Tag Archives: society

Uzbek MMA fighter dies in car crash

JULY 19  2021 (The Bulletin) — Murad Hanturayev, Uzbekistan’s most successful mixed martial arts (MAA) fighter and one of the best-known people in the country, died in a car crash aged 34. Known on the MMA circuit as the Asian Bear, Hanturayev had reportedly fought 12 times since he started his career in 2013, losing only twice. Reports said Hanturayev was driving his BMW X5 on a motorway outside Tashkent when he lost control and crashed. 

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Tokyo police arrest Uzbek Olympic official for alledged rape

JULY 18 2021 (The Bulletin) — Police in Tokyo arrested a part-time Olympic Games staff member from Uzbekistan for rape, media reported. Police said that the Uzbek staff member has denied the rape allegations. The Olympic Games officially begin on July 23.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Uzbekistan starts building first cricket ground

JULY 18 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan began the construction of the first cricket ground in Tashkent, media reported. The International Cricket Council (ICC), cricket’s governing body, wants to broaden the reach of the sport and on the same day that work on a permanent cricket pitch began in Tashkent, it said that Tajikistan, alongside Mongolia and Switzerland, had been made members.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Uzbekistan moves towards mandatory coronavirus vaccinations

JULY 16 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan moved a step closer to following its neighbours in Central Asia towards mandatory coronavirus vaccinations by imposing restrictions on people who have not had the jab. The deputy chairman of the Uzbek parliament, Alisher Kadyrov, said that employees should make it mandatory for workers to be vaccinated.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgian government says it is surprised by criticism of judge appointments

JULY 16 2021 (The Bulletin) — Georgian Dream chairman Irakli Kobakhidze said that he was surprised and disappointed by criticism from EU and US over the appointment of new Supreme Court judges. He said that the appointments had not broken an April 19 peace deal made with the opposition because they had been made before the agreement was signed. 

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Kazakh police arrest medical staff for selling fake vaccination certificates

JULY 15 2021 (The Bulletin) — Police in Kazakhstan arrested four medical staff in the city of Pavlodar for selling fake coronavirus vaccination certificates, media reported (July 15). The arrests follow several at other hospitals in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh government has said that it wants to make vaccination compulsory for people to work, leading to a demand for fake vaccination certificates.

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— This story was published in issue 493 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on July 22 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Vaccine uptake in Armenia is minimal, say nurses

JUNE 16 2021 (The Bulletin) — Nurses administering vaccinations against the coronavirus on a Yerevan shopping street told The Bulletin that around 45,000 people across the country had been given a vaccine but that most of these were foreigners. Armenia has one of the lowest uptakes for the coronavirus vaccine in the world. It has set up points around towns and cities where anybody can have a vaccine, an offer, it seems, that has been mainly taken up by visitors.

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— This story was published in issue 48 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on June 16 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Kazakhstan rolls out coronavirus app

JUNE 15 2021 (The Bulletin) — Looking to roll out their coronavirus app Ashyq, Kazakh officials said that from June 21 QR codes would be installed at train stations for people to scan. The app is designed to track people’s movements and alert them if they come into contact with anybody infected with Covid-19. Rights activists have accused the Kazakh government of being authoritarian and have said that the app could be used to control people.

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— This story was published in issue 48 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on June 16 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgian Church fires bishop at centre of ophanage abuse accusations

JUNE 15 2021 (The Bulletin) — After meeting with EU and Georgian government officials, the Georgian Orthodox Church gave way to mounting public pressure by firing the bishop who had run an orphanage at the centre of abuse allegations. The Church appointed Bishop Jakob of Bobde to run the Ninotsminda orphanage which it also said would be renovated and improved.

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— This story was published in issue 48 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on June 16 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021

Georgia to set up vaccination centres in shopping malls

JUNE 15 2021 (The Bulletin) — Covid-19 vaccination stations will be set up in shopping malls in Georgia from July, the Georgian health minister Tamar Gabunia said. Georgia has been accused of running a sub-standard vaccination campaign and is under pressure to increase vaccinations. Around 210,000 people, 6% of the population, have had at least one vaccination. 

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— This story was published in issue 48 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on June 16 2021

— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021