Author: Shukurbek Isanov

Brussels (12/7 – 30.77) International investigators interviewing survivors of a mountain massacre that occurred in May 2022 in Tajikistan have collected evidence that government security services carried out a planned massacre of peaceful protestors as part of a larger ethnic cleansing campaign targeting the peaceful Pamiri indigenous people of the mountainous eastern region of the country. Numerous witnesses described how heavily armed troops from both the Ministry of Internal Affairs (VKD) and the intelligence service (GKNB) gunned down Pamiri demonstrators in the town of Vamar/Rushon on 18 May 2022. The non-violent protests had erupted in various cities of the Gorno-Badakhshan…

Paris, Brussels (13/7 – 37.5) In Kazakhstan, Ablyazov was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for murder, another sentence related to the creation of a criminal community, embezzlement and money laundering. In Russia, the ex-banker was sentenced to 15 years for embezzlement of almost 60 billion rubles.The French authorities demanded that the former head of the Kazakh BTA Bank, Mukhtar Ablyazov, leave the country within 30 days. He announced this on his Facebook page (owned by Meta, whose activities in Russia are recognized as extremist and banned). Ablyazov’s extradition is simultaneously sought by Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. The former…

Rahmon’s war against the Ismaili. Dubai (5/7 – 75) The government of Tajikistan’s campaign against the operations of a charitable organization funded by the Agha Khan, the spiritual leader of the country’s Ismaili minority, has intensified over the past few weeks. In the most recent development, the authorities have revoked the license of the Aga Khan Lycée in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO. A source at the Aga Khan Foundation told Eurasianet that June 30 was the last day that the secondary school would operate under its aegis. The Aga Khan Development Network, the umbrella…

The recent ‘Qatargate’ scandal in the European Parliament, which has seen MEPs & at least one former former MEP languishing in Belgian jail cells, has re-opened another serious issue – one that is institutionalised in Brussels – that of the “fake NGO”. The fake NGO is becoming a major problem in Brussels. Typically, such a body would purport to represent human rights interests: it is always going to be difficult for a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), for example, to say “no” to an approach by a human rights NGO – but easy for NGO to use the cover…

Western Tien-Shan is a transboundary and serial property situated in the highly mountainous areas spanning three Central Asian countries. The property is divided into seven protected areas that capture some of the most biodiverse components of an already species rich region. Western Tien-Shan is perhaps most famous for its populations of wild relatives to modern day commercial fruit trees, such as apricot and pear, but most notably for apple, which is thought to have originated in this region. The property also supports a large number of animal species, many of which are threatened, such as the snow leopard and saker…

Kyrgyzstan is starting to become a popular travel destination for its stunning landscape and its nomadic culture. But the small republic of Central Asia is still unknown for its diverse ethnic groups, although there are more than 100 nationalities cohabitating on this mountainous territory! Kyrgyzstan has been a multicultural country for many centuries thanks to its strategic location on the Silk Road and its rich natural soil. During your trip in Kyrgyzstan, you’ll be able to discover a wild and immaculate natural environment, as well as kind and generous people. Make sure to meet Dungan people as well, a little known minority that has preserved its cultural values…

The war in the Ukraine created two main opposing camps of countries. An Alliance of Democracies on one side and a Group of Authoritarian. The escalation of geopolitical tensions linked to the Ukrainian crisis has highlighted two main opposing camps of countries — an Alliance of Democracies on one side and a Group of Authoritarian Regimes on the other. A number of countries have resisted choosing sides, however, as they strive to balance their national interests with international developments while simultaneously advocating the need to maintain peaceful diplomacy and global connections. While the number of these so-called “in-between” countries abound…

Regional Office for Central Asia The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) was established in 2008 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and currently covers all five countries in the region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In line with the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as set out in the General Assembly’s Resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, ROCA will engage with Governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector as well as relevant United Nations partners, to formulate and implement programmes and activities for the promotion and…

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu met with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek on April 24, Azernew reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. Following the meeting, the sides discussed the key issues and prospects of the development of the bilateral relations, including safety issues, green economy, as well as cooperation within the C5+1 framework (a diplomatic platform represented by the US government, and the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Kyrgyz FM noted that Kyrgyzstan encourages cooperation in mutual areas of interest and…

Ukraine received 18 German Leopard 2 tanks, according to the German edition of Spiegel. Two months have passed since the decision to send. “The 18 Leopard 2 tanks promised by the federal government have arrived in Ukraine. According to Spiegel, the last tanks left Germany at the end of last week and have now been handed over to Ukraine,”transmitsedition. Initially, Germany announced the dispatch of 14 tanks, but then decided to increase the supply. Also, 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles were transferred to Ukraine. Germany trained Ukrainian soldiers to operate and maintain these tanks. However, Leopard is very demanding on maintenance, so Germany is going…