Author: Ona Toychiyeva

London (28/11 – 58) Tajikistan’s human rights record continues to deteriorate amid an increased crackdown on freedom of expression and the political opposition, as well as the targeting of independent lawyers, journalists, and family members of opposition activists abroad. Freedom of assembly is severely curtailed with any local protests, such as a series of protests in the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region (GBAO), violently quashed. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Programme Office in Dushanbe, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, and the Permanent Representation of France to the OSCE organized a study visit to Paris for government officials from…

MOSCOW — An economic bloc that includes several ex-Soviet nations along with Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey held a summit Thursday, with leaders vowing to further expand trade and economic ties. Members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), who met in Uzbekistan’s capital of Tashkent, discussed plans for speeding regional economic integration. They also talked about the need for increasing the ECO’s global profile through fostering regional and global partnerships. “Our vast region, which is home to half a billion people, has a great potential for developing cooperation in trade, economy, industry, investment, innovation and transport,” the summit’s host, Uzbekistan’s…

Uzbekistan has been reducing natural gas exports to China for two months in a row, according to data from the PRC General Administration of Customs, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency. In September, Uzbekistan’s monthly gas supplies to China amounted to $41.62 million, almost halving compared to August. Compared to the July figure, gas supplies fell by 2.2 times. In January-September, Uzbekistan exported natural gas to China for $412.19 million – half the same figure for 2022. Turkmenistan is still the major supplier of blue fuel to China with $7.41 billion worth of gas in nine months, followed by Russia ($4.98 billion),…

Rome (16/11 – 57) Sri Lanka is mired in a deep political and economic crisis and the country’s then President Rajapaksa has flown out of the country, days after a huge crowd of protesters stormed his residence in July 2022. Protesters for months have demanded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose government has been blamed for chronic mismanagement of the country’s finances. The island nation of 22 million people has suffered months of lengthy blackouts, acute food and fuel shortages, and galloping inflation in its most painful downturn on record. Here is how the crisis unfolded: April 1: State of emergency Rajapaksa declares a temporary state of emergency, giving security forces sweeping powers to arrest and…

Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Huning met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing respectively with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev who are in China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. When meeting with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Wang Huning said that Kazakhstan is where the Silk Road Economic Belt was proposed for the first time, and has an important role and influence in Belt and Road international cooperation. Over the past year, President Xi Jinping and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev successfully paid a visit…

Charge d’Affaires of Uzbekistan to Belarus Rakhmatulla Nazarov emphasized the importance of interregional contacts as he talked to journalists after his meeting with the leadership of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, BelTA reports. “Three regions of Uzbekistan have agreements with Grodno Oblast. The visits that took place in 2018 and 2019 resulted in signing a number of documents, agreements, memorandums between the regions, and this is producing results today. One of the goals behind the embassy’s visit to Grodno Oblast is to make sure that all the highest-level agreements are being implemented and to give them a new impetus,” said…

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. The delegation of Uzbekistan Defense Ministry, which is on a visit to Azerbaijan, met with Lieutenant General Azer Aliyev at the Defense Ministry, Trend reports via Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense. During the meeting, the sides discussed reforms carried out in Azerbaijan Army, the importance of learning advanced experience in the field of army development. The meeting participants held detailed exchange of views on a number of issues of mutual interest. Then the guests visited the Center for War Games of the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University. The Uzbek delegation was presented briefings on various topics. The…

Copenhagen (26/10 – 76.9) UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea called on Tajikistan to adapt and review its laws, policies, and practices regarding religion or belief following her 10-day visit. She stated that the implementation of religious freedom and belief in the country is a cause for concern. During a press conference at the UN office in Tajikistan, she also urged Tajikistan’s authorities to “leave the past behind and protect freedom of religion and belief.” Ghanea stated, “This will contribute to development, peace, and understanding in the country. The shadow of civil war looms over…

Russia is recruiting foreign fighters from as far afield as Cuba and Nepal to plug manpower gaps as the Kremlin seeks to avoid another round of mobilisation for the war in Ukraine that could be politically damaging. Hundreds of migrant workers from central Asia have been rounded up in raids in Russian cities and taken to military recruitment offices over recent weeks, according to Russian media reports. Russia has offered fast-tracked citizenship for foreign fighters since last year, hoping to tempt recruits from neighbouring countries as well as immigrants living in Russia. Central Asians have also been recruited from prisons to fight in Ukraine. Foreign nationals are also being…

TNT is one of the new homes of the United States national teams, including the USA vs Uzebkistan match. 2023 is the first year of an eight-year rights deal between US Soccer and Turner Sports, which will see English-language US Women’s and Men’s National Team games featured on TNT/TBS with select games on MAX thru 2030. The deal includes friendlies, the SheBelieves Cup, World Cup Qualifiers for both teams, as well as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on the men’s club side. The $200 million deal is the first time US Soccer has sold media rights to the national…