for reading! See you next week for more information and analysis from Central Asia. For daily updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

The post [Newsletter] A new government in Kazakhstan, a hello from Novastan appeared first on Novastan English.