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Uzbekistan: Unwanted Changes

Posted by Tolkun | in Blogosphere | on May 12th, 2008

After the disintegration of the USSR, the Soviet communist identity and ideology ceased to exist and the new countries confronted the vital problems of defining new identities and ideologies. Most of the ex-Soviet countries were quick to give up the past and embrace the new life with new national values and ideas. Uzbekistan was one of the few countries where a process of defining a new identity and setting up new national values went in a very rapid manner.

The changing cultural and political atmosphere was first reflected throughout Uzbekistan through renaming of squares, streets and parks from Soviet-type names into symbols of  either independence or national identity. All Soviet monuments were dismantled, being replaced with the heroes of Uzbek history. For the last two weeks, the Uzbek blogosphere discussed changes that were happenning in the post-Soviet period in Uzbekistan. (more…)

Uzbekistan: Blogging fosters freedom of speech

Posted by Tolkun | in Blogosphere | on April 3rd, 2008

Recently, the U.S. State Department has ranked Uzbekistan among “top ten” of the most authoritarian countries in the world. During almost two decades of his reign, president I. Karimov and his clan have taken control of all spheres of life in the country – political, economic and social. Civil society, which emerged and was developing in the country after the collapse of Soviet Union, has felt the severe pressure of Karimov’s regime, especially after the Andijon events in 2005 that resulted in international sanctions on Uzbekistan. The state has full power over mainstream media in the country. Even though Karimov glorifies democratic values in his public speeches, there is no freedom of speech in the country. However, today, voices are breaking through via new media – blogs.

One of such cyber-activists is Gerchik, discussing sociopolitical problems in the country in his blog. (more…)

Uzbekistan: Foreign Policy Perturbations

Posted by Tolkun | in Blogosphere | on March 17th, 2008

The Uzbek regime’s violent suppression of the uprising in Andijan in May 2005 was a turning point in the country’s foreign policy. The government did not allow EU to investigate the case and then, after the U.S. administration’s strong opposition to “non-observation of basic human rights”, Tashkent forced American airbase in Khanabad to shut down.

However, there have been some positive changes in fragile relations between Uzbekistan and the West recently. The consent to let the United States and NATO use airbase in Termez was an expected result of Tashkent’s current foreign policy, aimed at rapprochement with the West. As reported, now Uzbekistan allows certain NATO countries, including U.S., to use the airbase in Termez (which has been used by Germany since 2001), although they all can fly to Termez only aboard German aircraft.

Registan was the first in the Uzbek blogosphere to write about this. (more…)

Anonymous Blogging with Wordpress and Tor

ru.neweurasia.net - blogscan

Friday Photo: The Panfilovs Park

May 16th, 2008

Herico posts a rendered picture of the picturesque park in the downtown of Almaty (ENG, RUS).

Click on Pic: Kashka-Suu Tourism Complex

May 16th, 2008

Mirsulzhan uploads pictures from the most beautiful place near to Bishkek - Kashka-Suu - after his trip there (KYR).

Beyond Mark Weil

May 16th, 2008

Nick reports about the new BBC documentary dedicated to the murdered director of the Ilkhom theater - Mark Weil (ENG).

Cheap priced democracy

May 16th, 2008

Alisher Taksanov unveils the truth about the unofficial web portal of the Uzbek National Security Service, where a young student wrote about Western democracy (RUS).

Immortal memory of Andijon

May 16th, 2008

Musafirbek writes about the Andijon events saying the memory of this tragedy will forever live in peoples hearts (RUS).

Lame Uzbek tourism

May 16th, 2008

Alisher Taksanov posts an interview with German touristic agency that comments on the Uzbek tourism (RUS).

podCast: If it is so popular to be a Blogger at the moment, so before it was popular to be a Rapper!

May 15th, 2008

Mirsulzhan uploaded another his podcast in russian, where he and his friends talk to Kyrgyz Rappers who wish to win the scene of Europe at least (RUS).

New web resources in Kazakh

May 15th, 2008

Askhat writes that from now it is easier to blog in Kazakh with the new Wordpress platform, tailored for Kazakh-speaking bloggers  (KAZ)

What Rakhat Knows

May 15th, 2008

Adam reviews the Wall Street Journal article, telling that in 2003 Dariga Nazarbayeva, elder daughter of the Kazakhstan president, hired an American consulting firm to collect data on the Kazakhgate trial, a probe into corruption among top Kazakh officials (RUS, ENG). 

Edil Baisalov Appeared

May 15th, 2008

Elena reports about the interview with the young politician Edill Baisalov who left Kyrgyzstan last year (ENG).

Kazakh or ethnic Kazakh?

May 14th, 2008

Özgecan shares her thoughts about Kazakh history from the point of view of a person, who is part of the Kazakh diaspora in the Western Europe (ENG).

Rahmonov and Bakiev Will Discuss the Boundary Problems

May 14th, 2008

Elena tells about a two-day visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev to Tajikistan (ENG).

Cyber-Chaikhana

May 14th, 2008

Elena posted the announcement about the project “Cyber-Chaikhana” (RUS).

Dangerous substances in the Chinese Toys

May 14th, 2008

Elena said that the Kyrgyz experts found the toxic substances in the Chinese toys (RUS).

Cyberchaikhana - Book on Central Asian Blogosphere

May 14th, 2008

Adam posts an announcement with the call for contributions to the neweurasia’s CyberChaikhana book on Central Asian blogosphere (RUS).

Thoughts about Andijon…

May 13th, 2008

Libertad asks readers to share their thoughts about Andijon tragedy, a bloody suppression of a civic demonstration in May 2005 (ENG).

Gas pipeline to China becoming reality

May 13th, 2008

maciula writes about the planned gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China and notes China’s successful activity in securing its gas interests in Turkmenistan (ENG).

Opposition Offers Controversial Anti-Crisis Measures

May 13th, 2008

Adam reviews the major opposition party’s suggestions on anti-crisis measures (ENG).

Journalists Die Hard in Kazakhstan

May 13th, 2008

Adam says that amidst change of the information ministry in Kazakhstan, the country still ranks very low in the Freddom House Press Freedom Index (RUS).

Discussing New Religion Law

May 12th, 2008

Askhat reviews foreign sites and writes that foreign religious missioners consider that the new Kazakh religion law is very restrictive (KAZ).

Kashagan to Be Two Years Late. Again

May 12th, 2008

Adam reports that the consortium developing the giant Kashagan oil field in the Caspian Sea proposes to postpone the start of production to 2012-2013 from 2011 (ENG).

Veterans are second to show

May 12th, 2008

Publicist tells a sad story of how she attended the May 9th festivities dedicated to the WWII heroes, at which the veterans were treated depreciatingly (RUS).

The secret of suicides in the Kazakh army

May 11th, 2008

Askhat writes that even NGOs that are aimed at monitoring of the Kazakh army issues are unable to disclose any information without the permission of military commissariats (KAZ)

What is going on with the pre-Caspian gas pipeline?

May 11th, 2008

maciula writes about problems with the pre-Caspian gas pipeline project (ENG).

UN adds more Uzbeks to top terrorists list

May 10th, 2008

Libertad writes about new Uzbek people added to the UN consolidated list of suspects affiliated with Al Qaeda and Taliban (ENG).

Victory or Remembrance Day?

May 10th, 2008

Musafirbek congratulates everyone with Victory Remembrance Day (RUS).

Uzbekian nights: president’s hobby

May 10th, 2008

Alisher Taksanov writes a fiction story about a president, whose hobby was to make coffins for opposition members whom he later killed (RUS).

Eastern Promises

May 10th, 2008

Abdulgamid reports on Turkmen government’s promises that denomination of the national currency will be “soft” (RUS).  

AFC Challenge Cup 2008: Kyrgyz win, Afghans qualify

May 9th, 2008

Elena posted some pictures from the last soccer game between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan during the AFC Challenge Cup Group C qualifier (ENG)

Cosmic prices for air tickets

May 9th, 2008

Abdulgamid writes about four times rise in prices for air tickets in Turkmenistan (RUS).