Latest news with #SadyrJaparov
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Kyrgyzstan court sentences ex-leader Atambayev to 11 years in absentia
A court in Kyrgyzstan has sentenced in absentia exiled former President Almazbek Atambayev to more than 11 years in prison on charges of corruption and participating in mass unrest in the Central Asian country. Atambayev's conviction and sentencing came on Tuesday after the country's Supreme Court ordered a retrial of an earlier lower court conviction. In a new case, a court found him guilty of illicit enrichment, illegally acquiring land, and of participating in mass unrest in August 2019, when resistance to a special forces operation to arrest him left one person dead and many injured, Kyrgyz media reported on Wednesday. Atambayev, president from 2011 to 2017, oversaw the republic's first peaceful handover of power between elected presidents, but troubles mounted after he quickly fell out with his hand-picked successor. Kyrgyzstan has been rocked by political turmoil, having seen three revolutions since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Atambayev was first arrested in a chaotic raid of his residence in August 2019, then temporarily freed amid a 2020 revolution, only to be rearrested months later. He was eventually released from prison in 2023 on health grounds, travelled to Spain for medical treatment, and has lived abroad since. Kyrgyzstan's current president, Sadyr Japarov, said on Wednesday he would 'consider granting amnesty' to Atambayev if he requested it. 'Six years have passed since the events. The situation has calmed down. I think the court could have been less harsh,' Japarov told the Kabar official news agency. Japarov came to power as a result of the 2020 revolution. The country had long been seen as one of the freest and most democratic in Central Asia, a region characterised by autocratic regimes. But in recent years, rights groups have criticised democratic backsliding and an escalating crackdown on independent civil society and media outlets.
Reuters
29-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
Kyrgyzstan detains eight media workers in widening crackdown
BISHKEK, May 29 (Reuters) - National security authorities in Kyrgyzstan have detained eight current and former employees of independent media outlet Kloop, their lawyers said, accusing them of inciting unrest amid a growing crackdown on media in the Central Asian country. Five journalists from Kloop - known for its anti-corruption reporting - were arrested on Wednesday after authorities raided their homes and seized their electronic devices, lawyers for the people said. A further three people were arrested on Thursday. They face charges of calling for mass unrest and disobeying government officials, which can incur up to 10 years in prison. Daiyrbek Orunbekov, the head of the presidential administration, wrote on social media that the media workers had "spread false information" and had published material "directed against the state". A spokesman for the national security body declined comment. Rinat Tukhvatshin, a co-founder of Kloop, said the government's claims were fabricated. Syinat Sultanalieva, a Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, condemned the detentions as "yet another example of the Kyrgyzstani authorities' continued crackdown on freedom of speech and expression". Several of the people were released after hours of interrogation, while some are still in custody with no access to their lawyers. Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, has historically enjoyed greater media freedom than its Central Asian neighbours. However, under President Sadyr Japarov, who came to power in 2020, the government enacted a law prohibiting media and individuals from "discrediting" the authorities, providing a tool to suppress dissent. Kloop, an independent outlet founded in 2007, was forced to shutter last year after state prosecutors filed a lawsuit arguing that its NGO publisher, Kloop Media, was not properly registered as a media organisation.
Crypto Insight
05-05-2025
- Business
- Crypto Insight
Binance to launch crypto payments in Kyrgyzstan with new partnership
Binance has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kyrgyzstan's National Agency for Investments to introduce crypto payment infrastructure and blockchain education in the country. The MoU was formalized during the inaugural meeting of the Council for the Development of Digital Assets, attended by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, the exchange said in a May 4 press release. As part of the agreement, Binance will introduce Binance Pay to Kyrgyzstan, enabling crypto-based transactions for visitors and residents. The partnership also focuses on educational collaboration. Binance Academy will work with Kyrgyz government agencies and financial institutions to develop blockchain-focused learning programs. 'Binance is excited to partner with the National Agency for Investments of the Kyrgyz Republic to drive forward the development of crypto-assets in the region,' Kyrylo Khomiakov, Binance's regional head for Central and Eastern Europe, said. On April 4, former Binance CEO Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao said he would begin advising Kyrgyzstan on blockchain and crypto-related regulation after signing an MOU with the country's foreign investment agency. Kyrgyzstan president signs CBDC law Despite its growing interest in crypto and digital assets, Kyrgyzstan has also revealed intentions to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC). On April 18, President Japarov signed a constitutional law authorizing the launch of a CBDC pilot project while also giving the 'digital som' legal tender status. Notably, Kyrgyzstan has a track record in cryptocurrency mining. The country's abundant hydroelectric resources have made it an attractive location for crypto miners seeking low-cost energy. Over 30% of Kyrgyzstan's total energy supply comes from hydroelectric power plants, but only 10% of the country's potential hydropower has been tapped, according to a report by the International Energy Agency. Binance expands collaborations with governments Binance's new partnership with the Kyrgyz government comes as the exchange has recently expanded its collaborations with governments worldwide, aiming to strengthen its global presence and influence in the cryptocurrency sector. In an April 17 interview, CEO Richard Teng said the exchange has been advising multiple governments on establishing strategic Bitcoin reserves and formulating crypto asset regulations. 'We have actually received quite a number of approaches by a few governments and sovereign wealth funds on the establishment of their own crypto reserves,' Teng said. On April 7, former CZ was appointed as an adviser to Pakistan's Crypto Council, a newly formed regulatory body tasked with overseeing the country's embrace of blockchain technology and digital assets. Source:
Reuters
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Kyrgyz leader Japarov gets parliament to reset election date
BISHKEK, April 16 (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov has persuaded parliament to push back the date of the next election by several months, in an indication he may be turning his thoughts towards running for a second term. At Japarov's request, lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill to hold the next presidential vote on January 24, 2027, instead of October 18, 2026. This would ensure he serves the full six years of his mandate, which analysts said suggested he was thinking about extending his presidency. If he ran again and won, Japarov, 56, would be the first Kyrgyz president in two decades to secure a second term. Since long-serving ruler Askar Akayev was toppled in 2005, two other presidents, including Japarov's immediate predecessor, have been ousted in revolutions. "He hasn't said it himself yet, but both by law and by the state of affairs in the country, it would probably make sense for him to run for a second term. Some of his team have said he's expected to do this," political scientist Emil Juraev told Reuters. Japarov, who as an opposition politician was jailed between 2017 and 2020, swept to power that year on the back of protests against alleged fraud in a parliamentary election. He won a snap presidential election in January 2021. The nationalist politician has brought Kyrgyzstan's once chaotic political scene under his firm control, including through populist moves like the 2021 nationalisation of the Kumtor gold mine, one of Central Asia's largest. This year he signed a border deal to end a conflict with neighbouring Tajikistan. Traditionally the most democratic of the five Central Asian states that emerged from the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan has in recent years become more aligned with its authoritarian neighbours. Under Japarov, Kyrgyzstan has introduced a law against so-called "foreign agents" along the lines of Russian legislation, whilst also shuttering several independent media outlets. Parliament - to which elections are due in November - is dominated by parties loyal to the president. The mostly Muslim country of 7 million people has close ties with Russia, where many of its citizens migrate for work. It also hosts several Russian military bases. Since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, trade data show that Kyrgyzstan has become a key backdoor route for goods from the European Union to enter Russia, bypassing sanctions against Moscow. Kyrgyz lender Keremet Bank was placed under U.S. sanctions in January. Analysts say Kyrgyzstan is also a major conduit, opens new tab for Chinese products such as ball bearings, which have both civilian and military uses, to enter Russia.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sign historic border agreement after decades of disputes
Crowds gathered on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, waiting to cross it for the first time since 2021. People could finally be reunited with their family members after President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a border agreement on 13 March in Bishkek, putting an end to decades of disputes and intensifying conflict. 'The border treaty will create a solid foundation for further comprehensive expansion of our interstate relations and open a new page in Tajik-Kyrgyz relations,' said Rahmon. 'The signing of the border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will become a landmark historical event," the Kyrgyz President added. "This step will make a significant contribution to strengthening security, stability and sustainable development not only of our states, but also of the entire Central Asian region." The border between the two countries, which had been disputed for years, was closed in 2021 following violent clashes. Negotiations over the 1000-kilometre frontier lasted 23 years. Although the countries managed to agree to some border sections in mountainous areas, they were divided on how to split pasture land and water resources. Local disputes led to road blockades, stone-throwing and clashes that frequently drew in border guards. The local nature of the clashes lasted up until 2021, when, for the first time, heavy military equipment was involved. A dispute over a water-intake station developed into a conflict, which resulted in 55 dead and 300 wounded on both sides. As a result, both countries closed their borders and stopped air travel to the other. Tensions flared again in September 2022 in what became the most severe confrontation to date. Both sides accused the other of attacking first, killing civilians and breaking ceasefire promises. Kyrgyzstan reported 59 dead and 198 wounded, while Tajikistan reported 41 dead and 100 wounded. The violence also forced Kyrgyzstan to evacuate 136,000 people due to shelling. This clash became a wake-up call and a push to renew border negotiations, which still proved to be complicated. Both sides wanted to adhere to maps that favoured them. Tajikistan hoped to follow the 1924-1927 maps, which were created when the Soviet Union first started to determine the borders of all Central Asian states. The Kyrgyz, however, advocated for more recent maps, including those created when the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed. The problem was compounded by the fact that Tajikistan has two enclaves in the Kyrgyz territory – Vorukh and Kayragach. As part of the new agreement, some of this land was given to Kyrgyzstan in exchange for other territory. Related EU-Central Asia cooperation expands as Commissioner Síkela's visit seals major deals Kamchybek Tashiev, head of Kyrgyzstan's national security committee and lead negotiator in the border talks, noted that both parties made concessions because 'the border issue should never be resolved in favour of only one side'. As a result of the negotiations, the countries exchanged around 25 square kilometres of land, while some roads and areas were designated as neutral zones for shared use. Along with the border agreement, the two leaders signed 15 cooperation deals, which included matters such as road access and the use of strategic water resources. Air travel between the countries was renewed the next day. The new agreement, which resolves the last territorial dispute in Central Asia, is expected to enhance stability and security in the region while opening transit routes and scaling up trade.
