Stories about Uzbekistan from February, 2007
Uzbekistan: Perils of Assisting Homosexuals
Registan.net covers the latest crackdown on foreign health NGOs in Uzbekistan, which includes action against an organization running an HIV/AIDS prevention program for not just paperwork problems but also because it works with homosexuals. Male homosexuality is a crime in Uzbekistan punishable by three years in prison.
Uzbekistan: Plight of the Merchants
Registan.net discusses the plight of Uzbekistan's merchants. Despite recent changes that should make trade easier and more profitable, cross-border traders still face numerous difficulties as a result of police harassment and high taxes.
Uzbekistan: Mathematical Expression
Claire Wilkinson discusses a report showing that medieval Islamic art shows an understanding of complex geometry that did not find mathematical expression until fairly recently. The researcher first became interested in the subject while visiting Islamic structures in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan: President's Nephew in Mental Hospital
Tolkun Umaraliev reports on the case of Jamshid Karimov, an independent journalist often critical of the government who also happens to be a nephew of the Uzbekistan's authoritarian president. In a throwback to Soviet practice, Karimov has been placed in a psychiatric hospital in Samarkand.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan: Radio Cuts
Adam Kesher reports on plans in President Bush's proposed budget to cut funding for Kazakh and Uzbek language radio broadcasts.
Central Asia & Caucasus: Nonmarket Economies
Registan.net discovers a law proposed in the United States Congress that would slap all of Central Asia and the Caucasus except Kazakhstan with extra tariffs because they would be considered to be economies not functioning on market principles.
Uzbekistan: Dialogue or Sanctions
Nick discusses a condemnation from the International Crisis Group of expanding European ties with Uzbekistan and wonders why there are different standards for European relations with Uzbekistan than with countries like Iran.
Central Asia & Caucasus: Press Freedom
neweurasia reports on recent developments related to press freedom in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Central Asia: Why It Matters
Joshua Foust argues that Central Asia should be given more attention by Western policymakers.
Central Asia: US Aid
Registan.net looks at the Bush administration's proposed budget for the 2008 fiscal year and says it shows the White House is dropping the ball on Central Asia.
Uzbekistan: Phony NGO
neweurasia looks at the World Bank's implementing partner on a project to promote civil society in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan: Blogs and the Law
Registan.net looks at a change to Uzbekistan's media law that now defines all websites, including blogs, as mass media, subjecting them to registration and content submission requirements. The author expects that this will only delay the growth of the Uzbek blogosphere.
