January 12-18, 2015
Compiled by Caitlin Murphy, MIGS Desk Officer for Kyrgyzstan
Content:
1. Protests
2. Politics & Society
3. Religion
*All articles translated from Russian, unless otherwise indicated*
1. Protests
‘24.kg’ News Agency, Privately-owned media, Accessed on 14 January 2015
Rally is held in Talas against the increase in electricity tariffs
- About 200 people gathered in the city’s central sports stadium on January 14th.
- People gathered to protest the increase in energy tariffs.
- On Dec 11 the government has nearly tripled energy prices, for energy consumption that goes beyond a minimum level set by the government.
- Police reports indicate that the protesting was peaceful.
‘24.kg’ News Agency, Privately-owned media, Accessed on 14 January 2015
Residents of Naryn Province to Hold Protest
- On January 25 residents of Naryn province will hold a rally to voice their dissatisfaction with the increase in electricity tariffs.
- This planned protest will follow one that occurred on January 14th, during which 100 people gathered in the city’s centre.
- There have been accusations that hooligans have been threatening the active protestors.
- One activist claims that the windows to the pavilion where his mother works were smashed, as well as those of one of his fellow activists.
- The same activist implies government involvement. He refuses to go to the police, saying it would be a futile effort.
2. Politics & Society
‘24.kg’ News Agency, Privately-owned media, Accessed on 14 January 2015
Residents of Grigorievka Village in the Issyk-Kul Region Complain about the Lack of Drinking Water
- In November 2014 a pipe burst in the region, which was quickly fixed.
- The same pipe burst again in late December.
- After much complaining by residents about lack of heating available and water flowing through the streets and turning into ice, the water was turned off, and has not yet since been turned back on.
- Now residents must carry buckets of water from the river to their homes, or from neighbouring villages.
‘kabar.kg’ News Agency, state-owned media, Accessed on 16 January 2015
Seminar held on “Problems on the political identities of social groups” in Bishkek
- The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic held a seminar on "Problems on the political identities of social groups."
- The following information was reported: o According to experts Kyrgyzstan is lacking in national and civic identity.
- The country's population remains a “prisoner” of established traditional, and ethnic identities.
- Youth and social elites alike need to be educated on the various forms of political identity one may adopt.
- Political identity is currently largely aligned with social strata and influenced by personalities of leaders as opposed to ideological considerations.
- An awareness of political identity is necessary for the modernization of Kyrgyzstan's political system.
- The country's population remains a “prisoner” of established traditional, and ethnic identities.
3. Religion
‘kabar.kg’ News Agency, State-owned media, Accessed on 15 January 2015
Members of Tablighi Jamaat in Bishkek are Accused of Religious Radicalism
- The Head of the State Committee on Religious Affairs of Kyrgyzstan claims that members of the religious movement of Tablighi Jamaat, also known as daavatisti, are promoting religious radicalism. He says there are two training centres involved in radical religious activities.
- The daavatisti are known in Krygyz tradition as religious proselytizers who work to enhance the religious observance of Kyrgyz Muslims.
- Followers are criticized for their unkempt appearance and "Pakistani" garb.
- In recent years, the Mufti of Kyrgyzstan limited the clothing these followers could wear, and where they could train and hold sermons.
- Currently there are four mosques in the country where proper training can be received to become a daavatisti.
- In Bishkek, they are hardly visible, except for one, who has recently been charged with promoting radicalism.
‘24.kg’ News Agency, Privately-owned media, Accessed on 17 January 2015
In Kyrgyzstan, Immunization is Frequently Refused on Religious Grounds
- The director of the National Centre for Immunization (NCI) of Kyrgyzstan said that over the past two to three years the number of objections to immunization on religious grounds has increased.
- This has particularly been the case preventing young people from getting immunizations, as it is believed that the body of a child should not be harmed.
- At present there are 6 374 cases of unvaccinated children in the country, of which 4 408 are for religious reasons.
- There is concern within the government as well about immunizations because of the large amount of families migrating between Russia and Kazakhstan.
- The director of the NCI also indicates that there is a problem with the lack of reliable information available to people about immunizations.