Central Asia Digest | February 2019
I Overview China: India – China begin disengaging in one sector of Ladakh China publicly admits that 4 soldiers including an officer of the PLA died at Galwan on 15 June 2020 Biden has telephone conversation with Xi but meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers also takes place China prepares for its annual Parliament meeting or […]
Central Asia Digest | March 2019
Political Developments Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev dropped a geo-political bombshell on 19th March when he announced his resignation from position of President of country after having led it for about 30 years. In his televised Address he said that “concerns of the country and the people will remain my concerns” and that as founder of […]
Central Asia Digest | April 2019
Political Developments Kazakh ruling Nur Otan party unanimously nominated interim President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as its candidate for upcoming June 9 snap Presidential elections. Decision was made under leadership of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Tokayev will hence be the next president. At previous elections, other parties won only single-digit percentages of the vote. Nazarbayev described Tokayev […]
Central Asia Digest | May 2019
Political Developments During his visit to Uzbekistan, the German President held discussions with his counterpart and commended political, economic, and social change and reforms introduced by Uzbek President. The two sides discussed issues of further expanding political, trade, economic, investment, financial, technical, cultural, humanitarian relations, combating terrorism and extremism, building up security and international and […]
Central Asia Digest | June 2019
SPECIAL ISSUE Change of Guard in Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a loyal associate of the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev emerged as the winner by polling 70.8% of the votes cast in Presidential election on 9th June, 2019. The outcome was never in doubt. What was of interest was the percentage of votes that Tokayev […]
Central Asia Digest | June 2019
Political Development Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was elected as President of Kazakhstan on 9th June, 2019 receiving 71% of votes polled. His nearest rival Amirzhan Kosanov of United National Patriotic Movement (‘Ult Tagdyry’) received 16% of votes. Tokayev succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev, who announced his resignation in March after 30 years in power. Police arrested nearly 4,000 people […]
Central Asia Digest | July 2019
Political Development Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is likely to pursue main economic policy priorities of his predecessor. These include structural reforms and, more recently, increasing social spending. Kazakhstan’s budget encompasses the large programme of social expenditure announced by Nazarbayev in February 2019 that includes a 50% increase in minimum wage, tax cuts for low-income earners, […]
Central Asia Digest | August 2019
Political Developments A political turmoil shook Kyrgyzstan when after hours of tense confrontation between supporters of former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and police, former President Atambayev was detained. The arrest culminated a six-week standoff, which started when current President Sooronbay Jeenbekov lifted Atambayev’s immunity from prosecution last June. Atambayev is charged with corruption schemes related […]
Central Asia Digest | September 2019
Political Developments Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid his first State visit to China. It was decided to forge a long-term, permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Several agreements were signed including an agreement on cooperation in aviation search and rescue of civil aircrafts; an MoU on implementation of cooperation plan for connectivity of […]
Central Asia Digest | December 2019
Political Developments The second Consultative Meeting of Heads of Central Asian States was held in Tashkent under Chairmanship of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Uzbek President noted that the meeting reflected the sincere desire of people of the 5 countries to expand partnership, strengthen friendship and good-neighborliness, and jointly solve common problems. He said that solutions […]