Interviews / Kazakhstan

Can Kazakhstanis delete fake information about them from the internet? Is Kazakhstan going to introduce the right to oblivion at all? And if it does, won’t it damage the freedom of speech? CABAR.asia talked about it to Ruslan Daiyrbekov, director of law firm DRCQ, founder of Eurasian Digital Foundation, who develops projects on protection of digital human rights and on studying internet in the Eurasian space. (more…)

CABAR.asia 26.05.23

Central Asia is witnessing a rapid surge in digital authoritarianism. In this interview, we closely examine the dynamics between the state and citizens, explore the role of international actors, and evaluate the economic ramifications posed by the phenomenon. Together with expert Ildar Daminov from the Central European University, we navigate the intricate challenges surrounding the establishment of digital dictatorships in the region. We provide recommendations for civil society and the media. Additionally, we investigate the role of Meta and Google in safeguarding digital rights and freedoms, while addressing ways individuals can protect themselves amidst the escalating online authoritarianism.


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How can the other middle powers decrease the tension between the US and China and what role will the Central Asian states play in this? How does the US assess the Chinese Global Security initiative? And will it contribute to strengthening China’s role in the regional security of Central Asia? Will the US strategy in Central Asia be changing? These and other questions were discussed with the Director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, Robert Daly, exclusively for CABAR.asia. (more…)

Symbat Abisheva 18.05.23

In an exclusive interview for CABAR.asia, Dr. Jennifer Turner talks about the Choke Point Initiative in China, how China addresses the water-energy challenge, and its implications for Central Asia. (more…)

Marinin Sergey 02.05.23

As the EU faces challenges in promoting democracy in Central Asia, many wonder what the current strategy for democracy promotion should look like. What are the key elements of a successful strategy, and how can conditionality be used effectively? Moreover, can the goals of promoting democracy, protecting human rights, and supporting civil society in the region realistically be achieved, given the current complex political and economic realities? CABAR.asia explores these questions and more in an exclusive interview with the Ghent University expert. (more…)

In the last five years, social media of Kazakhstan were filled with dozens, hundreds of scary stories about rapes in public places, atrocities committed by domestic tyrants, paedophiles who hurt children both physically and morally. The social disapproval policy has led to the increase of violence in the country. But statistics show otherwise. In 2022, compared to 2018, the number of sexualised crimes in the country reduced two times – from 1.9 thousand to 980 criminal cases. (more…)

Navruz Karimov 28.04.23

Central Asia became more attractive for Beijing since the Russian invasion of Ukraine made the northern trade routes unavailable to use for China. Growing vacuum of influence in the region is going to be filled by China, believes Brian Carlson, the head of the Global Security Team at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) think tank. (more…)

CABAR.asia 17.04.23

Amid strengthened discourses about the processes of political decolonisation, the term “decolonial feminism” can be heard more often. However, feminism per se in Central Asia is still the subject of bitter debates: on the one hand, it is considered as the liberation of women from patriarchate,  on the other hand, it is criticised over intervention into the national culture and traditional values. (more…)

Ulyana Fatyanova 30.03.23

Bagatoz Temirbayeva is known as pastor Batagoz to her parish. She has worked as pastor with the Evangelical  Christian Centre “Presviterianstvo” (Presbyterianism) or simply put, the Presbyterian church in Kokshetau, for 15 years already. How the daughter of the Soviet faith fighter has become the preacher, how female pastors are treated, and the difference between men’s and women’s sermons are described in the material by CABAR.asia. (more…)

Marinin Sergey 27.03.23

CABAR.asia talked with the esteemed UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Ms Mary Lawlor, to explore potential avenues for safeguarding and upholding human rights in Central Asia. The rapporteur emphasized her people-centred approach, focusing on the most vulnerable defenders. The rapporteur encouraged anyone with reliable information about human rights defenders’ rights violations to contact her office. We discussed the importance of UN mechanisms in protecting human rights and holding governments accountable, despite the challenges of “democratic backsliding” in some countries of the Central Asian region.

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