16:40 msk, 9 february 2010

Central Asia news: Узбекистан

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


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.


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!


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.


The US government is not planning to resume military cooperation with Uzbekistan

Politics The US government is not planning to resume military cooperation with Uzbekistan

23.11.2009 12:53 msk

On November 20 Tashkent hosted the meeting of US assistant deputy Secretary of State on South and Central Asia George Kroll with Uzbek and foreign journalists. The press-conference covered such issues as US military presence in Uzbekistan, regulation of situation in Afghanistan, human rights and return of western mass media back to Uzbekistan.


Good bye the Tashkent Public Garden!

Good bye the Tashkent Public Garden!

23.11.2009 08:29 msk

In the last few days the planes in the heart of Tashkent have been exposed to brutal deforestation by local authorities. The municipal government is cutting chenars, planted at the end of XIX century by the order of Governor-General Chernyaev when the first part, known as Public Garden, appeared in the current capital of Uzbekistan. Today, chenars, once the objects of state protection, are being totally cut down. They are bucked into three-meter long beams and transported by dump trucks. At the same time, other workers stub the stumps of other trees. y Monday morning of November 16 over half of entire public garden was cut off.


Movement Against Karimov in Europe

Interview Movement Against Karimov in Europe

05.11.2009 11:01 msk

Movement Against Karimov was founded in Sweden. Its founder Mark Ruppert has its own score to even with the Uzbek authorities. He is determined to help the people of Uzbekistan to "rid itself of Karimov and his criminal clique that seized the country." Ruppert intends to go about it through legitimate channels, i.e. courts. Movement Against Karimov lawyers prepare a lawsuit to the Hague Tribunal in the hope that the latter will condemn Karimov's criminal actions and unseat him.


Uzbekistan: Only one bookstore remained in Samarqand

Uzbekistan: Only one bookstore remained in Samarqand

03.11.2009 16:34 msk

Samarqand used to be one of the most "reading" cities in Uzbekistan. It is hard to believe now but in 90s each of three districts of the city had several bookstores. Samarqand’s pride was Book Center – three-storey bookstore. Today, such stores are reconditioned into food stores, drug stores and boutiques. The former Book Center now serves as the head office of biggest cellular provider.


Opposition activist against his will. Businessman Bahodir Choriyev's story

Politics Opposition activist against his will. Businessman Bahodir Choriyev's story

21.10.2009 12:49 msk

Businessman and opposition activist Bahodir Choriyev returned from the United States to Uzbekistan to fight the regime. Choriyev was spared the indignity of arrest on deplaning. He was thoroughly searched instead, advised to forget about ever leaving Uzbekistan again or even about visiting Tashkent, and told to settle in a small cottage in the Kamashi district wastelands far from nearby dwellings. Here is a story of Choriyev told by Sanobar Shermatova, RIA news agency expert, a story of how the Uzbek regime makes enemies.


Uzbekistan: News from the Fields

Cotton Uzbekistan: News from the Fields

20.10.2009 16:41 msk

In the mid of October the air temperature in the Republic of Karakalpakstan varies from +3 degrees in the night to +25 in the day. Under various temperatures the undersized cotton plant cracks down, forcing the cotton growers, especially kids, stay longer at the fields. Along with the employees of government-sponsored organizations they gather imponderable boxes (2-3 gram) every day. In order to gather one kilo of "white gold" they have to make at least 300 prehensile moves in the thorny bushes. At the same time, they eat third-rate macaronis.


Other news

News briefs

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