OCT. 25 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – US-based Human Rights Watch described as “politically motivated” a decision by a court in Tajikistan to close a human rights group for holding an incorrect licence. The Association of Young Lawyers (Amparo), which is based in the north Tajikistan city of Khujand, investigates torture allegations.
ENDS
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(News report from Issue No. 110, published on Oct. 26 2012)
OCT. 5 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a deal with his Tajik counterpart, Emomalii Rakhmon, to extend Russia’s lease on a military base in the Pamir mountains. The deal extends Russia’s tenure on the base until 2044. In return, media reported that Russia had agreed to supply modern weapons.
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(News report from Issue No. 108, published on Oct. 12 2012)
OCT. 4 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russian president Vladimir Putin flew into Tajikistan for the start of a two-day visit which is expected to culminate in a deal to extend Russia’s lease on a military base. The base is Russia’s largest overseas mission and is considered a vital component of its military strategy.
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(News report from Issue No. 107, published on Oct. 5 2012)
SEP. 26 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon has told Tajiks to hoard two years worth of food supplies ahead of winter, media reported. The presidential office quoted Mr Rakhmon as saying that a global rise in commodity prices and a winter that is expected to be harsh, means it is vital to stock up on supplies.
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(News report from Issue No. 106, published on Sep. 28 2012)
SEP. 14 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Sources in Dushanbe gave Reuters new details on a deal to extend a lease on a Russian military base. The sources said Russia would lease the base for another 20 – 29 years and in return sell weapons to Tajikistan for a discounted price. The lease on the base, Russia’s biggest overseas mission, is due to expire on Jan. 1 2014.
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(News report from Issue No. 105, published on Sep. 21 2012)
SEP. 19 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Tajik president Emomali Rakhmon visited the town of Khorog in the south of the country for the first time since fighting between government forces and rebels in July killed dozens of people. He blamed rebels for triggering the fighting by killing a senior intelligence officer.
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(News report from Issue No. 105, published on Sep. 21 2012)
SEP. 6 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – In a rare outpouring of public anger, hundreds of people in Dushanbe protested against the slow official response to a fire that had burnt through a large market a day earlier. The crowd marched towards the centre of the city and only broke up after meeting Dushanbe’s mayor.
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(News report from Issue No. 104, published on Sep. 14 2012)
AUG. 24 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Government forces began leaving Khorog, southeast Tajikistan, one month after they moved into the town, media reported. The military started to pack up after hundreds of people protested at their presence. Soldiers had moved into Khorog in July to capture a rebel commander accused of killing a security officer.
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(News report from Issue No. 103, published on Aug. 31 2012)
AUG. 31 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Non-Aligned Movement has been many things in its 51-year history.
Created in the Cold War as a middle way for developing countries to avoid aligning with either the US-lead Western bloc or the Soviet-lead Eastern bloc, it has reinvented itself over the past 20 years. Now NAM, as it’s more commonly known, promotes the Developing World, is an advocate of disarmament and a critic of what it views as aggressive US foreign policy.
The 16th NAM summit (there is one every three years) also has another use for Central Asia and South Caucasus watchers. Tehran is hosting the summit and, in front of the world’s media, the Iranians have been eager to pull in as much support as possible.
According to the media 137 countries have sent delegations. Most are headed by a foreign minister but 24 presidents, three kings and eight prime ministers have apparently also turned up. And these include Turkmen President Kurbangkuly Berdymukhamedov, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and Armenian President Serzh Saaksyan.
This is insightful. Iran has been making a concerted effort over the past few years to woo the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus. It’s clear from the seniority of the NAM delegates where Iran has forged the closest bonds.
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(News report from Issue No. 103, published on Aug. 31 2012)
AUG. 22 2012 (The Conway Bulletin) – Soldiers in the town of Khorog, south-east Tajikistan, opened fire on a crowd demonstrating against the murder of a local opposition commander, lightly injuring several people, media reported. The shooting raises tension in the region a few weeks after government soldiers and rebel forces fought a battle that killed around 50 people.
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(News report from Issue No. 102, published on Aug. 24 2012)
