Everybody to the cotton fields!
Vadim links to IWPR article about the shut down of markets in some parts of Tajikistan in favor of cotton harvesting (ENG).

Vadim links to IWPR article about the shut down of markets in some parts of Tajikistan in favor of cotton harvesting (ENG).
Asel informs that Limon announces the contests Miss Internet-Kyrgyzstan (RUS).
Daniel continues keeping an eye on the culture events and posts an announcement of new “Transgression” exhibition in Almaty (ENG).
Asel writes a post on Kyrgyz president Bakiev’s recent statements about Kyrgyzstan’s economy (ENG).
Asel posts a set of photos of Issyk-Kul landscapes (ENG).
While the usual discussions about political cobwebs and oil business intrigues kept the Kazakhstani bloggers busy, two dramatic incidents stood out: A rocket crash potentially threatening the health of thousands of people and the murder of a Russian blogger made the Kazakhstani blogosphere think about the value of a human life.
But politics first: Andy-taker draws attention to the fact that ministers in Kazakhstan are being shuffled, migrating from one government to another, without particular affixment to their profession. Pretty much the same happens on lower levels; maybe this is the reason for the people’s dissatisfaction with the officials?
After visits to a number of government bodies and agencies, Astanchanka is left very angry: “Bureaucrats are just killing me! They are rude and ignorant - ridiculously explaining this with low salaries and tiredness. Gorbachev was right: Citizens should start Perestroika from themselves” (RUS).
Raseyannaya from Ekibastuz (a town in Central Kazakhstan) is indignant towards those officials who are skeptical about non-traditional religions, consider Krishna followers as extremists and want to introduce religious education in schools. “Our state is secular”, she reminds people, “and even if I want to worship a Steam Iron, nobody shall have any objections” (RUS).
Kamneed’s Weekly Photo features a set of pictures highlighting the problem of litter in Almaty. “Decorate the city with cleanness”, such is the title of the set (RUS).
Our new author Olga posts a report on how the people live in a dormitory, which is about to be taken away from them (RUS).
Firuz gives a special report on how he obtained driver’s license in Dushanbe (TJK)




maciula writes about problems with the pre-Caspian gas pipeline project (ENG).
Libertad writes about new Uzbek people added to the UN consolidated list of suspects affiliated with Al Qaeda and Taliban (ENG).
Musafirbek congratulates everyone with Victory Remembrance Day (RUS).
Alisher Taksanov writes a fiction story about a president, whose hobby was to make coffins for opposition members whom he later killed (RUS).
Abdulgamid reports on Turkmen government’s promises that denomination of the national currency will be “soft” (RUS).
Elena posted some pictures from the last soccer game between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan during the AFC Challenge Cup Group C qualifier (ENG)
Abdulgamid writes about four times rise in prices for air tickets in Turkmenistan (RUS).
maciula reports on president Berdymukhammedov’s efforts to undo his predecessor’s personality cult (ENG).
Elena congratulates all on the Victory Day and presents some pictures from the celebration of the Victory Day in Kyrgyzstan (ENG, RUS)
Were the Kyrgyz people always nomadic and had they ever beautiful towns? Yes they had, and it is proved in a podcast related to historical place of Burana, made by Mirsulzhan (KYR).
Restec posts photos of Medeo, the mountaneous resort near Almaty, which is currently undergoing radical transformation into a world class touristic attraction (ENG, RUS).
Elena presents some pictures from the soccer game between Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan during the AFC Challenge Cup Group C qualifier and grieves for Kyrgyzstan’s loss (ENG).
Gulsali announces about the contest “The Future Kyrgyz Parliament” held for high school and undergraduate students (KYR).
Mirsulzhan uploads photos of Hydropower stations of Kyrgyzstan (KYR).
Gulsali publishes a list of the Kyrgyz famous people who officially got married after coming to the Power (KYR).
Melisbek links to Aziza Abdirasulova’s interview and gives an update on the humiliation of human rights in an energy sector (KYR).
Abdulgamid reports that in Ashgabat was organized a meeting of the World War II veterans and widows of soldiers who died in the war (RUS).
Adam analyzes some developments in the Kazakhstani banking sector, including negative references from the rating agency, released data on banks’ losses in 2007 and proposed introduction of criminal responsibility for the bankers’ actions that led to bankruptcy (ENG).
Adam posts some figures showing the rise of costs that are spent for maintenance of state bodies in Kazakhstan over the past years amidst ongoing campiagns on reduction of these expenditures (RUS).
Firuz thinks that the increase in price for electricity will have even more negative influences than it is expected by the elecity monopolist Barki Tojik (TAJ).
Ravshan reports that president Rahmon suggested to put a ban on regular inspections of small and medium enterprises by various governmetal agencies but experts claim that it will not work (RUS).
Vadim reports that electricity in Tajikistan becomes more expensive for the empoverished population (ENG).
maciula writes about one of president Berdymukhammedov’s closest associates Turkmen Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov (ENG).
Adam reports that the Kazakh government will seek investors to build or maintain 1,000 kilometers of roads at a projected cost of $4.5 billion in exchange for operating concessions (ENG, RUS).
Elena presents photographs from the soccer game between Afghanistan and Bangladesh during the AFC Challenge Cup Group C qualifier (ENG).
The minimum cost of education at Kyrgyzstan’s Universities will be 15000 soms, i.e. 420 U.S. dollars, before there weren’t any such restrictions, says Gulsali.
Nurgeldy writes that a monument to Charlie Chaplin has appeared in Kostanai last week, which is a pretty ironic sign, as the only movie theatre in the city was demolished in 2007 (RUS, ENG)
Askhat writes that weak intelligentsia in Kazakhstan fails to give new impetus to Kazakh language (KAZ)
Askhat writes that the Uzbek authorities made a big mistake by closing the Kazakh culture centre in Tashkent (KAZ)
Abdulgamid reports on the Turkmen government’s decision to relocate the Neutrality Arch to the southern area of Ashgabat (RUS).