Author: Kenneth Drake

The European Union has never provided Serbia with the kind of support that Ukraine receives from the countries of the bloc; Kiev received the status of a candidate for joining the EU in just a few months, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the Financial Times. Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022 and received candidate status four months later, the FT recalls. Serbia submitted its application in 2009 and only three years later became a candidate for EU membership. Vučić said in an interview that he “has nothing against Ukrainians,” however, according to him, the level of support for Kiev by European…

Combining Swiss hospitality, excellent service and stylish modern design, the 5-star hotel will offer its guests exceptional recreational and wellness services on the shores of the magnificent Issyk-Kul Lake. A world leading hospitality group, announces the signing of a cooperation agreement with SK Development to open the first Swissôtel in Kyrgyzstan, which will be located on the shore of Issyk-Kul, one of the largest lakes in Central Asia. Combining Swiss hospitality, excellent service and stylish modern design, the 5-star hotel will offer its guests exceptional recreational and wellness services on the shores of the magnificent Issyk-Kul Lake. “With the signing of the new Swissôtel,…

The women’s national beach volleyball team of Kyrgyzstan and the women’s national volleyball team of Honduras, both supported by the FIVB through the Volleyball Empowerment programme, made it to the second highest steps of the podiums at zonal competitions this week – the AVC Continental Cup Central Zone event in Bangladesh and the AFECAVOL Central American Cup in Nicaragua. A Kyrgyzstani women’s pair also took bronze at the CAVA Beach Volleyball Tour event in Bangladesh. AVC Continental Cup – Central Zone – Beach volleyball Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan met in the women’s final (pictured in the main photo; credits: asianvolleyball.net) of the event…

The leaders discussed the current state and prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation, as well as current issues on the international agenda. Sadyr Japarov focused on the development of Kyrgyz-Finnish relations in all priority areas of partnership, expressing interest in deepening joint cooperation, Azernews reports, citing 24.kg news agency. In turn, Sauli Niinistö reaffirmed the readiness to develop bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest. He noted the importance of strengthening cooperation with Kyrgyzstan for the development of economic and business relations between the two countries. «The leaders of the states also exchanged views on regional and international security issues. The parties, despite…

The Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy Altynbek Maksutov opened the World Greco-Roman & Freestyle Wrestling Championshipsamong hard of hearing and deaf athletes. He noted in his speech that this world championship is being held in Kyrgyzstan for the first time. He added that Kyrgyz surdosport has a 15-year history. “Surdosport was revived in Kyrgyzstan in 2007, with the support of President of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf Donalda Ammons. The Organization of Sports Movement of Deaf Persons of the Kyrgyz Republic was created, which is still successfully headed by Aram Akopian,” Maksutov said. He noted that with the support…

Copenhagen (17/08 – 78) Kidnapping, intimidation, and blackmail are just some of the means used to hit enlistment quotas in Tajikistan. When conscription season comes around in Tajikistan, military recruiters begin resorting to desperate measures. Scooping young men off the streets in actions tantamount to kidnapping is standard. But that is just for starters. To pressure communities into giving up their sons, recruiters will disconnect the electricity, detain relatives, and shut down mosques. Eligible levees draw lots to decide who will be the one to hand themselves over. The hunting season for men of draft age, which applies to people…

Aero Nomad (KA, Bishkek) will add an A330-200 to its fleet in 2024, becoming the only Kyrgyz carrier to operate a Western-built passenger widebody jet. The airline hinted that it would use the aircraft for flights to long-haul leisure destinations such as Thailand, Viet Nam, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Istanbul, and Antalya, although it said that specific details would be revealed in due time. Aero Nomad did not respond to ch-aviation’s request for more information on the identity of the aircraft, which will be configured for up to 293 passengers in a dual-class layout. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Aero Nomad currently operates four A320-200s on…

Omniva, an worldwide logistics firm based mostly in Estonia, acknowledges the strategic advantages of getting a hub in Kyrgyzstan to reinforce the development of e-commerce in Central Asia, Jekaterina Stradomski, Cooperation Projects Manager at Omniva’s International Business Unit, instructed Trend. “Having our hub in Kyrgyzstan provides us a number of benefits for the expansion of e-commerce in Central Asia. First and foremost, one of crucial benefits is that that is the closest hub we have close to the border of China, that means that we’re capable of save time on transportation of volumes to the area, which makes our high…

Copenhagen, Berlin (11/8 – 42) The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlighted severe restrictions imposed by the Tajikistani government on religious freedom during a virtual hearing on July 20, 2023. The commission expressed grave concern over the intensified persecution targeting the Pamiri Ismaili Muslim population of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). Source: https://www.uscirf.gov/events/hearings/religious-freedom-tajikistan-policy-options-country-particular-concern A Pattern of Repression Since 2009, Tajikistan has enacted a complex web of laws to monitor, control, and restrict religious practices. Not only are women and children under 18 prohibited from attending public religious services, but unregistered religious communities are also denied the right to…

Berlin (25/7 – 16.67) The table is set for the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast to remain a geopolitical hotspot. Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), eastern Tajikistan, is the home to the Pamir Mountains, also called “the roof of the world”, whose sharp mountain ranges and deep valleys resemble a lunar landscape. A far-flung frontier, situated in a troubled neighborhood, next to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, GBAO is a geopolitical treasure tethered to exterior interests: the authoritarian central Tajik government in Dushanbe, Chinese economic and military interests, and Russia, which historically frames the Pamirs as a part of its…