Gulnoza Saidazimova

Also by Gulnoza Saidazimova

• May 06, 2005

  Russia: Boy's Death, Mother's Sentencing Lead To Appeals For Adoption Restrictions

  A woman in the United States was sentenced this week to 12 years in prison for the 2003 death of her 6-year-old son, Alex, who was adopted from Russia. The case has received significant media attention in Russia and has led to a wider discussion over the adoption of Russian children by foreigners, many of them from the United States. Americans adopted 5,800 Russian orphans in 2004 -- representing almost 75 percent of the country's international adoptions. Some Russians are calling for tougher restrictions on international adoptions, while others say the children themselves will be the ones to suffer if the laws are tightened.

• May 04, 2005

  U.K./Uzbekistan: English Poet Uses Verse To Defend Jailed Uzbek Journalist

  Uzbek President Islam Karimov (file photo) In "Open Poem To President Karimov," English poet Richard McKane addresses the fate of Sobirjon Yoqubov, a 22-year old journalist arrested in Uzbekistan last month on charges of unconstitutional activity. Through his poetry, McKane has in his own way joined those who have come to Yoqubov's defense in the belief that he is innocent and the charges against him are politically motivated.

• May 03, 2005

  Central Asia: Media Watchdogs Say Media Far From Free (Part 1)

  Uzbek President Islam Karimov Today is the UN-declared World Press Freedom Day, an annual observance meant to highlight the importance of a free press for civil societies. In the first-part of a two-part series, we look at press freedom in Central Asia. The international media-rights group Reporters Sans Frontieres this week listed Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan among the top oppressors of media freedoms last year. Fellow media-watchdog Freedom House went a step further in its annual report, characterizing those two countries as the "worst of the worst" and labeling the remaining Central Asian states as "not free." Kyrgyzstan, however, appears to be using the momentum of its recent revolution to turn things around.

• April 28, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: New Constitutional Body Debates Sweeping Reforms

  Kyrgyzstan's new Constitutional Council today held its first meeting to discuss constitutional reforms expected to be implemented before presidential elections scheduled for 10 July. Proponents of amending the constitution say the reforms will give more authority to parliament and prevent the president from gaining absolute power. But analysts say it won't be easy to forge a balanced political system in a country traditionally divided among clans and regions.

• April 27, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Faces Dwindling Appeal, Internal Divisions

  Many observers are concerned the recent revolution in Kyrgyzstan has created instability that could be used by Islamic extremists to gain influence. Russian media say radicalization of Islamic groups is inevitable in Kyrgyzstan. Western journalists have focused specifically on the country's south, where the banned organization Hizb ut-Tahrir has traditionally been most active. Many Kyrgyz experts, however, see the situation differently.

• April 22, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Islam Karimov Vs. The Clans

  Is Karimov's regime on the brink of collapse? Recent reshuffles in mid-level government positions are being seen as a result of rivalries between different political clans in Uzbekistan. Speculation has been fuelled by reports and rumors about one clan’s representatives disappearing or fleeing the country. Many Uzbeks think that Islam Karimov’s regime is on the wane and the clans are fighting for the spoils of power.

• April 22, 2005

  East: GUUAM Summit In Chisinau Focuses On Separatism, Regional Cooperation

  Ukraine's Yushchenko was active in Chisinau (file photo) The presidents of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova gathered today in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau for a summit of the regional grouping GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova). It's the group's first gathering since "velvet revolutions" brought pro-Western leaders to office in Georgia and Ukraine, and Moldova shifted its foreign policy priorities toward the West. EU and NATO expansion have also altered the European political landscape. This evolving perspective laid the groundwork for today's gathering, which focused on separatism, regional cooperation, and promoting GUUAM's geopolitical profile.

• April 21, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Opposition Creates Coalition Of Democratic Forces

  Uzbek oppositionists have created a new united front, the Coalition of Democratic Forces. The coalition, also named "Serquyosh Uzbekistonim" (My Sunny Uzbekistan), is a joint effort between the unregistered opposition Ozod Dehqonlar (Free Peasants) party, prominent opposition members, and human rights activists. As leaders launched the new group yesterday, they announced their program -- which includes some ambitious economic reforms.

• April 19, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Trial Begins Of Muslims Accused Of 2004 Attacks

  Scene of March blast in Tashkent (file photo) The trial of 20 men began yesterday at the Tashkent City Court on charges of extremism and terrorism. The charges are related to the 2004 attacks in Tashkent and Bukhara that left 47 people dead. They also relate to explosions in Tashkent in February 1999. Rights activists say the trial is the latest move in the Uzbek government’s campaign against peaceful Muslims.

• April 15, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Deputy Interior Minister Addresses Allegations Of New Dissident Repressions

  The Uzbek public was recently shaken by a series of Internet articles alleging the country's interior minister was set to unleash a new wave of antidissident repressions. The articles featured the supposed text of the new order as well as a blacklist of people targeted and the preferred method of repressions. A group of prominent independent journalists wrote to the minister, Zakir Almatov, demanding an explanation. Today, Almatov's deputy met with the journalists.

• April 14, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Old Actors, New Priorities -- Or Are They Old Priorities?

  U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in Bishkek today, backed Kyrgyzstan's new leadership and received assurances that U.S. forces will be able to continue using the Ganci air base for supporting U.S. operations in Afghanistan. Rumsfeld is the first high-ranking U.S. official to visit Kyrgyzstan since the overthrow of the government last month.

• April 13, 2005

  Uzbekistan: New Laws Ban Everything From Motorcycles To Movies

  People in Uzbekistan are finding their lives governed by increasingly bizarre new laws. Residents of the capital Tashkent are now banned from riding motorcycles. Moviegoers throughout the country will not be able to see "The Turkish Gambit," a new historical thriller from Russia. And one of the government's latest moves has been to impose a uniform for schoolteachers.

• April 12, 2005

  Tajikistan: Will Opposition Leader Become Stumbling Block In Relations With Moscow?

  Dushanbe has been strongly critical of Moscow following a decision by Russian authorities to release Tajik opposition figure Mahmadruzi Iskandarov. Tajikistan sought Iskandarov's extradition to face trial at home on charges of embezzlement and ties to a terrorist group. The Democratic Party of Tajikistan head was arrested in Moscow in December, at Dushanbe's request. So what does Iskandarov's release mean for Russian-Tajik relations?

• April 11, 2005

  Central Asia: Youth Have Few Options In Uzbekistan; Even Fewer In Turkmenistan

  Will Ukraine's Orange Revolution have an effect in Central Asia's most closed regimes? Young people in Uzbekistan watched closely as events unfolded in Kyrgyzstan that led to the ouster of long-time President Askar Akaev. The repressive regime in Tashkent leaves Uzbek youth with few options for similar political expression. In Turkmenistan, the most tightly controlled of the Central Asian nations, young people have virtually no options at all -- except to rely on movements run by Turkmen youth abroad. For more on the rise of political youth groups, see RFE/RL's special website "The Power of Youth." --> /specials/youth/

• April 11, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Parliament Accepts President's Resignation

  Akaev opening parliament (file photo) Prague, 11 April 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted today to accept the resignation of ousted President Askar Akaev. Akaev, who tendered his resignation on 4 April, was officially declared an “ex-president,” a status that curtails his future privileges. Lawmakers also set 10 July as the date for presidential polls.

• April 08, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Did Revolution Sow The Seeds Of Democracy? (Part II)

  The drive to oust President Askar Akaev gathered strength in Osh on 22 March Many of those involved in sweeping President Askar Akaev from power did so in the name of democracy. Akaev's leadership was widely viewed as corrupt and unresponsive to people's needs. And there was a real fear that Akaev might seek yet another term in office later this year. It's only been two weeks since the changes, but are there at least signs Kyrgyzstan is moving toward greater democracy? The second of this three-part series on Kyrgyzstan's “revolution,”looks at why optimism is still strong amid some initial disappointments.

• April 06, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Prosecutors Open Case Against Media-Support Group

  The Uzbek Prosecutor-General’s Office has opened a criminal case against the Uzbek branch of Internews, a U.S.-based media-support group. This makes Internews the latest Western group to come under pressure from the Uzbek authorities. Tashkent expelled the U.S.-based Open Society Institute, which promotes free media and education programs, in 2004. Some observers say the case against Internews is politically motivated.

• April 05, 2005

  World: Pope John Paul Reached Out To Muslims In Former Soviet World

  Pope John Paul II (file photo) John Paul II was the first pope to kiss the Koran and the first ever to enter a mosque. He was also the only pope to have met Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and Jordan's King Abdullah, despite criticism from Israel and Jewish groups. John Paul encouraged dialogue between faiths, in particular with visits to Muslim-dominated Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. His successor has a tough act to follow, especially as much of John Paul’s popularity in the former Soviet Union came from his anti-communist stance.

• April 04, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: New Problems Could Follow Akaev Resignation

  Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev formally resigned office today Ousted Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev submitted his resignation letter today. The move puts an end to the legal uncertainty that emerged after the opposition took power on 24 March --> http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/04/da48cf00-31a9-43e8-aeb3-062e20ae677d.html . But is Akaev's formal resignation the closure that the new Kyrgyz leadership is looking for?

• April 01, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: With No Akaev Resignation Yet, New Leadership Considers Impeachment

  President Akaev: facing impeachment? One week after the Kyrgyz revolution, the status of ousted President Askar Akaev remains unclear. International bodies like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have pressed for a quick resolution to the issue, to avoid having the interim Kyrgyz leadership from acting in a legal vacuum. But Akayev so far has refused to resign. The new authorities are now looking for ways to impeach the ousted leader, in order to put an end to the growing legitimacy conflict.

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