One of the main news of the past days that caused very burning discussions in the Uzbek blogoshpere was the resolution of the Uzbek government on the selling of alcoholic beverages – prohibition, the decision of the government “About measures on the further improvement of alcoholic production in retail trade”. Even though the majority of people in Uzbekistan consider themselves as Muslims (Islam prohibits alcohol), the reaction of the ordinary citizen as well as bloggers was negative.

Kamron in his post on neweurasia mainly criticizes the new resolution. According to him, it is obvious that the law is made by the government in order to take control over the alcohol market in the country which has really profitable niche. He also says that in order to legally sell the alcohol beverages one must meet several requirements put by the new law which are really difficult, like they must be far away from schools, kindergartens, public places, etc. Kamron writes:

Just think about it: where, for example, in Tashkent city is it possible to find a place that is remote enough from schools, stops and many other abovementioned places, which is crowded enough and easily accessible to consumers? There are no such places, except for uninhabited city suburbs. This and many other aspects of innovations result in depressingly enough consequences for those who more or less consume alcoholic drinks.

Libertad reports on the first results of the prohibition. As he says, there were many assumptions on the possible results of the law, but the one that was about the prosperity of the underground manufacturing and selling of alcohol beverages has already come out. Libertad writes that now people have to illegally sell alcohol. Consequently, it is reflected in the raise of the price of the drinks. It has become really profitable for many underground retailers. (more…)

In the last two to three years Russia has been on a geopolitical offensive in the countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. It has been gradually regaining the ground lost in the aftermath of the American invasion of Afghanistan and the Georgian, Ukrainian and Kyrgyz revolutions.

Central Asia

The first major victory for Russia came in Tajikistan in 2004. The country was drifting towards the West following the ouster of the Taliban from neighboring Afghanistan. Moscow worked vigorously to bring the nation back under its sway. The Kremlin repeatedly threatened the Tajik government of Imomali Rakhmonov with the expulsion of one million Tajik workers from Russia, while offering debt relief for the return to Moscow’s orbit. In October of 2004 Russian President Putin and Tajik leader Rakhmonov signed an agreement. Russia agreed to let Tajik laborers remain in Russia and forgave the country $240 million of its $300 million debt. In exchange Moscow established its permanent military presence in Tajikistan, with 5,000 thousand Russian troops deployed in the southern cities of Kulab and Kurgan-Tyube, in close proximity to NATO controlled Afghanistan. The Kremlin also secured a 49-year lease on an anti-Missile warning system at Nurek. In addition, Russian companies have been awarded controlling packages in Tajikistan’s major hydroelectric and gas energy projects, as well as in other sectors of the country’s economy. Surprisingly, at that time, many Western observers and policy makers did not see this as the beginning of Russia’s geopolitical counterattack, nor did they see it posing a major threat to Western interests in Central Asia. (more…)

Vadim makes translation of Firuz’ article about hip-hop culture in Tajikistan (RUS).

Mirsulzhan writes his introductory post on our new Kyrgyz-language blog and invites everyone to visit it (KYR).

Zhanar Kanafina, a journalist of Karavan newspaper, tells that they have been through the closure of the newspaper before and how it is to be waiting for the court’s decision (RUS).

Kamron writes that the Uzbek government is now pondering into the possibility of taxing the labor migrants abroad (RUS).

People started competing in denouncing Aliev, while he is hiding in a villa in Austria, reports Adam (RUS).

Adam translates post by Elena Platonova about the trial over Mittal Steel’s Kazakh subsidiary miners (ENG).

Tolkun describes the tradition of weddings in Uzbekistan (ENG).

Adam translates Scaliger’s post where he suggests that cycling could promote Kazakhstan’s image in the world (ENG).