A meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council was held in Almaty on February 2, attended by heads of government of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member countries — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov reminded that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the EEU Treaty. Today
The first SCO Digital Forum was held on February 1 in Almaty, gathering the heads of ministries and agencies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for the development of information and communication technologies. The SCO includes China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In his welcoming remarks at the forum,
The Global Gateway Investors Forum in Brussels on January 29-30 marks a pivotal moment in EU-Central Asia relations, particularly in enhancing transport connectivity. European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis’ announcement of €10 billion in investments underscores a commitment to sustainable development in Central Asia. With a focus on transforming the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, the
The Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity opened on January 29 in Brussels, bringing together high-level representatives from the European Commission, EU Member States, Central Asia and Caucasus countries, and Türkiye. At the forum, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis announced that European and international financial institutions will commit €10 billion in support and investments
As Western governments are intensifying their relations with Central Asian countries against the backdrop of Russia’s war on Ukraine, this offers an opportunity to achieve specific advances for human rights in the region, Human Rights Watch said on January 11 in its World Report 2024. “Central Asia’s authoritarian governments severely restrict freedoms of speech, assembly, and
A court in Kyrgyzstan has sentenced another Kyrgyz citizen to a prison term for his participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Naryn regional court sentenced Beknazar Borugul uulu to five years in prison for participating in the war in Ukraine as part of the Russian private military company Wagner. The court announced on January
Police in Germany on January 1 arrested another suspect in connection with a possible planned terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral, saying it was a 41-year-old man with German and Turkish citizenship, RFE/RL reported. A total of five suspects have now been detained in connection with the terrorism alert. On Christmas Eve, a 30-year-old Tajik was
An informal meeting of the leaders of the CIS member countries took place on December 26 in St Petersburg, Russia. The meeting was attended by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Before the informal summit, the leaders visited the Pavlovsk, Tsarskoye Selo,
