21:12 msk, 9 february 2010

Central Asia news

Politics Kyrgyzstan: Who sponsors the murder of dissidents?

02.02.2010 16:33 msk

Бакыт Бешимов
Kazakhstani investigators revealed the track of Kyrgyz special services in the murder of journalist Gennadiy Pavlyuk. Considering the nature of today’s ruling regime, there is nothing new here. The persecution of believers in the southern part of the republic, the Nookat events, the murders and assaults against politicians, journalists, public figure, the conflicts in the Petrovka village and the Balykchi events prove that current regime, its characteristics and application are the major source of troubles.


Dilshod Usmanov: The future of our country is the future of our children

Business Dilshod Usmanov: The future of our country is the future of our children

30.01.2010 09:50 msk

The group of young businessmen in Uzbekistan launched big project, aiming to raise the productivity of cultivation areas, re-cultivation of dead and contaminated soil, ecological improvement through the use of biohumus, produced by Oltin vodiy (Golden valley) bloodworms. Major raw material for mass production of biohumus will be million tons of domestic waste from gigantic city dumps. Therefore, the project initiators are going to cover the project costs and lead Uzbekistan to the top world’s producers of biohumus. The idea of industrial scale production of biohumus in Uzbekistan was born in 1980s by Rustam Usmanov, PhD in Economics, famous Uzbek entrepreneur and the founder of the first private bank in the republic. Ferghana.Ru correspondent met Mr. Usmanov in his office.


The conflicts at Kyrgyz-Uzbek border became more frequent

Ferghana Valley The conflicts at Kyrgyz-Uzbek border became more frequent

19.01.2010 13:56 msk

On January 17 another armed incident took place at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border: the Uzbek border guards wounded Kyrgyz guard at Kyrgyz territory and took him to Uzbekistan. The conflicts at Kyrgyz-Uzbek border are frequently originated by both sides. Among the reasons there are unauthorized interference of the border guards to the territory of neighboring state, the move of cattle, water use, illegal fees for crossing the border and conveyance of goods. Ordinarily Uzbek media do not cover the border conflicts, but in 2010 two of them broke with the precedent


Islam Karimov & Co are the ones radicalising Central Asia

Interview Islam Karimov & Co are the ones radicalising Central Asia

18.01.2010 22:58 msk

Over the past decade and a half, the regimes in Central Asia have with the help of labels such as ‘extremist’ and ‘terrorist’ practically exterminated all opposition. “But by imprisoning and torturing thousands, the dictators in Central Asia are creating a time bomb of discontent”, says the Danish journalist Michael Andersen, “and unfortunately, the West is looking the other way”. Andersen who has covered Central Asia for many years, has just finished his latest film ‘The Myth of Religious Extremism in Central Asia’. The film will be shown on the channel Aljazeera English from this Wednesday, and can also be seen on the channel’s website. Fergana.ru interviews Michael Andersen about his latest project. “The heroes of the film are the incredibly courageous human rights defenders and journalists who stand up to the regimes, often risking their own lives”, says the Danish journalist, “I think we all know who the villains are”.


Uzbek secret services collect the records about independent journalists

Human Rights Uzbek secret services collect the records about independent journalists

15.01.2010 16:10 msk

In the beginning of January of 2010 in cooperation with National Security Service and Uzbek Foreign Affairs Ministry the Tashkent public prosecutor’s office conducted intimidating actions against independent journalists. Few people were invited for interrogations where each one was presented the detailed record while their articles, written by the journalists, were named "biased" and "tendentious". This event can be treated only as the attempt to muzzle very few independent journalists in Uzbekistan. One of them is the Ferghana.Ru free-lance correspondent Alexei Volosevich that shares his story of communicating with the prosecutor’s office.


Tajikistan: Men’s work for fragile women

Business Tajikistan: Men’s work for fragile women

13.01.2010 16:33 msk

When every seventh citizen of Tajikistan goes abroad for earnings, those, staying home, have to make a living. Tajik women are mastering traditional "male" professions such as potters, irrigators, crane operators, taxi drivers, brick layers, woodworkers and blacksmiths. While gentlemen are working abroad, ladies replace them at home. Tilav Rasul-zade, Ferghana.Ru correspondent in Tajikistan, writes about fragile women, carrying man’s work.


Uzbekistan: The embassies of USA and Russia awarded best journalists of the year

Uzbekistan: The embassies of USA and Russia awarded best journalists of the year

30.12.2009 16:15 msk

In the holiday season the embassies of USA and Russia in Uzbekistan announced the winners of the journalist contest on coverage of bilateral relations. The list of winners included freelance correspondents of Ferghana.Ru news agency - Sid Yanyshev, Sergey Naumov and Pavel Kravets. Ferghana.Ru editorial staff congratulates colleagues and friends with the victory and wishes happy New Year!


Second Advent or what is expected in Turkmenistan under Ruhnama?

Analytics Second Advent or what is expected in Turkmenistan under Ruhnama?

30.12.2009 10:23 msk

The second advent of Ruhnama in the socio-cultural area of Turkmenistan makes us think not only about circling politicians, but also what is expected in the country in the future and how the neighbors view such development. New Turkmen national culture policy is the Niyazov-initiated surgery of lively and diverse Turkmen culture of various groups of Turkmen and other ethnicities to some varnished imitation, substituting genuine culture. Those, who are not aware of Turkmen realities, need to understand the following: titular ethnic group consists of complex tribal structure. The scientist still cannot explain the emergence of many groups. Each group – clan or tribe – has many unique independent features.


Human Rights The International Group to support Umida Ahmedova

23.12.2009 08:05 msk

The group of photographers, artists, art critics and journalists from Uzbekistan, Russia, Europe, USA and Canada disseminated an open letter, addressed to the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Internal Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Uzbekistan as well as international human rights organizations and international community in general. The letter supports the creative work of prominent Tashkent-based photographer Umida Ahmedova.


American military uniform is highly demanded in Uzbekistan

Business American military uniform is highly demanded in Uzbekistan

21.12.2009 16:54 msk

American apparel and shoes are very popular in Tashkent even if they are second hand items. They are highly demanded among customers because they meet major criteria – quality. The sellers do not tell us where they get the merchandise. However, people are happy that at moderate prices they can afford the apparel and shoes of much higher quality than those, produced in Uzbekistan or China.


Uzbekistan: The criminal case has been filed against the photographer and documentary film maker Umida Akhmedova

Arts Uzbekistan: The criminal case has been filed against the photographer and documentary film maker Umida Akhmedova

17.12.2009 15:38 msk

The criminal case has been filed against prominent photographer and documentary film maker Umida Akhmedova in Tashkent. She is accused of slander and insult of Uzbek people. The reason for accusation became "Men and women: from dawn to dusk" album, produced in 2007 under the support of Swiss Embassy Gender Program. The album consists of over 100 pictures, reflecting various aspects of people’s lifestyle in Uzbekistan. "Where is the slander?" question, asked by Akhmedova, remained unanswered.


Uzbekistan's rating. Shall President Karimov take pride in

Analytics Uzbekistan's rating. Shall President Karimov take pride in "accomplishments"?

17.12.2009 08:54 msk

Speaking at the solemn conference dedicated to another anniversary of the Constitution, Uzbek President Islam Karimov spoke at length of the "reforms on a major scale" under way in the republic and of the astonishing successes of his astute leadership over the previous two decades. Karimov was stone-cold confident that the international community adequately appreciated achievements of Uzbekistan "on the way to development to a democratic state, civil society, modern economy" and to "a deserving place in the world". Ferghana.Ru did its honest best to sort out these achievements and decide whether or not they were anything to take pride in.


Uzbekistan: The first POS terminals appeared in the markets of Tashkent

Business Uzbekistan: The first POS terminals appeared in the markets of Tashkent

15.12.2009 17:05 msk

UzA official news agency of Uzbekistan learned from Toshbozortayerlovsavdo that over 30 POS (point of sale) terminals were set up in twelve markets of Tashkent; from now on, the local residents can use their debit cards there. Ferghana.Ru correspondents took a walk around Tashkent bazaars in order to personally observe the work of terminals. POS terminals were found only at one of the four markets of Uzbek capital; it turned out that terminals process only VISA cards while the customer can pay only for limited food items.


Why does Afghanistan need railroad?

Business Why does Afghanistan need railroad?

04.12.2009 09:14 msk

At the end of October of 2009 the state-owned railroad company of Uzbekistan became the contractor of the Hairaton-Mazar-i-Sharif railroad. At the end of November the project was approved by Uzbek government. Despite modest length of the line – only 75 kilometers – this is strategic project, Afghanistan has been waiting for many years. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is still one of those very few Asian countries that do not have railways. This project is vitally important for Uzbekistan: in the future the country may become biggest cargo transit center in the region, backed up by emerging strong partnership between Tashkent and Washington DC.


Kyrgyzstan: The security officers tried to accuse the human rights activist Bakhrom Khamroev in espionage and extremism

Human Rights Kyrgyzstan: The security officers tried to accuse the human rights activist Bakhrom Khamroev in espionage and extremism

25.11.2009 16:22 msk

Coming back to Moscow and recovering from stress, caused in Osh, the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan, Russian human rights leader of Uzbek origin Bakhrom Khamroev shared all details of his detention by the Kyrgyz security officers. The incident with Bakhrom Khamroev make us think again about alarmingly rude and more frequent cases of civil rights violation, committed by special services of Kyrgyzstan under the pretext of fighting "Islamic extremism". Such conclusion is produced by Russian human rights center Memorial that disseminated the detailed story by Mr. Khamroev.


Other news

Media headlines

New York Times Pakistani Military Retakes Key Town in Tribal Belt From Taliban, 09.02.2010

Interfax British national deported from Uzbekistan, 08.02.2010

The Diplomat China Enters Asia’s ‘Great Game’, 08.02.2010

Guardian Troops prepare for biggest joint offensive against Taliban, 08.02.2010

Eurasia Review Analysis Of Russian And Central Asian Economies, 07.02.2010

VOA Extent of Islamic Radicalism in Central Asia Unclear, 05.02.2010

RFE/RL Latvia Agrees To Take Uzbek Inmate From Guantanamo , 03.02.2010

Eurasianet Afghanistan: Washington Exploring Chinese Re-supply Route, 02.02.2010

Forum 18 TURKMENISTAN: Exit bans, haj ban, visa denials part of state religious isolation policy, 02.02.2010

Reuters Europe watchdog slams Uzbekistan media crackdown, 02.02.2010

MFA.uz President of Uzbekistan to visit South Korea, 02.02.2010

BBC Kazakhstan's Uzbek refugees wait in limbo, 30.01.2010

Independent Karzai bows to anti-corruption strategy, 28.01.2010

Amnesty.Org Photographer faces jail for 'defaming' life in Uzbekistan, 28.01.2010

Forum 18 UZBEKISTAN: Crackdown on devout Muslims continues, 27.01.2010

Reuters U.S. sends Uzbek from Guantanamo prison to Switzerland, 27.01.2010

Al-Jazeera Uzbek photos anger officials, 27.01.2010

Eurasianet Central Asia: Strategic Necessity Forces Pentagon to Alter Economic Aims of NDN, 27.01.2010

Trend Uzbekistan seeks common ground with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on water issue, 27.01.2010

Hurriyet Recent spats highlight fragile Uzbek, Kyrgyz relations, 26.01.2010

ABC fghan president proposes Taliban amnesty, 26.01.2010

CNN U.S. intelligence briefing: Taliban increasingly effective, 25.01.2010

BBC In pictures: Negative images of Uzbekistan?, 25.01.2010

Reuters Talks with Taliban loom over Pakistani-Afghan summit, 25.01.2010

RFE/RL Debit Cards Costly, At Least For Some Uzbeks, 24.01.2010

CPJ Journalist charged with defaming Uzbeks, faces 8 years jail, 23.01.2010

BBC UN wants investigation of Uzbekistan police rape claims, 23.01.2010

Al-Jazeera China 'must probe Google attacks' , 22.01.2010

Eurasianet Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek Worried About Tashkent's Information Dominance in Southern Regions, 22.01.2010

Canadian Press NATO planning to appoint civilian boss in Afghanistan to co-ordinate with military, 22.01.2010

RFE/RL Wounded Kyrgyz Border Guard Remains In Uzbekistan, 21.01.2010

BBC Hillary Clinton calls on China to probe Google attack, 21.01.2010

Asia News.It Torture in Uzbekistan: systematic and unpunished , 21.01.2010

Washington Post NATO military chief courts Russia's help, 20.01.2010

Tehran Times Tehran, Tashkent to establish joint commerce chamber, 19.01.2010

Press TV Drunken Saudi diplomat caught in Uzbekistan, 19.01.2010

BBC Kyrgyzstan keeps a tight grip on religion, 19.01.2010

RFE/RL Kyrgyz Guard Injured During Shootout On Uzbek Border, 19.01.2010

Kurier Spionage-Prozess endet mit Blamage, 18.01.2010

ICG Central Asia: Migrants and the Economic Crisis, 18.01.2010

New York Times Suicide Attackers, Gunmen Hit Central Kabul, 18.01.2010

RSE Tadjikistan: Accoucher à ses risques et périls, 18.01.2010

Eurasianet Afghanistan: If You Can't Beat the Taliban, Try to Buy Militants Off, 16.01.2010

Trend Oman's embassy to be opened in Uzbekistan, 15.01.2010

Global Voices Online Uzbekistan: War of the monuments, 15.01.2010

RFE/RL Media Watchdog Alarmed By Interrogations Of Uzbek Journalists, 15.01.2010

CNN China steps up corruption monitoring, 14.01.2010

Forum 18 UZBEKISTAN: Illegal Christmas as unregistered religious activity punished, 14.01.2010

RFE/RL Uzbek Woman Tells Of Sisters' Alleged Rapes In Prison, 13.01.2010

LOATAY Afghanistan: Only the first move in the grand chess game for control of Central Asian resources, 13.01.2010