I am a researcher from Almaty, Kazakhstan. I hold Ph.D. in Political Science, run an NGO, several online projects and a personal blog.
Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from December, 2008
Kazakhstan: Religion Law Point/Counterpoint
KZBlog analyzes the controversial new law on religion which passed Parliament is waiting for the President’s signature. The law is clearly created defensively to prevent cult-like activity or terrorist cells from working in the country. However it effectively criminalizes religion by demanding that religions prove themselves innocent before being allowed...
Kazakhstan: Religious Law and OSCE Chaimanship
Joshua Foust reviews the Kazakhstan's new Religion Law, which is still pending presidential approval, and says that without any leverage—say, threatening their OSCE chairmanship—there is little influence the West could exert.
Afghanistan: US Plan for Militia Is Dangerous
Azar Balkhi reports that the plan, proposed by some American experts, to form local semi-military troops to fight against the terrorists, was met with criticism in Afghanistan. The Afghan MP opines that such a step would diminish the role of local tribal leaders, and power will be taken by the...
Mongolia: Ninja Mining
Bilguun writes about so-called ninja miners in Mongolia – the people, who dig small unauthorised mines or pan dirt for gold. Ninja mining towns have become more or less self-sufficient, with their own economy, rules and social structure, nearly independent of the government thanks to the government choosing to ignore...
Turkmenistan: Parliamentary Election Took Place
Patrick Frost analyzes the Turkmenistan's 4th Mejlis (parliamentary) elections, which was deemed a great success and ‘historic event’, as for the first time more than 1 candidate was running for each seat, although all of them were from the only one registered, pro-governmental party.
Kazakhstan: Nuclear Cooperation with India
Joshua Foust reports that Kazakhstan will supply uranium for India’s nuclear power plants. The deal, which involves export of so-called “yellow cake” uranium to India, will be discussed during Kazakh President Nazarbayev’s upcoming visit to India.
Afghanistan: Taliban Has Two Groupings, a Leaked Document Says
Azar Balkhi posts a document, allegedly leaked out from the Afghanistani secret services; it reads that Mullah Mohammad Omar leads one gruop of the Taliban that is secretly allied with president Karzai.
Kazakhstan: Protesters stormed the municipality
Michael Hancock reports on the story that Kazakhstani angry home-owners, protesting the planned demolition of their neighborhood, stormed the Almaty municipal building after the mayor refused to meet with them.
Afghanistan: Female Voice Banned From Radio
Azar Balkhi reports that the authorities of Ghazni province in Afghanistan has put a ban on female voice on Radio and other entertainment shows for the “religious reasons”.
Afghanistan: Blogger Wins International Journalism Award
Nasim Fekrat tells his readers about the Award for the freedom of expression by ISF (Information Safety and Freedom), which he was given lately in Siena, Italy.
Mongolia: Local singer's John Lennon tribute
Bilguun shares a tribute to John Lennon, a cover of Imagine by Naran, a Mongolian singer with powerful voice.
Kazakhstan: Krishnas Save Kazakhstan Farm
Gumir reports that the Kazakhstan government withdrew its claim for demolition of the only Temple of the Krishna Society in Kazakhstan after 1,5 years of standoff.
Uzbekistan: Bulgarian president hunts in Uzbekistan
Akmal reports that after reports about Bulgarian president Georgi Purvanov's hunting for protected animals during his official visit to Uzbekistan, there have been severe debates online on the role of ethics in todays politics.
Tajikistan: Aging Cars Resurrection
Daniel McIntosh writes about Khujand’s cargo train station in the northern part of Tajikistan, where retired vehicles of the developed world are given a second life to later go on to become a family’s pride in one of Central Asia’s poorest countries.
Kazakhstan: Human Rights Watch Condemns the OSCE “Ugly Trade”
Joshua Foust writes that just before the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Helsinki, Kazakhstan – the OSCE's chairman-in-office in 2010, faced condemnation from Human Rights Watch over its human rights record.
Uzbekistan: Economic Model?
Nathan reports that preisdent of Uzbekistan Islom Karimov in his recent public speech took a moment to heap praise upon himself for his wise economic policy decisions, while much of the population lives in poverty and hundreds of thousands of Uzbek people have left the country for seasonal jobs elsewhere.
Afghanistan: Afghans Win Homeless Soccer World Cup
SunLeaf says that the Afghanistani team took part in the Homeless Soccer World Cup and showed true character and determination in winning.
Afghanistan: Young Female Politicians Meets Youth
Azar Balkhi reports that Fawzia Koofi, 32, Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of the National Assembly of Afghanistan, paid visit to Kabul University students. This lady is getting more and more popular as a modern young leader among the youth in Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan: History, Culture and Internet
While Ukraine is taking a principle stand towards its history and calling Holodomor (famine of the 1930s) genocide of the nation, undertaken by the communist regime, Kazakhstani authorities are very quiet on the comparable disaster of the Stalin era, when more than 30 percent of the Kazakhs died. Schriftsteller says...
Afghanistan: Obama's New Policy for Kabul
Azar Balkhi reflects on the U.S. policy towards Afghanistan and cites a private Afghan newspaper, which has said it would be “unwise” if the new American administration to keep on supporting President Hamed Karzai as a legacy of George Bush.
