Central Asia's week that was #38
Kazakhstan police torture trials, bootleg alcohol deaths, and Kyrgyz religious oversight. Also, Tajik reshuffle, Uzbek wildlife penalties, and Pshon the hero dog’s legacy.
So this happened…
Six police officers in Kazakhstan were sentenced to three years in prison for torture and abuse of authority for acts committed during the deadly unrest of January 2022. The group, which included senior police officials, was accused of subjecting 44 detainees – Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek nationals – to physical abuse in the days following the violence. One prominent victim was Kyrgyz jazz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov, whose mistreatment drew international condemnation. One supporter of the convicted officers, retired police colonel Serzhan Arshabekov, argued the group were scapegoated to appease the public and that they had acted in compliance with orders given by their superiors. At the height of the unrest, the disturbances were described by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as a premeditated campaign carried out by "20,000 terrorists" from abroad. This claim proved to be unfounded.
Seventeen Uzbek nationals and at least seven Turkmens died in Istanbul from methanol poisoning linked to counterfeit vodka, according to official and media reports. The mass poisoning, which was first reported in mid-January, has claimed 38 lives overall. Uzbek consular officials in Turkey have pledged to assist the families of victims and arrange the repatriation of bodies. Turkmen authorities and state media, meanwhile, have made no public pronouncements about the ongoing situation. Two Turkmen nationals suspected of selling the tainted alcohol have been detained along with several local suppliers. Turkish authorities say they have confiscated 29 tons of bootleg alcohol so far this year. This is not the first, or even the worst, tragedy of its kind to affect Central Asians living in Turkey. In March 2020, at least 37 Turkmen nationals died after consuming fake vodka.
The government in Kazakhstan is mulling phasing out state-regulated prices for gasoline, citing concerns about domestic shortages and underinvestment in refinery upgrades. A draft proposal on gradually moving to a market-based pricing system was made open for public consultation. AI-92 grade gasoline in Kazakhstan is currently priced at around 205 tenge ($0.39) per litre, lower than even Russia, which has plentiful supplies. This disparity has encouraged the smuggling of fuel across borders, to countries like Kyrgyzstan and Russia, thereby creating supply issues at home. The cost of car fuel is a particularly sensitive topic in Kazakhstan. In January 2022, a sharp increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas, which is also widely used as car fuel, triggered nationwide protests that culminated in at least 238 deaths.
Kyrgyzstan’s president approved legislation bolstering state oversight of religious activities, restricting proselytising without a licence, and banning the dissemination of religious literature in public spaces. Another provision prohibits the use of religious premises for political gatherings. The government argues these reforms are necessary to maintain public security and order, but critics warn they risk overreach and discrimination. Some fear the legislation will unfairly target independent or non-state-sanctioned practices. The laws also include a ban on wearing face coverings like the niqab in public spaces, a measure that has drawn pushback from pious Muslims. Although relatively rare, the niqab has become increasingly visible in Kyrgyzstan in recent years.
Blind activist Musagali Dauylov staging a one-person picket with a sign reading “I don’t find this funny.” Police in Kazakhstan arrested Temirlan Yensebek, creator of the satirical online outlet QazNews24, on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. His supporters claim the arrest is politically motivated and linked to his critical content rather than the official charges. Protests against Yensebek’s detention have been met with penalties. In Kostanay and Almaty, activists were fined nearly $375, while two journalists were jailed for 15 days. In Aktobe, blind activist Musagali Dauylov staged a one-person picket with a sign reading “I don’t find this funny.” QazNews24, which has 50,000 subscribers, posts fictional news about current events. Previous satirical posts have included headlines like “Emergency worker who saved Kazakh flag from fire awarded apartment.”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Kyrgyzstan’s Keremet Bank, accusing it of facilitating a sanctions evasion scheme supporting Russia’s defence industry. According to the Department, the bank coordinated with Russian officials and Promsvyazbank, which was targeted with sanctions soon after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to enable cross-border transactions for sensitive goods, thereby serving as a hub for sanctions evasion. The Department asserted that a controlling stake in Keremet Bank was sold in 2024 to a firm linked to a Russian oligarch with ties to the Kremlin. Keremet Bank denies the allegations and said it plans to lodge an appeal with the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Treasury Department’s enforcement arm. The bank maintains it operates in full compliance with Kyrgyz and international laws.
Survey request: Once more, with feeling
A big thanks to everyone who’s already kindly filled out the survey — it truly means a lot. But for those who might have missed it, this is your chance to join in! It’ll only take a few minutes, and your input will really help me figure out where to take this project next.
Click here.
And there’s this too…
Tajikistan’s president effected extensive personnel changes across key government agencies, including replacing the heads of the Supreme Court, Labour Ministry, and Emergency Situations Committee. The reshuffle included several high-profile retirements and the appointment of younger officials – a process described as part of a generational turnover initiative. It also involved leadership changes in the border troops, state television, and several educational institutions. An earlier wave of reshuffles this month saw new appointments in the Prosecutor General’s Office, National Guard, and Defence Ministry, with new military commissioners appointed in several regions and fresh leadership in key divisions of the armed forces and law enforcement.
Uzbekistan’s government has launched a program enlisting low-income families to plant trees, cultivate medicinal plants, and raise poultry as part of efforts to create jobs and reduce poverty. The initiative aims to provide employment opportunities for up to 5.2 million people. Projects starting this year will include developing 20,000 hectares of forest land for tree planting and medicinal plant nurseries, piloting the cultivation of paper mulberry trees, and establishing modern poultry farming facilities. Starting in July, families who document planting at least 100 trees on the Eco-Active Citizen platform – an online tool to track ecological contributions – will receive financial incentives for their participation.
Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament approved changes to how the country’s military reserve forces are managed, giving the armed forces more options to call up trained personnel during mobilizations or emergencies. Under the new system, reservists will follow a more regular and defined training regime; up to two months annually, including a 30-day deployment and shorter monthly drills. Previously described as “contract soldiers,” these personnel will now be officially classified as reservists. By guaranteeing job protection and specifying minimum monthly salaries, the government hopes to make the role more appealing. The reform aims to bolster military capacity without increasing peacetime active-duty numbers. Up to 2,000 volunteers will be enlisted on three-year contracts starting this year.
Construction work began on new airports in the Kazakhstan resort towns of Zaysan, Katon-Karagay, and Kendirli. Zaysan lies in East Kazakhstan near the Chinese border, close to Lake Zaysan. Katon-Karagay, also in East Kazakhstan, is closer to the scenic Altai Mountains. Kendirli is situated on the other side of the country, by the Caspian Sea. Officials say the airports will generate employment by attracting domestic and international tourists. Kazakhstan’s aviation market has long struggled to provide adequate options for domestic travellers. Recent efforts have addressed some shortcomings. A new terminal in Almaty increased annual passenger capacity from 2.5 million to 14 million. Upgrades to the airport in Shymkent, which neighbours Uzbekistan, expanded capacity from 800,000 to 6 million passengers annually.
Pshon helping emergency relief workers, left, and the monument erected in his honour, right. A monument to a stray dog named Pshon has been installed near a café in Atyrau, a city in western Kazakhstan that endured devastating floods last year. Pshon gained nationwide fame during the floods when video footage of him carrying sandbags to help residents build protective barriers went viral. In a tragic turn of events, Pshon was killed by dog catchers in November, sparking public outrage. Investigations into the circumstances of his death are ongoing. Municipal workers across Central Asia often resort to mass poisoning and shooting to control the stray animal population. The sculpture, created by local artist Azamat Kenzhegaliyev, was privately funded and stands as a tribute to Pshon’s role in the flood response efforts.
Uzbekistan introduced stricter penalties banning private individuals from keeping certain wild animals in captivity, semi-captive environments, or artificial habitats. Fines have been set at a relatively modest $300, with animals subject to confiscation. In cases where harm has been incurred to human health or property, fines may rise to $1,500. These measures follow bans on using wild animals in circuses and reflect growing regional attention to animal rights. The issue of the private use of wild animals made the headlines in Uzbekistan earlier this month after footage appeared online of boxing champion Shakhram Giyasov sparring with a bear. Authorities fined Giyasov, and the bear was relocated to a public zoo.
Enjoying this newsletter?
If you are not subscribed yet, but would like to keep receiving insightful updates on Central Asia, click below.
Better yet, if you know a friend or colleague who might find this interesting or useful, please share it with them! Word of mouth will really help keep this thing going.
