Central Asia

Tensions Mount on Kyrgyz-Uzbek Border

While Bishkek and Tashkent continue to downplay frictions, the increasing

21 Feb 05

Uzbek lawyers fear a further loss of independence over plans to give the Ministry of Justice sole authority over their profession.

21 Feb 05

Nine officers are sent to prison for using violence to secure confessions, but corruption and poor training mean police criminality is still endemic.

21 Feb 05

The number of people contracting HIV has doubled in the past year, as the crumbling economy forces more young people into prostitution and drug use.

21 Feb 05

An intermittent power supply and crumbling sanitation facilities have led to the spread of a killer disease.

21 Feb 05

The nationalist government is determined to wipe out all traces of the Soviet past - even to the extent of bulldozing graveyards.

21 Feb 05

The Kyrgyz authorities have staged a series of meetings in support of President Askar Akaev in a bid to counter a wave of anti-government protests.

21 Feb 05

Women are flocking to join outlawed Islamic movement strongly critical of the authorities.

21 Feb 05

Head of state claims not to have known about a series of human rights demonstrations in the capital.

21 Feb 05

President Niazov’s alleged preference for Turkish companies is harming local businesses.

21 Feb 05

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