New developments: First of all, in a nice Americanizing of the names of other states’ scandals, there was what was once labelled “Kazakhgate“, which had to do with corruption, independent oil companies, and post-Soviet political economy; now we have “Rakhat-gate”, which is what this post is all about. This is an update on the deposed: fall of Rakhat Aliev (also […]
The Sound and the Gear: this short piece dates from around March 23rd of this year, and is featured courtesy of CCTV and YouTube. Note how the cornerstone of SCO policy continues to be cooperation against “Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism.” The action clips look pretty heavy-duty, don't they? [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/0Iaan_5zt5w” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization begins its military exercises today, August 9, in the Xinjiang region. “Peace Mission 2007” (love the name) will end in Chelyabinsk, Russia on August 17th. Over 6500 military personnel will participate; according to Mr. Pannier over at RFE/RL, the bulk of the troops will be from China or Russia. Uzbekistan is sending […]
Last week, I noted the arrest of Mr. Rejepov, former head of one of Turkmenistan's security apparati. This week, a former confidante of Turkmenbashi and former Agricultural minister Meredov has been arrested. Ferghana.ru translates reports from Vremya Novostei: Paizygeldy Meredov was arrested for corruption and financial fraud in the cotton industry. His son, Batyr Meredov, […]
Based upon an RFE/RL news story that came out yesterday: Saken Tauzhanov, a journalist with, apparently, a no-nonsense style and a “caustic wit”, was killed August 2nd when he was hit by a large truck as he crossed the street. Mr. Tauzhanov wrote for kub.kz . At the time of his death, he was writing satirical […]
Two notable talk-talks in U.S. election campaigns are creating a stir in Central Asia: 1. Representative Tancredo (R-Colorado) in a town hall meeting on August 3rd, told approximately 30 people in Iowa that any further depredations by Islamic terrorists on U.S. soil would be met, if he were the commander-in-chief, by immediate attacks upon the Holy Cities of Islam, Mecca […]
In order to get ready for the SCO Summit, I want to give a kind of mini-history of collective security after the Warsaw Pact broke down in 1989 as it applies to Central Asia (and, inseparably, to the Caucasus). I realize that I do not have here a culturally-relevant illustration, (or for that matter, a weaponry-relevant picture, either) […]
Afghanistan is figuring in the news these days as U.S. presidential candidates call attention to it; as Mr. Karzai was invited to Camp David for strategy sessions; and as more hostage-taking incidents indicate a decreased security. Yet in today's RFE/RL Newsline, the U.S. will be slashing aid to Afghanistan by over 50%. Here is the […]
If you ever took a course in international relations, you’ve already been here and done that, but you can comment if you like: Starting on August 16th, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) begins its Annual Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a collective security organization that demonstrates many elegant capabilities within the Central Asian region. While Bishkek scours […]
Kazakhstan: —Thirty members of the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir group go on trial in Kazakhstan for recruitment. Unlike many such trials in Central Asia at large, it looks as if this trial has caught some leaders of the movement. –More trouble developing the Kashagan oil field means that production is being pushed back to 2010. This field […]
Thank you, Joshua Foust of Registan.net and The Conjecturer, for this very useful format. Afghanistan and Pakistan: –Jeff at the Peace Like a River blog talks about the UK's Operation Chakush in Helmand. –My colleague Dan Graeber discusses UNAMA's new investigations of discovered mass graves in Afghanistan at the FPA War Crimes blog. Hostage News: –Four of […]
In my continuing quest to make reality more closely match the expert opinion and political directive, (or, perhaps more properly, vice versa) I offer some aphorisms by La Rochefoucald that might make us laugh but also help us question the motives of those with the most high-minded intentions. A little about Francois, duc de la Rochefoucald (1613–1680): though […]
Breaking news from Ferghana.ru: Akmurad Rejepov used to be a chief of the Presidential Security Service under the former Turkmenistani President, Mr. Niyazov. Before that, KGB-man. His relationship with Niyazov allowed him to exercise the threads of power from behind Turkmenbashi's back. The rise of President Berdymukhamedov is commonly believed to have been facilitated by Mr. […]
Yesterday, the United Nations Tajikistan Office of Peace-Building (UNTOP) lowered its flags and closed the doors after a ten-year presence in the republic. The UNTOP mission began in 2000, after the UN Mission of Observers in Tajikistan monitored the cease-fire of the Civil War from 1996 to 2000. It has been a decade since the […]
According to a new release I received from the World Bank (Why, yes of course, the World Bank corresponds with me often) there is some great news from Tajikistan: New Rural Health Centers that are up and running. These indicators show what the World Bank can do, in partnership with a willing state: Health Data […]