Jan 2010
Karimov’s plan: Uzbekistan to strengthen bilateral cooperation with USA
29.01.2010. Category:Uzbekistan
The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov approved the Action Plan on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United States of America for 2010, Gazeta.Uz reports. It has to be mentioned that the Uzbek leader signed the appropriate decree on January 11; nonetheless, only today many local mass media reported this fact.More ...
Photographer faces jail for 'defaming' life in Uzbekistan
29.01.2010. Category:Uzbekistan
Amnesty International has urged the Uzbekistani government to allow its people freedom of expression after one of the country's most prominent photographers was charged with "defamation of the Uzbekistani people“.
More ...
More ...Turkmen students allowed to leave the ountry
29.01.2010. Category:Turkmenistan
Good news: Turkmenistan’s government has finally given the green light to students enrolled at private foreign universities to continue their studies abroad, putting an end to six months of uncertainty.More ...
Turkmen Leader to End Rights Abuses
28.01.2010. Category:Turkmenistan
President Nicolas Sarkozy should use the upcoming state visit by his Turkmen counterpart to speak out about Turkmenistan's abysmal human rights record and to press for concrete improvements, the French League for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights, and Reporters Without Borders said today.
More ...
More ...
NATO and Kazakhstan reach transit pact for Afghanistan
27.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
NATO and Kazakhstan completed an agreement on Wednesday that will permit NATO allies to ship cargo through Kazakh territory to Afghanistan, providing an important alternative to vulnerable routes elsewhere.More ...
Extremism in Central Asia
25.01.2010. Category:Central Asia
The documentary on extremism in Central Asia by Michael Andersen:
You Tube and LiveJournal in Turkmenistan
20.01.2010. Category:Turkmenistan
Late December information was circulating on the internet that access to You Tube and LiveJournal had been blocked in Turkmenistan.
The Monitoring conducted by You Tube demonstrated that over the past 2 to 3 weeks video clips from Turkmenistan had been posted on this web resource.
We interviewed 28 respondents from Turkmenistan, both in the capital and the country's provinces. Six of them were denied access to You Tube and were unable to watch several music clips. Three opened the website but due to low connection speed were unable to watch anything.
Apparently You Tube can be accessed only in the provinces where fiber optic cable is installed and internet access depends on the quality of connection.
In addition, none of the respondents managed to get access to LiveJournal. This resource is blocked in Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan Initiative for Human Rights
The Monitoring conducted by You Tube demonstrated that over the past 2 to 3 weeks video clips from Turkmenistan had been posted on this web resource.
We interviewed 28 respondents from Turkmenistan, both in the capital and the country's provinces. Six of them were denied access to You Tube and were unable to watch several music clips. Three opened the website but due to low connection speed were unable to watch anything.
Apparently You Tube can be accessed only in the provinces where fiber optic cable is installed and internet access depends on the quality of connection.
In addition, none of the respondents managed to get access to LiveJournal. This resource is blocked in Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan Initiative for Human Rights
Torture in Uzbekistan : still systematic and unpunished
20.01.2010. Category:Uzbekistan
The report was prepared from materials collected from the monitoring of the rights of persons under investigation and in detention. The monitoring was conducted during eight months in 2009 by the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan and Committee for the Liberation of Prisoners of Conscience, both based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan .
The Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights, based in Berlin, provided assistance with the collation and analysis of the data. Monitoring was conducted through interviews with individuals released from prisons, victims of torture, relatives of the convicted, and persons serving prison sentences and includes observation of court hearings. In addition, official responses from government agencies to claims of torture from alleged victims, press releases, and statements from local human rights organizations were included in the review.
The Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights, based in Berlin, provided assistance with the collation and analysis of the data. Monitoring was conducted through interviews with individuals released from prisons, victims of torture, relatives of the convicted, and persons serving prison sentences and includes observation of court hearings. In addition, official responses from government agencies to claims of torture from alleged victims, press releases, and statements from local human rights organizations were included in the review.
Russia and Turkmenistan mend their relationship
19.01.2010. Category:Turkmenistan
At the end of December, leaders of Russia and Turkmenistan met to discuss the future of their relationship.
First, on December 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov met in Ashgabat and signed an agreement to expand bilateral “strategic” energy cooperation. Then the heads of Gazprom and Turkmengaz signed an agreement on the resumption of Turkmen gas supplies to Russia with the start of 2010, amounting to 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually.More ...
First, on December 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov met in Ashgabat and signed an agreement to expand bilateral “strategic” energy cooperation. Then the heads of Gazprom and Turkmengaz signed an agreement on the resumption of Turkmen gas supplies to Russia with the start of 2010, amounting to 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually.More ...
Turkmenbashi's arch to be removed
19.01.2010. Category:Turkmenistan
A giant arch topped by a gold-plated statue of Turkmenistan's late leader, Saparmyrat Niyazov, is to be moved out of the centre of the country's capital.
More ...
More ...
Islam Karimov & Co are the ones radicalising Central Asia
18.01.2010. Category:Central Asia | Uzbekistan
From Wednesday 20 January, and for the next week, the television channel Aljazeera English is showing his film ’(The Myth of) Religious Extremism in Central Asia’. Fergana.ru interviews Michael Andersen about his project.
More ...
More ...
Kazakhstan only part of the solution for Nabucco
18.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is not ready to supply gas to Nabucco at this stage, but Astana is willing to consider supporting the gas pipeline to Austria as the former Soviet Republic develops its gas resources, and if the project makes sense economically, top Kazakh officials told New Europe in Vienna on 13 January.More ...
Consideration of the third periodic report under Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
18.01.2010. Category:Uzbekistan
The Expert Working Group of Uzbek NGOs and human rights practitioners prepared this report to inform the process of consideration for the third periodic report of Uzbekistan by the United Nations Human Rights Committee under the Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Previously Uzbekistan reported on the 83rd session of the UN Human Rights Committee held in March 2005.
The report covers the events for the period of 2005 to 2009. As for the range of issues, the current report largely repeats the previous 2005 NGO submission regarding the many problems and failures of the Uzbek Government to insure the rights guaranteed by the Covenant persisted.More ...
The report covers the events for the period of 2005 to 2009. As for the range of issues, the current report largely repeats the previous 2005 NGO submission regarding the many problems and failures of the Uzbek Government to insure the rights guaranteed by the Covenant persisted.More ...
Uzbek secret services collect the records about independent journalists
15.01.2010. Category:Uzbekistan
The Tashkent Public Prosecutor’s office conducted the series of interrogations of several independent journalists, working in Uzbekistan. On January 7 five of them – Vasiliy Markov, Sid Yanyshev, Abdumalik Boboev, Khusniddin Kutbiddinov and Marina Kozlova (that cooperated with various foreign mass media) were called for "an interview" with Bakhrom Nurmatov, the assistant Public Prosecutor of Tashkent. Vasiliy Markov and Abdumalik Boboev refused to show up without official notice; the rest of journalists met Mr. Nurmatov.
Each of the journalists was presented their own detailed record with articles, bio and other documents. Mr. Nurmatov informed that these documents were delivered from National Security Service (NSS) and Uzbek Foreign Affairs Ministry.More ...
Each of the journalists was presented their own detailed record with articles, bio and other documents. Mr. Nurmatov informed that these documents were delivered from National Security Service (NSS) and Uzbek Foreign Affairs Ministry.More ...
Illegal Christmas as unregistered religious activity punished
15.01.2010. Category:Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan continues in 2010 to punish unregistered religious activity, in defiance of international human rights standards, Forum 18 News Service has learned. On 3 January, eight police officers raided a Christmas gathering organised by an officially registered church. Asked why celebrating Christmas was illegal, police told Forum 18 that the Full Gospel Holiness Church is "not registered" in Umid village. Three leaders of the Church face administrative charges as a result. Also, following an unregistered religious meeting in the southern Surkhandarya Region, Pastor Bakhrom Nazarov has been fined over 83 times the minimum monthly wage. 21 people are known to have suffered short-term jail sentences between February and August 2009. However, there were no known short-term jailings of people for exercising their freedom of religion or belief in the latter part of 2009. Asked why, a Judge told Forum 18 that "it may be because of the liberalisation of Uzbekistan's Judiciary, which is underway at the moment."More ...
Former OSCE chair says time ripe for 'serious look' at reform
15.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
The 56-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is facing hard times as observers increasingly question its relevance and effectiveness. At a Permanent Council session in Vienna on January 14, the new Kazakh chairmanship of the OSCE will lay out its plan for the coming year -- an agenda that former OSCE Chairman in Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb describes as "an extensive and ambitious working program."
Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb speaks at an OSCE council in Helsinki.
Stubb, who chaired the organization in 2008, spoke to RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson about the challenges the OSCE will face in 2010.More ...
Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb speaks at an OSCE council in Helsinki.
Stubb, who chaired the organization in 2008, spoke to RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson about the challenges the OSCE will face in 2010.More ...
OSCE role highlights slow Kazakhstan reforms
15.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is fulfilling one of its most cherished foreign policy goals in taking up the chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the human rights watchdog.More ...
Kazakhstan assumes presidency of Europe security group
15.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
History is in the making in this Central Asian republic, the largest and the most developed of the former Soviet republics east of the Urals, as Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Thursday.More ...
Gas flows again to Russia
15.01.2010. Category:Turkmenistan
Natural gas may be flowing again from Turkmenistan to Russia, but the two countries’ pricing dispute is not over, analysts are predicting.
Turkmen gas exports to Russia resumed January 9 after a nearly nine-month hiatus, due to a pricing dispute. Under the Turkmen-Russian settlement, the Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom will only buy 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually compared to 50 bcm in previous years, and will pay in the region of $250 per thousand cubic meters (tcm), Russian news sources reported.More ...
Turkmen gas exports to Russia resumed January 9 after a nearly nine-month hiatus, due to a pricing dispute. Under the Turkmen-Russian settlement, the Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom will only buy 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually compared to 50 bcm in previous years, and will pay in the region of $250 per thousand cubic meters (tcm), Russian news sources reported.More ...
EU statement in response to the address by the Chairperson-in-Office
14.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
The EU congratulates H.E. Mr. Kanat Saudabayev, Secretary of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the assumption of the functions of Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE. As the first representative of a Central Asian country to assume this highly demanding responsibility, you and your country are faced with high expectations. The Kazakh Chairmanship will open a new chapter in the history of our organization, underlining the importance of the Central Asian region and increasing the attention paid by the international community, the media and civil society not only to that region but to the whole of the OSCE. We warmly welcome you to the Permanent Council for the first time in your new capacity and thank you for your address outlining the priorities and the roadmap of the Kazakh Chairmanship in 2010.More ...
The murder of Gennadyi Pavlyuk reminds the action of Kyrgyz secret services
14.01.2010. Category:Kyrgyzstan
The arrival of Kyrgyz journalist Gennadiy Pavlyuk in Almaty reminds planned action of secret services, Kazakhstani Vremya newspaper reports.
The edition notes that murderous assault against Pavlyuk, committed in southern capital of Kazakhstan on December 16, 2009, is detected and «the names of criminals are identified». According to the newspaper, the traces lead to «some highly ranked Kyrgyz secret service official, unofficially positioned as manager of Bakiev’s clan on security issues».More ...
The edition notes that murderous assault against Pavlyuk, committed in southern capital of Kazakhstan on December 16, 2009, is detected and «the names of criminals are identified». According to the newspaper, the traces lead to «some highly ranked Kyrgyz secret service official, unofficially positioned as manager of Bakiev’s clan on security issues».More ...
Kazakhs announce plans for OSCE
14.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan says it will put the main emphasis on security and development, rather than democracy, during its chairmanship of the OSCE.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe had for years been too fixated on Western values.More ...
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe had for years been too fixated on Western values.More ...
Summit needed for stagnant OSCE
14.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
On Jan. 1, Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to take over chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Kazakhstan views the OSCE, with its unique geographical coverage, tools and experience, as one of the vital mechanisms for ensuring international security and cooperation from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Yet perceptions of "dividing lines" and "zero-sum-game" thinking have not gone away with the end of the Cold War and continue to limit efforts to build indivisible security in the OSCE area.More ...
Kazakhstan views the OSCE, with its unique geographical coverage, tools and experience, as one of the vital mechanisms for ensuring international security and cooperation from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Yet perceptions of "dividing lines" and "zero-sum-game" thinking have not gone away with the end of the Cold War and continue to limit efforts to build indivisible security in the OSCE area.More ...
US Response to Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev
14.01.2010. Category:Kazakhstan
The United States is pleased to welcome Foreign Minister Saudabayev to the Permanent Council as the OSCE’s 2010 Chairman-in-Office. We are also pleased that President Nazarbayev took the opportunity to address us this morning. Both of these statements underscore Kazakhstan’s commitment to the OSCE and to a strong and successful Chairmanship.More ...