Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from June, 2008
Kazakhstan: Freedom House blames Astana
Zhanna Zhukova reports that Freedom House said yesterday that the resource curse in energy-rich Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is taking root.
Kazakhstan: Highway to prosperity
Ben reports on the World Bank’s president, Bob Zoellick, visit to Kazakhstan, which has resulted in a $2.5 billion infrastructure project.
Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Buys Russian Weapons
Peter reports on a Russian arms deal to sell Turkmenistan six BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers.
Uzbekistan: The slain journalist's father calls on authorities
Libertad translates a post about the letter of a father of a murdered journalist Alisher Saipov addressed to the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan: Costs and benefits
Peter Marton quotes a high-ranking German general, who admits that the costs and benefits of the Afghanistan mission have to be expected, not merely counted as they are at present.
Kyrgyzstan: U.S. troops won't expand
Elena reports that US Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol refuted rumours about the expansion of American airbase in Manas airport near the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Afghanistan: Taliban Retreat
Patrick Frost says that after a couple weeks of poor news regarding Afghani security, there was finally some positive developments as a force of Afghanistan troops supported by NATO armored vehicles and helicopters appeared to rout Taliban forces who recently took over the Arghandab region surrounding Kandahar.
Kazakhstan: Astana Anniversary
Joshua Foust is ironic saying that Kazakhstan seems to have no other problems than how to light its not-fake capital’s overly elaborate 10th anniversary.
Kazakhstan: Astana’s Pyramid
Adam posts a picture of the notorious Pyramid of Peace, whose project was developed by the project by Sir Norman Foster, in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Sputnik lost
Lena B-va reports that the first and the only Kazakh satellite, which was launched last year with a great PR and pompous celebrations, is out of control due to a computer glitch and is likely to be lost.
Kyrgyzstan: Visa Issue
Elena publishes a list of countries which don’t need to get the visa to visit Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan: Ahead of Olympiad
Elena reports that there will be 20 Kyrgyz sportsmen in Beijing at Olympic Games 2008.
Afghanistan: Brokenness of a Different Sort
Joshua Foust reports on an incendiary new report on the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody at overseas facilities like Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Displaced Families Face Lethal Circumstances
The Rumi reports that the problem of displaced families who currently live in camping in a desert nearby Mazar-I-Sharif city was discussed on the special meeting of Afghanistan Human Right Commission, Balkh Provincial Enlightenment Movement and civil rights activists.
Kazakhstan: Living Under Cult
The main discussion this week in Kazakhstani blogosphere was caused by the suggestion that was voiced by a number of MPs to rename the capital city Astana to Nursultan, in the honor of the long-ruling president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who retains power for more than 18 years already. It is worth...
Kazakhstan: General prosecutor reaches out to Austria
Adam reports that the Kazakhstan's General Prosecutor visites Austria in an apparent attempt to foster extradition of the disgraced former presidential son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev.
Afghanistan: Toward Genuine “Afghanization”
Barnett R. Rubin offers a guest post by Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh, PhD, Director of the Center for Studies of International Relations (CERI) Program for Peace and Human Security, CERI/Institute of Political Science, Paris. Her article was scheduled to appear in Le Figaro on June 12, the day of the International Conference...
Kazakhstan: Petrodollars, English Teachers
Adam links to a blog-post saying that Kazakhstan has decided to attract English-language teachers from abroad and pay tham 2-5,000 dollars a month.
Kazakhstan: Religious Communities Cautious Over Law
Zhanna says that the Kazakhstan’s state apparatus is continuing its consolidation efforts by introduction of stricter control over relidious organization and their activities.
Kyrgyzstan: Chingiz Aitmatov Buried
Elena publishes some photos from the funeral ceremony for the famous Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.
Kazakhstan: Astana Construction
Adam shares his photos of the construction sites in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, which will be having a pompous celebration of its 10-year anniversary in early July.
