Central Asia today: a very strange pilaf
The region of Central (or Central) Asia, which consists entirely of the countries of the former members of the USSR, basically, if it attracts attention today, it is just another Russophobic trick performed by the authorities. This applies to almost all the former Soviet republics, but the greatest regret is caused by Kazakhstan, where Voennoye Obozreniye, for example, was blocked without giving reasons. We very much regret that even if our Kazakh readers get access to the site, it is connected, as usual, with considerable difficulties. But the azure flag with the sun, as I understand it, has left our pages in the comments for a long time, if not forever.
In general, the situation in the region cannot be considered healthy from the point of view of not only a Russian, but a sane person in general. It is clear that each country chooses its own path of development, and, in principle, no one to it (the country) decides on this issue. But to discuss and carefully evaluate - why not?
It is worth starting with our neighbor and seemingly even like-minded person in the EAEU, SCO, CSTO, CIS and other abbreviations. From Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan
Looks very original, for the past few years the country has clearly been claiming a leading role in the region. Why? Yes, simply because no one forbids doing this. “Who is the last king here? Nobody? Then I!".
The current President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, is a very interesting person, as time shows. On the one hand, he is a very balanced politician (and what else can you expect from a diplomat of such a level and such practice), who does not allow shuffling from side to side, on the other, he is an obvious fanatical patriot of his Motherland. Completely alien to shyness when it comes to his country.
Considering the mentality of the Kazakhs and such a leader, the neighbors are clearly still crying.
“I believe that we should boldly declare our special regional status, since we have every reason for this” - Tokayev.
In confirmation of his words, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan said that the economy of Kazakhstan is much stronger than the economies of other countries in the region, transformations and reforms are constantly taking place in the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the country as a whole occupies a very favorable position in geo-economic terms.
Plus - the unique intellectual and human potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan, thanks to which the country has authority in the international arena. That is why the role of Kazakhstan in solving the problems of the region is quite clearly visible.
No politician from the rest of the region has yet responded to this attack by Tokayev. Most likely due to the fact that each of the remaining countries considers itself no less worthy of the title of "regional leader".
And if you listen to the opinion of independent experts, then many of them gave the palm in the region to Uzbekistan.
However, the ambitions of Kazakhstan are from the previous leader of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Elbasy was, to put it mildly, tireless in various initiatives. However, we must admit that many of Nazarbayev's undertakings were very useful and brought him significant authority.
For example, Nazarbayev, who was awarded with all conceivable (and inconceivable) awards during his lifetime, really wants to be "in focus" even after he seems to have left the post of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. And for this, having criticized the EAEU (which, we admit, is breathing on its own), the EU (which is not doing very well either), the SCO (an incomprehensible organization) and adding the recently created Organization of Turkic States, Nazarbayev considered it necessary to propose to create a forum " Greater Eurasia ". The essence of this forum is the development of direct contacts between representatives of the above organizations.
In general, this is another showcase format organization. But the sultan's court must be magnificent, otherwise it is either not a court or not a sultan.
But it must be admitted that Kazakhstan is quite successfully friends with everyone. Even with those who are not friends with each other. The clearest example is the decision to build nuclear power plants to support the energy sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
It is interesting that in this matter Russia was beaten, and the joint venture of Kazakhstan and China "Ulba-TVS", which has already begun work on the creation of fuel for nuclear reactors, is engaged in this topic. 51% of the shares are owned by the Kazakh concern KazAtomProm, and 49% by the Chinese giant China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC). It is the largest state-owned nuclear power company in China.
The equipment was supplied by the USA, China, France and Germany. And here's a nuance: the United States is prohibited from exporting any radioactive materials for the sale of CGNPC. There they fear that the Chinese will use the received material to build up their nuclear potential. Therefore, Russia will supply the enriched uranium for the enterprise.
There is nothing reprehensible in the fact that Kazakhstan wants to become one of the countries with nuclear energy. At one time, on its own initiative, the Republic of Kazakhstan abandoned its nuclear arsenal. weapons (the fourth in the world, by the way), but the method of Kazakhstan, which can be expressed by the principle of "we are friends with everyone with whom it is beneficial", sooner or later may provoke conflicts that will definitely not benefit Kazakhstan.
In addition, there are a number of initiatives that will definitely not benefit Russian-Kazakh relations. This includes active attempts to reform the Kazakh language and translate it into the Latin alphabet.
“We are not talking about a simple transposition of the Cyrillic alphabet into the Latin alphabet, we need a reform of the Kazakh language, its modernization. We are waiting for the authoritative opinion of our scientists. Once again I declare that we are reforming the Kazakh language " - Tokayev.
Of course, these are exclusively Kazakhstani matters, how to write and speak in their native language, but in fact - a clear demonstration of the further orientation "with whom we will be friends." In any case, it will be both fun and original. In Cyrillic, the Kazakh language looks very, probably, it will look no worse and written in Latin. It’s very difficult to say who will get better from this, it’s not for a dozen years.
But if political ambitions require it, then, as they say, there is nothing to be done.
In general, the unhurried turn of Kazakhstan from Russia is visible to the naked eye, but this, of course, is an internal affair of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan
Perhaps this country looks most warmly towards Russia, and this is precisely what is a certain criterion of assessment.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, it seems that a huge number of Kyrgyz, sighing with relief, returned from the cities to their familiar world of rural hinterland. The country receives its main income by exporting the products of its agriculture. Moreover, Russia ranks only second after Switzerland.
The Kyrgyz mentality is unique, the Kyrgyz are direct people with the absolute value of family and home. They are sincerely proud that they belong to their people, completely without false patriotism, and therefore we are unlikely to hear loud statements from Kyrgyzstan.
The only thing in which the Kyrgyz allow themselves to break away in full is the elections. Riots in the elections in Kyrgyzstan are normal. The violent overthrow of power is a reality. Political scandals within the country are also commonplace.
There are certain tensions in relations with the Uzbeks, which led to investigations, but 2010 will be an example of how the situation in Kyrgyzstan can be heated up for a long time. And the fact that almost half of the presidents resigned from their posts not entirely of their own free will is indicative.
However, apart from the elections, Kyrgyzstan is a kind of archaic house in the village. True, the population of this house is showing stable growth and relations with neighbors are quite decent.
Tajikistan
This country has been solely ruled by Emomali Rahmon since 1992. The country's Constitution, redesigned for it, allows one to be elected to this position an unlimited number of times. The entire family of the president today works for the good of the country in various ministries and departments and actually controls the whole of Tajikistan.
Rahmon's policies are nothing that distinguishes ordinary authoritarian rule under a personality cult.
But today the main task in Tajikistan, over which they puzzle, is where to erect a monument to Emomali Rahmon, who, of course, proudly bears the title of "Leader of the Nation".
If we compare Rakhmon with the leaders of neighboring nations, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, then the leader of Tajikistan is still nothing, relatively modest. At least, there is no talk of renaming Dushanbe into Rahmon yet. But in fact, the leader of the Tajiks is no worse than others, and therefore a lifetime monument is provided to him.
There is talk of where to install it: in the native village of Rakhmon Dangara or in Dushanbe. Of course, it is in the capital, after all, there are more people there, who are obliged to enjoy the contemplation of the next regional masterpiece.
Well, there it is worth thinking about a new name for the capital.
Today, on top of that, Tajikistan is still becoming the main refuge for Afghan refugees of the same nationality. This is ... promising.
As for foreign policy, there, along with the usual, very interesting things are happening.
We were very encouraged by the US State Department's granting of grants to Tajikistan to host chant competitions in English. Songs are recommended by American songwriters and artists with a positive message. It is believed that such a cultural exchange will bring Tajikistan and the United States closer together.
The State Department intends to issue grants from 15 to 40 thousand dollars for training and recording music for Tajik performers. An interesting program, but in the light of the negativity that caused the mass exodus from Afghanistan, and then the notes to the American ambassador after Biden's peculiar statements.
But the monument to the leader of the nation is more important than all the quirks of foreign policy.
Emomali Rahmon himself is modestly silent, and his position on this issue is generally unknown. However, in the conditions of a totalitarian personality cult, it is doubtful that this process began without the submission of the family of the rulers of Tajikistan.
Turkmenistan
One of the most closed countries in the world. North Korea, of course, is far away, but nevertheless. The main compensation for closeness is that the Turkmen know how to enjoy life and celebrate with all their hearts.
In November, the country was overjoyed at the release of the next volume of "Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan". Thirteenth in a row. The author is the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
In general, Mr. President is prolific. For a dentist, Berdymukhammedov is just perfectly versed in herbs. The great herbalist of the past Avicenna (Ibn Sina) himself wrote only a three-volume work in his entire life, and here thirteen ...
A month earlier, the leader of the nation endowed the nation with the labor "Independence is our happiness." They say - in an atmosphere of special solemnity. In general, if you look at the list of Berdymukhamedov's publications, then envy can seize any president. For it is fertile.
And if we add a dozen recorded singles to this ... However, here Rogozin also knows how to sing.
Yes, the second president of Turkmenistan has done some clever deeds. For example, he overcame the cult of the previous president, Niyazov, and even removed the exam on the Rukhnama book from the compulsory curriculum. Well, the Internet has appeared in Turkmenistan. Not for everyone, of course. And in general, the Internet is evil, so no photos or videos, no VPN. You shouldn't stutter about Instagram and Facebook at all. Not yet planted, but here's what for now.
On the other hand, the recent law "On Postal Communication" has made some points. Now in Turkmenistan it is officially forbidden to deliver correspondence if the address is indicated in Russian. Well, in general, in anything other than Turkmen.
This is normal, because even Niyazov tightened the screws so that the old generations began to forget the Russian language, this is a means of interethnic communication, and the young did not learn it, because there is nowhere.
However, in Russia, where the citizens of the Central Asian republics are eager to earn money, the authorities fully meet halfway: signs, announcements in transport are already being made in the languages of the peoples of Central Asia.
It turns out interestingly, they are there, at home, in every possible way reject the Russian language, and we will soon have to learn Uzbek and Tajik in order to understand those who have arrived?
However, this option is also possible.
Uzbekistan
Strange, but Uzbekistan, which is called the stronghold of Islam in Central Asia, somehow does without such things as the cult of personality. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is pursuing a course that distinguishes Uzbekistan from other countries in the region, perhaps with the exception of Kyrgyzstan.
The results of Mirzeev's activities are surprising. The number of mosques has increased, there are more than two thousand of them, the maximum since 1998. The number of those convicted on religious grounds decreased, at the same time they closed a bunch of illegal religious schools and imprisoned many extremists.
And against this background - the opening of 4 branches of Russian universities in the country in 12 years. Now there are 15 of them. Considering how other republics treat the Russian language and Russian education, it goes beyond the accepted framework in the region.
It is clear that the Uzbeks need education and knowledge of the Russian language, given how many of them work in Russia. Russia, of course, has nothing against such a situation, because every citizen of Uzbekistan working in the Russian Federation is 5600 rubles a month for a patent. Not a bad source of income.
Mutually beneficial. And under another program, Russia will lease a million hectares of farmland to Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, they want to minimize food dependence on neighbors, which is generally not surprising.
Russia is actively investing in the economy of Uzbekistan. They are so active that they do not even think about friendship with China or the United States.
It is difficult to assess within the framework of one material what the Central Asian region is turning into. In a nutshell, we can state a not very beautiful relationship: the cult of personality pulls with it open Russophobia and the republic’s distance from Russia.
Yes, every country has its own path. How bad and harmful the friendship with Russia is, I personally cannot judge. However, this trend is very sad.
If we take the level of official meetings of the top officials of the countries, everything is good. Everywhere there are only red carpets. But in reality - the understatement, incompleteness and the outflow of Russians from these republics, where unbearable conditions are created for the Russian-speaking population. We can say - according to the model and likeness of the Baltics.
The overall achievements have not gone anywhere. History has not been rewritten yet. And we have something to remember and something to talk about.
However, the path that some countries have chosen is, one might say, the same. The cult of personality - Russophobia - a slow break in relations. Slow. Unhurried, but a break. Russians are leaving, the language of interethnic communication is being wiped into the background. But majestic monuments are being built to the "fathers of the nation", "leaders of the people" and so on.
Perhaps there is no direct connection between these events. But the number of Russians in Uzbekistan since 1989 has decreased from 1 million 650 thousand people to 720 thousand. As a percentage - from 8,5 to 2,1. In Kazakhstan, from 6 million 227 thousand (37,8%) in 1989, the number of Russians fell to 3 million 793 thousand (23,7%) in 2009. Now, obviously, even less. In 1989, 388,5 thousand Russians lived in Tajikistan, the 2000 census found only 68,2 thousand.
And it is difficult to say who was more interested in these games in the cult. Of course, what is happening in Turkmenistan is surprising to many. There, of course, the scale of events to glorify the "father of the people" is off scale. But they are not lagging behind in Kazakhstan either. To rename the capital in honor of a living person - this, as far as I know, has never happened in modern world practice. In honor of the deceased, worthy individuals (George Washington, Duke of Wellington, de Brazza, Duchess of Adelaide, Salavat Yulaev) were named. In honor of the living, it was also practiced in the USSR. But after almost a century ...
But again, this is an internal affair of the Kazakhs. They want to make the Elbasy enjoyable - for God's sake, there was Astana, now Nur-Sultan.
Another thing is that behind these games of originality, independence, independence and other husks, something is lost that connected the peoples. I don’t want to say that relations between Russia and Kazakhstan will degrade and decline, no. But I also doubt that there will be an upward development.
Will there be development in the servile development of the personality cult? No. This is known from history. The cult of personality is degradation, moreover, not only of the person who is deified, but also of the people who deifies.
Central Asia is a very interesting region, and interesting events unfold there. Three countries develop a cult of personality for their rulers. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan. For some reason, relations with these countries are deteriorating from year to year. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan do not practice such servility, and Russia's relations with these countries are much more promising.
Coincidence? Accident? Hard to say. But the cult of personality is in any case a relic of the past. Games in the khanates and sultanates of the beginning of our era. Mini empires and stuff like that.
It would be funny if it were not so sad how adults in the 21st century play sultans, rewarding themselves and erecting monuments to themselves. How seriously can such people be taken? Good question. And to countries led by such people?
In general, a strange pilaf with a very strange aftertaste is puffing in Central Asia today.
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