Summery


Azerbaijan

Political Front

• Azerbaijani Prosecutor-General Gets Third Term

BAKU -- The Azerbaijani parliament today approved a third consecutive five-year term for Prosecutor-General Zakir Qaralov, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

• Azerbaijani Protesters Detained Ahead Of Rally

BAKU -- Police in the Azerbaijani capital today detained dozens of opposition activists on their way to a rally outside the mayor's office, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Geo strategic Front

• Pakistan and Azerbaijan boost cooperation in defence industry

Azerbaijan's Defence Industry Minister Yavar Camalov met Pakistan's Defence Secretary Sayid Athar Ali. Mr. Camalov stressed the importance of closer cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence industry.

• Azerbaijan, China discuss military cooperation

Today, Azerbaijani defense minister Safar Abiyev has met Chinese Ambassador to the country Chzhan Yannyan. They discussed military cooperation between the two countries. They also exchange views over the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Economic/Energy Front

• Russian PM Putin calls Nabucco "useless and dangerous"

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday dismissed as "useless and dangerous" Europe's Nabucco pipeline project, which aims to alleviate dependence on Russian gas.

• The European Union welcomes Azerbaijan-Turkey agreement on gas transportation"

The European Union welcomes Azerbaijan-Turkey agreement on gas transportation, said EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger.

• Turkish Minister Says Gas Deal Reached With Azerbaijan

The Nabucco project would bring Middle East gas through Turkey to Europe.

April 27, 2010

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says Turkey and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement in principle for the price of natural gas, an issue linked to delays on the European Union-backed Nabucco gas pipeline project.

Social Front

• Azerbaijani Journalist Pleads Not Guilty To Possession Of Drugs

The trial of imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev on drug charges resumed today in a Baku court, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Fatullayev pleaded not guilty. He said the drugs were planted in his cell before they were discovered in December.

Kazakhstan

Political Front

• Kazakh Officials Reject Opposition Requests For May Day Rallies

ASTANA/ALMATY -- Authorities in Almaty and the Kazakh capital of Astana have refused to allow the People's Power political bloc to hold demonstrations on May 1, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Geo strategic Front

• Kyrgyz Rally At Kazakh Embassy Demands Nazarbaev Apologize

BISHKEK -- Dozens of Kyrgyz activists have picketed the Kazakh Embassy in Bishkek to demand an apology from Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev for derisive comments he made about the uprising in Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Economic/Energy Front



Social Front

• Kazakh Rights Activist's Guilty Verdict Upheld

The Kazakh Supreme Court today upheld the guilty verdict against jailed prominent Kazakh rights activist Yevgeny Zhovtis, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

• Former Kyrgyz President's Chief Of Staff Arrested

BISHKEK -- The former chief of staff of Kyrgyzstan's presidential office has been arrested, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Kyrgyz Interim Government To Allow Exiled First President To Return

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's interim government said today it will allow Askar Akaev, the country's first president, to return to the country from Russia, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Ousted Kyrgyz President Charged In Protest Deaths

A leader of the interim authorities in Kyrgyzstan says Kurmanbek Bakiev, the ousted president of the Central Asian country, has been charged with organizing mass killings.

Bakiev is in Belarus after he fled Kyrgyzstan in the wake of violence that left at least 85 people dead. The violence erupted on April 7 when security forces fired on anti-Bakiev protesters, who then stormed government buildings.

• Draft Kyrgyz Constitution Would Empower Parliament At Expense Of President

Kyrgyzstan's interim government has introduced a draft constitution that would alter the country's political system by giving more power to parliament while reducing the president's authority.

• CDs, Leaflets Call For Kyrgyzstan's Split Into Two Countries

OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- Leaflets and compact discs are being circulated in southern Kyrgyzstan calling on citizens to create a "South

Kyrgyzstan Democratic Republic" with ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev as its leader, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Committee To Defend Ousted Kyrgyz President Set Up In Osh

OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- A committee to defend ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev has been established in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

• Future Kyrgyz Government Faces Traditional North-South Divide

On the map it's one country, but since the first days of independence in late 1991 observers have warned of a possible north-south split.

Geo strategic Front

• Kyrgyz Rally At Kazakh Embassy Demands Nazarbaev Apologize

BISHKEK -- Dozens of Kyrgyz activists have picketed the Kazakh Embassy in Bishkek to demand an apology from Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev for derisive comments he made about the uprising in Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Economic/Energy Front



Social Front



Tajikistan

Political Front



Geo strategic Front

• Tajikistan Asks Russia To Detain Suspected Islamic Militants

KHUJAND, Tajikistan -- Tajik officials have asked Russia to detain and deport 41 people suspected of belonging to the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

• CSTO Rapid-Reaction Forces End Exercises In Tajikistan

KHUJAND, Tajikistan -- Rapid-reaction forces of a regional security grouping have concluded military exercises in northern Tajikistan intended to combat insurgents, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Economic/Energy Front



Social Front

• Polio Outbreak Reported In Tajikistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent group of experts to investigate a polio outbreak in Tajikistan, where 10 children have reportedly died of the illness.

WHO spokeswoman Sona Bari told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that 128 cases of acute flaccid paralysis -- or weakness and loss of muscle control -- have been reported so far.

• Tajik Police Arrested In Death Of Detainee

Two police officers have been arrested in northern Tajikistan in connection with the recent death in police custody of Usman Boboev, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Boboev, 30, returned with his brother from Moscow to their hometown of Isfara in Tajikistan's northern Sughd Province in February.

• Religious Freedom Group Sees Rise In Persecution

A Shi'ite Muslim in Iraq holds chains used in self-flagellation outside the Imam Hussein shrine during the Ashura observation in Karbala in December 2009.

A new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom warns that religious freedom across the globe is increasingly being threatened and oppressed by governments in human rights "hot spots."

Turkmenistan

Political Front



Geo strategic Front

• President of Turkmenistan leaves for China on visit

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated today his official visit to China. The Turkmen leader will hold talks with President Hu Jintao and meet a number of heads of major Chinese companies.

Economic/Energy Front

• May 20 set as Turkmenistan's National Day at EXPO 2010

May 20 will be the National Day of Turkmenistan in the framework of the Universal Exposition EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. More than 200 Turkmen artists will attend the event. On this day, visitors will be able to get acquainted with rich centuries-old traditions of the Turkmen people and their modern achievements as part of concerts, presentations and round tables.

• Ashgabat to host international conference on energy security of Eurasia

Ashgabat will host a conference titled "Strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia to ensure sustainable and reliable energy supplies in Eurasia" on May 3-4, 2010.

• First billion cubic meters of gas reaches China via Turkmenistan - China gas pipeline



As of 5:00, April 27, a total of 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas reached China via the Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan - China gas pipeline. According to "Renmin Ribao" newspaper, the volume of daily gas supply exceeds 7.5 million cubic meters. Natural gas imported from Central Asia meets the quality requirements of the state standard of China.

Social Front

• Traditional festival of World Turkmens starts near Ashgabat

The third traditional festival of World Turkmens titled "Turkmenistan - land of transformations" started near Ashgabat today. Turkmen families from the Russian Federation, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Germany, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan arrived in their historical homeland to participate in this event.

Uzbekistan

Political Front

• Prominent Uzbek Sports Journalist's Trial Opens

TASHKENT -- The trial began today of prominent Uzbek sports journalist Khairulla Khamidov and 14 others charged with activities associated with a banned Islamic group, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports.

Geo strategic Front

• President meets Member of China’s State Council

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with Meng Jianzhu, Member of State Council, Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, in Oqsaroy on 23 April.

Economic/Energy Front

• Uzbek, Chinese ministries sign cooperation protocol

Meng Jianzhu, Member of State Council, Minister of Public Security of China, held a meeting with Bakhodir Matlyubov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan, on 24 April in Tashkent.

• Uzbekistan-ADB cooperation developing dynamically

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received President of the Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda on 30 April, on the eve of the 43rd Annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors, at Oqsaroy residence in Tashkent.

• President of Uzbekistan receives World Bank VP

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received World Bank Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia Philippe Le Houérou at Oqsaroy residence in Tashkent on 30 April.

Social Front

• Uzbekistan participates in immunization week

Events related to the European Immunization Week are being held in Uzbekistan for the second time. The week is being coordinated by the European regional bureau of the World Health Organization.