Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from October, 2007
Tajikistan: Cultural Starvation
C opines on the cultural environment in Tajikistan after visiting a concert of the new pop-band and says that cultural life in this country is stewing in it own juice and lacks diversity.
Kyrgyzstan: One-Party System Looming?
The Azamat Report reviews recent developments on the eve of parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, saying that the authorities are seemingly trying to establish a one-party system, similar to Kazakhstan with Nur-Otan and Russia with United Russia today.
Kyrgyzstan: Modern Horse Games
CXW takes a look at the new type of sports entertainment in Kyrgyzstan, a horseball, which is a modern version of the local traditional sport of kok boru.
Kyrgyzstan: Police Stopped a Car with Oppositionists
Bboyd informs about an incident that followed the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry’s roadblock to catch armed criminals, in which police stopped a car with three opposition party officials instead.
Afghanistan: Karzai Wants U.S. to End Airstrikes
Afghanistan Watch quotes reports on the President Karzai’s primetime appearance on CBS last Sunday, where he repeatedly called for a rollback of airstrikes in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Private Military Contractors
Afghanistan Watch quotes an online foreign policy daily World Politics Review, which has published a piece devoted to the private security contractors in Afghanistan. As reported, the media has generally interpreted the authorities’ actions to shut down the contractors as a “crackdown”, but apparently the truth is more complicated.
Kazakhstan: Olympiad, Central Asian Style
Xxrock reports on the Kazakh government’s barely explainable step to modify the conditions of Asian Olympics-2011, which are to be held in Almaty. Now the officials want it to take place in Astana, the president Nazarbayev's “pet capital”, too.
Turkmenistan: Monetary Reform
Abdulgamid reflects on the announced plans of the Turkmen government to carry out a monetary reform with denomination of the national currency. Increased liquidity will inevitably be marred by increase in prices for all types of commodities and services, he concludes.
Uzbekistan: Requiem to Slain Journalist
Bboyd's post in memoriam to Alisher Saipov, an Uzbek journalist brutally murdered in Osh (Kyrgyzstan), says that Saipov was a strong critic of Uzbek regime and published an independent newspaper in the Uzbek language, which was printed in Kyrgyzstan and smuggled over the border.
Afghanistan: NATO Leases Out?
Afghanistan Watch reports on the NAYO decision to lease cargo helicopters (perhaps, from Russia and Ukraine) because members of the alliance again refused to provide airlift out of their own military assets.
Kyrgyzstan: December Elections
The Roberts Report analyzes the pre-election political environment in Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing that the upcoming vote could be the biggest test yet of which way the country is headed.
Kazakhstan: Four Billion Dollars
Adam Kesher reports on the clarification on the recently announced government's measures to sustain the economy. Surprisingly, the explanation has arrived from the commercial bank's top officer, not from the government (ENG).
Kazakhstan: Keep Talking
Ben reflects on the continuing conflict between the oil companies consortium on Kashagan super-giant oil-field and the Kazakh government, in which the authorities are seeking more rights and money within the project (ENG).
Turkmenistan: Independence day
Nara opines on the sixteenth anniversary of independence of the Turkmen state, bitterly noting that “Turkmen government is the only institution to enjoy this privilige of independence, being very independent from the people’s voices and lives”.
Uzbekistan: Another Voice Silenced
Beaudi's Blog reflects on the brutal murder of the 26-year-old Uzbek journalist in the town of Osh in the neighboring Kyrgyzstan. He was remarkably well known and respected around Central Asia and openly questioned the policies and human rights violations of the Uzbek government.
Kazakhstan: Helping the Children
KZBlog tells about a seemingly international campaign to sew blankets for the Kazakhstani kids, noting that “it's all to cute”, while the Kazakh government launches series of competitions for the benefit of children.
Afghanistan: Hungarian presence expansion
My State Failure Blog provides an update on the planned expansion of Hungarian troops presence in Afghanistan, saying that the official announcements about it are quite blurred.
Kazakhstan: OSCE Bid Puzzle
Arthur reflects on the recently reported speculations concerning the prospects of Kazakhstan’s bid for the OSCE presidency in 2009.
Turkmenistan: India Looks to the Caspian
Peter reports that Turkmenistan’s gas and oil reserves may soon attract the attention of yet another world players.
Kazakhstan: Falconry on the BBC
KZBlog tells about the BBC report on falcon hunting in Kazakhstan, specifically problems with finding funding to keep the birds. There are tries to use elite hunting trips to subsidize falcon preserves.
Kyrgyzstan: Vote Predictions
The Azamat Report reviews the pre-electoral political situation, saying that Ak-Jol, a newly established party of the incumbent president has pretty low political standing, but “the so called ‘administrative resource’ will do its job” and ” if the elections take place with the same violations as the recent constitutional referendum...
