Kyrgyzstan | Eurasianet

A Bishkek cemetery with a dedicated area for those who died of COVID-19 (All photos by Danil Usmanov)

Watching Kyrgyzstan’s coronavirus crisis: A photographer’s journal

Eurasianet’s Kyrgyzstan-based photojournalist Danil Usmanov has for weeks been watching his country’s unfolding coronavirus crisis. In this essay, he describes some of his observations.

Danil Usmanov Jul 31, 2020

Azimjan Askarov, who died on July 25 (photo: Frontline Defenders)

Kyrgyzstan: Will fury around Askarov death end up signifying nothing?

The activist’s death in prison reflects poorly on the substantial investments that the international community has made into overhauling Kyrgyzstan’s notoriously selective and corrupt justice system.

Jul 29, 2020

There's no business like mining business: A scene from Meken, which will be available online from July 31.

Kyrgyzstan: Drama about mining protests banned from cinema screens

Censors objected to scenes showing "corruption and bribery" by government officials.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jul 28, 2020

Kyrgyzstan last year became the first country to end statelessness. (photo: David Trilling)

Perspectives | A model for Ukraine: Kyrgyzstan’s 10-year battle to end statelessness

New legislation to help stateless people in Ukraine will be meaningless without a proactive campaign to identify them. Like Kyrgyzstan’s.

Eric Fritz Jul 28, 2020

Rights activist Azimjan Askarov, seen here holding one of his self-portraits in his basement prison cell in February 2012. (Photo: Nate Schenkkan)

Kyrgyzstan: Activist Askarov dies in prison after decade battling tainted conviction

Prison authorities denied until the moment of his death that the activist was unwell.

Jul 25, 2020

Kyrgyzstan: Imprisoned activist in critical condition

Prison officials deny he is unwell.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jul 24, 2020

A screenshot of the footage showing the assault on the Pakistani students.

Kyrgyzstan: Viral videos spark fresh conversation on xenophobia

The footage has generated much online outrage.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jul 23, 2020

Volunteers Nurlis Madimkulov and Almanbet Yrysaliev give oxygen from a pillow to an elderly man whose blood saturation decreased and had been refused admission to a hospital.

Kyrgyzstan: Volunteers play heroic role in battle against COVID-19

On top of the exhausting work, stresses are compounded by having to reject heartbreaking requests.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Photos by Danil Usmanov Jul 17, 2020

A makeshift hospital in Kyrgyzstan's capital

Pneumonia fudge hiding scale of Central Asia's coronavirus emergency

Doctors in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are growing angry at what they see as little more than a face-saving, statistical trick.

Almaz Kumenov, Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jul 16, 2020

Kyrgyzstan: Security services summon stand-up for questioning

Alymkulova posted a video appearing to show Jeenbekov singing a profanity-laced song.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jul 15, 2020

Coronavirus infections are on a steep incline in Kyrgyzstan, but that is only part of the picture. More and more people are dying with pneumonia, sometimes in the street

Kyrgyzstan’s coronavirus outbreak reaching critical stage

It is clear from a welter of circumstantial evidence that official death figures are massive undercounts.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jul 3, 2020

Let us in! Kyrgyz trucks wait at the Kazakh border. (Kyrgyz government handout)

Here’s looking at EAEU #2: Trading places

China is evidently the market on which the EAEU is pinning its hopes of export diversification.

Our monthly digest on the Eurasian Union Jul 2, 2020

Kyrgyzstan: Internet gagging law brings demonstrators onto the street

Critics see only oppressive censorship in the new legislation.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jun 29, 2020

Chamber of secrets: Lawmakers voted overwhelming to approve the gagging law. (Photo: Parliament website)

Kyrgyzstan: Internet gagging bill sails through parliament

It is unclear what body will be charged will enforcing the rules.

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jun 26, 2020

former Turkmen Interior Minister Isgender Mulikov

The modern-day struggle sessions of Central Asia

The apology or recantation is uploaded to social media. Often, there is a pretense of the repentance being voluntary. But that is not always the case.

Jun 25, 2020