 RFE/RL Central Asia Report 5/10/2010 7:08:42 PM A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the five countries of Central Asia. For more stories on Central Asia, please visit and bookmark our Central Asia page . |
 Kyrgyz Youth To Hold Constitution Forum Kyrgyz youth organizations are planning a forum in the southern city of Osh to discuss the country's new draft constitution, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. More  Latvia Asked To Detain Maksim Bakiev Kyrgyzstan has asked Latvia to detain the son of ousted Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiev. More  Jailed Kyrgyz Official On Hunger Strike The former head of Kyrgyzstan's presidential secretariat has begun a hunger strike in prison, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. More Search and rescue efforts are under way in Tajikistan's southern Kulob region, where according to the authorities floods have killed at least 21 people. More  U.S., Russian Embassies Jointly Congratulate Kyrgyz On Victory Day The Russian and U.S. embassies in Kyrgyzstan have issued a rare joint statement congratulating Kyrgyz on the celebration of Victory Day. More  Uzbek President Closes Private Notaries Uzbek President Islam Karimov has signed a decree to abolish private notary offices because they are creating a "criminal situation." More  Tajik Floods Kill 20 In Kulob Strong rains have caused floods that have killed at least 20 people in the Kulob area of the southern Tajik province of Khatlon. More  Kazakhstan Awards Bakiev Pilot Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has given the pilot who flew the ousted Kyrgyz president out of Kyrgyzstan last month a special state award. More  Tajikistan Rejects Iran Visa Offer An Iranian government official said today that Tajikistan has rejected an offer to establish visa-free travel between the two countries. More  Postwar Diary: The Lone Photograph I was 41 in 2004, when I was first shown this black-and-white picture: four men posing on horseback, one with a baby boy in his arms. It was the first time I'd ever seen my grandfather, Parkizat Sharipzhan. He's the man in his early 30s on the far right, with a briefcase in his hands. More  Tajik Students Win Ruling For Lower College Tuition A Tajik court has sided with students and ordered tuition at a university in northern Tajikistan to be lowered. More  Kyrgyz Request Bakiev's Extradition Officials of Kyrgyzstan's interim government say they have formally requested the extradition from Belarus of deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiev. More  Interview: Up To Kyrgyz To Decide How To Build Their Democracy, Obama Adviser Says Michael McFaul, a top foreign-policy adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama, spoke with Gulaiym Ashakeeva of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service in Bishkek about his visit to Central Asia. More  Official: Open Kazakh-Kyrgyz Border A senior foreign-policy adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama says he will urge Kazakh officials to reopen the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border. More Bakiev's Former Chief Of Staff Arrested The Prosecutor-General's Office press service told RFE/RL that Oksana Malevannaya has been charged with abuse of power and is being held in the National Security Service's detention center in Bishkek. More  Kazakh-Kyrgyz Border Still Closed The Kazakh-Kyrgyz border remains closed despite talks via phone between Kyrgyz interim government head Roza Otunbaeva and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev More  Privatizations Of Resorts By Kyrgyz Ex-President Probed Kyrgyz acting Prosecutor-General Baitemir Ibraev says many properties near the Issyk-Kul lake resort that were privatized during President Kurmanbek Bakiev's rule are being investigated. More  Iran, Tajiks To Talk Visa-Free Travel Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry says Iran has officially proposed introducing visa-free travel between the two countries. More  Nazarbaev: 'Leader Of The Nation'? Three Kazakh parliament deputies today proposed giving President Nursultan Nazarbaev the official title "Leader of the Nation." More A Tajik communications official has complained about the removal of mobile phone advertisements from billboards in Dushanbe. More  Tajik Calls For Higher Marriage Age Tajikistan's only female general has proposed raising the minimum marriage age for women to 22. More  Tajik Toll Road Operating Illegally A Tajik official says a controversial toll road in the country is now operating illegally. More  Niqab Adds New Wrinkle To Tajikistan's Head-Scarf Ban It appears the Tajik authorities' campaign against the hijab, or Islamic head scarf, has not only been unsuccessful, it may have had a starkly opposite effect. As the number of women opting for the hijab steadily rises, the even more concealing niqab is also showing up on the streets of Dushanbe. More  Kyrgyz Government Removes Squatters Land that was violently seized by squatters outside of Bishkek last month is being returned to its owners. More  Kyrgyzstan To Seek Bakiev Extradition Kyrgyzstan's interim government has ordered prosecutors to seek the extradition of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted in a violent revolt last month. More  Senior U.S. Adviser In Bishkek For Talks Michael McFaul, U.S. President Barack Obama's senior adviser on Russian and Eurasian affairs, met with Almazbek Atambaev, the deputy head of Kyrgyzstan's interim government. More  $9 Million In Kyrgyz Safe-Deposit Box Kyrgyz authorities say they have found almost $9 million in cash belonging to former Kyrgyz Defense Minister Bakyt Kalyev in a safe-deposit box in a bank in Bishkek. More  May Day Activists On Hunger Strike Four Kazakh opposition activists are on hunger strike to protest police action against their May Day gathering. More  Kyrgyz Offer Bakiev Bounties Authorities in Kyrgyzstan are offering rewards as high as $100,000 for information leading to the capture of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev and fugitive relatives and senior aides. More |
