May of 2021 in Central Asia is remembered for the end of Ramadan and pardon of prisoners, trip of the presidents of two countries to Moscow, deficit of air tickets and difficult yet encouraging epidemiological situation in the region. CABAR.asia provides a brief review of the most significant events in the region that took place last month.
Kazakhstan
General epidemiological situation
Before the middle of May, Kazakhstan recorded the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, about 2,000-2,500 registered cases a day. After the 20s of May, there is the reduction of coronavirus cases. The number of detected coronavirus cases in the last week of May reduced from 15 thousand to 12 thousand cases, or 21 per cent, compared to the third week of May. In general, the incidence rate declined 1.6 times last month.
As is known, Kazakhstan was divided into three zones: red, yellow and green. The regions are assigned a colour based on two indicators: the number of reproductions or infection transmission from the infected person to a contact person, and the second factor is the morbidity rate among 100 thousand people per week.
“Red” zone refers to the city of Nur-Sultan, as well as Akmola and Karaganda regions. “Yellow” zone refers to the city of Almaty and Atyrau, Pavlodar, Western Kazakhstan, Kostanai, Northern Kazakhstan regions. The remaining 8 regions are located in the “green” zone.
Vaccination
As of the end of May, nearly 3.2 million vaccine doses were used, and 2,131,519 persons were vaccinated with the first component, which is 21% of the population to be vaccinated. The second component was already administered to 1,074,954 persons. Kazakhstanis may get the second dose of coronavirus vaccine on the 21st day, not 45th day, if need be.
Currently, Kazakhstan is carrying out the mass anti-Covid vaccination with the Kazakhstan vaccine QazVac, Russian Sputnik V and Chinese Hayat-Vax. Nearly 2 million double doses are expected to arrive in June: the first batch of “CoronaVac” in the amount of 500 thousand doses was delivered by special flight to Almaty. The vaccine was manufactured by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company.
President of Kazakhstan enacted the law banning sales of lands to foreigners
President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev enacted the law banning sales of lands to foreigners. The text of the law will be published later. Earlier, the parliament adopted the law banning possession of agricultural lands by foreigners, kandas (the term “oralman” is replaced by “kandas”, which means “of the same blood” in free interpretation), and foreign legal entities.
The purpose of the draft law was to ban the ownership of agricultural land plots, both as a private property and for temporary use, by foreigners, stateless persons, foreign legal entities, legal entities of Kazakhstan with foreign participation, international organisations, research centres with foreign participation, as well as kandas.
The draft law regulated the issues of transfer of agricultural lands in cases of termination of citizenship of Kazakhstan and when foreign citizens and legal entities become participants of a legal entity of Kazakhstan.
Tokayev initiated the new law. He commissioned to immediately regulate this issue to stop rumours that the lands of Kazakhstan could be sold to foreigners.
The land issue is a sensitive issue for the Kazakhstanis. In 2016, the republic encountered a wave of mass protests against amendments to the land law that allowed foreign citizens and legal entities to lease agricultural lands for 25 years. In addition, the amendments provided an opportunity to purchase agricultural lands from the state (however, the authorities emphasised then that the document did not provide for the sale of lands to foreigners).
As a result, the then president of the country, Nursultan Nazarbayev, declared the moratorium on these amendments that expires at the end of 2021. The incumbent head of Kazakhstan, Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, at the end of February instructed to draft the land law immediately. In spring, the document was submitted to the parliament, yet its discussion was accompanied by debates.
On April 15, the lower house of parliament (Mazhilis of Kazakhstan) adopted the draft law of Tokayev with their amendments and permitted foreigners to lease lands for afforestation for up to 25 years, which caused discontent of some Kazakhstan activists. According to the supporters of the document, this wording was made up to avoid the demands of the people after “land” protests of 2016. After criticism, the Senate returned the draft law to the Mazhilis and suggested to provide lands for individual afforestation to the citizens of Kazakhstan and legal entities of the republic without foreign participation, and the lower house supported this suggestion.
According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, currently agricultural lands are leased by seven legal entities with foreign participation. The total area of these lands is 74.4 thousand hectares.
Amendments to the electoral law
President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev endorsed amendments to the constitutional law “On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
These amendments reduce the election threshold for political parties from 7% to 5% of the number of voters. They provide for the introduction of the “against all” column in voting bulletins of all levels.
In addition, amendments have been made to introduce direct election of the heads of administrations (akims) in the cities of regional subordination, villages, small towns and rural districts. Candidates may independently come forward as candidates or run on behalf of political parties. Now, deputies of local representative bodies in the republic elect such heads of administrations.
In the second half of this year, 836 akims will be elected by direct voting – only citizens of Kazakhstan aged 25 and over will be allowed to vote and they must be eligible according to “qualification requirements under the civil service law”.
In January 2021, Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev noted that the column “Against all” must be introduced to voting bulletins of all levels. In his opinion, the threshold reduction for parties in the parliament must encourage political alliances to participate in elections.
Tokayev’s visit to Tajikistan
On May 19, Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, upon invitation from President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon, arrived on a two-day official visit to Dushanbe. It was the first foreign visit of President of Kazakhstan in 2021.
Presidents of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan discussed the issues of development and extension of friendly relationships and strategic partnership between the two countries. A meeting in the capital Palace of Nations was held with a limited number of participants, and then with participation of the parties’ delegations.
During the meeting, Emomali Rakhmon and Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev shared opinions about development of relationships between the two countries in diplomatic, interparliamentary, trade and economic, research and technical, cultural and humanitarian, and security areas. The Tajik-Kazakh negotiations resulted in the signing of seven documents.
During negotiations, the heads of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan discussed the outbreak of violence in Afghanistan. The main problem of Central Asia, according to Emomali Rakhmon and Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, remains the situation in Afghanistan that escalates after the withdrawal of USA and NATO forces from the country.
The visit of Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev to Tajikistan and meeting of the Kazakhstan leader with ‘friend Emomali’ that followed the conflict on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were recognised by experts as the willingness of Kazakhstan to show itself as a peacemaker in the region. The destabilisation in the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border could trigger the dedicated involvement of Nur-Sultan into the Central Asian integration.
Nazarbayev failed to support the idea of installation of a monument to him
Press Secretary of the ex-president of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev Aidos Ukibai said that the ex-president “didn’t support” the idea of installation of a new monument to him.
Earlier at the international conference, Bilal Cakici, the Deputy Secretary General of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), offered to install a monument to Nazarbayev in Turkestan, the administrative centre of Turkestan region.
Amid yet another initiative related to the monument installation, social media spread the photos of a sculpture resembling the ex-president at his young age. Next to the statue are the members of Ak Zhol, the party of the so-called parliamentary opposition. Some experts suggested that the new monument is likely to be installed in Turkestan by the 6th of July.
The initiatives to honour, install monuments to Nazarbayev, who had ruled the country for almost 30 years, are frequent in Kazakhstan. The ex-president said that he did not like such initiatives. Monuments to Nazarbayev are installed in several towns of Kyrgyzstan. In July 2020, amid the outbreak of the pandemic, the monument to the ex-president was opened just before his birthday in the capital renamed in his honour. The name of Nazarbayev was given to the capital airport, central streets in large cities, the university and a network of schools. Some cities of Kazakhstan have parks of the first president, sports centres and museums. The Capital City Day celebrated on July 6 “coincides” with the birthday of the ex-president and is declared a day off. According to political analysts, there is the personality cult of Nazarbayev in the country.
Lavrov criticised the position of some Russian politicians regarding Kazakhstan
Sergei Lavrov, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in the interview to the Kazakhstan agency ‘Khabar’ answered the question of why Russian politicians sometimes deliver provocative speeches despite Kazakhstan being the strategic partner of Russia. Earlier, Vyacheslav Nikonov, the head of the State Duma’s Committee for Education and Science, called the territory of Kazakhstan “a great gift from Russia”.
Lavrov emphasised that “the persons who determine the politics of the Russian Federation regarding Kazakhstan have never and will never say anything that would cast doubts on arrangements regarding the development of our alliance.”
Kazakhstan has resented the words of Vyacheslav Nikonov (“United Russia”) during the “Bolshaya Igra” programme broadcasted on the Channel One Russia who said “the territory of Kazakhstan is a great gift from Russia.” The Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan handed the note to Russia due to the statement of the politician. According to the message available on the website of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan, “more frequent provocative attacks of some Russian politicians against Kazakhstan cause a serious damage to the allied relationships between the states.”
Earlier, another State Duma deputy of the same faction, Evgeny Fedorov, had made a statement similar to Vyacheslav Nikonov. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan expects an adequate evaluation of such statements from the Russian party and calls it to take measures in order to avoid such statements from statespersons of the Russian Federation in future,” according to Nur-Sultan.
Picket participants near the consulate of China brought to trial
On May 12, the Administrative Court of Almaty fined at least four participants of the indefinite protest actions near the consulate of China who demanded information about their relatives in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), who, according to them, were either arrested or in home detention. T least three picket participants were issued a warning by the court. The American Embassy to Kazakhstan voiced their support to the people who demanded the release of their relatives from the Chinese prisons and “re-education camps”.
All those people brought to trial were detained on May 11 after they were picketing in three locations – near the consulate of China, the bank and the office of the company with Chinese participation. On Tuesday, they were delivered to various police stations of Almaty. Later on, they received subpoenas and were released. Court hearings were held on May 12.
The people who were held administratively liable for over 90 days continue to protest in front of the consulate of China. They demand that the authorities of China provide them with information about their relatives in Xinjiang, the region in the northwest of the country, where information about the violations of rights of Uighurs, Kazakhs and representatives of other Turkic nations who are mainly followers of Islam has been reported since 2017.
According to some protesters, their relatives were imprisoned on baseless charges. Others say that their relatives were sent to “re-education camps”. Some say that the Chinese authorities deprived their relatives of documents, hold them under house arrest and do not let them out of China.
Both the security of the diplomatic mission and the police officers put obstacles to the protesters from time to time. During the pickets, no one came out to the protesters from the consulate of China.
Kyrgyzstan
In May, tense epidemiological situation was in Kyrgyzstan. The whole country registered nearly 300 cases of coronavirus infection every day. Moreover, the number of deaths was rising: six to eight fatal cases from COVID-19 and community-acquired pneumonia were reported every day in May, and most of them took place in the capital city.
Vaccination
For two months of the campaign, 76.9 thousand people have been vaccinated, and only 28.7 thousand people have gotten the second dose. Only 4 per cent of the population have been vaccinated so far. According to the government, 2 million people should be vaccinated for herd immunity.
The country has very few vaccines: in March, only the first batch was supplied to the republic – 150 thousand doses of Sinopharm vaccine. However, during the recent visit of the head of the Kyrgyz foreign ministry, Ruslan Kazakbaev, to Beijing, it became known that China will supply 150 thousand doses of Sinopharm more to Kyrgyzstan as a humanitarian aid.
The country has a small number of the Russian Sputnik V – 40 thousand doses only, including 5 thousand doses that were received as the humanitarian aid from Russia. Two components of the vaccine cost Kyrgyzstan nearly 20 dollars (about 1.7 thousand som) each. The third batch of the remaining 20 thousand doses is expected to arrive soon. Therefore, the majority of those who want to get this very vaccine will have to pay for it. 930 doses of Sputnik V vaccine were defrosted at the Family Medicine Centre No. 2 and had to be discarded.
Supplies of AstraZeneva vaccine under the COVAX facility remain an open question. First, it was planned for supply in April, but then the delivery terms were postponed. Now the health ministry cannot specify the dates. Kyrgyzstan has received consumables for the vaccination under the Global COVAX Facility. The republic is expected to receive 405 thousand doses.
President of Kyrgyzstan signed the new constitution
On May 5, president of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov signed the new version of the national constitution that was approved by the majority of voters at the April referendum. In addition, he signed the law “On the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic.”
On the same day, the president of Kyrgyzstan addressed the citizens regarding the Day of Constitution and voiced hope that the amended basic law would serve their interests and “contribute to further effective development” of the country.
Moreover, Zhaparov signed the decree “On the cabinet of ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic” and dissolved the existing government. “The head of state takes into account that the government of Kyrgyzstan is deemed resigned and ordered to reorganise the government into the cabinet of ministers. The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan is deemed the successor to the government,” according to the press service.
Results of municipal elections cancelled
The Bishkek territorial election committee (TIK) at the May 12 session resolved to cancel the results of elections to the city council.
The reason was the removal of Emgek, Ak-Bata and NDPK parties from the election race and the votes casted in favour of them were found invalid. Also, the Bishkek TIK cancelled the election results at nearly 30 voting stations of the capital city. As a result, the number of cancelled votes exceeded 60 thousand and amounted to 45.02 per cent. According to the law, if at least one third of votes are not counted, the election results are cancelled and re-election is called.
Elections to local councils were held on April 11. 1,820 candidates representing 25 parties ran for 45 seats in the Bishkek City Council. According to preliminary information, the following 6 parties cleared the 7 per cent barrier: Emgek, Ak-Bata, People’s Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, Ata-Zhurt Kyrgyzstan, Yntymak, Bizdin El. Later on, the TIK of Bishkek removed NDPK from elections for vote buying cases. CEC and the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Bishkek TIK. On May 12, the latter removed Emgek and Ak-Bata parties.
In early May, CEC cancelled the election results in Osh and Tokmok City Councils.
Meeting between the heads of foreign ministries of Kyrgyzstan and China
On May 11, bilateral negotiations between the head of the foreign ministry Ruslan Kazakbaev and the member of the state council, foreign minister of China Wang Yi were held at Xi’an City. The heads of the ministries discussed a wide range of issues regarding the Kyrgyz-Chinese cooperation at the meeting.
During the meeting, Wang Yi “taking into account the comprehensive strategic partnership” between the countries voiced a few decisions regarding the bilateral cooperation. Thus, Kyrgyzstan will receive:
- The second batch of Chinese vaccines in the amount of 150 thousand doses as the humanitarian aid free of charge;
- The grant to support the national economy in the amount of 350 million RMB (nearly 54 million dollars);
- The write-off of extra fee for delay in payments under the foreign national debt of Kyrgyzstan to China;
- The optimisation of performance of Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints “in order to increase their capacity.”
By results of the negotiations, the Programme for Cooperation between the two foreign ministries for 2022-2023 has been signed.
Lawsuits against Kumtor, high profile arrests
The authorities of Kyrgyzstan and Canadian Centerra Gold Inc. started litigation regarding Kumtor gold field. This field is considered one of the world’s largest high mountain fields by its gold reserves, and its profit was 12 per cent of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP in 2020. Centerra Gold Inc. is the principal shareholder of Kumtor.
On May 17, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan enacted the regulation on imposing temporary external administration in the company due to “reckless actions” of Centerra Gold Inc. The Canadian company is charged with flagrant violation of ecological standards, which allegedly threatened the safety of Kumtor workers and local population, and also caused the pollution of the soil and environment.
The parliament’s decision was based on the findings of the state commission and the law adopted in early May that allowed the government to impose external administration in Kumtor in case of the breach of ecological requirements. Moreover, the Bishkek court bound the Kumtor to pay 3 billion dollars to the state as compensation for the illegal burial of wastes at Davydov and Lysyi glaciers. The Kyrgyz party claims that the area of the glaciers decreased threefold because of the wastes.
In response, Centerra Gold Inc. filed claims in Canada and to the International Court of Arbitration against the actions of the government of Kyrgyzstan and the former member of the board of directors, Tengiz Bolturuk, appointed by the authorities as external administrator. The wording of claims is “takeover of the mine by the government of Kyrgyzstan.” In addition, the company claimed that on May 12 the authorities of the republic tried to withdraw nearly 29 million dollars from the company’s account via Kyrgyzaltyn and using a forged bank order.
In general, four criminal cases were opened regarding Kumtor. The first one relates to the management of Kumtor Gold Company, and the other three relate to malfeasance in office.
The first case against Kumtor investigated by GKNB relates to the use of natural resources and accuses ex-prime minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev and some other officials and members of parliament of corruption. The second case investigates the fact of allocation of agricultural lands by Dzheti-Oguz district administration that caused damage in the amount of 390 million som. Moreover, the case of 1.5 billion som that did not reach the national budget via Social Fund and Tax Service and the case of ecological damage caused by the administration of Kumtor Gold Company are being investigated.
Other ex-high officials are being interrogated under the investigation of criminal cases related to development of this mine. On May 31, Omurbek Babanov, the ex-prime minister, ex-deputy of Zhogorku Kenesh, was reportedly detained on suspicion of implication in corruption.
State Committee for National Security (GKNB) of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that he is charged with the breach of the law during the implementation of Kumtor project. On May 31, another ex-head of the government of the Kyrgyz Republic, Igor Chudinov, as well as the members of Zhogorku Kenesh Asylbek Zheenbekov and Torobai Zulpukarov were detained. Also, the ex-mayor of Bishkek, Aziz Surakmatov, was detained in May on a charge of corruption and unjust enrichment (irrelevant to Kumtor).
Meeting between Putin and Zhaparov
On May 24, Sadyr Zhaparov met with the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in Sochi (Russia). In addition to the current state and perspectives of the bilateral cooperation, they discussed the issues of maintaining regional security and stability.
The press service of Sadyr Zhaparov reported that the heads of states discussed events in the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in detail and measures to rehabilitate infrastructure destroyed during the conflict.
According to the speech published on the website of the President of Russia, Putin discussed this issue with the president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmon.
During the visit, Sadyr Zhaparov visited the Sochi Olympic Park located in the federal area Sirius, took a look at the objects located within the park. On May 25, President Sadyr Zhaparov came back to Bishkek.
Zhaparov’s visit to Batken
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhapar made a two-day trip to Batken region. He met with those who suffered from the border conflict, and checked out the progress of road construction.
Zhaparov arrived to Batken region on May 27. On the first day, he visited the temporary housing in the village of Ak-Tatyr and said to the survivors of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border conflict that construction was in progress in their villages and they would move to new and modern houses in a short time.
Also, Sadyr Zhaparov visited the frontier station Orto-Boz in Batken region, where he checked the conditions of military service and off-duty life of the military. He was also reported to have visited the frontier station Zhany-Zher in Leilek district.
On May 28, Sadyr Zhaparov checked out the progress of the Min-Bulak – Chorgo – Ak-Sai road construction. The road will become the alternative to the existing road leading to Ak-Sai village.
The Min-Bulak – Chorgo – Ak-Sai road is 48 kilometres long. So far, reportedly, the first 7 km are under construction – construction documents for the site located in the high mountain pass have been prepared.
A day earlier, the head of the state checked out the progress of construction of the Samarkandek – Madigen – Darkum road 44.1 km long, which will connect Leilek and Batken districts.
According to the message disseminated by the press service of the president, this road will let the villagers of 17 villages of Batken district shorten the travel time to the town of Isfana of Leilek district.
It was the second visit of Sadyr Zhaparov to Batken region last month. First, he visited the region on May 6 after the armed conflict on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan that lasted for 3 days. Back then, he said that destroyed and burnt houses would be repaired within two months by the state.
On May 5, Zhaparov signed the decree “On high priority measures to reconstruct and develop near-border villages of Batken region.” According to the decree, the State Commission for Reconstruction was established under the chairmanship of the prime minister and ex-mayor of Batken Mamyrzhan Rakhimov was appointed the president’s envoy.
Also, Zhaparov noted that the army must be organised as a special branch, i.e. it must be fully prepared and equipped for mountain operations. Second, vigilante groups must be created to ensure high level of mobilisation preparedness of people living in border areas, and to concentrate sizable forces against military threats and attacks.
Kyrgyzstan suspended transport link with Tajikistan
According to the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan as of May 21, temporary restrictions on entry and departure, stay, movements or transit travel via Kyrgyzstan were imposed for the citizens of Tajikistan.
However, the restrictions do not apply to the officers of diplomatic missions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and their family members, as well as the employees of diplomatic missions of foreign states, international organisations and their family members.
Any officials of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan may cross the border upon early coordination with competent authorities of the republic.
As to the citizens of Kyrgyzstan staying in Tajikistan, they can return to their motherland. The same applies to the citizens of Tajikistan staying in Kyrgyzstan. They can leave for Tajikistan via checkpoints at the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Restrictions to the entry of the citizens of Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan were imposed last year due to the governmental decree as of March 17, 2020 over the bad epidemiological situation.
The previous day, the chair of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ulugbek Maripov, said about full cancellation of movements via the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan until the solution of issues at the meeting with the residents of border areas.
Tajikistan has not given any comments regarding this issue.
On May 25, the charter flight of Tajikistan airlines, Somon Air, arrived to Manas airport in Bishkek. 177 citizens of Tajikistan and 9 citizens of other states were on board. Due to the restrictions, the Border Service of Kyrgyzstan refused access to the Tajikistanis. The citizens of third countries checked out and remained in Bishkek. The plane with the citizens of Tajikistan flew back to Dushanbe.
Tajikistan
General epidemiological situation
In January, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon said that the country had no COVID-19 cases, and the pathogenic agent was “totally destroyed.” However, the head of the state urged the citizens to comply with sanitary instructions of the authorities, including when visiting mosques. In the evening of May 25, the health ministry of Tajikistan claimed that no new COVID-19 cases were identified in the country the day before.
However, on May 19, Abdumavlon Abdullozoda, the then chief of Sogd department of the state service of sanitary-epidemiological surveillance, said that a 47-year-old citizen of Saudi Arabia, Mansur Ali Kasym, was quarantined at the Khudzhand city infective hospital because coronavirus symptoms were identified in him. According to him, three hotel workers who contacted the Saudi Arabian were sent to self-isolation. In a week, Abdumavlon Abdullozoda was removed from office of the head of Sogd Department of the State Service of Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance of Tajikistan.
Vaccination
Tajikistan reached agreement on supplies of CoronaVac from the Chinese pharmaceutical corporation Sinovac Biotech as the humanitarian aid. The agreement provides for the supply of 300 thousand doses of the Chinese vaccine to Tajikistan. This amount is enough to vaccinate 150 thousand individuals in two phases.
As of May 24, vaccination covered 74.4 thousand citizens in the country out of 86,400 planned individuals in priority groups. Tajikistan uses the AstraZeneca vaccine received under the World Health Organisation (WHO) programme.
Tajikistan will receive the Russian coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, free of charge, according to the agreement reached by the presidents of two countries. It was reported by Interfax with reference to the head of the Russian foreign ministry, Sergei Lavrov, who said about it after the negotiations with the foreign minister of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
According to one of the surveys, nearly 33 per cent of respondents in Tajikistan think that tested vaccines are safe, almost 25 per cent relate the vaccine safety with the country of origin, 27 per cent of respondents need time to make sure the vaccines are safe, and 14.3 per cent do not trust the vaccines at all.
Rakhmon’s trip to Moscow
On May 8, the meeting of the presidents of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon and of Russia Vladimir Putin was held. The Russian leader thanked the Tajik colleague for his arrival to Moscow just before May 9 and noted that it was the common holiday for the people of the two countries.
They discussed not only bilateral issues at the meeting, but also a range of international issues, given that Tajikistan is now the chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
The leaders of the two countries paid attention to the situation in Afghanistan. It became worse once the American forces were withdrawn from there. Vladimir Putin reminded of support to Tajikistan: the 201st base of the Armed Forces is based there.
Emomali Rakhmon thanked Vladimir Putin and said they are getting prepared for the 20th anniversary summit of SCO. It will be held on September 16-17 in Dushanbe.
Muddy floods
In May, muddy floods occurred in 15 districts of Tajikistan and resulted in nine deaths, including a ten-year-old child. Many towns and villages were damaged. The town of Kulyab and its suburbs, as well as some districts of Khatlon region in the south of Tajikistan suffered the most from the disaster. Eight of nine people died there.
According to the rescue workers, the majority of victims died in their cars travelling between the villages: they could not leave when the road was flooded. According to the emergency committee, search and rescue operations are still on, but it is very difficult to find all bodies because of the accumulation of mud.
Floods and muddy floods are a common phenomenon in Tajikistan as it is a mountainous country, especially in spring months. Last year, strong mudflow hit Khuroson district: one person died there. People had to remedy the consequences of the disaster by themselves: they had to remove slurry from cars, homes and gardens by shovels as there was no special equipment there.
Every year, dozens of people die, hundreds of houses break down because of mudflows in Tajikistan. Every time the authorities claim that the victims receive compensation and building supplies to rehabilitate their houses, but the survivors claim they receive miserable supplies.
Russian foreign minister visits Tajikistan
On May 18-19, minister of foreign affairs of Russia Sergei Lavrov came to the Republic of Tajikistan on the official visit and met with President Emomali Rakhmon, held full-fledged negotiations with foreign minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin. During the visit, Lavrov took part in the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The Russian Foreign Minister visited Dushanbe with a double mission, First, he checked the positions with his colleagues in the military-political bloc (Collective Security Treaty Organization, CSTO) supervised by Moscow. Second, he discussed the scheduled September visit to Tajikistan of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, during bilateral negotiations Lavrov also reminded to the Tajik party about the profit it could have from participation in another integration project promoted by Russia – the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Tajikistan is the only member of CSTO that does not participate in the EAEU.
The authorities of Tajikistan are only assessing the advantages and disadvantages of accession to the EAEU. However, they have taken part in two EAEU events. In 2019, President Emomali Rakhmon visited Nur-Sultan to take part in the anniversary summit of the EAEU, and recently Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda took part in the meeting of the heads of governments in Kazan.
Restricted flights and a spontaneous protest
On May 18, the Tajik civil aviation agency prohibited flights of Russian airlines Siberia and Nordwind Airlines. According to the Tajik authorities, the airlines raised prices contrary to the previously concluded agreement.
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Agency had agreed the prices from the cities of Tajikistan to Russia with four Russian airlines – Ural Airlines, Utair, Sibir and Nordwind.
Thus, the parties agreed that the price of an airline ticket must not exceed 8,500 somoni (nearly 750 dollars).
However, many passengers complained that the price increased up to 15 thousand somoni (1,330 dollars), and airline tickets are sold out two months in advance.
Meanwhile, on May 26, hundreds of stranded passengers gathered in front of the Dushanbe international airport building and demanded that the aviation authorities of Tajikistan solve their problem. They said that could not leave for Russia for a week despite their Nordwind airline tickets.
The protest of resentful passengers in front of the Dushanbe airport started in the afternoon of May 26 and continued for nearly two hours. Law enforcement bodies were called immediately to the Dushanbe international airport.
On May 26, the head of the Civil Aviation Agency said to stranded passengers that Nordwind Airlines agreed to set the maximum price for the charter flight at 500 dollars and make a few flights from Dushanbe to Russia on May 25 only.
After Russia opened flights from Tajikistan on April 1, many nationals of Tajikistan want to leave for Russia. The authorities of Tajikistan are interested in more flights to Russia.
Nationals of Tajikistan are convicted in Russia of preparation of terrorist attacks
In May, five citizens of Tajikistan were sentenced in Moscow for long prison terms from 9 to 17 years for an attempt to attack the GRU headquarters, the foreign intelligence body of the Ministry of Defence of Russia.
According to some reports, the accused pleaded not guilty. One of them even shouted in court that the case was framed up and they were defamed. The relatives of the convicts have not commented on the verdict.
The trial was conducted behind closed doors, and all materials of the case were classified. The convicts were incriminated in the preparation of a terrorist attack, organisation of a terrorist community and illegal arms traffic.
According to the Russian authorities, these five convicts were already arrested in 2018. In the same year, Russia found guilty another four nationals of Tajikistan who were charged with similar crimes.
A criminal case against the nephew of Emomali Rakhmon’s wife
Amriddin Nakhshov, the head of the gold-mining company, Nakhsh, and the nephew of the wife of President Emomali Rakhmon, surrendered to the police on May 27. He was on the wanted list because of his participation in the fight at Dangar. Seven accomplices of Nakhshov were detained earlier.
According to the press centre of interior ministry of Tajikistan, Amriddin Nakhshov surrendered to the Dangar district police on May 27. Nakhshov is accused of a crime under article 237 (“Hooliganism”) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan. He can face 2 to 7 years in prison.
35-year-old Amriddin Nakhshov was detained, preliminary investigation is conducted, according to the report of the press centre of the interior ministry of Tajikistan.
Nakhshov is suspected of attacking the employees of Minu Farm company, that has a contract with Faroz company, on May 16 together with his accomplices.
It is still unknown why and how the suspect agreed to surrender to the police.
Amriddin Nakhshov is the nephew of Tajikistan president’s spouse. His father, Faiziddin Nakhshov, the ex-head of the fourth department of Amonatbank in the district of Sino, Dushanbe, died in 2018.
Earlier, Amriddin Nakhshov was working at Orienbank, and now he is the director of the gold-mining company Nakhsh. This company owns lands in Shugnov jamoat of Khovaling district, and mines gold.
An oppositionist from Tajikistan went missing in Moscow
The activist of the Tajikistan opposition movement, Group 24, Rakhmatjoni Makhmadjon, went missing in Russian since May 18. Neither his relatives, nor his colleagues know the whereabouts of the activist. The Russian police received the report of missing Makhmadjon. He is known to have received threats before he went missing and to have complained about persecution by unknown individuals.
Group 24 was established in 2012 and was found an extremist organisation by decision of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan in 2014. Afterwards, dozens of individuals were detained in Tajikistan, Russia and other former Soviet republics on a charge of membership in this organisation and sentenced to various prison terms. Umarali Kuvvatov, the founder of the group, was killed in 2015 in Istanbul.
Rakhmatjoni Makhmadjon has repeatedly criticised the authorities of Tajikistan at international conferences, and taken part in protests and pickets against President Emomali Rakhmon. The last time he did in was on June 24, 2019 in front of the Red Square in Moscow, during the visit of Emomali Rakhmon to Russia.
The colleagues of Makhmatjon fear that the activist could be delivered to Tajikistan by force despite his Russian citizenship since 2018. According to Rakhmatjoni, he had been invited by the interior ministry of Tajikistan “to talk” many times, but he refused such invitations.
Turkmenistan
General epidemiological situation
Ashgabat again faces events of the early summer of 2020. Back then, the country had a sharp increase in pneumonia cases. Now, amid hot weather, according to some sources, the influenza-like illness is widespread in the country. According to sources, “pneumonia” and “influenza” are caused by the coronavirus.
Some metropolitans fear that in June the epidemic will become as threatening as it was last year.
According to earlier reports, the residents of Ashgabat having coronavirus symptoms are delivered to cardiology rather than the infectious diseases hospital. At least two city dwellers were hospitalised there with cardiovascular complications after vaccination.
Vaccination
Despite the fact that the authorities deny the presence of coronavirus in the country, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign was launched in the country in spring. According to minister of health and medical industry Nurmukhammet Amannepesov, three Russian and two Chinese vaccines were supplied to the country. In addition, Turkmenistan received AstraZeneva vaccine. All vaccines were officially registered.
Vaccination in Turkmenistan is voluntary for the elderly, and representatives of some occupations (medical workers, kindergarten staff, some workers of the housing and public utilities) are vaccinated “on a voluntary yet compulsory” basis. Some people fearing the consequences of the vaccination prefer to pay a bribe to receive a vaccination document, without getting the vaccine.
Temporary prohibition of travelling on private cars
On May 10 to 25, the action in support of bicycling was held in Ashgabat. In addition to bicycles, only public transportation and state taxis could move in the streets. According to some sources referring to the police officers who stop drivers, this rule was valid in daytime only, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Private cars could be used at night.
The owners of private cars who were not prepared to use bicycles found out that taxi services became twice expensive.
Public taxis use taximeters, but extra fare was charged for a call. According to sources, booking a taxi was 30 manat before the ban on the use of private cars. In May, the amount was twice as much.
Meanwhile, state-owned media published the report on the bike ride led by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
Berdymukhamedov pardoned prisoners
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov pardoned 1,035 prisoners in honour of the Night of Determination celebrated by the Islamic world on May 8 to 9.
Among the pardoned persons are 982 nationals of Turkmenistan and 53 foreigners. The decision on their pardon was made “on the basis of the humanism principles, in order to further strengthen the unity and solidarity of the Turkmen society.”
Among the pardoned, there are 16 Jehovah’s witnesses who were imprisoned at different times. The politics of the Jehovah’s witnesses is not to take up arms or be involved in military facilities. They are willing to do alternative military service, but there is no such service in Turkmenistan.
In turn, on May 9 the Iranian Mehr reported that Turkmenistan handed over three prisoners to Iran, who were sentenced for drug traffic.
Pardon actions take place since 1999 in Turkmenistan. Currently, they are held 3-4 times a year in the country and are dedicated to major state holidays. May 15 last year, the president issued a decree and pardoned 1,192 Turkmenistanis and 210 foreign citizens in honour of the Night of Power, the holiest night for the Muslims.
Independent investigation regarding the president’s nephew
The journalists of Gundogar and Turkmen news, together with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), found out that the company of the Turkmenistan president’s relative won the public contract for 25.7 million dollars for the procurement of food products abroad.
This is about Greatcom Trade LLP, registered in the United Kingdom, which belongs to 39-year-old Khadjimurat Redjepov, the nephew of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. This company won the contract in 2016, after the president signed a relevant decree. The contract covered the importation of necessity goods such as poultry meat, sugar and oil. No details of the deal have been reported before.
The decree of Berdymukhamedov that entitled Greatcom to import products is a unique document for the country, where the president can take direct part in all aspects of public administration. Journalists have studied thousands of presidential decrees and only this decree refers directly to the supplies of products. The source called this document “a president’s signal” to officials that makes it clear which companies should be involved (the investigation mentions the contract for imports of over 1,200 tonnes of pastry items that was awarded to a Scotch company Intergold LP, which was founded less than a year before; the deal cost the government 3.5 million dollars).
The journalists also found out how the nephew of Berdymukhamedov lived. In particular, they reported that he had a luxurious mansion in the suburb of Ashgabat. The house is decorated with marble, bronze and cut-glass chandeliers delivered from Italy, according to the article. They also reported other evidences of the luxurious life of Redjepov.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan encounters food crisis and rise in food prices, according to the investigation. The Turkmenistanis have to stand in many-hour lines at state stores to buy food at subsidised prices. Last year, the situation got worse: the government introduced the system of food cards in all the regions but the capital city, and bound citizens to buy subsidised food in a nearest store on the list. Afterwards, food norms were reduced in some regions of Turkmenistan.
Officials were asked to shave their heads and wear skullcaps
In Lebap velayat, the heads of state institutions, as well as private enterprises, were asked to shave their heads and wear tahya (national skullcap of Turkmenistan) for 40 days following the death of the father of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov – Myalikguly Berdymukhamedov.
This requirement to male officials was imposed after the president made a public appearance wearing a tahya in sign of mourning for the late father. According to the reporters of Radio Azatlyk (the Turkmenistan office of Radio Liberty), both officials and heads of private companies in Lebap were demanded to wear mourning clothes.
The president’s father died on April 18 at the age of 88 years. Forty days after his death was on May 28.
After father’s death, President Berdymukhamedov did not appear in public or state television for seven days. The national day of the Turkmen racer and alabai that followed the death of the president’s father was celebrated by festive events. President’s son Serdar Berdymukhamedov was in charge of the celebrations and he received gifts.
Following the death of the father of President, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, who is the vice prime minister of the government, and other officials appear in public wearing Turkmenistan national skullcaps.
President of Turkmenistan received the head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan
On May 26, foreign minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov arrived in Ashgabat for a working visit to meet with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
During talks, the parties shared opinions about the status of implementation of agreements. Also, the representatives of the two countries emphasised the need for capacity building in trade, investments, industrial cooperation, namely, in transportation, energy, mechanical engineering, light and food industries, agriculture and water industry.
In addition, the head of the foreign ministry of Uzbekistan met with the deputy chair of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, foreign minister Rashid Meredov. During the dialogue, the diplomats discussed the prospects of active Uzbek-Turkmen relationships in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, transportation-transit, water, cultural-humanities areas.
Turkmenistan took its citizens from Russian deportation centres
Citizens of Turkmenistan detained in deportation centres were taken from Moscow on May 30 to Turkmenabad.
12 citizens of Turkmenistan were detained in the Centre for Temporary Detention of Foreign Citizens in Sakharovo (Moscow) as of the end of May. Ten of them were taken to their home country on May 30. One citizen was not taken because he filed a complaint over deportation. The reason why the second migrant was not boarded is unknown to the centre employee.
Nationals of Turkmenistan often remain abroad without the assistance of diplomats. Turkmenistan Airlines started to arrange homeward flights only in August 2020 – five months after the closure of borders and termination of regular flights due to COVID-19. There are few flights and even those who are at large and have enough money cannot make it to the flight. Citizens of Turkmenistan who are detained in the centre often remain there for years.
Uzbekistan
General epidemiological situation
In early May, another underperformance was registered: coronavirus was detected in 452 individuals for a day. According to the national health ministry, 452 new cases were detected in all regions of the country on May 5, most of the cases were in Tashkent – 229. By the end of month, the situation became more stable and the number of new cases did not exceed 300 cases daily, and there were 200-250 new cases every day.
According to the health ministry, most of the cases were registered in Tashkent (102 cases) and Tashkent region (50).
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 100,726, including 96,569 recovered cases (96%). 3,466 patients are being treated in hospitals.
Vaccination
The country has administered the vaccine to more than 1.3 million people. Now Uzbekistanis are vaccinated by AstraZeneca (Indian analogue), as well as the recombinant vaccine of Chinese Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutica and Sputnik V.
At the first stage, vaccines were administered to people older than 65, medical workers, school teachers, preschool workers, and citizens with chronic diseases. From May 31, the list was added with the following categories: students studying abroad; representatives of the media (journalists, bloggers); writers; employees of TV and radio companies.
“Loukost” discount carrier
Uzbekistan Airways will establish a discount carrier titled “Loukost”. The relevant decree of the president of Uzbekistan was published on the government’s website. According to the roadmap, Loukost discount carrier is going to appear in January 2022 as part of the airline.
As expected, four A-320 airplanes would be reequipped as economy class and the price of air tickets will be reduced 15-25 per cent depending on the destination. Loukost will start flights next year.
Meanwhile, the social media users reacted dubiously to the name of the new carrier. “They called the low-cost airline as Loukost. Will they call the new model of an automobile the Avtomobil, and the new park as Park, and the new mobile provider as Provayder?”
The new business strategy of Uzbekistan Airways, which creates the low-cost carrier, was submitted to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the end of April. According to the document, the carrier is going to close all inefficient missions abroad, and to cancel unprofitable destinations. Also, the airline is going to sell its airplanes – 17 airplanes and one simulator are listed in the annex to the decree.
President pardoned 100 inmates
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the decree “On pardoning of a group of imprisoned persons who sincerely repented and mended their ways” on May 12.
In the decree issued just before the end of the holy month of Ramadan, 100 inmates who “sincerely repented and mended their ways” were pardoned.
Out of those pardoned, 3 inmates were fully released, 43 were released on parole, 10 had more lenient sentence, and 44 had their prison terms reduced.
Among those pardoned were 12 citizens of foreign states, 4 men older than 60, 52 individuals who were members of banned organisations.
Previously, the Regulations on the procedure of pardon of Uzbekistan were amended to contain a clause when the head of state may now pardon any convict or an inmate regardless of the plea for mercy.
A blogger was sentenced to 6.5 years in penal colony
A Termez-based blogger, Otabek Sattoriy, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. This is the decision made by the Muzrabad Criminal Court of Surkhandarya region.
Sattoriy was found guilty under subparagraph ‘a’, part 3, article 165 (extortion of especially big amounts) and subparagraphs ‘a’ and ‘g’, part 3, article 139 (defamation combined with accusation of grave or especially grave crime motivated by greed or other ignoble purposes) of the Criminal Code of the republic.
Previously, the prosecutor asked to sentence the defendant to 11 years in prison.
Otabek Sattoriy is a popular Termez-based blogger who has repeatedly criticised local authorities on his YouTube channel, Mneniye Naroda [People’s Opinion]. He was detained by police officers of Termez department of interior affairs, Surkhandarya region, in late January. According to the investigation department of the interior ministry, the head of the farmers’ market Chinora Gul Baraka filed a report to them accusing the blogger of extortion. Then, the list of charges was extended to eight episodes.
A range of international human rights organisations made a stand for the blogger and urged the government of Uzbekistan to release him. The head of the board of guardians of the Public Foundation of support and development of national mass media, Komil Allamzhonov, also asked the General Prosecutor’s Office to pay attention to the blogger’s detention and arrest. However, the regulatory authority said they found no violations in the case of Sattoriy.
Paralympic sports will be promoted in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan created the National Paralympic Committee, according to the decree “On additional measure to promote Paralympic movement” endorsed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on May 18.
The Committee was created on the base of the National Paralympic Association of Uzbekistan. Its main tasks will be to make Paralympic sports popular, organise a new system of selection of talented athletes and their training. In addition, the Committee will be responsible for carrying out competitions, championships, forums, conferences, workshops and other events related to Paralympic sports, represent and protect the rights of their members in the republic and international associations.
According to the decree, all regions will have divisions of the Committee and relevant sponsors.
Moreover, the Paralympic department will be opened in the University of Physical Education and Sport to prepare trainers and coaches of Paralympic sports, sign language interpreters. The Committee will also have the Institute of training of specialists in Paralympic sports – it will retrain and further train trainers.
Ministry of justice of Uzbekistan refused to register the opposition party
Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan refused to register a recently created sociodemocratic party Haqiqat va Taraqqiyot (Justice and Development).
On April 7, the activists of Haqiqat va Taraqqiyot party together with its leader Khidirnazar Allakulov submitted their signatures and other documents required for the state registration of the party to the justice ministry of Uzbekistan.
Afterwards, people in the regions started to withdraw their signatures affixed in support of the party forced by law enforcement bodies and makhalla boards.
According to some activists, they had to stop signatures collection in support of the party as they were called in for questioning to law enforcement bodies.
Previously, Mukhammadamin Ermatov, the party activist, told our radio that the members of Haqiqat va Taraqqiyot party submitted nearly 25 thousand signatures to the justice ministry.
On May 4 this year, the administrative court of Yunusabad district of Tashkent found the leader of Haqiqat va Taraqqiyot party, Khidirnazar Allakulov, guilty under the article “Defamation” of the Code of Administrative Offences of Uzbekistan and fined him to twenty basic calculation values (nearly 470 dollars).
Professor Allakulov was judged on the basis of the statement from unknown individuals who attacked him inside his house on March 31.
Despite the fact that less than six months remain until the presidential elections in Uzbekistan, the names of official candidates are still unknown.
The acting president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has not yet nominated himself. All the five parties acting in the parliament of Uzbekistan are pro-governmental ones and also keep silent about their candidates.
All the five parties acting in the parliament of Uzbekistan are pro-governmental ones. According to the established political tradition, leaders of these parties play the role of so-called “opponents” to the acting president Shavkat Mirziyoyev at presidential elections.
Abnormal heat
On May 31, Uzbekistan had the abnormal heat that hit the decades long temperatures of that day. The maximum outdoor temperature, according to meteorological stations of Uzgidromet, was:
41.2° in Nukus, which is 1.7° higher than that in 2015 (39.5°); 42.9° in Urgench, which is 3.5° higher than that in 1933 (39.4°); 43.0° in Bukhara, which is 2.7° higher than that in 1967 (40.3°); 41,0° in Navoi, which is 0.5° higher than that in 1961 (40.5°).
Central Asia
The Taleban urge the neighbours of Afghanistan not to place US bases
On May 26, the Taleban movement urged the neighbouring countries not to place US military bases in their territories.
The statement was made after the media published reports on Pakistan having reached the deal with Washington, DC regarding the allocation of the U.S. forces in its territory.
According to the Taleban statement, neighbouring countries “who have made such mistakes” will “be responsible for all the miseries and hardships.”
Meanwhile, the officials of Pakistan called these messages “fake” ones. On May 25, the foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said to the parliament that “the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan would never let the placement of American forces in Pakistan.”
In early May, The Wall Street Journal reported with reference to sources in the White House and Pentagon that the American military command was looking for the bases to deploy the forces, drone aircrafts, bombers and artillery in order to support the government of Afghanistan, control the Taleban and track down other extremists.
The Wall Street Journal suggested that the United States were looking for a possibility to deploy its forces in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. “By September 11, the allies of the U.S.A. and Washington DC will leave Afghanistan. That’s why the American military planners consider the deployment of their forces and military hardware in Central Asia and the Middle East,” the newspaper wrote.
Amazon permitted Central Asian states to sell
Manufacturers of goods from Central Asian states received an opportunity to sell at the largest electronic commercial platform, Amazon. It became known after the list of countries was updated.
The American company gave an opportunity to the manufacturers of goods to register directly on the platform.
The list now contains the states of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
To start selling at Amazon, one should register, open an account, submit supporting documents, bank account and have an international bank card.
Amazon is the largest electronic commerce platform.
Conflict at the border of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
On May 13, a scuffle took place between the residents of border villages of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The conflict was adjusted. Domestic dispute arose between the resident of village Sai, Kyshtut village district of Batken area, and village Chashma, Sokh district, Uzbekistan. Soon, residents of the two villages gathered in the border area.
The law enforcement bodies of Sokh and Batken regions are investigating the incident. According to the regional administration, the situation is stable at the border of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.