RFE/RL Central Asia Report
02.07.2012
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the five countries of Central Asia.
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Uzbek Opposition Meets In Prague
Uzbek opposition groups are meeting in the Czech capital Prague to discuss how best to oust Islam Karimov as the only ruler the Central Asian country has ever known since independence in 1991. More 
Silly Dictator Story #4: Celebrations Everywhere For Turkmenistan's 'Protector'
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov may oversee one of the world’s most repressive security states, but the Turkmen president -- or, "arkadag" (protector) -- knows how to throw a party. More 
Interview: Analyst Says Uzbekistan's Suspension Shows CSTO Is 'Irrelevant'
Uzbekistan on June 28 announced that it has suspended its membership of the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), saying the organization ignores Uzbekistan and does not consider its views. The CSTO is largely billed as an antiterrorism organization and it includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson spoke with Vladimir Socor, a senior fellow of the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation, about the CSTO and the significance of Tashkent's decision. More 
Silly Dictator Story #3: Uzbekistan (Unironically) Celebrates Media Workers
On June 27, media workers across Uzbekistan (presumably) celebrated a day named in their honor. More 
Kyrgyz Parliament Hot Under The Collar Over Dress Code
A proposed dress code is making its rounds in Kyrgyzstan's parliament, where deputies are considering banning miniskirts, sportswear, and heavy perfume inside the building. More 
No Duffer: Kazakh Teen Stakes Claim To Being Chess World's Youngest Grandmaster
Kazakhstan's chess body has posited a case for making 12-year-old Kazakh schoolgirl Zhansaya Abdimalik the youngest female grandmaster in the world. More 
Uzbekistan Reinstates Exit Visas
Authorities in Uzbekistan have reintroduced exit-visa regimes for Uzbek nationals traveling to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, in an apparent move to limit travel to the neighboring Central Asian states. More 
Kyrgyzstan Backs Revision Of Gold License
Kyrgyzstan's parliament has voted in favor of revising the operating license of a Canadian company that has been developing the Central Asian country's major gold mine, Kumtor. More 
Kazakh Activists Face More Charges
Reports say Kazakh authorities may hit two prominent opposition leaders with additional charges that could result in years more jail time. More The scars of Tajikistan's five-year civil war will never heal completely. But 15 years after the end of the bloody conflict, thousands of the war's widows can thank the guidance they received from the country's religious authorities for helping them start a new life. More 
Property Issues Make Waves At Kyrgyz Lake
The crystal-clear waters and beautiful surroundings of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Lake in the Tian Shan Mountains have long been a mecca for tourists. More |
