Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Environmentalists Raise Alarm Over Russia's Siberian Tiger

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:36:04 +0000

A new survey indicates that the number of endangered Siberian tigers living in the Russian Far East is dwindling, primarily due to poaching.

Turkmen Case Highlights Plight Of Activists In Central Asia

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:13:52 +0000

A court in Turkmenistan has overturned a five-year jail sentence handed down last week to a biologist whose environmental organization was shut down by the state in 2003. The case marks the second time in three years that Andrei Zatoka has been sentenced and detained before being released, and highlights the difficulties activists commonly encounter in Central Asia.

Islamic Leaders Take The Lead On Environmental Protection

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:31:33 +0000

As politicians struggle to reach agreement on global emissions cuts ahead of the UN's climate change conference in Copenhagen next month, international religious leaders have stepped in with their own ambitious plans.

Uncertainty Prevails On Climate Treaty Ahead Of Copenhagen Summit

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:43:13 +0000

Nearly five weeks before the start of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the United Nations has signaled that it has reduced its expectations about reaching agreement on a new treaty to slow global warming.

Afghans Prepare For Tourism Development

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:26:24 +0000

As instability and violence continue in Afghanistan, some are laying the groundwork for a better future. Despite the odds, the country's rich cultural history, scenic landscapes, and remote locations are helping spark a tourism revival.

Turkish-Armenian Diplomatic Ties In The Offing?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:12:24 +0000

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey and Armenia plan to sign a deal aimed at normalizing relations, winning approval from the international community. The agreement would still require approval by the countries' parliaments to take effect, but it is seen by many as a step toward ending hostilities stemming from the World War I mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.

Russia Plans To Revive Rare Persian Leopard

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:28:16 +0000

Russian authorities and conservationists are going ahead with a project to restore a population of Persian leopards to Sochi, where the most intense activity has focused preparations for the looming Olympics. It's part of a plan to counter fierce criticism by activists that Olympics-related construction will harm wilderness around Sochi.

Taliban Death Underscores Human Rights Concerns In Swat

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:00:43 +0000

The Pakistani military says a feared Taliban commander has died from injuries sustained during a military operation in which he was arrested last week. The announcement comes amid concerns over an ongoing human rights crisis, including allegations of summary executions of suspected militants, in Pakistan's northwestern areas.

Effects Of 'Peaceful' Nuclear Tests Felt Decades Later

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:47:34 +0000

During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union explored the possibility of using nuclear explosions for "peaceful" purposes. Their programs yielded little real benefit. Decades later, residents near a test site in eastern Kazakhstan say authorities are ignoring their complaints of serious health effects.

Karzai Declared Preliminary Winner In Afghan Elections As Crisis Deepens

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:18:59 +0000

Afghanistan’s postelection crisis has deepened, as the country’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) declared incumbent President Hamid Karzai the preliminary winner of last month’s poll while EU observers have alleged massive fraud.

Iraq Tussles With Neighbors Over Water

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:19:01 +0000

Drought-stricken Iraq has accused Turkey, Syria, and Iran of taking too much water from the country's main rivers and their tributaries, leaving its hydropower production and agriculture high and dry.

Once Seen As A Model, Iraq Struggles To Rebuild Its Education System

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:25:25 +0000

As the world mark International Literacy Day on September 8, we examine the situation in Iraq, which was once held up as a regional model for education, but today is struggling to rebuild.

Bukhara Deer Reintroduced To Syr Darya River Valley

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:54:20 +0000

For almost half a century, the Bukhara deer -- a species endemic to Central Asia -- had not been seen in the wild in the forests along the Syr Darya river. But the species has now returned to Kazakhstan's southern Turkestan district with the recent release of ten deer into their native habitat.

Prospects For Environmental Protection In Afghanistan Improve, Despite Big Challenges

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:12:45 +0000

Despite continued violence and political instability, Afghanistan is taking measures to protect its natural heritage. The country established its first national park this spring and, more recently, created its first-ever list of endangered and threatened species. Although the process of enforcing environmental rules in Afghanistan is laborious, environmentalists are optimistic that over time it can be done.

China's Ancient Silk Road City Of Kashgar Facing Threat Of Bulldozers

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:24:49 +0000

Kashgar is an ancient Silk Road trading hub located more than 4,000 kilometers west of Beijing, in China's autonomous Xinjiang region. Its old city has survived, and remains an important Islamic cultural center for the Uyghurs, the Turkic ethnic group living in Xinjiang. But Kashgar's rich Central Asian heritage is being threatened by an ambitious government redevelopment plan that some say has a hidden agenda.

G8 Calls For Halt To Iran Violence

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:37:26 +0000

Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrial countries have said they "deplore" the postelection violence in Iran, and called on Tehran to settle the crisis "soon" through democratic dialogue and peaceful means.

G8 Meeting On Afghanistan Now Overshadowed By Iran

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38:40 +0000

A three-day meeting of G8 foreign ministers opens today in Italy's Adriatic city of Trieste. The talks were originally due to focus heavily on Afghanistan and were to include representatives from its neighboring countries. But the meeting has since been overshadowed by events in Iran -- even as Tehran announced it was pulling out of the gathering.

Reports Say N. Korea's Kim Has Chosen Successor Son

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:35:24 +0000

Analysts believe that Kim Jong-il, whose power base stems from his support for the military, may be using the growing tension to give him greater leverage over power elites at home to nominate his own successor.

Central Asian Fruit, Nut Trees Of Global Importance Under Threat

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:33:56 +0000

Scientists believe that many of the fruit and nut trees commonly cultivated around the world originated in Central Asia and were brought west along the Silk Road centuries ago. But a new survey shows that some of these wild ancestors of the fruits we eat today are threatened with extinction, posing a potential risk to our food security.

EU Agrees Deal On Energy Links With 'Southern Corridor'

Fri, 08 May 2009 11:02:11 +0000

The European Union has agreed on joint goals with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Egypt as it seeks to develop routes for gas supplies bypassing Russia, which currently supplies a quarter of all the natural gas and oil burned in the bloc. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, however, did not sign the summit's final declaration.

Central Asian Leaders Fail To Overcome Differences At Water Summit

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:20:27 +0000

The presidents of all five Central Asian states have failed to overcome differences over water use. Their one-day summit was officially intended to discuss the disappearing Aral Sea, but was widely seen as a chance to openly discuss the region's most contentious issues -- energy needs and cross-border water sharing.

Uzbek Environmentalist Cleared Of Bribe-Taking, But Release Comes With Heavy Fine

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:40:56 +0000

Makset Kosbergenov, a biologist and environmental ranger known in Uzbekistan as a highly principled protector of wildlife, spent the last four months in detention awaiting trial on bribery charges. He was released this week after being ordered to pay a heavy fine on a lesser charge, but as RFE/RL correspondent Antoine Blua reports, his supporters suggest he is being targeted for cracking down on poachers.

Central Asians Unite To Protect Globally Important Natural Sites

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:29:57 +0000

In an effort to protect such globally important species and their habitats, international and local environmentalists have united their forces to produce Important Bird Area (IBA) directories for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

Iran, Russia, Georgia Singled Out As Threatening Internet Freedom

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:27:57 +0000

A new study is warning that the rights of people who use the Internet are increasingly at risk, with governments -- both repressive and democratic -- expanding their ability to monitor, censor, and punish Internet users. The report, called "Freedom on the Net," examines barriers to access, limitations on content, and violations of users' rights in 15 countries during 2007 and 2008.

Population Of Unique Saiga Antelopes Declining, But Signs Of Optimism Do Exist

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:53:32 +0000

One-quarter of the world's antelope species are believed to be threatened with extinction. In Central Asia, the saiga antelope is among the most threatened antelopes. The other antelope species living in Central Asia, the goitered gazelle, has also seen its numbers decrease over the years. But there is a growing awareness of the need to preserve these unique animals and grounds for cautious optimism concerning their ultimate survival in the region.

Chinese 'Patriot' Sabotages Paris Auction

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:05:32 +0000

A Chinese man who made a winning bid of $36 million for two imperial Chinese bronzes auctioned in Paris has said his bid was intended to draw attention to the issue of looted art, and that he has no intention of paying for the artworks.

Year After Armenian Postelection Violence, Rights Group Calls For Justice

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:08:15 +0000

Human Rights Watch says in a new report that, nearly a year after antigovernment demonstrations in the Armenian capital erupted into deadly violence, the police have yet to be held accountable for their excessive use of force. The report also documents the ill-treatment of those detained in connection with the protests against the outcome of the February 2008 presidential election.

Former Soviet States Weigh Israel Ties Vs. Popular Anger

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:58:05 +0000

As Israel widens its offensive in the Gaza Strip, demonstrations in some mainly Muslim former Soviet states have put some governments in difficult positions. Many have had relations with Israel since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but now seem to be reluctant to express support for either side in the conflict in the face of public opinion. Other countries like Russia and Georgia are taking sides more openly, according to their strategic interests.

Unenthused, Voters In Azerbaijan Cast Ballots In Presidential Vote

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:04:31 +0000

The main opposition bloc is boycotting the election, saying the process has been neither free nor fair. And while there is no minimum turnout required by law, a weak turnout could bolster opposition arguments.