Karakalpak activist Aqylbek Muratov (aka Muratbai), who was arrested in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, at Uzbekistan’s request earlier in February has been given asylum seeker status in Kazakhstan, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. A relative of Muratov, Fariza Narbekova, told RFE/RL on February 26 that Kazakh officials had given him an asylum seeker’s certificate three days earlier. A
A conference on international cooperation in the area of the protection of rights and freedoms of citizens took place in Tashkent on February 23. The conference, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), brought together 100 international experts and government representatives, including more than 20 ombudspersons and representatives of international organizations, the U.S.
The Kyrgyz parliament on February 22 approved on second reading a controversial bill that would allow authorities to register organizations as “foreign representatives” in a way that critics say mirrors repressive Russian legislation on so-called foreign agents, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Dozens of nongovernmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan have called on lawmakers to reject the bill,
On February 21, Nobel Systems Inc., a leading provider of geospatial solutions, announced the successful completion of the groundbreaking Digital Twin project in collaboration with Uzsuvtaminot, the national water management agency of Uzbekistan, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan reported. The Digital Twin initiative aimed to revolutionize water management practices in Uzbekistan by leveraging advanced technologies
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director David Hoffman, along with relevant Government of Uzbekistan stakeholders, on February 20 launched the five-year USAID All Children Succeeding program in Tashkent. The event gathered ministries and government agencies, UN organizations, disabled persons organizations, and international education experts. The Government of Uzbekistan has taken decisive action to secure
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) introduced the National Programme of Action for the Digitalization of Agriculture as a result of a pivotal one-year technical assistance project. The launch event on February 20 brought together national and international stakeholders in Tashkent to present the National Programme, providing insights into its vision,
On February 19, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) launched the Central Asian Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme titled “Strengthening the Digital Skills of Women Entrepreneurs”. The programme will serve as an online platform for exchange, learning, and dialogue for 21 women-led businesses from Central Asia. Through a series of workshops,
The Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on February 18 signed several strategic agreements aimed at strengthening a long-term partnership in achieving national development priorities. UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan signed the following new initiatives to support the country in accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: “Assistance
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on February 15 endorsed an adjusted approach to support the people of Afghanistan. “Approach 3.0” will deploy funds from the International Development Association (IDA) through grants to United Nations agencies and other public international organizations. These funds will continue supporting basic services nationwide, particularly those benefiting women, and
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on February 14 that it summoned the Uzbek ambassador to Russia, Botirjon Asadov, over a recent statement by Sherzod Qudratxoja, the rector of the University of Journalism in Tashkent, who called Uzbek citizens who speak Russian but do not know Uzbek “either occupiers or idiots,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Russian
The UN secretary-general’s envoy for Afghanistan met on February 14 in Bishkek with EU and Central Asian officials to discuss joint efforts to assist people in Taliban-led Afghanistan ahead of a more formal international meeting scheduled to take place on February 18-19 in Doha, Qatar, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza
On February 13, comprehensive presentation on democratic reforms was delivered to the diplomatic community accredited in Kazakhstan, on the eve of the regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. During a briefing on the topic “Promotion of human rights: a comprehensive dialogue on transformational reforms in
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in collaboration with the Tajikistan Ministry of Health, the National TB Program, healthcare professionals, international donors, and the community, successfully completed its Eliminating TB in Central Asia Activity (ETICA) in Tajikistan. Over four years, the activity has made remarkable achievements in the fight
Kazakhstan’s Culture and Information Ministry said it has blocked the Selftanu.kz website, which focuses on LGBT relations, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. The ministry said the move was made “to protect children’s rights” while taking into account “the culture and traditions of Kazakhstan’s society and culture.” Although homosexual relations were decriminalized in Kazakhstan in the 1990s,
On February 12, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) signed the Letter of Intent during the high-level plenary session, “Nature Knows No Borders: Working Together for Migratory Species and Sustainable Development
The opening ceremony of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) took place in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region on February 10 with the participation of the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Grethel Aguilar, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz
The government of China’s Xinjiang will provide humanitarian financial assistance in the amount of 100 thousand US dollars to help Kyrgyzstan overcome the consequences of the recent accident at the Bishkek thermal electric power plant. This was announced during a February 12 meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Aibek Moldogaziev
The European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan said that Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek will host a meeting on Afghanistan in the near future, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Tomas Niklasson said the meeting will be held between the EU and Central Asian countries. “Next week I look forward to meeting
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Egypt, Official Representative of Kazakhstan to the League of Arab States (LAS), Kairat Lama Sharif on February 6 met with the Secretary General of the Arab International Tourism Organization under LAS Dr. Sherif Fathi Attia. The parties shared views on cooperation in the field of tourism, participation in international tourism exhibitions
Ambassador of Kazakhstan Viktor Temirbayev on February 6 visited the largest city of Northeastern Bulgaria and the “maritime capital” of the country – Varna. During the meeting with the Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, the parties noted the important role of interregional cooperation in the progressive development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties, and also
