AKIPRESS.COM - With the new year's quickly approaching, it's the time to remind our readers the top news (most read) of AKIPRESS.COM in 2021:
JANUARY: Putin congratulates Sadyr Japarov on his victory
Japarov won landslide in Kyrgyzstani presidential election on Jan 10 with around 80% of votes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Sadyr Japarov on his victory.
FEBRUARY: Ex-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov leaves for Saudi Arabia
In early February, amid rumors about possible criminal prosecution of ex-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, he left Kyrgyzstan to Mecca for Umrah pilgrimage.
"He has departed for Istanbul with his spouse this morning. They will travel further to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The trip was planned since November 2020, but since the entry was restricted for pilgrims due to coronavirus pandemic, it was necessary to obtain Saudi side's official consent. The Umrah hajj will last more than 10 days. Jeenbekov will return to Bishkek," his spokesperson Tolgonai Stamalieva assured.
He indeed returned then to Kyrgyzstan and was not prosecuted.
Ulukbek Maripov appointed as Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan
President Sadyr Japarov signed the order appointing Ulukbek Maripov as Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan on February 3, 2021.
He served as PM until October 12, 2021.
Raimbek Matraimov fined 260,000 soms, arrest on property removed
On February 11, 2021, the Pervomai district court of Bishkek found guilty and fined the former deputy head of the State Customs Service Raimbek Matraimov for 260,000 soms and removed arrest from his properties.
The arrest was lifted from apartments in Bishkek, Osh, the cottage in Karven 4 seasons, and Lexus, as well as from all bank accounts and deposit boxes registered in the name of Matraimov and his relatives, judge Gulzat Dyikanbayeva ruled.
Matraimov plea-bargained with the investigation and paid off the damage of 2 billion soms.
Matraimov got his home detention cancelled, the arrest on immovable and movable property and bank accounts taken off.
Diplodocus-like fossil in Uzbekistan hints Asia was a dinosaur hub
A Diplodocus-like dinosaur is the first of its kind to be found in Asia, suggesting the landmass could have helped dinosaurs reach other regions and that this group was more widely distributed across the planet than previously thought, New Scientist reported. This news article was one of the most read ones in March 2021.
Hans-Dieter Sues at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and his colleague Alexander Averianov at the Russian Academy of Sciences described the dinosaur from a fossil found in Uzbekistan. They named the dinosaur Dzharatitanis kingi after the Dzharakuduk region in which it was found, as well as in honour of deceased colleague Christopher King, who had contributed to the work.
MARCH: U.S. deeply concerned by release of transnational organized crime boss Kolbaev
The United States was deeply concerned by the release of transnational organized crime boss Kamchybek Kolbaev, a convicted murderer whose criminal network engages in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking and other dangerous criminal activity, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek said in a statement issued on March 3.
“Kamchybek Kolbaev’s drug trafficking network poisons children across Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, which is why the U.S. Department of State has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the disruption of his criminal network,” declared then-U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu.
The U.S. Department of State announced a reward increase of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Kamchybek Kolbaev and/or for information leading to the disruption of financial mechanisms of Kolbaev’s criminal organization.
In 2000, Kolbaev was convicted for the attempted murder of his one-time criminal boss and murder of two others. Kolbaev was sentenced to 25 years for these crimes, but after serving six years he escaped from prison. In 2007, the U.S. Department of State described Kolbaev as “the leader of the most influential criminal group” in the country, and on April 23, 2008, Kolbaev was “crowned” as a thief-in-law in Moscow by Russian organized crime leaders.
APRIL: Kyrgyz-Tajik border armed conflict of April 28-29: 12yo girl among those killed, dozens injured
An armed conflict on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan occurred on April 28-30, 2021. The exchange of fire resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries, and forced hundreds of Batken region residents to flee their houses.
Tajikistani troops and civilians occupied the houses of Kyrgyz citizens on the morning of April 30, their military vehicles were seen in Kyrgyz villages while the local Kyrgyz citizens were evacuated and some fled the conflict zone on their cars. Throughout April 30, Tajik soldiers were inside the Kyrgyz villages. Some Kyrgyz local residents started coming home only from May 2, when ceasefire agreement was reached at the intergovernmental level and withdrawal of soldiers and military equipment started.
36 Kyrgyz citizens were killed, including 33 civilians and 3 soldiers. 25 dead bodies of Kyrgyzstanis were found in the Golovnoy water distributor area in Ak-Sai rural district of Batken where a mortar shelling was reported on April 29. Criminal probe into the massacre was launched.
Russia, Tajikistan sign agreement on united regional air defense system
Defense Minister of Tajikistan Col. Gen. Sherali Mirzo and Defense Minister of Russia Sergei Shoigu held bilateral talks in Dushanbe on April 27, 2021, the Defense Ministry of Tajikistan said.
The Defense Ministers discussed military and technical cooperation between two countries, joint fight against global threats and dangers, ensuring regional seurity, situation in the neighboring Afghanistan, reinforcement of Tajik-Afghan border.
The agreement on creation of the united regional air defense system was signed between Tajikistan and Russia.
President Japarov signs new Constitution of Kyrgyzstan
President Sadyr Japarov signed a new Constitution of Kyrgyzstan adopted through referendum on April 11, 2021.
The ceremony of signing ws attended by members of the Parliament, judges, government members, public figures.
1,322,124 people have voted in the constitutional referendum. The voter turnout has made 36.66%. 1,048,660 voted for a new Constitution or 79.3%. 181,370 voted or 13.72% against it.
President Sadyr Japarov signed into law amendments to law on joint-stock companies and Criminal Code that would enable the Kyrgyz government to impose external management on companies in the Kyrgyz Republic operating under concession agreements.
The law passed in May 2021 allowed introducing external management in companies that have committed violations of the requirements of subsoil protection, environmental and industrial safety, creating a threat to life or health of people working or living in the mining area. The Criminal Code was added by an article introducing liability for violation of restrictions for the management bodies of a joint stock company in case of introduction of temporary external management. The law comes into force immediately after its official publication.
Canada disappointed with decision to impose external management at Kumtor
The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade issued the following statement on May 17 concerning the recent development in the mining sector of Kyrgyzstan.
"As a significant investment partner of the Kyrgyz Republic, Canada is very concerned about continued developments in the mining sector. We are disappointed with the decision taken at the extraordinary session of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic on May 17 to move forward with the imposition of external management on the Kumtor Gold Company, and statements made during the parliamentary session that Kyrgyz control will be sought over a publically traded Canadian-based company with multiple international assets.
This will potentially have far-reaching consequences on foreign direct investment in the Kyrgyz Republic. Canada is also disappointed that this dispute between foreign investors and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic was not allowed to be resolved transparently by the parties working together," he said.
JUNE: Founder of Sapat schools has gone missing in Bishkek
Founder of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Sapat schools (formerly Sebat) Orhan Inandi has gone missing from June 1, 2021 in Bishkek, police said.
At 4:20 am on June 1, the police received a call that a Lexus 470 car was found in the yard of an apartment building in the 12th district, it was open.
Police officers arrived on the scene, the son of Orhan Inandi asked to find him. His father traveled in this car and the last time he contacted him was on May 31 at about 6 in the evening.
The search for the missing is under way, police said.
JULY: President Erdogan says Orhan Inandi was brought to justice in Turkey
Orhan Inandi was brought to Turkey, announced President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2021, a month after Inandi's disappearance in Bishkek.
President Erdogan said this after the meeting of the Cabinet, TRT Haber reported.
Erdogan said "one of the so-called top executives of FETO" was captured and brought to Turkey. The operation was conducted by the Turkish national inteligence.
"Orhan Inandi, FETO Director General in Central Asia, was delivered to our country and brought to justice," Erdogan said.
Kyrgyzstan to evacuate Kyrgyz refugees who fled from Afghanistan to Tajikistan
In July 2021, Kyrgyzstan announced that it would evacuate Kyrgyz refugees who fled from Afghanistan to Tajikistan. The Foreign Ministry said the first report about crossing of the border of Tajikistan by ethnic Kyrgyz from Little Pamir of Afghanistan was received from the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Kabul on July 12.
The Embassy contacted representatives of ethnic Kyrgyz and confirmed Afghanistan's Kyrgyz indeed headed to Kyzyl-Rabat village of Murgab district of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.
It was reported earlier that 347 refugees, including 91 men, 77 women and 177 minors, all of them are natives of Andemin village, Wakhan district of Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan, fled to Tajikistan escaping from Taliban.
Kyrgyzstan was deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, especially about the future of Afghan youth and women, who try to obtain knowledge and demanded professions, State National Security Committee Chairman Kamchibek Tashiev said.
"For this reason we find it necessary to provide feasible support to talented Afghan students having issued student visas for them to study in universities in Kyrgyzstan," Tashiev stated.
"Our universities are the freest universities in the region. We are ready to continue issuing visas to nationals of Afghanistan, who earlier studied in local universities and to admit up to 500 students more, who want to study in Kyrgyzstan. They will need to arrange their arrival to Kyrgyzstan, accommodation and pay tuition in the universitiy they choose," Tashiev said.
AUGUST: Kyrgyzstan's wrestler Aisuluu Tynybekova wins silver at Tokyo Olympics
Kyrgyzstan's wrestler Aisuluu Tynybekova won a silver medal in women's up to 62kg wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug 4.
She was defeated by Yukako Kawai (Japan) 3-4 in the final.
In the 1/8 final, Tynybekova defeated Anastasia Grigorieva of Latvia with 8-0. In the 1/4 final, she gained win by fall against Romania's Kriszta Incze. In the 1/2 final, Tynybekova defeated Irina Koliadenko of Ukraine 10-0.
This was the third medal won by Kyrgyzstanis at the Tokyo Olympics. Kyrgyzstanis won 2 silver and 1 bronze medals.
SEPTEMBER: ADB projects inflation rate in Kyrgyzstan at 10.0% in 2021
The Kyrgyz Republic's GDP is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2021 and 5.0% in 2022, according to the ADB's Asian Development Outlook 2021 Update. Inflation rates are forecasted at 10.0% in 2021 and 7.0% in 2022.
The Kyrgyz Republic’s economy is expected to recover in the second half of 2021 as mining, trade, and other services bounce back from a contraction last year, but the adverse effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will likely continue, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report.
Food price inflation remains high as supply chains were slow to recover and pass-through continued from a 20% depreciation of the currency against the US dollar in 2020. With persistent and rapid food price increases, ADB forecasts inflation to accelerate to 10% in 2021 before slowing to 7% in 2022.
OCTOBER: Woman plunges 25m to death in bungee-jumping accident in Kazakhstan's Karaganda
In October 2021, a woman bungee-jumper plummeted to her death in Karaganda, Kazakhstan after jumping off a 25-meter height. The tragedy took place on the territory of the Sozvesdie hotel. The bungee-jumping amusement was organized on the roof of the hotel.
A 33-year-old woman was taken to the hospital in an extremely serious condition. She underwent a surgery, but passed away despite the therapeutic measures.
Police launched a criminal investigation. The circumstances are being investigated, the Karaganda region police department said.
NOVEMBER: Centerra Gold Inc. is ready to leave Kumtor gold mine to Kyrgyzstan
Centerra Gold Inc. is ready to leave the Kumtor gold mine to Kyrgyzstan if Kyrgyzstan would give up its shares in the company, then-Minister of Economy and Finance Akylbek Japarov told a news outlet.
He confirmed later the information to Tazabek.
Currently, legal proceedings are under way, he added.
Bishkek hosts Business Partnership between European Union and Central Asia forum
The business forum Business Partnership between the European Union and Central Asia kicked off in Bishkek on Nov 5.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Peter Szijjártó, Special Representative for Economic Diplomacy in Central Asia of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Pascal Laureau, CEO of Astana International Financial Centre Yernur Rysmagambetov, Deputy Head of Operations of the European Investment Bank Luca Lazzaroli, Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Central Asia Zsuzsanna Hargitai are in attendance.
Agreements, memorandums and contracts are expected to be signed at the end of the event.
"This is a common forum for all Central Asian countries, and we represent our common cause here. Our region must be visited and invested in. Each of our countries has human and natural resources. We are dynamic and will continue to play an important role in the world as well. Only through joint efforts can the Central Asian countries respond to emerging risks," Baisalov said at the opening of the forum.
6 parties overcome 5% election threshold in Kyrgyzstan's parliamentary elections
21 political parties ran in November 28 parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan.
Six parties have overcome 5% election threshold: Butun Kyrgyzstan 6.75%, Alliance - 8.24%, Yiman Nuru - 6.02%, Yntymak - 10.83%, Ishenim - 13.51%, Ata Jurt Kyrgyzstan - 16.86%.
DECEMBER: Turkey has nothing to do with coup plotting in Kyrgyzstan: GKNB
The State National Security Committee (GKNB) of Kyrgyzstan commented on the news article published by the Russian newspaper Lenta, which said that Turkey was "implicated in the plotting of a coup" in Kyrgyzstan.
"This report is fake and does not correspond to reality," the statement said.
GKNB states that no foreign state can meddle in Kyrgyzstan's domestic political affairs.
"The Committee will not allow any interference, as well as attempts of external forces to influence the processes taking place in the society and the state," the GKNB said.
The special services had earlier said in a statement that a group of people were plotting a violent power grab after the parliamentary elections. According to GKNB, the suspects include MPs, former officials, and candidates for the parliament.
"I'm representing Honduras now," Rafael Fiziev to be a no-flag fighter in his next UFC flight
Rafael Fiziev, a UFC fighter from Kyrgyzstan, refused to appear in his next fight under any country's flag.
Fiziev will fight Brad Riddell at UFC on ESPN 31 on December 4 and will enter the Octagon as a no-flag fighter.
"I'm representing Honduras right now, only without the flag. I represent my people who support me. I represent the people who are with me. I represent the MMA fans who follow me, who are interested in watching me. I represent them," Rafael Fiziev said in a pre-fight interview.
Earlier, Fiziev said that he refused to fight under the flag of Kyrgyzstan because of the "religion-based hatred."
Members of Parliament of 7th convocation sworn in
Members of the Parliament of the 7th convocation received ID cards and badges on December 29 in plenary session room.
The ID cards and badges were handed in by Central Election Commission Chair Nurjan Shaildabekova.
Members of the new Parliament have been sworn in then.
Sharapatkan Majitova from Yntymak party was the first sworn in MP. She opened the session of the Parliament of the 7th convocation.