The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has exonerated posthumously 198 individuals convicted by the Soviet regime in the 1920s-1930s for “counter-revolutionary actions, armed uprisings, terrorism, banditry and espionage, and anti-Soviet activities,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Supreme Court announced on May 6 its decision to exonerate the men, many of whom were sentenced to death and others who were
Amid Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and geopolitical confrontation with the West, the Kremlin is taking efforts to strengthen its influence in Kazakhstan, Moldova, other countries of Central Asia, and in the South Caucasus. For this purpose, Russia has launched information campaigns using various news agencies and Internet platforms to disseminate Moscow’s narrative in
Speaking at the Third Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that in the past few years, Uzbekistan has attracted over 60 billion dollars in foreign investments, and more than 14 billion dollars from international financial institutions have been directed to social and infrastructure projects. The volume of foreign
Regional officials and employees of local state entities in Turkmenistan’s western region of Balkan have been forced to buy watches with pictures of President Serdar Berdymukhammedov and his father and predecessor, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, on the face of the timepiece, RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service reported. The watches cost between 1,500 and 3,000 manats ($410-$820). Those of higher
Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected to hold negotiations in Almaty at the suggestion of the Kazakh side, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on May 1. “I welcome the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to hold talks at the Foreign Ministers’ level on the preparation of a peace treaty between
The Kazakh Prosecutor-General’s Office said investigators have detained former Interior Minister Erlan Turghymbaev on a charge of abuse of office and power, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. In a statement on April 30, the office said Turghymbaev’s detention was linked to “ongoing investigations into the events that took place in January 2022,” a reference to nationwide demonstrations that were sparked
As part of his visit to Italy, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on April 26 paid an official visit to the Vatican and met with Pope Francis. According to the Holy See press office, during the meeting the good relations between the Holy See and Tajikistan were evoked, and mention was made of some aspects of
On April 24, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov arrived in Azerbaijan for a state visit. In Baku, Japarov and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev chaired the 2nd meeting of the Interstate Council of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. Following the talks and the Interstate Council meeting, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan actively cooperate in the trade and
On April 24, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was in Astana with an official visit. The ministers signed the historic Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the UK that is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in key
The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon on April 23 in Rome met with the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, to discuss issues of expanding bilateral ties in the political, economic, trade, cultural, humanitarian, and security spheres. Both sides expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the fields of hydropower, light, food,
On April 23, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu paid an official visit to Thailand upon the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara. During the talks, the sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakh-Thai relations in
On April 22, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron arrived in Tajikistan as part of his visit to Central Asia. In Dushanbe, Cameron met with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the parties discussed attraction of British investments to the mining, metallurgical, light, food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors of Tajikistan, the Tajik president’s press service
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov was on an official visit in Astana on April 19, where he held talks with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. President Tokayev expressed gratitude to Sadyr Japarov and the people of Kyrgyzstan for the fraternal humanitarian assistance provided
During his state visit to Tajikistan on April 18, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and the two leaders signed a Treaty on Allied Relations between their countries. Mirziyoyev said that Tajikistan is the closest, most reliable and time-tested strategic partner of Uzbekistan. “The fraternal Uzbek
In anticipation of his official visit to Kazakhstan on April 18-19, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, by his decree dated April 12, 2024, awarded a number of Kazakh public figures with state awards of the Kyrgyz Republic for their significant contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
Russia continues to recruit foreign citizens for military service to participate in the war against Ukraine. For joining the Russian army, foreigners are offered a monthly salary of $2,200, a one-time payment of $2,000, a Russian passport, free medical care and training, Deutsche Welle reported with reference to information from the UK Ministry of Defense.
Kazakhstan has cancelled the Astana International Forum that was scheduled for June 13-14 this year due to the current unprecedented spring floods that hit the northern regions of the country. Central Asia’s leading international conference, the Astana International Forum 2024 was expected to gather government and business leaders from around the world to exchange perspectives
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 15 signed into law amendments and additions to legislative acts and the code on administrative offenses to ensure the rights of women and the safety of children. The amendments were passed by Kazakhstan’s parliament on April 11. The new legislation introduces criminal liability for beatings and intentional infliction of
On April 15, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Armenia and held negotiations in Yerevan with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. Speaking to journalists after the talks, Tokayev said it was his first official visit to Yerevan and emphasized that Armenia is a very important and reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the South Caucasus. “Our
On April 15, the Second Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue “Central Asia – Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf” was held in Tashkent under the chairmanship of the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed