Bruce Pannier is a Central Asia analyst and appears regularly on the Majlis podcast for RFE/RL.
Central Asia is a region where few dare challenge the will of the presidents. Most officials follow their president's lead, and what attempts there are to find an official to act as a bridge, a mediator, between the people and the government are usually made to serve the interests of the authorities. But there is one man, the ombudsman in Kyrgyzstan, who routinely voices opinions that contradict the government's views.
The Turkmen government is ordering people in the capital Ashgabat to vacate their homes on short notice. These victims of the city's plan to create space for new upscale building projects -- are not receiving new homes or any compensation for their loss. They are simply told to leave and to find a new place to live.
Sharipzhan was writing an article about a Nazarbaev (pictured) rival at the time of his death Askhat Sharipzhan, an independent journalist in Kazakhstan who worked mainly on the Internet, died today from multiple skull fractures he sustained after being hit by a car as he crossed the street. It appears the tragic event was simply the result of a traffic accident, but there are some in Kazakhstan who question that.
Leaflets calling for the overthrow of the Turkmen government have appeared in bazaars in the capital Ashgabat. It remains unclear who is behind the leaflets, but it is a strange and potentially serious act of defiance in a country where the government is known for exercising strict control over society. RFE/RL looks at what's in the leaflets and what threat their distribution could have for the government of Saparmurat "Turkmenbashi" Niyazov.
The U.S. State Department announced yesterday that it is withholding up to $18 million in aid to Uzbekistan due to its poor human rights record. The United States is using a military base in Uzbekistan for antiterrorism operations in Afghanistan, and has long promised it would press Uzbekistan to improve its human rights record and speed up democratic reform.
The upper house of Kyrgyzstan's parliament has voted to give Russian soldiers stationed in the country diplomatic immunity. Soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition stationed in Kyrgyzstan for operations in Afghanistan already enjoy such immunity. But some in Kyrgyzstan question why foreign troops should be exempt from Kyrgyz laws while they are on Kyrgyz soil.
In Central Asia, corruption in the education system is rife. Low wages and lax standards have created a vicious cycle in which teachers and administrators demand bribes -- to pass an exam or enter university -- that students and parents often feel they can't refuse. But it's not simply a question of greedy teachers milking helpless students. In this second part of a four-part series on corruption in education, RFE/RL takes a closer look at the personalities involved and their motives.
A joint Turkmen-Uzbek commission recently finished demarcating the two countries' northern border. The agreement clarifies what was previously a poorly marked area. But it may not satisfy all the residents of the border region. RFE/RL looks at one family that finds itself suddenly divided.
Uzbekistan saw its share of violence during the April attacks
The Tajik parliament has passed amendments to the Election Code that, on balance, should improve the electoral process.
There is already a candidate for next year's presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan. An opposition bloc announced last week it would support former Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev. Some human rights activists have reservations about his candidacy.
Nongovernmental organizations in Kazakhstan have announced their intention to form a group aimed at bringing greater transparency to the country's vital oil sector, which has been plagued by allegations of corruption.
Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Uzbekistan for economic and security talks with President Islam Karimov. Ample opportunities for greater cooperation between the two countries appear to exist in the security sphere, while the outlook for trade is less certain.
Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev is wrapping up a two-day visit to Tajikistan today. While a number of bilateral agreements have been signed, Akaev's visit has also succeeded in reminding observers that these two Central Asian nations share many geographical, historical, and political similarities.
A new political group -- Union for Honest Elections -- has established itself in Kyrgyzstan. Among its leaders is Misir Ashirkulov, an old friend of the Kyrgyz president and until this week the country's Security Council secretary. Ashirkulov has joined forces with an alliance of some of the most vocal opposition groups in the country.
Uzbek authorities are accusing political opposition groups of illegally receiving foreign help. The charges may have some basis in fact.
A crackdown on government opponents is under way in Uzbekistan. Several members of unregistered opposition groups have been arrested or threatened with arrest during the last week. The son of an oppositionist cleric has also gone missing in that time.
The last synagogue in the Tajik capital Dushanbe is scheduled for demolition as part of an urban-renewal project in the district where it is located. The Jewish community in Tajikistan is small, but its ties to the region stretch back centuries. Its members are trying to convince the government to hold off on the synagogue's destruction, at least until a replacement can be built.
Late yesterday, Kazakhstan's Justice Ministry registered the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) party. DVK is the 10th political party to be registered ahead of the country's October parliamentary elections, but only one of a few representing the political opposition. RFE/RL looks at the newly registered party, its goals, and its chances in the autumn vote.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov has offered his clearest statements to date on the violence that rocked his country a month ago. Speaking to the press following a parliamentary session yesterday, Karimov gave his explanation for who was behind the attacks, where they are based, and when trials will be held for those apprehended. Karimov also criticized the West for questioning his country's commitment to democracy.
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