Author: Aktan Akhmedov

Tajikistan officially banned the hijab, imposing hefty fines in its latest move to curb Islamic influence. The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan officially prohibited the wearing of hijabs and other “alien garments” this week, as the country’s parliament passed a new bill regulating Islamic clothing and Eid celebrations. The bill, approved by the upper house of parliament, Majlisi Milli, on June 19, comes after years of an unofficial clampdown on the hijab in the Muslim-majority country. Under the new law, individuals wearing hijabs or other banned religious clothing could face hefty fines of up to 7,920 somonis (approximately $700). Companies…

Kyrgyzstan host promising lithium fields, Kyrgyz Geological Service Director Emil Osmonbetov said. These fields lie in Issyk-Kul and Batken regions, he said. “We need to conduct geological exploration to determine the potential and register reserves. Then we may proceed to talks on joint development and cooperation,” Emil Osmonbetov added. Lithium is element of the future, it is in demand, he said. Source : Akipress

Introduction of fines for wearing niqab (veil covering all of the face apart from the eyes) and thick beards making it impossible to identify citizens in public places is suggested in Kyrgyzstan. MP Sharapatkan Majitova (Yntymak) came up with the respective amendments to the Code of Offenses, which were published for public discussion on November 14. Wearing clothing covering all of the face in public places, except for cases when covering is worn for medical reasons and by those on duty, as well as foreigners having diplomatic status, will lead to 2000 soms fine or up to 30 hours of…

Russia is likely preparing another campaign to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Can our air defense systems withstand new strikes this winter? Read below in the material by RBC-Ukraine. During the preparation of the material, publications by CSIS, IISS, Defense Express, AP, and The Washington Post were used, along with interviews with representatives of intelligence agencies on the condition of anonymity, comments from the spokesperson of the Air Force Command, Yurii Ihnat, as well as military experts Ivan Kyrychevskyi and Kostiantyn Kryvolap. For several months in a row, government representatives have been requesting additional air defense systems from partners to defend…

60 Kyrgyz citizens were transferred from Russia to further serve their sentences in their homeland from January 1 to November 9, Deputy Foreign Minister Almaz Imangaziev said on November 14. According to him, 30 citizens are at the transfer stage. About 459 citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic did not express a desire to serve their sentences in Kyrgyzstan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, 28 requests for transfer to their homeland were received from convicted Kyrgyz citizens. The General Prosecutor’s Office received 292 requests, 227 of which were sent to…

Two years after re-instituting the Constitutional Court, Japarov has approved a law that opens its decisions to presidential interference. Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov signed a bill into law that allows the Constitutional Court to revise prior decisions. Revisions can be instigated by the court’s chairperson or the president in three cases: if constitutional norms have shifted since a decision was made, if circumstances relevant to a decision come to light after a decision was made, or if a decision contradicts the “moral values” or “public consciousness” of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic. Others have written about how this is…

The Olympic football team of Kyrgyzstan had an unsuccessful start at the Asian Games in China. The Kyrgyz team played against the team of Indonesia in the first round match of the group stage on September 19. The first half of the match ended in a draw 0:0. The Indonesian team scored twice and won in the second half. The team of Norh Korea beat Taiwan with a score of 2:0 in another game of this group. The Kyrgyz team will play against the North Korean team in the second round match on September 21. Source : AKIPRESS

Kyrgyz authorities have filed a lawsuit to close down Kloop Media Public Foundation, a nonprofit body that runs an independent online news outlet in Kyrgyzstan, Human Rights Watch said today. The move continues a repressive trend against freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan.  The lawsuit, for which Kloop was officially served on August 28, 2023, was filed by the Bishkek city Prosecutor’s Office alleging Kloop’s failure to register as a mass media outlet and conducting media activity not listed in its charter, which can warrant the liquidation of legal entities under Kyrgyzstan’s civil law code. The lawsuit also references a pretrial investigation into the foundation’s activities…

“We use just 13% of country’s hydropower potential,” Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov said at the meeting with management of Xinjiang Goldwind Science and Technology Co., Ltd on August 18 as part of his working visit to Xinjiang. The Cabinet Chairman said the agreement was reached with TBEA concerning construction of 500 kW Kemin-Torugart power transmission line. The memorandum was also signed with TBEA on construction of 1,100 MW chain of Sary-Jaz hydropower plants. The agreement was signed earlier with Chinese investors on 1,200 MW chain of Kazarman chain of hydropower plants. Cabinet Chairman Japarov said construction of…

NOC President Sadyr Mamytov signed a memorandum for the construction of the facility with As-Salam Humanitarian Foundation President Sarybai uulu Bakyt and chairman Nabel Al-Oun. It is set to become Bishkek’s first purpose-built facility for martial arts and team sports including basketball, volleyball and futsal, and be used to host major sports events in Kyrgyzstan. The complex is also expected to be used as a national team training base. Al-Oun expressed his thanks to the NOC and his organisation’s willingness to support similar initiatives in the future. “Our As-Salam Foundation has built many other infrastructure projects in Kyrgyzstan but this…