Translation of Mashrab’s post (RUS)

After the long-awaited snowfall, I took a walk down Broadway, or what used to be known as the Tashkent Broadway: a street full of people, artists displaying their paintings and cheerful cafes. Now all that’s left of it is… well, nothing.

I was surprised to find, behind the Law Institute, a small pond with three – guess what – swans: two white ones and a black one.

I spent a long time marveling at them and could not believe that there is a little sanctuary of nature like this one in the very heart of Tashkent. An old man takes care of the birds. Anyone who wants to can donate some money (there is a blue basket for donations).

The last photo is a tribute to a pigeon who was jealous of the attention shown to the swans :)

Translation of Jamil’s post (RUS)

Winter seems unable to accept the fact that Spring is here. After yesterday’s 30 C (!) today’s morning snowfall is further evidence of how unpredictable the weather is these days.

Call it global warning, conspiracy (there are plenty of stories about how the superpowers can influence the weather in any part of the globe), or what have you, but no one predicted snowflakes on 15 March 2011.

And still, weather forecast websites refuse to accept reality. The temperature is, apparently, 9-10 C and there is heavy rain… Read the full story »

Here are very interesting photo-stories (my favorite format of blogging) from zyalt (of livejournal.com) on the life of illegal migrant workers in Moscow, Russia.  Unfortunately, they are all in Russian, but I am sure you can get the idea from the photos as well. Read the full story »

There is enormous mystery square in Google photo of Garabogazköl lagoon. This lagoon has many increases and decreases in level, sometimes even totally dry. Very strange that shadow is on northeast corner. New secret project of Berdimuhammedow? ;-]

Abdulaziz, whom I interviewed earlier this month, has posted new videos of the 2008 shootout in Ashgabat and the body of Ajdar on his YouTube account.

The most important video is the one shown here, at the top of this post. According to Abdulaziz, this has been newly received and was filmed at the water plant during the shootout privately by a member of the state security service.

Read the full story »

Happy Nawrúz everyone! As a member of the Bahá’i Faith, for me this is more than just an ancient cultural holiday, but it’s also a religious celebration commemorating the end of our 19-Day Fast, and under a more metaphysical light, the turn of cycles. If you don’t mind, I thought I might celebrate the event here on neweurasia with some rather captivating photographs by Eline Carmaliet, a dear companion of my girlfriend, a brief haiku by me, and a prayer for Nawrúz by our prophet-founder, Bahá’u'lláh.

Read the full story »

Halmurat Soyunov, a former member of the Turkmen parliament who now lives in exile in Sweden, has told me that he has learned from sources that military inmates of Turkmen prisons throughout the country have been transferred to a fortified prison in the city of Türkmenbaşy, apparently in response to the upheavals in the Middle East. “The government is afraid that a revolt can come from anywhere, so it’s taking precautionary measures,” he said.

Translation of Tynyk’s post (KAZ, RUS)

Experts see the Chinese economy as a danger to Kazakhstan. We are currently working with the West to build a new railroad; however, a Chinese railroad already passes through Kazakhstan, which could have an adverse impact on the plans.

Today, China is Kazakhstan’s number one strategic partner. In the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the World Trade Organization it is our strongest ally.

China’s economy focuses on quantity over quality as it mass-stamps millions upon millions of products every year. Read the full story »

Here are pdfs of official propaganda of Berdimuhammedow to show that his cult is moving in direction of Niyazov:

Read the full story »

neweurasia friends Annasoltan and Chris write about Magtymguly and Nemisi, but all Aşgabat is fantasy city of ideological moral education in form of historical and legendary heroes, about how Turkmenistan policy of neutrality, isolation and social control is true legacy of Turkmen past.

Here are examples from Flickr (CC-usage). You see that message is always masculine: self-control, self-sufficiency, independence, strength. We reborn from Soviet mother to Turkmen manhood, to conquer our own minds for the Great Leaders who manifest warrior spirit, Niyazov and Berdimuhammedow.

Read the full story »