Kyrgyz Almanac 2

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Kyrgyz Almanac 2 Almanac No. 2 The Experience of the Kyrgyz Republic in Crisis Management: Lessons for the Future Aida Alymbaeva and Todor Tagarev (Eds.) Geneva – Bishkek, 2015 Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), www.dcaf.ch DCAF is an international foundation established in 2000 on the initiative of the Swiss Confedera- tion, as the “Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces.” DCAF contributes to enhancing security sector governance (SSG) through security sector reform (SSR). The Centre’s work to support effective, efficient security sectors which are accountable to the state and its citi- zens is underpinned by the acknowledgement that security, development and the rule of law are essential preconditions for sustainable peace. DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, im- partiality, gender sensitivity and local ownership as the basis for supporting legitimate, sustain- able reform processes. DCAF is based in Geneva with permanent offices in Beirut, Brussels, Ljubljana, Ramallah and Tunis. The Centre has over 100 staff from more than 30 countries. DCAF Security and Defence Management series Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Todor Tagarev, DCAF Associate Senior Fellow Hari Bucur-Marcu, Philipp Fluri, and Todor Tagarev (Eds.) 1 Defence Management: An Introduction, 2009 1.FR Introduction à la gestion de la Défense, 2009 1.UA Оборонний менеджмент: Ознайомлення, 2010 1.RU Оборонный менеджмент: Ознакомление, 2011 1.ES Gestión de la Defensa: Una Introducción, 2013 1.GE თავდაცვის მენეჯმენტი: შესავალი, 2013 BG.1 Парламентарен контрол над сектора за сигурност: Принципи, механизми и практики, 2009 – Second Bulgarian edition of Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector, ed. Hans Born, Philipp Fluri, Anders Johnsson Merle Maigre and Philipp Fluri (Eds.) 2 Almanac on Security Sector Governance in Ukraine 2010 2.UA Альманах урядування в секторі безпеки України 2010 2.RU Альманах по вопросам государственного управления в секторе безопасности Украины 2010 3.RU Построение обороны и безопасности: Сборник материалов Плана партнерских действий по созданию институтов обороны и безопасности (PAP-DIB) – Russian edition of Defence Institution Building, ed. Wim F. van Eekelen and Philipp H. Fluri Aida Alymbaeva (Ed.) 4 Almanac 2012: Governing and Reforming Kyrgyzstan’s Security Sector, 2013 4.KG Альманах 2012: Кыргызстандын мамлекеттик башкаруусу жана коопсуздук секторун реформалоо, 2013 4.RU Альманах 2012 года: государственное управление и реформирование сектора безопасности Кыргызстана, 2013 5 Todor Tagarev and Georgi Tzvetkov, Relating Defence Policy to Data: Comparative Defence Data Analysis, 2015 6 Опыт Кыргызской Республики в управлении кризисными ситуациями: уроки для будущего, под ред. Аиды Алымбаевой и Тодора Тагарева, 2014 Almanac No. 2 The Experience of the Kyrgyz Republic in Crisis Management: Lessons for the Future Aida Alymbaeva and Todor Tagarev (Eds.) Geneva – Bishkek, 2015 Aida Alymbaeva and Todor Tagarev, eds., The Experience of the Kyrgyz Repub- lic in Crisis Management: Lessons for the Future, Almanac no. 2 (Geneva – Bishkek: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, 2015). Security and Defence Management series no. 6 The publication of this book has been funded by the Latvian Ministry of Defence. The views, expressed herein, are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to the Geneva Centre of the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), nor to the Latvian Ministry of Defence. © Geneva Centre of the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces Cover design: Printhouse Ltd. Original edition: Russian, 2014 Translation into English: Greta Keremidchieva ISBN 978-92-9222-423-3 PREFACE I take pleasure in writing this preface to this second Almanac on Security Sector Governance in the Kyrgyz Republic, written and edited entirely by civil society experts. This second Almanac focuses on recent experience in crisis manage- ment, an area in which security agencies are naturally directly involved and em- powered. DCAF would like to thank the Ministry of Defence of Latvia for its gen- erous support in making this project possible. Security sector representatives have their own way of assessing security challenges. They do so in the light of what they deem ‘feasible’, and they tend to report on their crisis management with utmost discretion. This holds especially true for young democracies. However, we cannot learn from the lessons of the past experience if we do not spell them out, and encourage public discussion in the light of the security needs and interests of the citizens – tax-payers and voters. It is what this volume seeks to do in a constructive and cooperative spirit. Thanks and congratulations also go to our Kyrgyz colleagues, most of all to Aida Alymbayeva who diligently organised and edited the articles collected in this volume, and to Dr. Todor Tagarev as her fellow editor. Philipp Fluri, Ph.D. Deputy Director DCAF TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. xi Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Aida Alymbaeva and Todor Tagarev Chapter 1 The Batken Events of 1999-2000: Lessons and Conclusions .............. 9 Murat Beyshenov and Kayrat Osmonaliyev Summary ................................................................................................................................9 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................10 Brief description of the Batken events and counteracting the invasions of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in 1999-2000 ......................................................................11 Main factors that deteriorated the situation during the Batken events .................................17 Batken events in 1999 – a test for the national security of Kyrgyzstan ................................20 The attacks of militants in 2000 – recurrence of the events from 1999 ................................27 Lessons learned and conclusions after the Batken events ..................................................31 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................35 References ...........................................................................................................................37 Appendices ..........................................................................................................................39 Chapter 2 Religious Extremism and the Example of the Nookat Events in 2008 ....................................................................................................... 43 Ikbalzhan Mirsayitov Summary ..............................................................................................................................43 Summary of the crisis situation ............................................................................................46 Chronology of events ...........................................................................................................49 Prevailing views on the sources and causes of the crisis ....................................................51 Detailed analysis ..................................................................................................................54 Conclusions ..........................................................................................................................66 Lessons Learned ..................................................................................................................67 Recommendations ...............................................................................................................69 References ...........................................................................................................................71 Chapter 3 The Events of April 7, 2010: Managing a Political Emergency Situation .................................................................................................... 73 Emil Dzhuraev Summary ..............................................................................................................................73 viii The Experience of the Kyrgyz Republic in Crisis Management: Lessons for the Future A short description of the events on 7 April 2010 .................................................................75 Basic assumptions about the causes of events ...................................................................76 A detailed analysis ...............................................................................................................79 Additional analysis ...............................................................................................................92 Recommendations ...............................................................................................................99 References .........................................................................................................................101 Chapter 4 The Events in Osh 2010: Lessons for the Future............................. 105 Asel Murzakulova and Abdiraim Zhorokulov Summary ............................................................................................................................105 Situation analysis: response, containment and resolution
Recommended publications
  • Failed Democratic Experience in Kyrgyzstan: 1990-2000 a Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School of Social Sciences of Middle Ea
    FAILED DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE IN KYRGYZSTAN: 1990-2000 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY OURAN NIAZALIEV IN THE PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION APRIL 2004 Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences __________________________ Prof. Dr. Sencer Ayata Director I certify that thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for degree of Master of Science __________________________ Prof. Dr. Feride Acar Head of Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science. __________________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Pınar Akçalı Supervisor Examining Committee Members Assist. Prof. Dr. Pınar Akcalı __________________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Canan Aslan __________________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Oktay F. Tanrısever __________________________ ABSTRACT FAILED DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE IN KYRGYZSTAN: 1990-2000 Niazaliev, Ouran M.Sc., Department of Political Science and Public Administration Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Akçalı April 2004, 158 p. This study seeks to analyze the process of transition and democratization in Kyrgyzstan from 1990 to 2000. The collapse of the Soviet Union opened new political perspectives for Kyrgyzstan and a chance to develop sovereign state based on democratic principles and values. Initially Kyrgyzstan attained some progress in building up a democratic state. However, in the second half of 1990s Kyrgyzstan shifted toward authoritarianism. Therefore, the full-scale transition to democracy has not been realized, and a well-functioning democracy has not been established.
    [Show full text]
  • Bottom-Up Peacekeeping in Southern Kyrgyzstan: How Local Actors Managed to Prevent the Spread of Violence from Osh/Jalal-Abad to Aravan, June 2010
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Newcastle University E-Prints Khamidov A, Megoran N, Heathershaw J. Bottom-up peacekeeping in southern Kyrgyzstan: how local actors managed to prevent the spread of violence from Osh/Jalal-Abad to Aravan, June 2010. Nationalities Papers 2017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00905992.2017.1335695 Copyright: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Nationalities Papers on 02/08/2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00905992.2017.1335695 DOI link to article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00905992.2017.1335695 Date deposited: 23/11/2016 Embargo release date: 02 February 2019 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence Newcastle University ePrints - eprint.ncl.ac.uk Bottom-up peacekeeping in Southern Kyrgyzstan: How local actors managed to prevent the spread of violence from Osh/Jalal-Abad to Aravan, June 2010.1 Alisher Khamidov, Visiting Fellow, Faculty of Geography, Politics, and Sociology, Newcastle University, UK Nick Megoran, Reader in Political Geography, Faculty of Geography, Politics, and Sociology, Newcastle University, UK Abstract: In the aftermath of the June 2010 violence in South Kyrgyzstan, much scholarly attention has focused on the causes of the violence. However, observers have taken little notice of the fact that while such urban areas as Osh, Jalal-Abad and Bazar-Korgon were caught up in violence, some towns in South Kyrgyzstan that are located in close proximity to the conflict sites and had considerable conflict potential had managed to avoid the violence.
    [Show full text]
  • Uzbekistan at Ten
    UZBEKISTAN AT TEN: REPRESSION AND INSTABILITY 21 August 2001 ICG Asia Report No 21 Osh/Brussels TABLE OF CONTENTS MAP OF UZBEKISTAN ..............................................................................................................................................................i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................................ii I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................1 II. UZBEKISTAN’S FRACTURED POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.....................................................................................3 A. SECULAR DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION ........................................................................................................4 B. OFFICIAL PARTIES .....................................................................................................................................8 C. ISLAMIC OPPOSITION...............................................................................................................................12 III. REGIONAL, CLAN AND ETHNIC RIVALRIES.......................................................................................................16 IV. A RISING TIDE OF SOCIAL DISCONTENT ............................................................................................................21 V. EXTERNAL FORCES....................................................................................................................................................26
    [Show full text]
  • The Case of Kyrgyzstan CAP Paper 221, July 2019
    The Many Challenges of Native Language Journalism in Central Asia: The Case of Kyrgyzstan CAP Paper 221, July 2019 Elmurat Ashiraliev is a journalist at Kloop Media, an IWPR in Central Asia, Abahon Sultonazarov, summarizes well independent Kyrgyz media outlet that covers topics the many issues faced by Kyr- including politics, human rights, and corruption. As a gyz-language media outlets: part of the Kloop Media team, Elmurat served as the News websites in Kyrgyz were most- Kyrgyz editor for the UNDEF- and UNESCO-supported ly tabloid [yellow press]. Or they be- “Community Media Centers” projects. He is a member longed to certain politicians. They of the “Esimde” team that researches the history and could be opposition members, cur- rent and former politicians, and so memory of the Kyrgyz Republic. Elmurat earned an M.A. on. Kyrgyz is a beautiful language, in Central Asian Studies from the American University of but you know, it was used, I would like to emphasize, unfortunately, for Central Asia in 2016. blackening, uncovering who slept with whom, what they did, who is the The influence of the Russian lan- and issues varies in tone, em- relative of whom. Kyrgyz is spoken in guage is still apparent in almost phasis, content, and perspective. rural areas. The majority of people in all spheres of life in Central Asia. Russian-speaking news outlets our region [Central Asia] live in ru- Despite the new states’ policies of are more Bishkek-centric and ral areas and they are the electorate. The politicians used mass media to developing their native languag- some are likely to cover stories discredit their opponents.1 es—policies that have now been from a Russia-oriented perspec- tive, while Kyrgyz-language mass in place for nearly 30 years—Rus- Based on a study of 21 countries media are more conservative and sian remains a key language in across Europe and Eurasia, the “provincial” in the sense of doing the realms of politics, education, IREX 2018 report on media sus- more reporting on regional is- economics, culture, and informa- tainability2 ranks profession- sues.
    [Show full text]
  • HIZB UT-TAHRIR Islam’S Political Insurgency
    HIZB UT-TAHRIR Islam’s Political Insurgency Zeyno Baran The Nixon Center December 2004 About the Nixon Center The Nixon Center is a non-partisan public policy institution established by former President Richard Nixon shortly before his death in 1994. Committed to the analysis of policy challenges to the United States through the prism of the American national interest, the Center is a substantively and programmatically independent division of the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation. Major programs of The Nixon Center include the Chinese Studies Program, Immigration and National Security Forum, International Security and Energy Program, National Security Program, Regional Strategic Program, and U.S.- Russian Relations Program. Topics addressed by the Center’s programs range from U.S. relations with China and Russia to energy geopolitics in the Persian Gulf and Caspian Basin and European security issues. The Center is supported by the Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation endowment as well as by foundation, corporate and individual donors. Copyright 2004 The Nixon Center. All Rights Reserved. “Hizb ut-Tahrir: Islam’s Political Insurgency” By Zeyno Baran The Nixon Center 1615 L Street, N.W., Suite 1250 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 887-1000 Fax: (202) 887-5222 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nixoncenter.org Editing, Layout and Design by Thomas M. Rickers Order from the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation 1-800-USA-8865 INTRODUCTORY NOTE This Nixon Center monograph, Hizb ut-Tahrir: Islam’s Political Insurgency, breaks new ground in exploring the danger posed by the spread of radical Islamist ideology. The focus of this monograph is Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islamiyya (The Islamic Party of Liberation), which has successfully sown the seeds of an ideology encouraging a clash of civilizations in over forty countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Russian Airborne Troops Descend
    fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/oewatch Vol. 4 Issue #4 April 2014 Foreign Military Studies Office OE WATCH FOREIGN NEWS & PERSPECTIVES OF THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT LAND POWER RUSSIA AFRICA 4 A Glimpse of the Russian Rapid Reaction Force 39 U.S. Military Assistance Pays Off in Africa: In the Crimea? Somali Army and AMISOM Liberate Strategic Town 6 Russian Military in Crimea: 40 French Expeditionary Forces and African Armies Convoys from the North Caucasus and Land Mines Turning the Tide Against Extremists 8 Ukraine Crisis Reverberates in Russia: 41 Nigerian Special Forces Strike Crucial Blow the Caucasus Connection to Boko Haram Land Operation 10 Russian Airborne Troops Descend 42 Nigeria: Disbanding of Joint Task Force was a 12 Baltic View of Crimea Mistake 14 Polite Green Men in Crimea-Origins 43 Nigeria Ramps up Military Production Capabilities 15 Russia’s Use of Strategic Landpower during the Crimean Crisis: the Media LATIN AMERICA 17 Russian Military Mulls Further Organizational 45 War Imagined between Colombia and Venezuela Reforms 47 Colombian Land-Power 23 Much Ado about Russian SOCOM 25 Russian Federation Ground Forces and UAVs INDO-PACIFIC ASIA 49 Regional Ground Forces Exercise Programs TURKEY in the Indo-Pacific on the Rise 27 A Look at the Turkish Land Forces Command’s Modernization Efforts CHINA 28 Weapons Systems of the Turkish Land 52 Chinese Special Operations – Viewed with Forces’ Maneuver Units Increasing Importance 29 Turkish Land Forces Command’s Air 54 The Mission, Motives and Morale of China’s Defense and Military Aircraft
    [Show full text]
  • Kyrgyz Republic Transition Initiatives' Case Studies
    Kyrgyz Republic Transition Initiative Case Studies October 2013 This materials contained in this directory were made possible by the support of the American people through USAID. The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and researchers and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Table of Contents Kyrgyz Republic Transition Initiative ........................................................................... 1 Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... 2 The KRTI Case Study Initiative ..................................................................................... 4 The Case Study Approach .......................................................................................... 5 Case Study Themes .................................................................................................... 6 Case Study Researchers ............................................................................................. 8 Supporting Reform in Judicial Selection ................................................................... 10 I. Executive Summary ........................................................................................... 11 II. Background ....................................................................................................... 12 III. Activities Implemented by KRTI ......................................................................... 15 IV. Observed Outcomes and Achievements
    [Show full text]
  • “Chances and Opportunities in the Agricultural Sector of Kyrgyzsta
    Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration of the Kyrgyz Republic “Chances and opportunities in the agricultural sector of Kyrgyzsta 2020 1 Strategic location Ac t i ve member of the Integrational Unions ( WTO, EAEU, CIS etc.). On the way of “Silk Road”: access toEAEU, Eu r op e , China , Middle Ea s t and South-Ea s t As i a . 2 Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan 12, 6 % ( 20 19 ) ~ 2,6% (2017-20 19 ) Sh a r e o f GDP Development ~400 thous. 445 Fa r ms Cooperatives 10 , 4 m l n h a 9,0 mlnha Agricultural lands Pasture 14 % 65% Active population Rural population 3 Priorities Organic production Intensive gardening Digitalization Consolidation (inc. breeding, seed farms) Processing 4 Export Capacitythous ( . tons) 70,0-85,0 BEANS 125– 135 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 30-50 MILK AND DAIRY 20 PRODUCTS MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS 25 – 30 150 COTTON POTATO 1,5 6 HONEY NUTS 5 Food Industry(entities) 337 CANNED FRUITS 342 AND VEGETABLE MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS 541 MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS 798 REFINED VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL OILS, FATS FISH PRODUCTS 18 7 Food Industry(entities) 268 SOFT DRINKS AND BOTTLED MINERAL WATER 4643 FLOUR AND FLOUR PRODUCTS 19 NATIONAL DRINKS SUGAR AND 94 CONFECTIONERY 8 Specialization of regions of the Kyrgyz Republic in crop and livestock produc LEGEND GRAIN CROP RICE SUNFLOWER COTTON TOBACCO SUGAR BEET Chui region POTATO Talas region VEGETABLES Jalal-Abad region MELONS Naryn region Osh region FRUITS AND BERRIES Batken region GRAPE Issyk-Kul region LIVESTOCK FARMING 9 Operating trade and logistics centers in the Kyrgyz Republic Sokuluksky
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of the Situation of Children's Residential Institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic
    ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION OF CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION OF CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC Analysis of the situation of children’s residential institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic – B.: 2012. – p.115 This publication is a product of a national study on children in child care residential institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic, which was carried out by Public Fund “My Family” upon the initiative and support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic during the period from September 2010 to January 2012. This research report fills current gaps in national data on children in child care residential institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic and provides an analysis of the situation in the institutions. It sheds light on the perspectives of children and caregivers and provides recommendations for improving the situation of these children. The findings of the report provide a foundation for the elaboration of further strategic programmes and action plans on child care system reform in the Kyrgyz Republic. The opinions expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the organization does not bear any responsibility. ©UNICEF, 2012 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEGMENTS…………………………………………………………………………. 4 ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………..………………… 4 GLOSSARY…………………………………………………………………………….……… 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………… 7 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………..……… 10 2. AIMS AND TASKS OF THE RESEARCH……………………………………………….. 14 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………….. 15 4. CLARIFYING THE DATA ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS IN OPERATION IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC…………….…………….
    [Show full text]
  • Price Monitoring for Food Security in the Kyrgyz Republic
    Issue 31|16 – 30 December 2020 Price Monitoring for Food Security in the Kyrgyz Republic This issue of the Price Monitoring Bulletin is prepared based on the operational daily food price data collected by the National Statistics Committee from 18 markets across the country and disaggregated at province level as the average value (Chuy province - Tokmok, Kara-Balta; Osh province - Osh, Uzgen, Kara-Suu and Nookat; Talas province - Talas and Manas; Naryn province - Naryn and Chaek; Batken province - Batken and Isfana; Jalal-Abad province - Jalal-Abad, Toktogul and Kerben; Yssyk-Kul province - Karakol and Balykchy; and Bishkek city). This is a secondary data analysis. Highlights SITUATION UPDATE: Since March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic and its resulting negative impacts on the global economy have led to a recession in the economies of many countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition, the recent political instability has further contributed to the deterioration of the economy. The situation in regard to COVID-19 remained stable with 119 COVID-19 cases on 30 December. Compared to the same period last year, the Kyrgyz Republic’s GDP decreased by 8.1 percent totaling 511 billion Kyrgyz soms from January to November 2020. Negative trends were observed in the construction, wholesale and retail trade economic sectors. The highest share of GDP accounted for industry (21.3 percent), manufacturing industry (17.8 percent), trade (15.2 percent) and agriculture (14.8 percent). Compared to the same period last year, the Consumer Price Index, which measures price inflation, increased by 6 percent for all goods and services and by 11 percent for staple foods (cereals, meat, fish, milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables).
    [Show full text]
  • 545-562 Kendzior Fall 06
    Inventing Akromiya: The Role of Uzbek Propagandists in the Andijon Massacre SARAH KENDZIOR Abstract: Many have claimed that the alleged terrorist group Akromiya incited the violence in the city of Andijon, Uzbekistan, in May 2005. This article contends that the portrayal of Akromiya as a violent organization is highly suspect and may have been created by members of the Uzbek government and propagated by mem- bers of the international scholarly community. Key words: Akromiya, Andijon, Islam, propaganda, terrorism, Uzbekistan Introduction n May 16, 2006, a group of scholars, policy experts, and journalists convened O at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, for the unveiling of a video that promised to reveal the truth about the violent events in the city of Andijon, Uzbek- istan, one year before. “This video demonstrates that the organizers of the upris- ing may not have been, as some have claimed, ‘peaceful Muslims,’” proclaimed the cohosts of the event, Zeyno Baran of the Hudson Institute and S. Frederick Starr of the Central Asia Caucasus Institute, in an invitation to colleagues.1 According to Baran and Starr, this new video, which had been made available to them by the Uzbek embassy, would put to rest reports declaring the Andijon events to be a Tiananmen Square-style massacre of defenseless citizens by the Uzbek government. Proof of the falseness of this allegation, they claimed, lies in the fact that the video “shows clips recorded by members of Akromiya (a Hizb- ut Tahrir splinter group) during the uprising in Andijon on May 14, 2005.”2 Roughly twenty-six minutes long, the video consisted of three main parts: clips of remorseful Akromiya members pleading for the forgiveness of the government; conversations with alleged witnesses and victims; and an interview with Shirin Akiner, a professor and close colleague of Starr who has condemned Akromiya and supported Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s claim that the use of force was Sarah Kendzior recently completed her MA in Central Eurasian studies at Indiana Uni- versity.
    [Show full text]
  • Strengthening Disaster Response and Risk Assessm
    United Nations Development Programme Kyrgyz Republic REPORT ON UNDP PROJECT: “STRENGTHENING DISASTER RESPONSE AND RISK ASSESSMENT CAPACITIES IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC AND FACILITATING A REGIONAL DIALOGUE FOR COOPERATION”, FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN Bishkek, 2015 1 About the United Nations Development Programme: UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. For more information, please visit www.undp.org. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the policies of UNDP or its members. 2 I. Official ceremony of signing Exchange Notes and Grant Agreement UNDP Project launched was on February 21, 2013 with signing of Exchange Notes and Grant Agreement with the Embassy of Japan and JICA. The event took place at the “Hayat Regency Bishkek” with participation of following high officials: - Mr. Kubatbek Boronov, Minister of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic - Ms. Samargul Adamkulova, Deputy - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic - Mr. Abdytalip Kamalov, Staff unit on defense, law order and emergency situations of Prime-Minister’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic - Mr. Takayuki Koike, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of In photo from left to right: Mr. Pradeep Sharma UNDP Resident Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic Representative, a.i. and HE Takayuki KOIKE Ambassador - Mr.
    [Show full text]