RFE/RL Central Asia Report
5/2/2011 8:13:55 PM
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the five countries of Central Asia.
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Kazakh Would-Be Settlers Arrested
More than 100 people have been arrested in Almaty after clashing with police and Interior Ministry forces on May 1-2 in a land dispute. More 
Kyrgyz President Visits Disputed Border
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva has visited the southern Batken region to familiarize herself with the situation on the country's borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. More 
Press Freedom 'At Lowest Ebb'
Press freedom worldwide has dropped to its lowest point in more than 10 years, with only one in six people now living in a country that has a free and independent media, according to the democracy watchdog group Freedom House. More 
Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance Party Rebrands, Using Social Projects To Reach Voters
Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP) has been pursuing a determined campaign to rebrand itself into a modern, youth-oriented force that offers more than religious lectures and political statements. The party has also been active in reaching out to ordinary people by getting involved in social projects and addressing people's everyday needs. And it seems to be working. More 
Kyrgyz Customs Service Head's Citizenship Questioned
The Kyrgyz parliament has urged the government to verify whether the head of the country's Customs Service can continue in that post in light of claims that he has dual citizenship. More 
Kyrgyz Warning Of Islamic Terror Group
Kyrgyzstan's National Committee for State Security (UKMK) head told parliament that an underground organization called the Islamic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (IMK) has been established. More 
Russian Delegation In Kyrgyzstan To Discuss Labor Migrants
A Russian delegation led by the president's office visited the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh today to discuss problems faced by migrants working in Russia. More 
Tajik President No Fan Of British Royal Wedding
Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon clearly seems to be annoyed by the international media's blanket coverage of the British royal wedding. More 
Scamming The Online Polls In Kazakhstan
Last week, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov, who is also a popular blogger, proposed to the online community via Twitter that he hold an online conference. More 
Indonesia 'Guarantees' Kyrgyz Drugs Suspect's Rights
Indonesian authorities are said to have assured the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry that the rights of a 21-year Kyrgyz woman charged with illegal drugs-trafficking will be respected. More 
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan To Resume Border Delimitation Talks
The next talks on delimitation of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border will be held next month in the northern Tajik city of Khujand. More 
Two Former Top Kazakh Judges Detained For Suspected Corruption
Two former Kazakh Supreme Court judges have been taken into detention in Astana on suspicion of corruption. More 
Jailed Kyrgyz Opposition Politician's Supporters Demand His Release
Supporters of a Kyrgyz opposition leader jailed for trying to overthrow the government are demanding his release. More 
Debate About Joining Customs Union Heats Up In Kyrgyzstan
The government of Kyrgyzstan decided earlier this month to seek entry into the CIS Customs Union. The authorities are advertising the move as a way to avoid further economic hardship. But there are some who question whether joining the union with Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus is the solution to Kyrgyzstan's problems. More 
Governments Move To Thwart 'Arab Spring' In Central Asia
Like the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia also suffers from poverty, corruption, heavy-handed governments, widespread unemployment, and scant opportunities for the young. All too aware of the similarities, governments there are already taking measures to prevent public upheaval of the kind that has shaken the Arab world. More 
Tajik Militant Group Warns Of New Attacks
A Tajik-language website purportedly run by Islamic militants has vowed to carry out new attacks on government forces and called on the Tajik people to rebel against President Emomali Rahmon. More 
Aliya's Jewels
Women in Kazakhstan can now splash out on diamond jewelry designed by their own president's daughter Aliya Nazarbaeva along with upscale Italian jeweler Damiani. More 
MEPs' Turkmen Visit Could Swing Long-Awaited Deal
A delegation of European Parliament members is in Turkmenistan this week to assess the human rights situation in the country. More |
