Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from February, 2008
Afghanistan: Balkh Still Uneasy Over Language
Mohammad reports that university teachers, students, cultural activists, writers, poets, journalists and youths dramatic held a protest rally against the information minister in Balkh, a city in Afghanistan. The protesters said they had staged the demonstration against the official persecution of three journalists for using Persian words in their reports.
Afghanistan: The two Kandahar bombings
Peter Marton analyzes the two recent bloody bombings in Kandahar, an uneasy province of Afghanistan, both of them with a lot of random killing.
Tajikistan: Waiting for International Aid
Vadim reports that the Tajikistan's authorities officially admitted inability to cope with the energy crisis by appealing to international community for aid, and wonders why should the foreign governments correct the mistakes of the Tajik officials.
Kazakhstan: Repeated Inter-Ethnic Violence?
Lena B-va reports on the strange incident of an alleged inter-ethnic fight in Kazakhstan between Turks and Kazakhs – the case had been covered by the Turkish press, but omitted in the Kazakhstani media.
Kyrgyzstan: Church Wants to Sue LGBT Organization
GenderStan informs the readers that Russian Ortodox Church of Kyrgyzstan allegedly plans to sue “Labrys”, an NGO dedicated to LGBT rights, following the organization's press conference, where an LGBT-friendly priest Maksim from Apostolic Orthodox Church spoke about his church’s views on homosexuality.
Turkmenistan: American priorities with Ashgabat
Maciula opines on American policy towards Turkmenistan and compares the significance of this country for the US with that of other Eurasian states.
Uzbekistan: Tracing Uzbek cotton
Libertad writes about Tesco’s initiative to boycott Uzbek cotton on the international market, because of the use of organized and forced child labor in producing the cotton.
Kyrgyztsan: Kyrgyz Authorities Cut Off Tajikistan
Ayan Dane writes that the Kyrgyz authorities have decided to stop supplying electricity to Tajikistan, which, according to the Kyrgyz officials, refused to comply with its commitments. Tajikistan is in grave humanitarian condition now because of the harsh energy deficit.
Kyrgyztsan: Hate Crimes in Russia Target Kyrgyzs
Asel writes that Kyrgyz society is highly concerned about recent hate crimes in Russia – only during the last month five Kyrgyzstani were murdered in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.
Kazakhstan: More State Control in Economy
KZBlog reports that one week after the president's Address to the Nation, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan announced that this year the government will investigate all existing contracts with foreigners in extractive sector to void contracts with companies that have violated the terms.
Uzbekistan: Rights Activists Comment on Release of Colleagues
Nathan posts a statement by the human rights watchdog for prevention of torture in Uzbekistan concerning recent release of imprisoned human rights activists and the increased lip service the Uzbek government is paying to human rights as it tries to recultivate ties with Europe and the United States.
Uzbekistan: Education Officials Underrates Students
David Walther reports that the universities in Uzbekistan have been ordered by the Ministry of Education to purposely lower the quantity of students receiving A’s in order to economize on stipends.
Afghanistan: London's Afghans Rally for Freedom of Expression
Mohammad says that Afghanistanis, the citizens of U.K., have demonstrated to condemn reprisals against those who are speaking Persian language. The protesters marched in front of the Afghan Embassy in London last Friday.
Afghanistan: Journalists fined for language debate
Sanjar reports that three Afghanistani journalists working for government-owned media have been fined for using Persian words that are not approved by cultural policy.
Kyrgyzstan: Debates over Alphabet
Asel says that following the similar debates in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz politicians also raise the issue of possible switching the Kyrgyz alphabet from Cyrillic to Roman.
Kazakhstan: Series of Road Photos Continued
Mikhail posts new picture from his numerous road adventures, featuring the astonishingly miserable, middle-age-like road in the Western Kazakhstan.
Afghanistan: Ambassador Abducted?
Manan Ahmed says that Tariq Azizuddin, the Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, has gone missing, presumably kidnapped by the Taliban, although the latters have already issued denials.
Kazakhstan: Opposition Offers Help to the Ruling Party in Fighting Corruption
Zhanna Zhukova tells that the leading opposition party of Kazakhstan offers its recommendations on what the ruling party Nur Otan shall do first of all to implement its newly declared counter-corruption campaign.
Turkmenistan: Petrol Prices, Market Economy and Corruption
Maciula writes about the introduction of market prices for petrol in Kazakhstan and analyses possible reasons and cosequences of this decision.
Central Asia: Which Candidate is Good for the Region?
KZBlog ponders on which candidate for the post of the United States president may be better for the development of Central Asia and says that John McCain co-sponsored Freedom Support Act, Barak Obama is widely believed to be more of an internationalist and perceived to have sympathy for Muslim countries.
Kazakhstan: Gaisha Madanova – Winter Photos of Almaty
Daniel presents Gaisha Madanova, the photographer, capturing the streets of Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan, this winter taking photos that are poetic and meditative.
