Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from January, 2010
Kazakhstan: “Kelin” Shortlisted for Oscar
Mursya writes that the Kazakh film “Kelin” (“The Daughter-in-Law,” directed by Ermek Tursunov) was shortlisted with 8 others for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Tajikistan: Power Plant as a National Idea
TajikVoice posts (and Andrey translates) stories of real people in Tajikistan, telling how they are being forced to “voluntarily donate” money to the construction of the Rogun dam and hydroelectric power plant.
Turkmenistan: Jesus saves Turkmenistan on TV
Annasoltan says that Kanal Hayat (Channel Life), a satellite channel programming in Turkish about Christianity, has launched programs in Turkmen language that are broadcast in Turkmenistan.
Tajikistan: Judges seek to silence press
Alpharabius posts a story of the Tajik high-level judges, who conspired to punish three independent newspapers for publishing a sensational story about unlawful conviction practices at the courts.
Afghanistan: Fresh Data Sources
Nick Fielding reviews new publication on negotiating with the Taliban and recommends a great source of stats on security, governance, socio-economic indicators and polling information.
Kazakhstan: Glutting the Wheat Industry
Joshua Foust reviews the situation in Kazakhstan's wheat industry, noting weak professionalism of the agriculture officials in managing market price fluctuations and food crisis risks.
Afghanistan: Behind the London Conference
Dafydd watches the London international conference on Afghanistan and opines that the organisers’ new strategy for this country involves buying off low level Taliban fighters and cutting a deal with more senior figures via amnesty of relatively senior figures from the pre 2001 Taliban regime.
Kyrgyzstan: Sheeps to receive passports
Noah reports on the striking decision of the Kyrgyz authorities to issue a passport and disaster insurance to every sheep and other livestock.
Afghanistan: Drowning in corruption
The Afghans had to pay out $2.5 billion in bribes over the past 12 months – equivalent to 23 per cent of Afghanistan’s GDP, writes Nick Fielding citing “Corruption in Afghanistan” report, published by the UN.
Kazakhstan: Strong debut in Hopman Cup
Dina says that it is so far a successful season start for the Kazakh tennis players with their solid performance in Perth during the Hopman Cup.
Tajikistan: The people’s dam?
Andrey translates the TajikVoice’s post, which tells about the officials of Tajikistan, who are forcing citizens to buy stocks in a dam project and donate money for its construction.
Afghanistan: Insurgents attack Kabul capitalism
Julia Mahlejd writes about a complex attack on the market area near the Afghan Ministry of Justice, presidential palace and Serena Hotel in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan mends relationships with Russia
Elina Galperin reports that Russia and Turkmenistan signed an agreement to expand bilateral “strategic” energy cooperation, including resumption of Turkmen gas supplies to Russia.
Afghanistan: Ex-Taliban official releases book
Peter Marton reviews the book “My life with the Taliban” by Abdul Salam Zaeef, former Taliban’s ambassador to Pakistan and the Afghan Emirate’s face to the world in 2000-2001.
Afghanistan: Slow progress on power supply
Nick Fielding says that providing electricity for the residents of Afghanistan is one of the best ways of undermining the Taliban insurgency. However, although reports indicate increase of energy supply in the country, that modest increase hides many problems.
Turkmenistan: New way out for the natural gas
Elina Galperin writes that Turkmenistan lainched a new Central Asia-China gas pipeline, and wonders if there is going to be enough gas for Nabucco and how will China affect Central Asian politics.
Kazakhstan: Bloggers discuss the Customs Union and public welfare
Bloggers discuss what the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which came into force on January 1, 2010, would give Kazakhstan. A trade bloc of three countries is viewed by the governments as the first step towards deeper integration into the Eurasian Economic Union. Some experts believe this is...
Kazakhstan: Patriotism and Democracy
In the last weeks of 2009, the Kazakh bloggers’ comments were concentrated around two topics – patriotism and democracy in the Republic of Kazakhstan. PATRIOTISM The level of patriotism in the society keeps on provoking interest of various parties. The nationalist circles complain on prevalence of the Russian language in...
Afghanistan: Attacks on the base again
Nick Fielding reports on the suicide bomb attack in Khost Province in eastern Afghanistan that killed seven CIA officers and wounded six others in an eloquent and bloody response by Islamist militants.
Kazakhstan: Relatives of Political Prisoners Criticize Rights Activists
Andrey of neweurasia.net translates the RFE/RL's oundtable discussion on Kazakh human rights organizations, which are being criticized by relatives of political prisoners.
Kazakhstan: Kyrgyz special agents and murder of a journalist
Noah Tucker reports on a leaked information that the Kazakh authorities allegedly believe they see three officers of the Kyrgyz National Security Service as suspects in the murder of Kyrgyz journalist Gennadiy Pavluk in Almaty last month.
