Gulnoza Saidazimova

Also by Gulnoza Saidazimova

• February 26, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Candidates In Uzbek-Populated Osh Focus On Domestic Issues

  For news, background, and analysis on Kyrgyzstan's 27 February parliamentary elections, see RFE/RL's webpage "Kyrgyzstan Votes 2005" --> /specials/kyrgyzelections/ .

• February 24, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Candidates Fight For Publicity In Crowded Election Campaign

  In any election, the greatest difficulty facing candidates can be making themselves known to the public. That is particularly true in Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary election, which is on 27 February. In the contest, there are sometimes up to 12 candidates running from the same constituency. But the country’s media industry is small and advertisements are costly. As RFE/RL reports from Bishkek, that is making for some fierce and sometimes unprincipled competition.

• February 24, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: All Quiet In The Capital As Protests Target Regions

  Kyrgyz protest rally on 19 February Protests that began on 21 February in three parts of Kyrgyzstan peaked last night when a group of protesters in Kochkor Raion blocked the car of regional Governor Tariel Aytbaev, who had tried to convince demonstrators to end the rally. Protesters demanded a lifting of the ban imposed on three candidates who were barred from running for parliament. Other protests in the Issyk-Kul and Naryn oblasts were attended by some 9,000 people. Despite the regional protests, all seems very quiet in the capital, Bishkek, just three days before the elections.

• February 23, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Opposition Prepares For Parliamentary Elections (Part 1)

  Kyrgyzstan will hold parliamentary elections on 27 February as 420 candidates are competing for 75 seats in the unicameral parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh. Will the opposition be able to win a majority in Kyrgyzstan's 27 February elections and ensure a peaceful transformation or will a government victory lead to mass protests, as occurred in Georgia and Ukraine?

• February 17, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Women Say Their Opportunities Are Shrinking Ahead Of Polls

  Observers say women in Kyrgyzstan have traditionally enjoyed more freedom than those in neighboring Uzbekistan or Tajikistan. Post-Soviet independence brought them even more rights and opportunities. Although ordinary Kyrgyz are still reluctant to see a woman rise to prominence in either politics or business, Kyrgyzstan is the first post-independence Central Asian state to have appointed a woman as a foreign minister and ambassador. But recent amendments to the country's electoral law means women may have little chance of being elected in this month's parliamentary ballot.

• February 15, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Is Bishkek Moving Toward Russia Ahead Of Elections?

  Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov said yesterday that U.S. AWACS reconnaissance planes will not be deployed at the Ganci air base outside the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Aitmatov made the statement after a trip to Moscow. Some observers say the Kyrgyz government's decision was made to please Russia, with the aim of gaining the Kremlin's support ahead of 27 February parliamentary elections and the presidential election in October.

• February 10, 2005

  Kazakhstan: Parliament Approves Controversial Anti-Extremism Bill

  The parliament of Kazakhstan has approved legislation aimed at restricting the activity of what it considers religious extremist groups. The bill's target is wide-ranging -- political parties, nongovernmental organizations, media, and religious bodies are all mentioned as potential sources of extremism. Human rights observers say they are concerned the new bill will be used by the government to crack down on dissent.

• February 09, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: Hizb Ut-Tahrir Rallies In South, Urges Election Boycott

  Relatives of Hizb ut-Tahrir member Ulugbek Ruziev and other members of that banned religious organization have been protesting this week in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, demanding that Ruziev -- who was arrested for possessing leaflets calling for a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections -- be released. Members of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir religious organization say they will not vote in the 27 February parliamentary elections.

• February 08, 2005

  Uzbekistan: Can New Governments Bring Any Change?

  The newly formed Uzbek government held its first meeting yesterday. Last week's overhaul of the cabinet included the replacement of the foreign and justice ministers. Does the appointment of a new foreign minister mean Uzbekistan is changing its relations with the outside world? And are cabinet changes really significant in a country where all major decisions -- on both internal and foreign policy -- remain in the hands of the president, Islam Karimov?

• February 08, 2005

  Central Asia: Presidents Say 'Yes' To Privileges But 'No' To Stepping Down (Part 2)

  Will Uzbekistan's Karimov ever step down? There has not been a single change of a president in Central Asia since those five countries gained independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Although every other former Soviet republic has changed its leader at least once, the Central Asian presidents have amended their country’s constitutions and held dubious referenda in order to extend their terms for as long as possible. They have, however, prepared legislation on the benefits they would receive upon leaving office. So, why are they so reluctant to step down? Is it an obsession with power, a lack of a successor or some other reason? Also, see Part 1: "What Happens To Post-Soviet Presidents After They Leave Office?" --> /featuresarticle/2005/2/A5FF78A5-816C-4B92-AEC1-AE007C6D3A87.html

• February 07, 2005

  CIS: What Happens To Post-Soviet Presidents After They Leave Office? (Part 1)

  What does the future hold for Kuchma? (file photo) Ukraine is the most recent example of a president stepping down in a post-Soviet country. And, although the Ukrainian government determined the privileges and benefits that President Leonid Kuchma would have after he left office, some allies of new President Viktor Yushchenko say a criminal investigation should be launched against Kuchma. In Russia, Boris Yeltsin also left power voluntarily. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, however, was pressured to resign. What happens to presidents after they leave office? In the first part of a two-part series, RFE/RL looks at the privileges and benefits of some post-Soviet presidents. Part 2 will look at Central Asian presidents, their retirement privileges, and possible succession scenarios.

• February 03, 2005

  Central Asia: Are Two Chambers Of Parliament Better Than One?

  Will President Askar Akaev will enjoy even stronger ties with Kyrgyz lawmakers? (file photo) On 27 February, Kyrgyzstan is set to hold elections for a legislature that at the same time will go from having two chambers to one. Uzbekistan did just the opposite in its parliamentary elections in December, moving from a unicameral legislature to a bicameral one. Tajikistan made the same switch some five years ago. Why are the countries of Central Asia changing the form of their parliaments?

• February 02, 2005

  Central Asia: Researchers Say Polygamy Harmful to Regional Economies

  Polygamy has increased in Central Asia, where economic hardship and a revival of Islam have led many women in Central Asia to become the second or third wives of relatively wealthy men. A recent study by the Center for Economic Policy Research at Jerusalem's Hebrew University indicates that polygamy has a negative economic impact in the countries where it is practiced.

• January 31, 2005

  Central Asia: Experts Say Region Should Look To 'Golden Triangle' To Combat Drug Smuggling

  Experts say alternative crops to opium poppies are one possibility In Asia, there are two major opiate-producing regions. The Southeast Asian countries of Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and Thailand have long been known as the "Golden Triangle." The other region -- the "Golden Crescent" -- comprises Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The latter has emerged as the world's largest opium producer in recent years. Trafficking from Afghanistan to Europe has turned Central Asia into both a transit route for drugs and a consumer of them. As Central Asian governments seek to combat the problem, experts say they should look to the nations of the Golden Triangle, which have successfully addressed the issue.

• January 27, 2005

  Kazakhstan: UN Terrorism Committee Meets In Almaty Amid Warnings Over Human Rights

  The UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), created in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks, is meeting in the Kazakh city of Almaty. The three-day regional conference, which began yesterday, is focusing on Central Eurasia, which has faced a threat from Islamic militancy in recent years. Particular focus is being paid to the financing of terrorism and at ways to step up regional efforts to crack down on money laundering, arms trafficking, illicit fund transfers, and fake charities. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch is calling on the UN body to bring antiterrorism efforts in line with human rights.

• January 27, 2005

  Central Asia: Kazakhstan Likely Leader In Regional Cooperation

  Kazakhstan last year showed some of the strongest economic growth in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the oil-rich country grew by 9.3 percent. Kyrgyzstan also enjoyed a good year, with 7.1 percent GDP growth. The two countries are considered to have the freest economies of Central Asia, and have taken steps to develop bilateral economic ties in a region where partnership and trade are the exception rather than the rule. Experts say Astana, as Central Asia's leader in economic growth, may become the driving force behind regional cooperation -- if and when the remaining capitals show sufficient political will.

• January 25, 2005

  Middle East: Saudi Grand Mufti's Sermon On Terror Highlights Conflicting Views Of Its True Purpose

  It is not uncommon for Muslim imams to use Friday prayers and Islamic holidays to speak not only on general topics but also to address issues of current relevance. Sermons delivered during Eid al-Adha -- the celebration that marked the end of the hajj -- were no exception. In one notable sermon, Saudi Arabia's top cleric used the occasion to appeal to Muslim youth, calling on them not to be used by what he called "enemies of the nation" to kill innocent people. The pointed speech caught the attention of observers both in the Muslim world and in the West. Some say the appeal was nothing unusual, while others argue that it had a political agenda behind it.

• January 20, 2005

  Kyrgyzstan: For President, Parliamentary Elections A Family Affair

  Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev (file photo) For Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev and other top officials, February's parliamentary elections will be a family affair. The president's daughter, son, and two sisters-in-law are all registered as candidates. Other candidates include the son of the prime minister and the son and son-in-law of a top presidential aide. The abundance of governmental offspring on the 27 February ticket appears to be an attempt to strengthen the current regime. Similar tactics have been seen in other post-Soviet countries.

• January 20, 2005

  Middle East: Hajj Pilgrims Perform Final Rituals, Begin Eid Al-Adha Celebration

  The Muslim world is celebrating Eid al-Adha -- or Feast of the Sacrifice -- as the hajj pilgrimage reaches its end in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Thousands of pilgrims began one of the final -- and most dangerous -- rituals of the hajj early today.

• January 18, 2005

  Middle East: The Hajj (Part 3) -- Complaints Of Bribery, Corruption, Price-Gouging Taint Religious Pilgrimage

  Goats being sold for sacrifice at this year's hajj. The chances for ordinary Muslims living in the former Soviet Union to attend the hajj markedly improved after the collapse of communism. Almost as soon as this opportunity presented itself, however, complaints began about the corruption of well-placed officials and the high prices set to attend the pilgrimage. As RFE/RL reports in the third of our four-part series on the hajj, such allegations are a refrain heard in other Muslim countries, as well. (In Part 1 --> /featuresarticle/2005/01/cf26e68a-2dc4-4ebc-9c22-32eeee5f8b45.html of this series, RFE/RL examines the history, rituals, and meaning of the pilgrimage; in Part 2 --> /featuresarticle/2005/01/3c24591b-8bed-42dd-ab5e-5d6bc90f84f9.html , RFE/RL reports that the number of young Muslims making the journey to Mecca appears to be growing; in Part 4 --> /featuresarticle/2005/01/aeed2d77-22f8-40b3-9422-54d95e0005fd.html , we examine security concerns at the hajj.)

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