CA news digest - Thurs 23 - Wed 29 June 2005

Kazakhstan

• IWPR reports on continuing attempts to make Astana the de facto as well as de jure capital of the republic, with allegations of property being confiscated from residents to allow for further construction work with the compensation offered to evicted property owners being inadequate.
• The International Herald and Tribune reports on Nazarbaev's apparent continuing popularity and economic successes, as well as the measures he takes to ensure his continuing hold on power.
• AP reports that Skoda cars are to be assembled at a plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk from September.

Kyrgyzstan

• IWPR reports on the "Rent-a-Mob phenomenon" in Bishkek.
• AlertNet has an article on Uzbek refugees in southern Kyrgyzstan and why they want to stay despite harsh conditions.
• Eurasia Daily Digest meanwhile reports on the increasing scale of the refugee issue, with the Kyrgyzstani government coming under pressure internationally, including from the UNHCR, who is callling for the refugees to be given official status, and from the Uzbek government, who continue to demand that its citizens are repatriated.

Tajikistan

• The bomb blasts in Dushanbe on June 13 have increased political tensions, reports IWPR.

Turkmenistan

• RFE/RL's latest Central Asia report has an article entitled "Trouble at the Top in Turkmenistan?" concerning perceptions that Niyazov's grip on power is waning. (Second article after the Week at a Glance section).
• There is also concern over the fate of sacked Deputy Prime Minister Elly Kurbanmuradov, who was arrested on charges of embezzlement on May 20, reports IWPR.
• Eurasianet has an artle entitled "How Healthy is Niyazov?"

Uzbekistan

• RFE/RL Central Asia report includes a piece on the imposition of media restrictions in the wake of the Andijon events, including the arrrest of journalists and fines for accessing "independent" internet sites (USD 10, compared to USD 5 for accessing a porn site). (Third article after the Turkmenistan article).
• IWPR reports on claims that residents of Andijon have been subjected to torture and abuse during police questioning.
• RFE/RL also has an article on the findings of the Uzbek parliamentary commission that was investigating events in Andijon.
• The Guerilla News Network has an article on US-Uzbek relations entitled "George Bush's Man in Central Asia".
• On a similar theme, Eurasianet has a piece arguing that the US risks repeating past mistakes by taking a soft line with Uzbekistan.
• Finally, the Uzbekistan Socio-Economic Statistics Web-site is online.