Bakyt Beshimov:”US-Russia rivalry and security dilemma of Central Asia”

ANKARA (Turkish Weekly) - Ex-Mp and former leader of the Socialist Democratic political faction in the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Bakyt Beshimov shared his opinion with the Journal of Turkish Weekly looking at the future development in the region of Central Asia. Currently, Mr. Beshimov is a Professor of Government at Suffolk University, visiting Scholar at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, visiting Researcher at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Moscow Reshuffles Bets in Kyrgyzstan

ANKARA (Turkish Weekly) - October 30, 2011 presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan have drawn over 80 candidates into much anticipated race that has been a subject of political debate in and around the country for quite some time in the republic. Aside from a several dozen of "wannabe" candidates only a few bare chances of getting through the process of a real deal campaigning nationwide. But regional experts and analysts including a number of domestic political figures say there is a likelihood of drastic change towards authoritarian model of the state rather than parliamentarian republic that came after coup in April 2010. What makes situation in Kyrgyzstan unique is that this is the only country in Central Asia with a record of trying to establish a multi vector political system in the region where such form of statehood is not welcome.

Quilliam Foundation:"Hizbut Tahrir members do go on to join militant organizations"

UK based think tank Quilliam Foundation is the first counter-extremism research institution that has taken on challenging the "ideological underpinnings of terrorism". Ghaffar Hussain is Director of Training and Consultancy at the Quilliam Foundation and the author of book "A Brief History of Islamism". He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wales. Mr. Hussain believes Hizbut Tahrir is capable of staging a military coup in Pakistan and ex-Soviet Central Asian states.

British Expert: Smuggling in Central Asia is Endemic

ANKARA (Turkish Weekly) - British intelligence analyst and journalistRichard M. Bennett says the Fergana Valley is extremely vulnerable to the covert smuggling of arms and drugs, despite the official reports of Central Asian governments denying its highlighted status. Mr. Bennett told JTW that Russia has been responsible for an overwhelming amount of illegal arms circulating in ex-Soviet Central Asia. In his view, Russia's military intelligence (GRU) is the mastermind of major trafficking activities involving Russian organized crime groups in the region.

Attacks on Journalists Stress Disturbing Pattern in Kyrgyzstan

ANKARA (Turkish Weekly) - Ongoing saga of aggressive attacks on journalists and reporters in Kyrgyz Republic resurfaces one year later after April coup in 2010. Nationwide statistics from 2010-11 reflects growing trend of intolerance towards journalist community despite assurances of President Otunbayeva who was one of the leading advocates of free speech under Bakiyev regime. 

According to 24.kg internet newspaper based in the capital Bishkek, there were 7 cases of injures among journalists in April 2010 alone. In one incident, a cameraman with NBT broadcasting channel Tallin Kanybek was shot in his arm while on duty. Reuters international agency photo reporter Dzhumatov suffered brain concussion and multiple body injures that lead to medical treatment in the national hospital in Bishkek.