Central Asia Digest | June 2020
Political Developments China has made “significant inroads in the security sector” in Central Asia in recent years, disrupting the nebulous separation of powers between it and Russia and setting the stage for increased friction in the future. It is often thought that there is a strict division in Central Asia where Russia deals with security […]
Central Asia Digest | May 2020
Political Developments Statements by terrorist groups based in Central Asia and Afghanistan welcoming the US-Taliban “Peace Deal’’ signed on 29th February and congratulating the Taliban for evicting the occupying forces have impelled Afghanistan’s northern neighbours to extend their cooperation beyond rhetoric and multilateral meetings. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan signed a “Partnership 2020” agreement on military cooperation. […]
Central Asia Digest | April 2020
Political Developments Kazakh President made a televised Address to the nation on fresh measures to soften the blow of the coronavirus epidemic on private enterprises and pledged more support for healthcare workers and vulnerable people. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev went out of his way to connect with the Presidents of most neighbouring countries including Afghanistan, […]
Central Asia Digest | March 2020
Political Developments Tajikistan’s parliamentary election, held on March 1, delivered the expected victory to President Emomali Rahmon’s party and a small array of pro-government outfits. The Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, the only opposition party left in the country following the 2015 banning of the Islamic Renaissance Party, failed to meet the threshold to gain […]
Central Asia Digest | February 2020
Political Developments Violence broke out in Masanchi village in South-East Kazakhstan among local Kazakhs and a group of ethnic Chinese Muslims called Dungans who number more than 150,000 across Central Asia. The rampage, which resulted in 11 deaths, saw hundreds of ethnic Kazakh assailants descend on the Dungans, setting fire to homes, shops and livestock. […]
Central Asia Digest | December 2019
Political Developments The second Consultative Meeting of Heads of Central Asian States was held in Tashkent under Chairmanship of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Uzbek President noted that the meeting reflected the sincere desire of people of the 5 countries to expand partnership, strengthen friendship and good-neighborliness, and jointly solve common problems. He said that solutions […]
Central Asia Digest | September 2019
Political Developments Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid his first State visit to China. It was decided to forge a long-term, permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Several agreements were signed including an agreement on cooperation in aviation search and rescue of civil aircrafts; an MoU on implementation of cooperation plan for connectivity of […]
Central Asia Digest | August 2019
Political Developments A political turmoil shook Kyrgyzstan when after hours of tense confrontation between supporters of former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and police, former President Atambayev was detained. The arrest culminated a six-week standoff, which started when current President Sooronbay Jeenbekov lifted Atambayev’s immunity from prosecution last June. Atambayev is charged with corruption schemes related […]
Central Asia Digest | July 2019
Political Development Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is likely to pursue main economic policy priorities of his predecessor. These include structural reforms and, more recently, increasing social spending. Kazakhstan’s budget encompasses the large programme of social expenditure announced by Nazarbayev in February 2019 that includes a 50% increase in minimum wage, tax cuts for low-income earners, […]
Central Asia Digest | June 2019
SPECIAL ISSUE Change of Guard in Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a loyal associate of the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev emerged as the winner by polling 70.8% of the votes cast in Presidential election on 9th June, 2019. The outcome was never in doubt. What was of interest was the percentage of votes that Tokayev […]