Day: October 27, 2022

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Kyrgyz authorities block RFE/RL’s website for two months over video on Tajik border situation

The Kyrgyz government has suspended access to the website of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk, after RFE/RL refused to take down a video of one of its news programs that reported on clashes at the border with Tajikistan, Radio Azattyk reported on October 26.

 

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Information said in a statement on October 26 that Radio Azattyk’s website is being blocked for two months.

 

“The measure was undertaken as a response to unreliable materials that appeared in the nation’s information space which contradict the national interests of the Kyrgyz Republic (inaccurate information about the events of September 14-17, 2022),” the ministry said.

 

The ministry earlier this week said in a letter to RFE/RL that government monitoring of articles by RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service “has revealed that it [the video] has been biased in its coverage of the events on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, predominantly taking the position of the Tajik side.”

 

The video in question was produced by Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

 

Radio Azattyk says while Kyrgyzstan is known for having a vibrant and pluralistic media environment compared to its Central Asian neighbors, human rights groups have warned that the climate for free expression has deteriorated since President Sadyr Japarov first came to power in October 2020.

 

In response, RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said that the broadcaster “takes our commitment to balanced reporting seriously” and that after a review of the content in question, “no violation of our standards” was found.

 

“We will not succumb to pressure to remove balanced reporting from our sites, be it from the Kremlin or the Kyrgyz government,” Fly said in a statement.

 

“Threatening journalists and trying to silence independent media are authoritarian tactics that only serve to undermine Kyrgyz democracy,” he added. “We will be appealing this decision.”

 

Source: Asia-Plus

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Entry of some regional passenger transport into Dushanbe becomes restricted

Dushanbe authorities take measures to regulate entry of cars into the Tajik capital and intracity traffic routes as well as improve the quality of transport services in the capital.

 

By Dushanbe mayor’s decree restriction will be imposed on entry of vehicles carrying passengers from regions.

 

To-date, restriction has been imposed on entry of cars carrying passengers from the northern Sughd province and the Vakhsh Valley of the southern province of Khatlon.

 

Thus, cars carrying passengers from the northern part of the country have dropped their passengers at the new terminal in the Chorbogh area near the traffic police point since October 21.

 

Now, the final stops share taxi minivans ## 52 and 19 and busses ## 3, 29, and 41 are at the new terminal in the Chorbogh area.

 

Since October 25, passengers coming to Dushanbe from Roudaki district and the Vakhsh Valley of the Khatlon province have been dropped at the Dushanbe Southern Gate.

 

From there, they may go to Dushanbe by share taxi minivans ## 3, 5A, 33, 42, 56, 81 and 88 as well as buses ## 1, 2, and 43.

 

Source: Asia-Plus

 

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President Emomali Rahmon Leaves for Astana to Attend Central Asia — EU Summit

The Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon left for Kazakhstan to participate in the first summit of the heads of states of the Central Asia and European Union.

He was seen off at the Dushanbe International Airport by the Сhairman of the National Assembly, that of the Assembly of Representatives, and the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, among other officials.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Assistant to the President for Foreign Policy Issues, and other officials are part of the delegation accompanying President Emomali Rahmon on his visit.

 

Source:  National information agency of Tajikistan

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CIS member nations agree to extradite fugitive corrupt officials to each other

The 7th session of the CIS Interstate Anticorruption Council that was held yesterday via video link resulted in signing of an agreement under which the parties agreed to extradite fugitive corrupt officials to each other, Nur.kz reported today.

 

The CIS Interstate Anticorruption Council members include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan and it was noted that the competent agencies of these countries during this year have carried out work to coordinate the draft agreement on corruption prevention cooperation.

 

The draft agreement itself was developed back in 2008, but consensus and mutually acceptable wording on it were reached only in 2022.

 

Kazakhstan’s anticorruption agency says the parties agreed to :provide assistance in corruption-related criminal proceedings, conduct coordinated and concerted investigation-and-search operations, preventive operations and special operations on corruption-related crimes; cooperate in the field of tracing, detain and extraditing persons who have committed corruption-related crimes, and return of proceeds of corruption; create and use information systems in in the field of combating corruption; develop strategies, programs and plans of cooperation in combating corruption; exchange the results of anti-corruption monitoring; and improve the qualification of personnel.

 

Recall, CIS heads of state who met in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 14 signed a package of documents, including the agreement on cooperation between the CIS member nations in countering corruption.

 

The CIS Interstate Anti-Corruption Council was set up in 2013. It comprises the heads of the relevant agencies of the CIS countries. The council is responsible for identifying the priority areas for cooperation and adopting joint effective measures against corruption, assessing the implementation of anti-corruption commitments of the CIS states, coordinating technical assistance programs in combating corruption.

 

Source: Asia-Plus

 

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President Emomali Rahmon Meets President of the European Council, Charles Michel in Astana

On the sideline of the first summit of the heads of states of the Central Asia and European Union in Astana, the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

A wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union were discussed during the meeting.

At the outset, President Emomali Rahmon expressed that the European Union has a special place in the foreign policy of Tajikistan.

The parties expressed their satisfaction regarding the implementation of the cooperation and partnership agreements, which laid a solid foundation for the expansion of comprehensive cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.

Other topics of discussion included the development of cooperation in the field of investment, in particular activities of joint companies and provision of technical and financial assistance for the priority socio-economic sectors of Tajikistan, financial support for the elimination of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative impact of the political crisis of warring countries on the national economy of Tajikistan.

They noted the necessity of establishing cooperation in the sectors of industry, mining, agriculture, tourism, education, and healthcare.

The strengthening of the partnership with the EU in financing green economy, digital economy, technologies, as well as creating technoparks, and the introduction of e-trading in Tajikistan was noted to be beneficial to both sides.

While discussing the global issues related to water and climate change, the two sides touched upon strengthening security and stability in Central Asian nations, and touched upon the situation in Afghanistan. They emphasised the importance of the protection of state border within the implementation of the BOMCA and KADAP programs.

The EU side noted that it considers Tajikistan an important partner in dealing with the Afghanistan issue, and will continue to implement useful cooperation in solving the issue of this neighboring country, in particular, for strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border.

 

Source:  National information agency of Tajikistan

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Emomali Rahmon holds talks with EU Council president in Astana to discuss cooperation

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today met in the Kazakh capital, Astana, with the European Union Council President Charles Michel.

 

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the parties discussed state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.

 

Rahmon, in particular, noted that Tajikistan attaches significance to the European Union in its foreign policy.

 

The parties reportedly expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation and discussed issues related to investment in Tajikistan’s economy, operations of joint ventures and providing technical and financial assistance to priority socioeconomic branches of Tajikistan.

 

They also discussed financial support for elimination of the consequences of the coronavirus.

 

The parties reported outlined mining industry, infrastructure construction, agriculture, and tourism as areas which could drive trade between Tajikistan and the European Union.

 

Rahmon and Michel also discussed cooperation in the fields of education and health care.

 

They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest, including providing regional security in Central Asia and strengthening security along Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan.

 

Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalized as an institution in 2009 upon the commencement of the Treaty of Lisbon. It is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union.

 

The European Council is a collegiate body that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union. It is composed of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings.

 

Source: Asia-Plus

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President Emomali Rahmon Arrives in Kazakhstan for a Working Visit

The Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon arrived in Astana to participate in the first summit of the heads of states of the Central Asia and European Union.

He was welcomed at the Nursultan Nazarbayev international airport by the high-ranking representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

Source:  National information agency of Tajikistan

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EU supports Tajikistan’s national financial inclusion strategy

The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)/TRIGGER project has supported the Association of Microfinance Organizations of Tajikistan (AMFOT) in holding a two-day national conference entitled “Financial Inclusion: global trends, opportunities, best practices” that took place in Dushanbe on October 20-21.

 

The conference participants included representatives of the Government, the National bank of Tajikistan, the Majlisi Oli, international financial institutions, investment and consulting companies, international organizations, local entrepreneurs and media.

 

The conference focused on issues related to identification and exploration of effective ways of implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy of Tajikistan, increase in foreign investment in the country’s banking sector, raising awareness of ecosystem factors, digitization of financial services and development of delivery channels, and transition to the cashless economy.

 

Islamic banking, green finances, crowdfunding as well as women and youth access to finance programs also became the topics of the conference.

 

Tajikistan launched a National Financial Inclusion Strategy, developed with support from IFC, to facilitate access to financial services for individuals and small businesses last month. The strategy, which runs from 2022-2026, is part of a larger effort to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the country.

 

The strategy is a multi-stakeholder effort spearheaded by the National Bank of Tajikistan. It is designed to: accelerate the development of digital financial services; diversify the financial services offered by banks, with a focus on savings, credit, insurance and Islamic financing; support innovative financial services that meet the needs of small and medium enterprises, including female-led businesses; spur the development of an integrated system for protecting the rights of financial consumers; and promote financial literacy and help people make more informed financial decisions.

 

Source: Asia-Plus

 

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Barqi Tojik’s debt to Sangtudinskaya GES-1 increases by nearly 30 percent

Barqi Tojik (Tajikistan’s national power utility company)’s debt to Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) Sangtudinskaya GES-1, which operates the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPP), rose nearly 30 percent in a year to October 27, 2022, reaching more than 2.545 million somonis (equivalent to about 250 million U.S. dollars), Sangtudinskaya GES-1’s website says.

 

Source: Asia-Plus