JUNE 22 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Under new rules, government ministers in Tajikistan will have to swear an oath of allegiance to President Emomali Rakhmon, media reported. The new rule will further boost the perceived power of Mr Rakhmon. He has been accused of building a personality cult.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)
ALMATY, JUNE 21 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev reshuffled several government positions, naming a new mayor for Astana and a new chief of the presidential administration, perhaps giving an indication of how he sees his succession playing out.
Former Astana mayor Adilbek Dzhaksybekov was named chief of the presidential administration, taking the place of Nurlan Nigmatullin, who was quickly made Speaker of parliament.
Mr Nazarbayev thanked and lauded both for their services.
“Mr Nigmatullin worked with me for many years with skill and professionalism, proving himself during hard times,” Mr Nazarbayev said. “Mr Dzhaksybekov has previously worked in this position, for which we need a person with experience and equilibrium.”
The head of the presidential administration is one of the most powerful positions in the Kazakh political system, marking a major promotion for the 61-year-old Mr Dzhaksybekov.
For Mr Nigmatullin, known as the “Grey Cardinal” for his deal making abilities and loyalty to Mr Nazarbayev, the position of Speaker of parliament is an important one. According to the Kazakh constitution, if Mr Nazarbayev resigns or dies in office, he will take over as president.
Importantly, too, Asset Issekeshev, former minister of innovation and development was named mayor of Astana, replacing Mr Dzhaksybekov.
Mr Issekeshev, 44, is seen as a rising star. As mayor of Astana, he will be the face of the capital city, when it hosts the EXPO next year.
Mr Nazarbayev is 75-year-old but has yet to lay out a coherent succession plan. He has ruled over Kazakhstan since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)
JUNE 21 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Kyrgyzstan’s PM Sooronbai Jeenbekov ordered changes to the ministerial structures of the government, establishing two new committees to take over responsibilities from the National Energy Holding, formerly the energy ministry, and the ministry of transport and communications). Mr Jeenbekov justified the changes as being needed to improve efficiency. His critics have said he is wasting money.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)
JUNE 24 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – When Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev reshuffles his top government officials, it’s time to start thinking about the politics of succession.
The latest reshuffle is an important one. Apart from the PM post, held by Karim Massimov, one of Mr Nazarbayev’s most trusted aides, the head of the presidential administration, the speaker of parliament and mayor of Astana are some of the most important and high-profile posts that he can hand out.
Mr Nazarbayev has promoted the slick, media-savvy Asset Issekeshev to be major of Astana, Adilbek Dzhaksybekov was shifted from that position to head of the presidential administration and Nurlan Nigmatullin, was moved to be speaker of parliament.
All are now guaranteed to play a role inMr Nazarbayev’s plans but perhaps the most eye-catching is the promotion ofMr Issekeshev. He will now be the face of EXPO-2017 in Astana, one ofMr Nazarbayev’s pet project. If that goes smoothly, there could be even more important roles forMr Issekeshev.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(Editorial from Issue No. 286, published on June 24 2016)
JUNE 15 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Kazakh officials said production of oil and gas makes up around 17% of the country’s GDP, a proportion eight percentage points lower than in 2015. The fall in oil prices has impacted both feasibility and profitability at Kazakhstan’s oil and gas fields. This is an important measure of the impact of the drop in oil price on Kazakhstan’s economy.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 285, published on June 17 2016)
JUNE 16 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Peter Foster, CEO of Kazakhstan’s flagship airline Air Astana, said the company will seek financial advisors this autumn to prepare an IPO in 2018. Mr Foster said that the company will list in Kazakhstan and in other more liquid markets, such as London or Singapore. Britain’s BAE Systems owns 49% of Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna owns 51%.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 285, published on June 17 2016)
JUNE 3 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — The Georgian Parliament voted to approve an earlier veto that President Giorgi Margvelashvili had imposed on a controversial bill designed to change rules and procedures for the country’s Constitutional Court. The previous week, Mr Margvelashvili had imposed a veto on the bill, after it received criticism from international observers.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 284, published on June 10 2016)
ALMATY, JUNE 2 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — The Kazakh government has rejected a $300m settlement for a $1.6b fine it levied at the consortium of companies developing Karachaganak, the FT reported quoting Kanat Bozumbayev, Kazakhstan’s energy minister, fuelling speculation it may want to leverage a bigger stake in the project.
Mr Bozumbayev said the government had dismissed a settlement offer from the consortium.
“It has already returned the investment shareholders made, and now it will give Kazakhstan profits, so we are negotiating,” Mr Bozumbayev said.
This week, Bloomberg quoted unnamed sources as saying that Kazakhstan is seeking to increase its share in the consortium, led by Eni (29.25% stake), Shell (29.25% through BG), Chevron (18%), Lukoil (13.5%) and state-owned Kazmunaigas (10%).
Kazmunaigas gained its 10% stake in Karachaganak in 2011 after settling a lawsuit against the consortium for tax evasion and environmental damage.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 283, published on June 3 2016)
JUNE 2 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Barely two weeks after the Kazakh authorities quashed unsanctioned protests with dozens of arrests around the country, President Nursultan Nazarbayev sacked Yerlik Kenenbayev, the Presidential Administration’s police supervisor/adviser, and Nurmakhanbet Isaev, the deputy prosecutor. Mr Nazarbayev did not explain the sackings, but analysts have said it could be linked to the May 21 protests.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 283, published on June 3 2016)
MAY 27 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said that the state was ready to buy the Aimroc mining company, which is alleged to be linked to his family. The company closed in 2014, as it ran into financial difficulties exploiting the Chovdar mine in western Azerbaijan. Aimroc’s name appeared in numerous investigations that linked its opaque offshore business to the presidential family. By presidential decree state-owned Azerigold will take over Aimroc.
ENDS
Copyright ©The Conway Bulletin — all rights reserved
(News report from Issue No. 283, published on June 3 2016)
