Special Issue | Central Asia Digest | Kyrgyzstan in Turmoil | October 2020
SPECIAL ISSUE ● KYRGYZSTAN IN TURMOIL Introduction It was hoped and expected when the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan was amended in June, 2010 that democracy would develop strong roots and that Kyrgyzstan’s days of coups and forced change of governments would be over. The change in the Constitution in 2010 took place in the aftermath of what […]
Special Issue II | Central Asia Digest | The Second India-Central Asia Dialogue: Towards Greater Cooperation | November 2020
SPECIAL ISSUE II ● THE SECOND INDIA-CENTRAL ASIA DIALOGUE: TOWARDS GREATER COOPERATION Introduction The five countries of Central Asia viz Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, have but rarely appeared in the headline global news over the last 29 years since they got their independence in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union in […]
Central Asia Digest | November 2020
H I G H L I G H T S ● Political Developments ● Economic Developments ● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Twists and turns continued at lightning speed in Kyrgyzstan after protests against results of the October 4 parliamentary elections brought down the government. President Sooronbai Jeenbekov tendered his resignation on 15th October. Sadir Japarov a nationalist leader […]
Central Asia Digest | December 2020
H I G H L I G H T S ● Political Developments ● Economic Developments ● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Transformation of Kyrgyzstan from an authoritarian state to a semi-parliamentary form of government has been short-lived. Since 5 October 2020, Kyrgyzstan was torn apart by the third revolution leading to widespread protests following elections which were […]
Special Issue III | Central Asia Digest | India Chairs the SCO Summit | December 2020
SPECIAL ISSUE III ● INDIA CHAIRS THE SCO SUMMIT Introduction India Chaired the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on a virtual platform on 30th November, 2020. This was the first Summit level interaction that was hosted by India since it became a full member of […]
Central Asia Digest | January 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● INDIA-UZBEKISTAN PARTNERSHIP: TOWARDS NEW HEIGHTS Introduction PM Modi held a virtual Summit with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan on 11th December, 2020. This is the first Summit in virtual format that PM Modi has conducted with any leader of Central Asia. PM Modi was earlier scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan in July, 2020 but because […]
Central Asia Digest | February 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Sadyr Japarov who took over as prime minister and also as acting president of Kyrgyzstan in mid-October, soon after the parliamentary elections, resigned his posts on 14th November, 2020 in order to run for president. Soon thereafter Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, which had ceased to exist, […]
Central Asia Digest | March 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Sadyr Japarov officially took over as the new Kyrgyz president on 28th January, 2021, becoming the sixth president of Kyrgyzstan. Japarov defeated his 16 opponents, receiving more than 79% of votes polled, second highest total in Kyrgyzstan’s history after Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s 89% in the […]
Central Asia Digest | April 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Kyrgyzstan’s foreign debt is reportedly around US$5 billion and more than 40% (US$1.8 billion) is owed to Export-Import Bank of China for a series of infrastructure projects over the last decade under the guise of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Bishkek is grappling with […]
Central Asia Digest | May 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Voters in Kyrgyzstan granted sweeping powers to President Sadyr Japarov on 11 April in a constitutional referendum that will also allow him to run for re-election. The vote to change the Constitution to make it a Presidential form of government was approved by the […]