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 September, 2009
Afghanistan: Is Withdrawal a Surrender?
Joshua Foust reflects on the fact that the withdrawal of the U.S. military from vast tracts of indefensible bases in Afghanistan is being put into motion.
Kyrgyzstan: Celebrations of Eid al Fitr
Aravanski tells his readers how Muslim holiday Eid al Fitr was celebrated in Kyrgyzstan (with photos).
Kazakhstan: Playing the Borat card
Vicky reports that that the government of Kazkahstan is now thawing and reversing its position on Borat, a comic character, as tourism rose by 13% last year.
Turkmenistan: Reforms back on the shelf?
Annasoltan analyzes the political impact of the visit of Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov to the United States, and says that it will be difficult for him to present himself as a reformer who would take Turkmenistan out of present isolationist course.
Kazakhstan: Interview with the author of a comic book about Kazakhstan
Jenia Saikina interviews Nicolas Journoud, the French artist living in Kazakhstan, who prepares to release a comic book about this Central Asian country.
Afghanistan: Threat to Germany
Nick Fielding writes about several videos in German language, threatening an al-Qaeda attack on the country unless it withdraws its 4,000 soldiers from Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Captain Semrau Goes to Trial
Joshua Foust reports that Captain Robert Semrau, a Canadian military man facing murder charges for the alleged shooting death of an injured, unarmed insurgent outside Lashkar Gah, is now facing a general court martial.
Uzbekistan: Freedom of faith questioned
Musa tells about the persecution of minor grouping of Bahá’í religion in Uzbekistan.
Turkmenistan: Ashgabat hosts ICT events
Musafirbek reports that Turkmenistan hosted international telecommunications and information technology exhibition and the “Turkmenistan and Global Telecommunications System” international scientific conference.
Afghanistan: Mullah Omar's New Statement
Nick Fielding analyzes the political statement of Mullah Mohammad Omar, leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, for the Afghans, particularly those who are loyal towards the Karzai regime.
Mongolia: Central Asian blues
Bilguun shares a new blues music project called “Khusugtun” in Mongolia.
Kazakhstan: Propaganda Allergies
As megakhuimyak described it, last week in Kazakhstan “the senility grew ever stronger.” The country is astir over the president’s former son-in-law, Rakhat Aliev, now émigré enemy of the state # 1. People’s fear of the once-omnipotent oligarch and secret service official has turned into fear of being associated with...
Kazakhstan: Right activist to continue his work in jail
Slavasay writes that Yevgenii Zhovtis, the famous Kazakhstani human rights activist, who is currently waiting to serve a four year prison sentence for a traffic violation that caused a man’s death, is undeterred, and will continue to defend himself and others.
Turkmenistan: Cries from the Bedroom
Anasoltan reports that a domestic violence hotline has been launched in Turkmenistan with the support of the OSCE center in Ashgabat.
Tajikistan: Free cheese and a mousetrap
Salimdjon reflects on the recent deterioration of political relationships between Tajikistan and Russia, saying that “formerly strategic partners are now haggling over the same piece of cheese”.
Afghanistan: Riots in Ghazni, the Province Falls
Joshua Foust reports that the strategic province of Ghazni in Afghanistan is falling to the Taliban with increasing presence of its “Radio Shariat” in the area and violent anti-government riots in the city.
Afghanistan: New Blog in Kunar
Joshua Foust writes that the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan has a blog with news and some great pictures.
Kazakhstan: Informal summit of the Caspian Sea states
Elina Galperin informs her readers that leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan met in Aktau (Kazakhstan) to ‘informally’ discuss the resources in the Caspian Sea. Iran did not take part.
Afghanistan: Growing presence of Taliban
Nick Fielding reports that Taliban now has a permanent presence in 80 per cent of Afghanistan, up from 72 per cent in November 2008 and 54 per cent in 2007.
Afghanistan: Rethinking “Af-Pak”
Nick Fielding analyzes the shifts in understanding of the Afghanistan politics by the West, as more politicians are rejecting the idea of linking policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kazakhstan: Lenin. More Alive Than the Living
Two similar messages have entered the Kazakh blogosphere from opposite ends of the country. They both talk about the revival of one symbol of a bygone era: head-and-shoulders statues of Lenin.
