[inspic=23,left,,200] Research center for the study of public opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr“, an Uzbek governmental agency in its core, has once again conducted an opinion poll(UZB), and has found out that the majority of the population of Uzbekistan support their president Islam Karimov. Ladies and gentlemen, you may accept it as an Uzbek government response to the report of International Crisis Group published recently.

So, what are the findings of this questionnaire.

To the question “Who or what is the guarantor of stability, strengthening of independence and successful solution of problems in our country?” – 98,5% of respondents gave the answer, “The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov”. I have no doubts that the result is correct, though, I am extremely curious to know, what the other possible variants of answers might have been like. I want to know, if workers of the center dared to put other candidates and names in the questionnaire. I don’t know who could those be, but were these names like Mirziyayev, Tamerlane or Nasreddin Hodja? Or what? Like strong control, exorcism, pure luck? No sarcasm, I really want to know!

The other question was – “Are you certain(convinced) that our country will successfully solve its problems and will be highly modernized and prosperous?” – 91,4% of respondents answered “Yes”. This result was interpreted as a sign of a strong belief and hope for the future. I bet it was so! I think, everyone hopes that tomorrow will be much better than today. At least, in Uzbekistan.

“Did the country strengthen itself economically, financially, politically and culturally in the last years?” – 88,4% said “Yes”. Strange, but here the results and the rate did not exceed the over 90% level (com. somebody gonna get really hard).

What was the most astonishing for me that respondents also showed awareness of legal-normative acts and precisely named the presidential resolutions and decrees that are making their lives much easier, raising the employment rates in the country, as well as improving their social situation. They namely indicated the law on working at home and on the support of young families. Originally, the names of the laws include min.16 words each. As if, the questionnaire were filled in by the statesmen and government officials, who adopted and worked on those laws, and not by peasants or else. Or simply there weren’t many alternatives.

Shockingly (some might say not surprisingly), respectful Uzbek sociologists did not include the presidential decree on the raising of the monthly salaries and wages for public workers in their questionnaire. I guess, everyone understands that this measure was not about improving social welfare, but more about balancing the rising inflation.

It is a pity actually, had the questionnaire been a wee better worked out, we would perhaps be able to know what do Uzbeks think of or pray for in these days.

[inspic=22,left,,200] Vladimir Kozlovski of the BBCRussian has reported(RUS) about the case of a woman from Uzbekistan, who was released after a long term detainment in New York. She was arrested allegedly for trying to “smuggle” a large sum of money without declaring them at customs service. When the sum taken out of the US exceedes 10.000 dollars, a declaration No:105 has to be filled in. Below is the excerpt from that article.

A-40-years-old mother of three Gulandom Rakhmonova from Samarkand was stopped in the Kennedy Airport on 12 April this year, while boarding on the Uzbek Airways plane. Because she did not speak English a stewardess and then an employee of SwissPort were used as translators by the airport customs official. This fact helped later in the case to challenge the quality of the translation. She was taken to a special building No.77, where a preliminary interrogation of suspects is conducted. In the documents she indicated only 30.000 US dollars as her possession, but after her baggage was checked, 60 envelopes and packages with money totaling 108,435 US dollars was found. All of them had names and addresses on them. The biggest sum in envelopes was 15,000, and the smallest 20 US dollars.

Rakhmonova first said the money was for her ill mother, but then quickly testified that her acquaintances asked her to take the money to Uzbekistan. The federal prosecutor office accused her, first, of not showing the amount of money she had and lying to the representatives of the federal government. Later, when the case-line was found weak, the charge was changed to the illegal trade in the form of unlicensed money transfer. A notebook found in the possession of Gulandom Rakhmonova was used as an argument by the prosecutor. It had notices like “1,000 USD” and next to them circled “20 USD”, a fee for her services as the prosecutor has speculated.

The Federal Prosecutor Elizabeth Geddes brought in witnesses to the case to prove that Mrs. Rakhmonova was charging money for the transfer. But the first of the witnesses brought by the prosecutor named Akbar surprised and disappointed the prosecutor telling that Mrs. Rakhmonova took money from him only to pay for the overload of his musical instrument, which he was sending home. Next witness named Maysara said, she was sending children clothes and 500 US dollars in cash, and Gulandom refused to take money for her services. She “left” 20 dollars on the staircases in front of her flat anyway, but Mrs. Rakhmonova later returned this money to her daughter.

The judge Allyn Ross made the verdict to release Mrs. Gulandom Rakhmonova from the detainment and return her money. It has to be noted that Mrs. Rakhmonova has been detained for four and a half months until she was released and pleaded not guilty.

Hopefully, Mrs. Rakhimova will not have any problems leaving the US this time. And will not have troubles, when she faces the corrupt Uzbek airport customs and border officers.

Indeed, the golden road to Samarkand might also be stony and full of troubles.

[inspic=21,left,,200]A short time ago there was an article on Fergana.ru about the expansion of Uzbek music culture in Kyrgyzstan. The article said that the Uzbek music and singers are very popular in Kyrgyzstan and that one can find fans both among ethnic Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz.

But Fergana.ru is a popular website in the whole Central Asia. Many politicians and strategy makers in Central Asian governments often start their working day by reading the articles published on this website. It seems that the Tajik politicians might have read the fore-mentioned article too, and fell into paranoia and fear of such an informational and cultural expansion.

Now the Tajik policemen are confiscating on the markets discs with Uzbek music and putting studios under a scrutiny for recording music and songs in Uzbek language.

What is next? Can one now expect the Uzbek reaction and the banning of discs by the famous Tajik singer in Uzbekistan Daler Nazarov, as well as the ban of all other songs sung by Uzbekistani singers in Tajik language? Shall we expect now the Uzbek reaction and banning of recording studios and weddings in the Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Bukhara for using the Tajik language?

I don’t know the answer, but I know one thing, music does not recognize any borders and always finds its fans beyond them. It is beyond politics and nation-building processes. Isolationism, building of artificial borders and stopping people from crossing and many other policies have been of a high cost for both, Uzbek and Tajik republic. They have been a mere obstacle on the way to progress, cooperation and trade.

PS: I just thought, would the music also be a subject to scrutiny, if it were sung in Tajik by an Uzbekistani singer?

[inspic=20,left,,thumb]Many Russian newspapers had their headlines today saying “Uzbeks most criminal in Russia” or “Foreigners provoke local population”. Both statements were supported by statistics from Russian officials.

MK information agency has reported referring to the deputy chief of the Department for Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of Interior of Russia Alexei Savin that the number of crimes committed against foreigners in Russia has risen by 9,6%. The majority of these foreigners are from the CIS. Tajiks were victims in 1165 cases registered followed by Uzbeks who were victims of crime in 1134 cases.

This is happening in the view of a decreasing proportion of crimes committed by foreigners. In the first half of 2007 there was a 7,1% decrease in the number of crimes committed by foreigners.

Faking of documents (22,5%), stealing (16,9%) and drugs-trafficking (10,1%) made the biggest proportion of criminal acts committed by foreigners. The citizens of Uzbekistan were most active during the last six months and have committed every fifth crime done by a foreigner.

223 cases against foreign students were registered in the first half of 2006, a number which decreased to 137 cases in the first half of 2007.

—

I have heard that dying hair to any light color, as well as wearing neat clothes and using perfume is becoming widely trendy among many migrants and guest-workers coming to Russia from the southern parts of the former Soviet Union, but sometimes there are also such cases when they opted to (RUS) wearing women stockings and making manicure. It might seem that the Russia of Putin has finally brought the fruits of civilization to its backward brothers in arms.

Have to add, though, that the above-mentioned measures might not be of much help for African and Asian students and migrants.

But yes, beware of Uzbeks.

[inspic=18,left,,150] During the Bishkek summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are members, presidents have avoided direct criticizing of the US and NATO. But there was still some criticism and tension, which involved the member states themselves. This might become yet another challenge to test the capability of this organization to solve regional problems and foster cooperation.

Anti-american emotions were only indirectly implied in the speech of the Iranian president Mahmoud Akhmadinejad, whose country has an observer status in the SCO. He spoke about “one of the countries, which got used to speak from the position of power”.

The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in his turn reproached the western policies in Afghanistan, and urged for, quote en quote, “no matter how paradoxical it might sound…a demilitarization” in this country and a wider involvement of the international community in the realization of socio-economic reforms. He also expressed the concern among the neighboring countries over the situation in Afghanistan characterized by the tendency of the further aggravation in the view of the strengthening of Taliban and increasing drug production and trafficking.

In his speech the president of Uzbekistan has further spoken about the economic cooperation among the members of the SCO and in particular, touched upon the issue of water usage. Islam Karimov pointed out that the issue of using the waters of Syrdaria and Amudaria rivers concerns 6 countries with the total population of 50 million people.

Hence, any plans of the construction of hydro-power stations and water storages should take into consideration the interests of states located in the lower course of these rivers, as well. Otherwise, the life of people living in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan could be worsened.

“In case of a damage to these interests a compensation has to be considered”, – he said. The president also referred to the UN General Assembly convention dated from 1997, and said that to guarantee that projects are carried out in line with the international law, a neutral third party international auditing organization has to be invited. He also mentioned the positions of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to the issue of water usage.

“We have forgotten about the Aral Sea disaster”- he had added looking at his counterparts at the round-table.

His statement can be understood as a move to oppose Russian and Chinese plans of constructing new hydro-power stations and water storage reservoirs in Tajikistan, in the headwaters of Amudarya river. Tajikistan sees big investment and future profits from these new projects, which could boost its economy and improve living conditions of its citizens. It has even invited Iran for the construction of such a station.

On the other side, Uzbekistan is highly dependent on the waters of both Syrdaria and Amudaria used by its farmers and agricultural sector. Uzbek cotton production is a major hard currency winner. Earlier this year Uzbekistan tried to solve some of its water usage disputes with Kyrgyzstan, where headwaters of Syrdaria river begin.

The bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have not been very constructive since the early 1990s, which can still be observed in the border issues and constant espionage scandals involving both countries. Water has also been one of the main reasons for them.

It might prove crucial for the SCO, whether it will gain enough authority in reconciling its member countries and resolving existing regional problems in Central Asia that often go beyond military or security issues (especially, if Turkmenistan were to join it in the near future). Of course, if the organization wants to become a key player in the regional integration of Central Asia and beyond.

A centuries old wisdom in Central Asia claims – water is life. Hence, it might be worth of struggle.

Meanwhile, prices for water used in households has gone up in Uzbekistan.

*originally posted on my blog.

The population of Russia has seen almost a ten million decline starting from 1991 up to today. The trend has only been gaining pace after the year 2000. The UN has even warned Russia in 2005 that its population of 140 million could fall by third by 2050. Death rates, when data of 1989 and 2001 compared, have doubled, especially among men in the working age. Despite Russian government introduced some reforms, it is still early to say, whether the situation with the population crisis has been improving.

In this view, the immigration issues have become very current for the Russian government. Despite the fact that the immigration is now seen as one of the major tools to tackle the demographic crisis, Russia is taking the efforts to better regulate it. The gap, which formed in the labor market is currently being filled with the migrants mainly coming from former Soviet republics, as well as from China. Government even introduced a program to attract more migrants and a special commission was set to encourage migrants to move to Russia for a permanent residence.

Today according to Federal Migration Service (FMS) of Russia guest-workers transfer 60-70% of their incomes back home, and have sent roughly 20 billion US dollars in remittances. The sum is quite large. Money sent to Georgia, for example, made 20 per cent of its GDP.

The FMS has also noted recently that “taking into consideration the fact that illegals usually get a salary 2-3 times less than that of an average Russian worker, the contribution of migrants in the Russian GDP makes not less than 50 billion US dollars”.

The move to repatriate and naturalize migrants might also be seen as an attempt, first, to encourage immigration, and second, keep the money inside of Russia.

Further innovation, which has been agreed on 15th August between Russian financial monitoring and Federal taxation service is aimed at checking all financial operations done by migrants.

Rosfinmonitoring is planning to inquire information from the Russian Migration Service on the entry of foreigners, availability of the permission to work, as well as the data on the lost passports, according to Lenta information agency. Officials have said that often passports lost by foreigners were used by other migrants to remit money.

Moreover, very often migrants attempt to hide their real incomes, as the income tax of 30 per cent for migrants is higher than that of the residents of Russia, which makes 13 per cent.

Meanwhile, people living in the countries, which are traditional sources of labor force for Russia and their governments are closely watching every development related to migration issues. In the view of the economic boom and increasing immigration, the issue of inter-ethnic relations in Russia is becoming more and more tense either.

Edited version. Originally posted here on 10.08.07

Sounds ridiculous? But Uzbeks did play a role in getting Russia its Sochi-2014 Winter Olympic Games. And here is why.

[inspic=16,left,,110] The President of the Russian Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev told in an interview to “Rossiyskaja Gazeta”(RUS): “I can say this with full confidence that the votes given by the representatives of Asian countries in the International Olympics Committee, without which, even if the other votes would be counted, it would be very difficult for Sochi to hope for a victory, (and these were) given to Russia thanks to the goal-oriented work of the representative of Uzbekistan, the vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, and Executive Director of the International Federation of Amateur Boxing (and Asian Federation of Boxing), Gafur Rakhimov”.

Gafur Rakhimov is a very controversial figure. In Uzbekistan he is more known simply as G’ofur. When people say his name they say it quietly, but still with somewhat affection in tone. The richest self-made Uzbek businessman, and a philanthropist, as he prefers to be called, holds big shares in large companies, which have partners all over Western Europe, the USA and the CIS.

In addition to being a chairman of a “Mehrjon-Sport” Charity Foundation in Uzbekistan, and supporting up to 6,000 orphan children in Uzbekistan, Rakhimov has been also labeled “a major figure in Uzbekistan’s booming heroin trade” by Britain’s Observer Newspaper, and a full chapter was devoted to Rakhimov in the book “The Great Olympic Swindle” by British author and journalist Andrew Jennings, a longtime IOC critic. Due to this information Rakhimov was barred from entering Australia during Sydney Olympic games in 2000. But a year later he sued the author and the Australian publisher and won the case. Rakhimov’s control of financial flows of Uzbek national airlines, railroads company and automobile transportation corporation, as well as engagement in chemical industry might have been a reason for suspicion of drug-smuggling activities.

He was also accused of conspiracy and involvement in organized crime, which is the matter of his frustration (See the video min. 4:40, WAIT until it loads). He is in good relations with the President of Uzbekistan, whom he substantially helped in the beginning of 1990s. In return of his deeds, he gained exclusive rights for export operations of gas and access to cotton. Gafur Rakhimov was said to cooperate with the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, a chairman of a Gazprom subsidiary, which is the channel for massive slush funds. Allegedly, Uzbek-born Alisher Usmanov might have played a significant role to influence Rakhimov and through him the Asian Olympic Committee. There aren’t any proofs of it, but it was rumored that in an international scandal, where the money of Russian magnats was used to buy luxury villas in Spain’s Costa del Sol, had also gone through the off-shore firms linked to Mr. Rakhimov(RUS).

Rakhimov has been doing a lot these days to change his bad image and clear his name from various allegations. Sponsoring tennis tournaments, and boxers, charity activities are of such measures. But just like the suspicion towards many billionaires in Russia today, who have made huge capital in short time and chaotic political situation, so does the suspicion towards Rakhimov prevail.

What concerns Sochi-2014, one should say that, perhaps, Austrians and South-Koreans, who were the major bidders alongside with Russia, should also consider enlarging the circle of their Uzbek friends, so that they be on a safer side in their next bids for Winter Olympic Games. An Uzbek connection, this is what they lacked.

[inspic=17,left,,150] Once I had a conversation with an old man in a village near Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He spoke about the Soviet times, about the social welfare system, salaries, and about his years-long money savings in the Soviet Sberbank, which he never got back after the independence, and many other things, which soon got me bored and I did not listen to him anymore.

But there was one thing he told me, which I still remember. He complained that so many people are leaving his village for Russia in spring and summer that there is usually no men in the village to bring the coffin of a deceased person to the cemetery. The elderly can not do that, women are not allowed, so families of the deceased are forced to ask soldiers from a nearby military garrison to help them carry the corpse. “This is a real Hereafter”-he called it then. One can hear similar stories all around the country nowadays.

A lot of Uzbeks (like many other Central Asians) are leaving their homes, families and children for a better payment, opportunity and simply a better life. Some are lucky and successful find a seasonal job with good payment and honest employers. Some are subject to a real slavery, humiliating living and working conditions, bullying of policemen and attacks of neo-fascists. Uzbek farmers are working as builders and street-cleaners in Russia or elsewhere, as a result of which agricultural output is decreasing, and prices for basic food products is going up. So, they have to work more and longer abroad now. Children grow up without their parents, and none checks if they go to school or not. So, proudly agitated 98 per cent literacy rate among Uzbeks might well be a myth already.

Metal coffins with corpses of Uzbeks returning from abroad and stories of disappearing and humiliation of people might have killed the desire among some to leave the country in the search of a job, but the fear of dying from hunger and thought of the future of the children, still forces many to take the risk anyway.

The frustration with prices going up on major food products and living is on all-time high, not only among rural population, but also in urban areas. A lot of families have changed their diet to a permanent bread and tea with sugar diet a long time ago.

Low salaries and high unemployment are main causes of such a huge immigration. Entrepreneurs, who could create some jobs and had money, have long ago moved their businesses to neighboring Kazakhstan escaping Uzbek check-and-rob agencies.

Despite the year 2007 was declared as the year of social care and some populist measures followed this decision, they remain incapable of addressing to the very needs the population. Although, many Uzbeks dislike this comparing, but the socio-economic life in Uzbekistan does not differ from that of in the majority of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The first step towards solving a problem is accepting it, but it seems in Uzbekistan it is preferred to close eyes on that or hide it. Instead Uzbeks are promised a great future, just like in the old Soviet times. All know, though, what happened to Communists in the end.

Originally posted here on 09.08.07

Facts first

[inspic=15,left,,110] Last month the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan has reported of a massive clean-up among the state employees. In six months of the current year the Ministry has received about 50.000 complaints from the citizens and entrepreneurs. As a result of that 232 state employees of various ranks were expelled from their jobs alleged of corruption, and according to the Minister Foziljon Atakhanov about 23 million US dollars were re-claimed and 561 illegally taken decisions were canceled. The sum is appalling, if you consider the average monthly salary of 25-30 US dollars in this country (even if you consider 70 USD according to Uzbek government).

But this was not all. As uzmetronom.com has reported, a number of high-ranking officials working in the judicial area and government have been either expelled from their jobs or appointed to lower positions, which is usually another way of punishment in Uzbekistan.

1. The head of the Higher Committee for Attestation of Judges under the Presidential Office, Farrukha Muhitdinova, who formerly led the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was fired.
2. The former State Councilor to president Anvar Nabiev, who recently was lowered in position and returned to the General Prosecutor Office, was appointed a deputy prosecutor of Tashkent region. According to Sergei Yezhkov he will not stay there long either.
3. The deputy of Anvar Nabiev, Tulkin Usmanov, who used to serve as the State Councilor to President, was also expelled from his post. He is under scrutiny now, and might soon be arrested.
4. The Chairman of Uchtepa district criminal court Asror Sagatov also lost his post.
5. The Chairmen of Tashkent city criminal court Ilhom Jalolov and Otabek Ismailov will soon lose their blanket protection in coming days, likewise the chairman of the Tashkent city court Mansur Abduganiev, according to Sergei Yezhkov.

Taking into account close inter-relations between these persons in the judicial and court system of Uzbekistan, the Chairman of the Republican Supreme Court of Uzbekistan Buritosh Mustafoev and the General Prosecutor of Uzbekistan Rashit Kadyrov and his son Alisher Kadyrov, unsurprisingly the best defense attorney in the country might be the next to resign, assumes Yezhkov.

The Upshot and Moral
What do these events on the eve of Independence day celebrations and upcoming elections imply? What is the aim and objectives of this prophylactic clean-up? Is the government of Uzbekistan finally on the road to recover and strengthen the rule of law? Or these are mere political games?

The latest IMF staff mission statement noted that the Uzbek economy continues “to perform well,” showing 9 percent growth for the first quarter of 2007. “There are indications that inflation has eased and confidence in the banking system has improved,” the statement read. But the IMF does not mention whether real incomes of the citizens of Uzbekistan have also increased.

The life in the rural regions of Uzbekistan is getting very difficult and frustration with the government amidst population, especially in the most densely populated Fergana valley, is growing. It would take a great effort now to improve the image of the whole team of the current president. If there gonna be real presidential elections in Uzbekistan today, the electorate will choose any candidate other than that of the current government. So, the Uzbek propaganda machine has to take on larger scales of PR to brush up and divert the public opinion.

This is also needed to encourage foreign investors. Country is going through a huge deficit of the direct foreign investment now. Even in the conditions, where major state ventures are put on sale and open for privatization, no significant investors (except for Asian businessmen, which are making moderate investments) are taking the risk. Not only the convertibility of Uzbek currency and legal basis is problematic, but also permanent interruption of the controlling agencies in business, which forces entrepreneurs either to keep a large staff of accountants and lawyers to follow newest developments in the legal system or choose and easier way and engage in corruption.

Not to be excluded that the above mentioned events might as well be a mere change of the sphere of influence between infamous clans, where the natives of Fergana valley are losing.

Whatever might the reasons be, what more important is that new people will replace them, and it gives some hope that they will abide to the principles of the rule of law. Though, these hopes so far have always proven to be in vain. The desire to make money has always been prevail among law-enforcers, anti-corruption and crime agencies.

No wonder, every child in Uzbekistan dreams of becoming a prosecutor…

Originally posted on Global Voices

Information is hard to get by in Uzbekistan. Check out the rumour mill in this week’s blogosphere buzz: Will new license plates pave the way for corrupt officials to get nice kickbacks? Has a human rights activist sent a letter from prison? What is the UNDP in Uzbekistan up to?

The most discussed issue in Uzbekistan these days is the decision of the government to renew all car license plates. Car owners are surprised. The government explains its decision with the need to comply with international requirements and standards. Jamiyat writes about this in his blog. He says that the decision of the government may create kickbacks for an unfaithful group of people.

Knowing the popularity of having special numbers on cars (likewise on mobile phones) among the Uzbeks, and high “prices” for such numbers, the likelihood that many registration agencies and unfaithful policemen might use this innovation to fill their pockets is very high.

The independent Internet newspaper Uzmetronom writes (RUS) that everyone who voluntarily applies for a new license plate till the end of 2007 will be freed from any taxes and get the plate for free. Read the full story »