RFE/RL Central Asia Report
03.09.2012
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the five countries of Central Asia.
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Letter From Uzbek Prison Purportedly Reveals Regime Of Torture
A letter purportedly smuggled out from Uzbekistan's most notorious prison has shed more light on the practice of torture in the facility. More 
Bows, Bells, Balloons, And Butterflies -- It's Back To School
The first day of school -- a time of butterflies in the stomach and big bows in the hair. RFE/RL photographers went back to school themselves to capture children in some of our broadcast countries on their first day back after the summer holidays. Even though September 1 fell on a Saturday this year, schools in countries throughout the former Soviet Union still welcomed students, while in other regions children started the school year on September 3. More 
Kyrgyz Adoption Official Arrested
Kyrgyzstan has announced the arrest on suspicion of bribe-taking of an official of the Social Protection Ministry who worked to arrange the adoption of Kyrgyz children by foreigners. More 
Report: SCO 'Vehicle' For Rights Abuses
A report by an international human rights group says the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is being used by its members as a "vehicle for human rights violations." More 
Kyrgyz Appoint New Acting Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister Aaly Karashev has been appointed Kyrgyzstan's acting prime minister to serve as parties try to find a way out of a government crisis brought on by economic woes and corruption scandals. More 
Synthetic Hijabs Get Under Tajik Women's Skin
Physicians in one southern Tajik town say they've treated around 100 female patients lately for skin ailments -- and many are pointing the finger at their Islamic head scarves. More 
Kyrgyz Ex-President Akaev Apologizes For Mistakes
Former President Askar Akaev has apologized for what he describes as the country's economic and political problems and his own "personal mistakes" during his tenure as independent Kyrgyzstan’s first president between 1990 and 2005. More Kazakh cyclist Aleksandr Vinokurov was suspended from the sport in 2007 due to doping charges, but he returned to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. In an interview with RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, he spoke about the doping scandal and his recent decision to retire from racing. More 
U Need 2 Get 2 Crt ASAP
We've heard about courts issuing subpoenas in an effort to obtain the contents of text messages. In Kazakhstan, however, they're turning the tables. More 
Tajik Prosecutor Accuses Islamic Party
Tajikistan's Prosecutor-General's Office has accused members of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of involvement in crimes connected to extremism and terrorism. More 
Vinokurov Calls Armstrong Move 'Big Blow To Cycling'
Elite world cyclist and recent Olympic gold medalist Aleksandr Vinokurov says he was saddened when American Lance Armstrong gave up his battle against doping allegations, adding that it represents "a big blow [to] cycling." More 
Kazakh Cycling Legend, New Olympic Champion Looks Back
Legendary cyclist Aleksandr Vinokurov recently came out of retirement to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. The 38-year-old pride of Kazakhstan recently sat down with RFE/RL to discuss his doping scandal, his work with a new generation of Kazakh cyclists, and longtime rival Lance Armstrong. More Kazakh cyclist Aleksandr Vinokurov was suspended from the sport in 2007 due to doping charges, but he returned to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. In an interview with RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service, he spoke about the doping scandal and his recent decision to retire from racing. More 
Tajik Man Fights The System, One Letter At A Time
There are few citizens willing to challenge the powers that be in Tajikistan. But one local resident has risen to fame for his readiness through the decades to stand up to everyone from local bureaucrats to President Imomali Rahmon to the Kremlin itself. More 
Court Case Against Prominent Kazakh Rights Activist Ends
Prominent Kazakh human rights activist Vadim Kuramshin has left a courtroom in the southern city of Taraz a free man. More 
Filming Of Second And Third Parts Of Kazakh Presidential Biopic Under Way
The Kazakh film industry has taken over the industrial town of Temirtau, where it is being used as the backdrop for a trilogy about the country's president, Nursultan Nazarbaev. More The Kyrgyz government's official website has been hacked, authorities there say, leaving the site unavailable to would-be browsers. More 
Kyrgyz Protesters Storm Belarus Embassy
Scores of people have stormed the Belarusian Embassy in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, demanding the immediate extradition from Belarus of former President Kurmanbek Bakiev and his brother Janysh. More 
Silly Dictator Story #18: '95 Percent Of Uzbeks Are Happy To Live In Uzbekistan'
“Splendid and infinite happiness” is not good enough for Uzbek President Islam Karimov, because according to the latest poll by the government’s center for public opinion, 95 percent of Uzbeks are happy to live in Uzbekistan. More 
Kyrgyz Hizb ut-Tahrir 'Leader' Arrested
Officials in Kyrgyzstan's southern Jalal-Abad region say a branch of the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir organization has been discovered in the region and an alleged leader of the group detained on August 26. More 
The Silent Treatment From Turkmenistan's New Political Player
The leader of Turkmenistan's new opposition party does not seem to be in a hurry to get out and start kissing babies. More Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has given the Social Democratic Party that he formerly led the mandate to start negotiations on forming a new ruling coalition following last week's collapse of the government. More |
