Eurasia News Digest (1-15 May)

Central Asia

President Japarov's press secretary asks U.S. not to interfere in internal affairs of Kyrgyzstan and calls statements on Azattyk Media 'irrelevant'

U.S. State Department's Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the United States is concerned by reports of a Kyrgyz court’s decision to shut down RFE/RL's local outlet Azattyk Radiosu, which further curtails media freedom. His statement got sharp reaction from press secretary of Kyrgyz president. Click here to read... [2]

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan discuss junction points of state borders

Government delegations discussed the issues of determining junction points of the state borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. The meetings were held from April 25 to April 29 in Batken city. Click here to read... [3]

Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis the world's largest humanitarian crisis, says UN secretary-general

In a statement delivered at an international meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan in Doha, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted on May 2 that the lack of inclusivity, which importantly includes human rights, in particular those of women and girls, severely undermined by recent Taliban decisions and the spread of drug trafficking with all its dramatic consequences is another matter of serious concern. Click here to read... [4]

Tajikistan reports unrest on its common border with Afghanistan

On April 28, Khovar state-run news agency reported that a high-ranking security services officer was earlier that day killed during an armed clash with an alleged gang of drug smugglers trying to cross into Tajik territory. The State Committee for National Security, or SCNS, said in a statement that three of the attackers dumped drugs, weapons and ammunition and fled back into Afghanistan, but that another three Tajik accomplices had been detained. Click here to read... [5]

Tajikistan heads for seaports of Pakistan

Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has ratified its transit trade agreement with Pakistan. The agreement is reportedly aimed primarily at “Tajik cargo carriers' access to Pakistani seaports of Karachi and Gwadar.” A government-to-government agreement on transit trade between Tajikistan and Pakistan was signed in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on December 15, 2022 during Tajik President Emomali Rahmon’s official visit to Pakistan. Click here to read... [6]

Recent Chinese Investment, Contracts worth $2 Billion: MoIC

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce spokesman Akhundazada Abdul Salam Jawad said that China has signed investment contracts in various areas worth around $2 billion after the collapse of the former government in Afghanistan. There has been Chinese investment in the extraction of mines, services at airports, as well as in industrial parks. Click here to read... [7]

Central Asian Presidents Join Putin for May 9 Victory Day Parade

All five Central Asian presidents joined Russian President Vladimir Putin for the annual May 9 Victory Day parade. Alongside Putin and the presidents of Armenia and Belarus, the gathered presidents watched a scaled-down military parade at Red Square and placed flowers at the nearby Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Click here to read... [8]

China-Central Asia summit to take place in Xi’an on May 18-19 — Foreign Ministry

The China-Central Asia Summit will take place on May 18-19 in the city of Xi’an in the Shaanxi Province. The forum will be led by Chinese President Xi Jinpingand will be attended by the Leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Click here to read... [9]

South Caucasus

Azerbaijani "activists" end blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijani self-proclaimed environmental activists have ended their 4-1/2 month demonstration on the Lachin-Stepanakert road, thus lifting the blockade of the road which connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The blockade became redundant after Azerbaijan installed a border checkpoint at the opposite end of the road on April 23. Click here to read... [10]

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Open Talks in Washington on Nagorno-Karabakh Dispute

U.S.-hosted meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan has begun in Washington as part of an effort to quell tensions over a checkpoint that Baku recently set up on the only road leading to Nagorno-Karabakh. Before the start of the meeting on May 1, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had separate discussions with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov. Click here to read... [11]

Armenia votes in favour of UN resolution recognizing Russia as aggressor

Armenia has voted in favor of a UN resolution recognizing Russia as an aggressor, Trend reports via Armenian media. On April 26, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on cooperation between the UN and the Council of Europe, in which Russia is mentioned as the aggressor [in a war with Ukraine]. The document was adopted with 122 votes 'in favour'. Click here to read... [12]

Parliament official: Delay in granting Georgia EU candidate status led to Russia’s “activation” - lifting flight ban, revoking visas

Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday, said the delay in granting Georgia the European Union membership candidate status, which the country deserved to obtain last year, led to Russia’s “activation” and its decision to lift a ban on flights with Georgia and revoke visa requirements for citizens of the country. Click here to read... [13]

Türkiye friends with both US and Russia: Erdogan

Türkiye shares good relations with both the United States and Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. "Türkiye is friends with America and Russia and those who are spiteful towards us in the West," Erdogan said during a live broadcast with several Turkish television channels ahead of Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections. Click here to read... [14]

EEC: Free trade zone between EAEU, Iran is likely to be established in 2023

Andrei Slepnev, Member of the Board (Minister) for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) said at a briefing thatit is highly likely that a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran will be established by the end of 2023. Click here to read... [15]