Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from January, 2009
Kazakhstan: Livejournal Unblocked. And Blocked Again
On Junuary 28, the Kazakhstani Internet users were suddenly granted access to LiveJournal – the most popular blog platform in the post-Soviet Russian-speaking blogosphere. It was blocked by the national ISP on October 7 last year under unknown reasons – “Kazakhtelecom” has never acknowledged the fact of filtering. We used...
Tajikistan: Terrible Tajik-Uzbek relations
Vadim says that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have chronically had bad relations since early history of the two countries, and the most recent actions of Uzbekistan made these relations even worse.
Kazakhstan: State-run web-sites tested by the public
Mursya reviews the results of an evaluation of web-sites run by Kazakhstani state authorities. The evaluation was performed by MediaNet, the International Journalism Center, supported by Soros Foundation in Kazakhstan.
Tajikistan: Electricity rationing returns
Seemingly a shock to some, Vadim reports upon why electricity rationing in Tajikistan has returned, as well as why it has only just been noticed by the media.
Kazakhstan: Innovations, Kazakh-Style
Arseny writes about the government's innovation strategies in Kazakhstan, and how efficient they actually are.
Afghanistan: Bagram Prison and Obama’s Gitmo Policy Change
Patrick Frost reflects on how President Obama's political stand towards Guantanamo prison would change the administration's position regarding Bagram Air Base prison in Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan: Journalist Arrested for Alleged State Secret Disclosure
Ramazan Yessergepov, chief editor of the “Alma-Ata Info” newspaper, was arrested early January this year by the National Security Committee officers from the provincial branch office of the country's main special service. They had come all the way down from Taraz (southern town in Kazakhstan) to his apartment in Almaty...
Kazakhstan: Students Expelled from Universities
KZBlog reports on the claims that 7 000 – 20 000 students were expelled for being unable to pay tuition or fees at Kazakhstan universities and colleges.
Kazakhstan: Disability Rights Group Urges Legalization of Prostitution
Ekspeditsiya reports that a disability rights group in Karaganda has called on the government to legalize prostitution and issue sex ration cards giving a minimum of five sessions a month to the disabled.
Kyrgyzstan: Black Friday for the Officials
Elena writes about mass resignations and reshiffling of the Kyrgyzstan officials.
Mongolia: Tsagaan Sar
Bilguun writes about the national Mongolian holiday called Tsagaan sar (New Year), which is celebrated on different days every year, and this year's Tsagaan sar – as usually – provoked the same old debate amongst the astrologers and the lamas as to when it should be celebrated.
Kyrgyzstan: Changes, Reshuffling and Invariability
Almatyreporter writes that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has dismissed a batch of ministers, governors, mayors, administration officials, and even several ambassadors.
Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch and The Azizabad Massacre
Colla reports that Human Rights Watch has sent a letter to outgoing US Secretary of Defense Robert M Gates to remind of the US night air attack on Azizabad, Afghanistan, that took place on 21-22 August last year and resulted in tens of dead civilians, while the US authroties were...
Tajikistan: Earthquake rumor
Vadim reports that the recent rumor about the possible powerful earthquake in Tajikistan made thousands of people throughout the country to leave their homes and spend the freezing night in the street.
Kazakhstan: National Issue Revisited
Arseny’s post is about the controversy over the nationality record in the new Kazakhsani biometric passports.
Kyrgyzstan: Not Free Religion
Elena reviews some statements of the new law about religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan.
Kazakhstan: World MBA Tour Comes to Almaty
Adam writes about the World MBA Tour, the world’s best and biggest business school fairs, which will take place in Almaty, the biggest city of Kazakhstan, early March this year.
Afghanistan: Obama Honors Warlord, Snubs Karzai
Joshua Foust reflects on the fact that US President Obama selected four Afghan politicians to participate in his inaugural ceremony, among whom there was no incumbent president of Aghanistan Karzai.
Afghanistan: Election Holdups and Insurgency Holddowns
Patrick Frost analyzes the outcomes of US Assistant Secretary Boucher's visit to Kabul and what it means for the Taliban’s resurgence and governance in Afghanistan, including the issue of possible delaying of this years Presidential election.
Mongolia: Animals Elimination
Danzan Ravjaa writes that the Ulaanbaatar’s (capital city of Mongolia) Municipal Administration began a campaign to eliminate street dogs and reviews reactions of the society and reigious groups.
Kyrgyzstan: Withdrawal of the U.S. Airbase
Elena posted short chronology of the “withdrawals” of the American airbase “Manas” in Kyrgyzstan.
