Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from October, 2007
Kyrgyzstan: Kleptocracy in Action
Beaudi reflects on the recent developments in Kyrgyzstan, including adoption of the new constitution on a referendum and call for new parliamentary elections, saying that these developments indicate rollback from democracy in this country.
Uzbekistan: Electoral Theater
Bboyd opines on the pre-election environment in Uzbekistan, predicting the outcome of pre-orchestrated campaign: “the play will be a romance, with the incumbent and the state reunited for another decade”.
Uzbekistan: Journalist Killed
Libertad reports on the murder of Uzbek journalist Alisher Saipov, who worked in the neighboring Kyrgyzstan and wrote abot Uzbek minority there.
Afghanistan: Exports Go Up
Afghanistan Watch reports that the country's exports, which are 10 times lower than imports, have shown the upward trend this year.
Kazakhstan: “Kompromat” Wars
Rakhat Aliyev has lots of titles with an attribute “former”: former son-in-law of president Nazarbayev, former chief of special services, former media mogul and former influential clan leader. Today he is a figurant of the criminal case, accused of abduction and possible murder of heads of Nurbank, which was also...
Kazakhstan: Prices Unleashed
Immediately after the parliamentary elections, which were deemed undemocratic by the international monitors, the prices went crazy in Kazakhstan. The ruling party “Nur Otan”, led by president Nursultan Nazarbayev – who rules the country already for 17 years – had been building its campaign on socio-economic achievements and promises of...
Kyrgyzstan: Studies of LGBT problems
CXW reviews several recent publications and reports concerning the situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people in Kyrgyzstan.
Kazakhstan: “Kazakhgate's” start to be set this Friday
Steve LeVine informs that the court in New York should set a date for the start of so-called “Kazakhgate” trial over oil consultant James Giffen, accused of bribing higher officials in Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan: Clearing border from mines
Central Asian Borders reflects on the news or maybe a new rumour that Uzbekistan has begun to clear border areas (with Tajikistan) from mines. Uzbekistan mined its border with Tajikistan in the 90s.
Afghanistan: Asia Foundation Survey
Afghanistan Watch looks inside the Asia Foundation's latest survey of the Afghani people and notes that it paints a nuanced picture and provides some fascinating data on various issues: from support for traditional institutions to democracy and women’s rights.
Kyrgyzstan: Rights of Believers
Genderstan reflects on the new arguments for an interpretation of human rights that are raised by the organized Muslim believers.
Kyrgyzstan: Referendum brings new constitution
Central Asia section on the foreignpolicyblogs reviews the outcomes of the first constitutional referendum in Kyrgyzstan, which brought new constitution and resulted in dissolution of the parliament.
Afghanistan: Countering the Narcotics
Informed Comment Global Affairs continues its series of posts to analyze the main aspects of counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan, in response to the recently published U.S. Counter-Narcotics Strategy for Afghanistan and the UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey 2007.
Afghanistan: The View from Herat
Informed Comment Global Affairs reports on the 17th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization that has taken place in Herat last week, being focused on the issues of development and security.
Central Asia: The Oil and the Glory
Joshua Foust comes up with a review of Steve LeVine's book “The Pursuit of Empire and Fortune on the Caspian Sea”, devoted to the history and tendencies of the region's emerging oil wealth.
Kazakhstan: The Cheshire Grin
Steve LeVine shares his opinion concerning the recent state nationalism trends in the Kazakhstan's oil-driven economy, and informs that the clash between the government and ENI-led consortium has resulted in a number of concessions to Kazakhs.
Turkmenistan: Changing the Security Combination
Peter offers an update on the internal politics of Turkmenistan, in which the practice of arbitrary dismissals and appopintments seemingly persists, as Turkmen President Berdymukhammedov fired two more high-placed Interior Ministry officials, only days after dismissing the head and deputy head of the ministry.
Turkmenistan: Libraries contest
Nara briefly reports on the surprising and exceptionally compromise outcome of the libraries contest in Turkmenistan, where all nominees were awarded in a competition that had been organized by the government.
Central Asia: Turkmen-Uzbek relations
Central Asian Borders opines on the first bilateral meting of the two Central Asian countries’ presidents after Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov replaced the passed Turkmenbashi.
Kazakhstan: New Bank. Why?
Arseny translates a post by Adam Kesher about new bank emergence in Kazakhstan. Being fully owned by a person, allegedly associated with the higher officials and powerful clans, the bank's possible objectives are a subject of speculations among the local observers.
Mongolia: KHOVD anniversary
Axel shares his ornithological experience in Mongolia, offering some pictures as well. Observations are continued here and here.
