Central Asia - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Sunday, May 19, 2013

News and Features from Central Asia

EU Raises Case Of RFE/RL Turkmen Correspondent

A European Union delegation has raised with Turkmen officials the case of a detained RFE/RL correspondent.

Security Clampdown In Jalal-Abad After Ethnic Clash

Local police chief Malik Nurdinov told RFE/RL the clashes took place in the village of Safid-Bulan late on May 16.

U.S. Police Arrest Uzbek In Terror Case

Prosecutors say 30-year-old Fazliddin Kurbanov was arrested in the city of Boise on May 15 as part of a terrorism investigation.

Playing with fire? The stage for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest is unveiled during a news conference at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden on May 2.

Sweden Plays Eurovision Host, With Main Sponsor Mired In Scandal

The multinational musical glitzfest known as Eurovision holds its final in Sweden. But the main sponsor of this year's contest raises eyebrows for its ties to human rights abuses in the former Soviet Union.

Alleged Leader Of Banned Islamic Group's Cell Arrested In Bishkek

The suspected leader of an underground cell of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group has been arrested in Bishkek.

Chinese Mining Company Operations In Kyrgyzstan Blocked By Protesters

Operations by the Chinese gold mining company Kaidi have been blocked by hundreds of protesters in Kyrgyzstan's southern Chon-Alai district.

Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky

Kyrgyzstan Bans Zhirinovsky

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has declared Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky persona non grata and banned him from entering the country.

Six On Trial In Kazakhstan For Islamic Extremism

Six men accused of religious extremism have gone on trial in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Treatment Of Kazakh Reporter Criticized

Kazakhstan's Bureau for Human Rights has criticized authorities for placing a journalist in a psychiatric clinic.

IMU Claims Quetta Suicide Bombing

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on May 11 in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's Balochistan Province that killed six people and injured more than 60.