Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from August, 2010
Turkmenistan: WikiLeaks-like service in demand
Turkmenistan is a society so veiled in shadows that one wonders whether its own leaders believe in the government’s propaganda. For this reason, the country desperately needs a service like WikiLeaks to help expose the truth, argues neweurasia’s Annasoltan.
Kazakhstan: Does Astana Need Central Asia?
Megakhuimyak analyzes statistics and comes to a conclusion that Kazakhstan does not have strategic trade or investment interests in Central Asia, while the region itself turns out to be a source of risk and problems for Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Prison Riots
KZBlog writes about the disturbing news from Kazakhstan’s prisons, where – more and more frequently – inmates mutilate themselves or stage riots, claiming that they are routinely beaten and tortured.
Kyrgyzstan: Southern politician opposes central government
Nathan Hamm reports that Melis Myrzakmatov, the mayor of Osh, the largest city in the south of Kyrgyzstan, and a thorn in the side of the new government since it came to power, has fended off an attempt to remove him.
Afghanistan: Parliamentary Election Update
Joshua Foust provides an update on the upcoming parliamentary election in Afghanistan, specifying numerous worrying instances of violations and abuses of state resource by candidates, campaign staff, and government employees.
Afghanistan: The Helmand Food Zone Fiasco
Joel Hafvenstein writes about the British “Food Zone” program, which was considered to be a better effort comparing to other counternarcotics activties in Afghanistan. But “when examined closely, there’s no reason to think the Food Zone program was effective’, he says.
Turkmenistan: The former ruler's golden statue removed
M reports that the golden statue of Turkmenbashy, the country’s first dead President, atop the Arch of Neutrality was quietly pulled down in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, this week.
Kyrgyzstan: Economic roots of inter-ethnic clashes
Elina Galperin reflects on the possible economic reasons of the recent inter-ethnic clashes between Uzbeks and Kyrgyzs in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan.
Turkmenistan: Despite its wealth, govt owes money
Ekspeditsiya writes about Turkmenistan's request to China for a $4.1 billion loan to develop the huge and untapped gas field.
Kazakhstan: Former presidential adviser released
Joshua Foust reports that James Giffen, adviser to the Kazakhstan president and middleman between oil companies and Nazarbayev, was accused of bribing the Kazakh officials, but now the U.S. government dropped most of the charges against him.
Afghanistan: Just get rid od Karzai
Joshua Foust reflects on the popular belief that Hamid Karzai is the main problem in Afghanistan. “What can we do about it? The usual answers seem to involve removing Hamid Karzai in some way—with all its myriad problems usually left unsaid”, he writes.
Afghanistan: State Dept Terrorism Report makes bleak reading
Nick Fielding reviews new report by the U.S. State Department on Afghanistan, noting that Taliban attacks increased over 2008 amid diminished direct influence of al-Qaeda, whilst the anti-government insurgency remained a capable, determined, and resilient threat to stability.
Kyrgyzstan: A political picnic, another failed coup in Bishkek
Murzaki makes a photo-post about a rally in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where hundreds of people went on to the street with the demand to to make Mr. Barktabasov, a mysterious tycoon with big ambitions for power, the Prime Minister. Some protesters were armed. The rally was dispersed, Barktabasov...
Kazakhstan: What do young people want
Popular TV presenter and newly converted blogger Kamila Zhusupova reflects on the realities of Kazakhstan's youth, its problems, values and future.
Kyrgyzstan: Locals protest against OSCE police forces
Marat Sartpaev reports that demonstrations against the OSCE advisory group’s deployment are held in Kyrgyzstan. Protesters believe “this will lead to the dissolution of Kyrgyzstan as it did in Kosovo, South Ossetia” and challenge the central government's power.
Kazakhstan: Second grader sues Ministry of Education
KZBlog reports that a boy in second grade is suing the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan for psychological damage because his textbook on road safety contains many grammatical and spelling mistakes as well as useless or confusing information.
Afghanistan: Taliban beyong the Pashtuns
Nick Fielding reviews the article, which argues that the Taliban has started making significant inroads among other ethnic groups, including Uzbeks, Tajiks and Turkmens from the north of Afghanistan.
