OCA MAGAZINE #48

OCA MAGAZINE

BUILDING THE LANDBRIDGE WITH EURASIA

KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM KEEPS EVOLVING INTERVIEW WITH ELENA KALASHNIKOVA

RIPPLES OF CHANGE IN CENTRAL ASIA

THE FALL OF RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA

REPLICATING INDIA’S SOFT POWER STRATEGY IN KAZAKHSTAN

This is the latest collection of short works from the renowned award-winning, Kazakh writer, playwright and storyteller, Dulat Issabekov - ‘The Confrontation’ is a group of short stories and a play - ‘Bonapartes Wedding’

In these tales he weaves the humour, tragedy and history of his beloved homeland. The tales poke fun of the former Soviet era yet also look back fondly with clear descriptions and lyrical prose. There is a fondness for past times but his characters also take us on journeys to the present day as well, highlighting the ludicrous striving for modernity through comical deceit and subterfuge and there are the unattainable relationships between people trying to please someone else or even just themselves.

Dulat Issabekov is the master storyteller, drawing you into the world that creeps out from his pages and transports you to the countryside Dacha or the bustle of a soviet city, the clothing, food, cultures and traditions all become part of his written tapestry, like a Babushka shawl.

Each of the stories has a special meaning and, although he denies they are autobiographical, memories that can only have been written by someone who was there.

They are the kind of stories that can be read over and over again, each time with new details and swirls of description beckoning the reader to go in further.

— Gareth Stamp Chairman Eurasian Creative Guild

When you meet someone whose profession is Astrologer, there is curiosity and scepticism in equal measure. The sceptic in me wants to say ‘prove it!’ And then my curiosity wants to ask - ‘how did you find out?’. This book, graphically, emotionally and frankly tells the story and more than answers my questions. It is a story of a battle to overcome issues that would have broken most people. It is the story of dealing with so called medical professionals more interested in their own worth than their patients and it is the story of relationships and a broken society. Elena has the words and descriptions to engage the reader to side with her, cry with her and will her to overcome her hurdles. At times she tells of an ongoing nightmare which you feel you are part of and want to shout at the characters and at other times she is catches you up in the tenderness of relationships and memories, like an entwined fishing net. The book is an inspiration to humanity and I am grateful for her courage in writing it.

This is the latest collection of short works from the renowned award-winning, Kazakh writer, playwright and storyteller, Dulat Issabekov - ‘The Confrontation’ is a group of short stories and a play - ‘Bonapartes Wedding’

In these tales he weaves the humour, tragedy and history of his beloved homeland. The tales poke fun of the former Soviet era yet also look back fondly with clear descriptions and lyrical prose. There is a fondness for past times but his characters also take us on journeys to the present day as well, highlighting the ludicrous striving for modernity through comical deceit and subterfuge and there are the unattainable relationships between people trying to please someone else or even just themselves.

Dulat Issabekov is the master storyteller, drawing you into the world that creeps out from his pages and transports you to the countryside Dacha or the bustle of a soviet city, the clothing, food, cultures and traditions all become part of his written tapestry, like a Babushka shawl.

Each of the stories has a special meaning and, although he denies they are autobiographical, memories that can only have been written by someone who was there.

They are the kind of stories that can be read over and over again, each time with new details and swirls of description beckoning the reader to go in further.

ISBN: 978-1-913356-64-4

RRP: £12.95

BOOK AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.CO.UK & WWW.DISCOVERY-BOOKSHOP.COM

ISBN: 978-1-913356-63-7

RRP: £14.95

BOOK AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.CO.UK & WWW.DISCOVERY-BOOKSHOP.COM

Guild

— Gareth Stamp Chairman Eurasian Creative

— Gareth Stamp Chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild

OPEN CENTRAL ASIA MAGAZINE

#48 / 2023

Cover: Elena Kalashnikova

President Of The Kyrgyz Association

Of Tour Operators (KATO) See p.6

MAGAZINE PUBLISHED FOR EURASIAN CREATIVE GUILD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NICK ROWAN

PUBLISHER MARAT AKHMEDJANOV

EDITOR’S ASSISTANT ANNA NIKOLAEVA DESIGN

ALEXANDRA REY

EDITORIAL TEAM

GARETH STAMP

RAZA SAYED

TAINA KAUNIS

DR. AL ARTAMAN (UAE & C. A)

CONTRIBUTORS

DR. THOMAS A. CELLUCCI

GARETH STAMP

DANIELE-HADI IRANDOOST

VIKTOR OBYDENNOV

MATHEW TRAVER

ANDREI ZAPSA

ASET KAKIMZHANOV

SERGEY ANPILOGOV

KAZUSHI YAMAMOTO

ECG BOARD

GARETH STAMP - CHAIRMAN

MARAT AKHMEDJANOV - VICE CHAIRMAN

ADVISORY BOARD

ELENA ASLANYAN, ARMENIA

ANATOLY LOBOV, GEORGIA

VICTORIA LEVIN, ISRAEL

ELENA BEZRUKOVA, KAZAKHSTAN

AZIM AKMATOV, KYRGYZSTAN

MARINA PODLESNAIA, MOLDOVA

JONATHAN CAMPION, UK

NATALIE BAYS, UK

LIUDMILA LARKINA, AUSTRALIA

BRUCE GASTON, CANADA

MARINA SHKROBOVA-VERNALIS, RUSSIA

LARA PRODAN, USA

ADAM SIEMIENCZYK, POLAND

MICHAEL KUNITSKIY, BELARUS

BAKHTYGUL MAKHANBETOVA, KAZAKHSTAN

MARGO GAMBURSKAYA, UZBEKISTAN

ANNA DEMINA

MARIA ZHUMAGULOVA

PAVEL KOSSOVICH

TAINA KAUNIS

DISTRIBUTION

TIMUR AKHMEDJANOV

WEB

NAIMATT BUTT

Dear Readers,

FROM THE EDITOR

In addition to this momentous occasion, we turn our gaze to the current events shaping Central Asia. The region continues to be a melting pot of cultural, political, and economic dynamism. From the shifting geopolitical landscape to the advancements in technology and infrastructure, Central Asia is at the forefront of transformation and progress. In these pages, as ever, we delve into insightful analyses, thought-provoking interviews, and captivating stories that shed light on the multifaceted facets of our ever-evolving region.

Open Central Asia magazine remains committed to fostering understanding, promoting dialogue, and embracing the spirit of openness. Our mission is to create a platform that transcends borders, connecting individuals who share a passion for Central Asia and its extraordinary heritage.

I extend my sincere gratitude to our talented contributors, dedicated staff, and most importantly, to you, our valued readers. It is your curiosity, engagement, and unwavering support that drives us to continuously bring you the best of Central Asia.

Warm regards,

Disclaimer

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The information contained in this publication is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by OCA Magazine and while we endeavour to ensure the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or suitability of the information, products, services, or related graphics represented for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

All authors provide their own material and any opinions contained within are solely those of the authors and do not neccessarily represent the views or opinions of OCA Magazine.We publish these views as part of our provision of a forum for discussion and readers should be aware that the views may contrast each other in the pursuit of this aim. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of material contained within this publication.

Special gratitude for cooperation and support to:

Embassy of Azerbaijan to the UK

Embassy of Belarus to the UK

Embassy of Kazakhstan to the UK

Embassy of Kyrgyzstan to the UK

Embassy of Russian Federation to the UK

Embassy of Tajikistan to the UK

Embassy of Turkmenistan to the UK

Embassy of Uzbekistan to the UK

CATBIG

It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to the latest edition of our esteemed publication. As Editor-in-chief, I am thrilled to present you with the usual captivating blend of stories, insights, and cultural revelations that highlight the diverse tapestry of Central Asia and the wider Eurasia.

First and foremost, I am excited to share news about the recent Eurasian Creative Guild Film Festival, an event that embodies the spirit of artistic innovation and cultural exchange. As usual, the festival found its home in the picturesque town of Bromley, where filmmakers, artists, and visionaries from across Eurasia gathered to celebrate the power of storytelling through the magic of cinema. We are proud to be part of this remarkable festival and bring you exclusive coverage of the creative brilliance from this extraordinary event.

Nick Rowan Editor-in-Chief

Open Central Asia Magazine

* ps - the above is written by ChatGPT, the AI language model. As I was short on time this month, I decided to give it a try as an experiment. Although it writes bold and inspiring prose, it remains somewhat generic and with little ability to understand current events and opinion. For now, at least, I think I, and our other contributors, still have a role. But with AI expanding exponentially, I wonder how long for? Your magazine may come from an AI bot near you in the not so distant future. Watch this space…we certainly will be!

KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM KEEPS EVOLVING

Elena Kalashnikova was born in 1968 and has had an active and fulfilling life based around her love of travel, alpinism and diving. She graduated from Omsk State Educational Institute (Specialty: mathematics, computer science) in 1992 but realised that tourism was her passion that she wanted to dedicate her life to. She graduated from TURAN Institute (Specialty: Management in Tourism, Almaty) in 1998 and founded Ak Sai Travel Ltd. in Bishkek. This company gives its clients the chance to see the pure and pristine nature of Kyrgyz mountains. Elena has been awarded a national medal for the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan.

Elena’s professionalism and experience led to her appointment, in 2012, as the president of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO) - a non-profit organisation that defends the corporate interests of its members and the rights of its clients. The Association’s most important goal is the creation of a civilised tourism market and assistance in tourism industry development at the national level. Elena successfully managed KATO for more then ten years and promoted Kyrgyzstan as a destination for inbound and outbound mar-

kets. Both colleagues and clients notice positivity, kind attitude to people travelling and providing hospitality.

OCA: What are the priorities for Kyrgyz tourism, in terms of which countries they would like to attract and what age/type of people they are looking for, given that Kyrgyzstan has traditionally been known for adventure tourism, with activities such as backpacking in the wilderness?

Elena Kalashnikova: The Kyrgyz Republic is very diverse in terms of tourism opportunities. Adventure tourism is only one of the directions we’re going in, although you are right, the direction is very popular. In our country, 94% of the country’s territory is mountains, there are peaks that are above 7000 meters, which are attractive for climbers from all over the world. There are mountain hikes of varying difficulty - for both professionals and amateurs, people come for holidays on the beach - we have the wonderful lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest alpine lake in the world. There are cultural tours - the Great Silk Road passed through Kyrgyzstan, there are many ancient fortresses and familiar locations from historical chronicles. Therefore, traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic will be of interest to everyone, regardless of age and preferences. As for the tourists from which countries we would like to attract, primarily those from the European region, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. People from these countries have a good idea of what they want to see. And they have plenty to choose from. They are interested in Kyrgyzstan as a new direction. We have truly unique natural conditions. And, importantly, people are hospitable and ready to receive tourists.

For certain countries, adventure tourism is interesting. For tourists from the CIS - beach tourism, sanatorium treatment, and in the winter, skiing. Europeans are most attracted to the mountains - trekking, climbing and everything related to adventure. Therefore, we focus on these areas for them.

OCA: How are the government and promoters intending to market the region?

EK: The uniqueness of our country lies in the fact that we can offer a whole range in the types of tourism that a person can enjoy, and we must talk about them. To promote Kyrgyzstan, our Tourism Development Support Fund uses traditional methods. These are direct contacts with tour operators of other countries, participation in tourism exhibitions and fairs, with promotion of the country done through direct sales at these events, holding road-shows and fam-trips for the media and tour operators of other countries, interaction with organizations of compatriots abroad. The Foundation has already organized 11 national stands at the largest tourism exhibitions in the world. Each time presentations are held, dozens of meetings are organised, and

contracts are concluded. Of course, we also promote through the Internet and social networks. But focusing solely on this is clearly not enough. Publications on the network can show what awaits a person, but, unfortunately, they do not convey emotions. Nothing replaces live communication when travelling to the country. Therefore, we need to establish as many personal contacts as possible.

OCA: Is cultural heritage a major draw for tourists and if so, what plans are there to develop this?

EK: If, speaking of cultural heritage, we mean fairy tales, legends, folk music and folklore, then, of course, yes. If we mean our nomadic culture that we still have and that we still value to this day – then of course, also yes. The Tourism Development Support Fund support yurt camps, for glamping even (providing comfortable campsites in our national style). Staying in them, you can feel the nomadic life of people who spend their time on the pastures, among grazing cattle. Kyrgyz national pat-

INTERVIEW WITH ELENA KALASHNIKOVA

COVER STORY

terns and other traditional elements are used in the decor, in everyday clothes - and not only in our country. New York Mayor, Eric Adams, recently appeared in public wearing a Kyrgyz-made chapan. It is unusual and attractive, which means it is interesting.

OCA: Do specific events like the Nomad Games have a real impact on tourism?

EK: First, the World Nomad Games were primarily aimed at attracting tourists, and second, for the reproduction of the entire nomadic lifestyle that we have had for many centuries, with elements of national games, tastings of national dishes and drinks. Tourists are not interested when people are dressed in modern business suits, but they are interested in feathers or skins - something they don’t have at home. They go to Brazil for the carnival because it is fashionable, popular and interesting.When people talk about a carnival, they immediately associate it with bright clothes, music, and feathers. The Nomad games are associated with equestrian sports, archery, and yurts. Of course it’s interesting. And when American athletes play the Kyrgyz game “kok-boru”, it attracts attention. In Great Britain there are also national equestrian games, polo, for example, but they are different in our country. And the uniqueness of the product, is that we are reproducing what used happen many centuries ago, in this modern day and age. And not only reproducing, but carefully storing it and using it in everyday life.

OCA: From a personal point of view, what places do you think tourists should visit and are there any hidden gems that the world needs to know more about?

EK: There are a lot of interesting places, and it is simply impossible to see everything in one trip. When I travel, I don’t look for the popular locations, but at those that are of interest to the local population. And I try not to eat in restaurants with Michelin stars, but where local people dine. Only then can you get immersed in the authenticity of the region. We have a lot of places like this in Kyrgyzstan.

For centuries, our region has been very interesting for the people from China, India and other nearby countries. In Issyk-Kul, for example, there is the sunken ancient city of Chigu, the stones that Tamerlane spoke to. There was also a monastery where ancient Christian monks lived and where the relics of St. Matthew are

kept. These days, some ruins of those places still remain. There are places from the era of the Karakhanids, for example the settlement of Suyab.

There are monuments from the time when the region was under the influence of Buddhists, for example, in Ysyk-Ata. Where did the statue of Buddha come from in the mountains? And who were the travelers who brought it and left it there?

OCA: How do you see tourism developing over the next five years in Kyrgyzstan? Are plans such as infrastructure development, a part of that?

EK: In my opinion, it’s quite important that the state does not interfere with the development of tourism, but instead assists, invests in infrastructural projects, and makes it easier to do business in the field of tourism. What does a tourist want? They want the procedure for obtaining a visa, if required, to be clear and easy. To start with the airport, it’s important to have clear directional signs. Along the way - different types of transport, not only private taxis, but also organized shuttles. They want to ensure that the food they eat is safe. And the task of the state, first and foremost, is to create conditions for all these norms to be observed. This is the ideal situation from a tourist’s point of view.

From the point of view of business, this includes construction, and the development of transport, and even tourist formalities for obtaining visas. Our Foundation is actively working on this. Across the country, the Foundation is building RestPoints, modern versions of ancient caravanserais along the Silk Road, where travellers stopped during their travels. These locations include a toilet, an information center, a souvenir shop and a charging station for electric vehicles. The first 21 of these locations will be ready this year, and there will be 68 in total. The Fund launched GoBus shuttle buses along popular routes - from the capital of the country, Bishkek, to Manas airport, on the coast of the Issyk-Kul Lake, to nearby natural parks. Another project of the Fund is the organisation and marking of ecopaths according to the standards of the World Tourism Organization, UNWTO. Infrastructure development is also needed in order for Kyrgyzstan to be included in the list of countries recommended for travel along the Great Silk Road.

The Foundation opened a call centre for tourists. The processes of obtaining permits to visit border zones, obtaining visas and registering tourists who come for a long time are all things that are being automated. By the way, Kyrgyzstan was the first in Central Asia to introduce a visa-free regime for citizens of certain countries. A lot is being done to make travelling to our country interesting and comfortable.

OCA: How does Kyrgyzstan ensure that its heritage is preserved while wanting to modernise?

EK: It is very important for us to preserve the spirit of our Kyrgyz people. For example, the same RestPoints that I mentioned are not just about modern toilets. These locations are authentically made, carefully preserving the spirit of the great nomads, resting places with a new sound and modern performance, the prototype of which was our famous Tash-Rabat caravanserai - they even look similar.

People in our country honour and cherish their ageold traditions. Tourists can join the nomadic lifestyle. They can ride horses, spend the night in yurts, or try medicinal koumiss (drink made from mare’s milk). They can observe traditional decorations and the unique design elements of yurts in almost every rural house. Enjoy our beautiful wildlife, but at the same time relax with the usual comfort. For example, in the vicinity of Bishkek, our Foundation has begun the construction of a large ski cluster. In terms of comfort, it will be comparable to the famous Alpine resorts. And at the same time, located in a stunningly beautiful and almost pristine location.

OCA: How are you planning on minimising the environmental impacts of increased tourism?

EK: Our tourism has not yet acquired such an industrial character as in developed European countries, where 60-70 million tourists visit annually. We are not ready for such a flood, it will simply trample our country. Therefore, we need to think ahead, use someone else’s experience. In developed countries, during the period of the sharp industrial boom, the situation with the environment was also deplorable. But then they began to strictly regulate both emissions and the negative impact of various industrial enterprises, and everything returned to normal. Minimizing the environmental impact is very important for our Fund. For example, when

we started building RestPoint, we immediately stipulated that they should be environmentally friendly - with competent, thoughtful treatment facilities, with electric heating, with charging for electric vehicles.

It is important for us to preserve the stunningly beautiful nature of our country, which is worth visiting from far away. Kyrgyzstan is also a wonderful destination because here you can plan any kind of tourist route, for every taste, even one where you won’t meet with other people. And we need to keep this unique advantage, so that everyone can experience the incredible beauty of Kyrgyzstan.

CAN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SOLVE CENTRAL ASIA’S CHALLENGES?

responders realize that providing potable water to affected communities is one of the most important functions to restore after a disaster. These same officials also recognise significant shortcomings with traditional water delivery methods, such as trucking in bottled water or operating large, diesel-powered water purification systems.

DHS, through utilization of its SECURE program, has aided several state and local government officials by developing detailed operational requirements, concepts-of-operations and a conservative estimate of the potential available market (PAM) for products/services needed collectively by communities at the local, tribal, state and federal levels.This program ensures that public officials work closely with the private sector through partnership models like the SECURE program to obtain the highest performance/price products and/ or services-- at a speed-of-execution not typically seen in the public sector.

Private-Public Partnerships are the Future

Creating Water Purification Systems for Disaster Response: A Case Study

National, state and local governments frequently face complex problems that require cost effective and efficient solutions that are often constrained by both time and fiscal pressures. Government best practices developed and implemented in the US Federal government can be used to leverage marketing and purchasing power to rapidly increase the deployment of a wide range of technologies, products and/or services to the benefit of the people/taxpayers of a country, regional or local government.

Most government entities do not recognise, let alone leverage, their true market attractiveness to the private sector. Experience has shown that the private sector is ready, willing and able to assist the government if they are provided two things—neither of which are money. The first deals with the ability to articulate in a clear and concise way what a given problem is (through the use of detailed operational requirements) and the second is a conservative estimate

of the potential available market. Recently developed models and programs, such as the System Efficacy through Commercialization, Utilization, Relevance and Evaluation (SECURE) program at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can substantially increase their awareness of a worldwide spectrum of solution providers in a broad range of industries. The SECURE program is an ideal process for leveraging the potential available market represented by users of products and services germane to communities across the United States.

The real challenge for federal, state and local government officials is to work as a group to prioritise and articulate the unsatisfied needs/wants of their particular region(s). A recent effort to identify potential solutions that will assist communities recover from natural or manmade disasters will be shared in detail to demonstrate how innovative public-private partnerships work. Government officials and first

A public-private partnership is an agreement between a public agency and a private sector entity that combines skills and resources to develop a technology, product and/or service that improves the quality of life for the general public. The private sector has been called upon numerous times to use its resources, skills and expertise to perform specific tasks in support of the public sector. Historically, the public sector has frequently taken an active role in spurring technological advances by directly funding the private sector to fulfil a specialised need that the public sector cannot complete itself.

The public sector has found it necessary to take this active role to lead and enable the development of a needed technology or capability in situations where the business case for the private sector’s investment in a certain area is not apparent. In these cases, the public sector relied on the private sector to develop mission-critical capabilities, but had to pay the private sector to divert its valuable (and limited) resources to an area that did not necessarily show a strong potential to provide an acceptable return-on-investment (ROI) for a given company. These situations could be caused by a number of issues ranging from a high cost to perform the research and development (R&D) to a limited PAM that may have prevented the company from making sufficient profit and returns to the company and its shareholders.

Increasingly, however, users in the public sector are now viewed as stable markets – i.e., a sizeable enough customer base for the private sector to warrant investments of time

and money. A commercialisation-based public-private partnership has the same goal as more traditional public-private partnerships, but the method is constructed to leverage positive attributes of the free market system. The introduction of a commercialization-based public-private partnership, developed and implemented at DHS, provides benefits for three constituents of the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE): the private sector, the public sector and the taxpayer. This is a desirable scenario creating a “win-win-win” environment in which all participants are in a position to benefit.

In the free market system, private sector companies and businesses must commercialise and sell products and services that consumers want to purchase. The development and understanding of specific markets is a critical undertaking for many companies seeking to gain share of a market, with companies directing significant amounts of money and resources to these activities in addition to its product development efforts. Sometimes companies do not understand the correct needs or demand data of a market or market segment and their product(s) does not sell well.

What a commercialisation-based public-private partnership offers to the private sector is detailed information and opportunity. The public sector is not only the “consumer” in this free market scenario, but an informed and communicative consumer who is capable of giving the private sector a detailed description of what they need, as well as insight into which agencies and user communities would be interested in potentially purchasing a product/service that fulfils these requirements. While it remains prudent business to verify the information provided by the public sector, there is considerable value for the private sector to obtain these details from DHS because four things are provided to the private sector that would not happen in normal market dynamics:

1) a decrease in resources spent researching the market; 2) an increase in available time and money that can now be focused on product design and manufacturing; 3) a reduction in risk of the research data being incorrect; and 4) a conservative estimate as to how large the potential market can be for a known and funded entity.

The development and communication of detailed requirements or needs is the real cornerstone to the success of

these public-private partnerships. The public sector’s ability to articulate the needs of its stakeholders will catalyse and support the future actions of the partnership. Understanding requirements early in the search for solutions removes a great deal of guesswork in the planning stages and helps to ensure that the end-users and product developers are “on the same page.”

Transformational Change beyond DHS

Because of its obvious benefits, it is reasonable to examine the possibility of extending the concepts developed at DHS to other countries’ national, state, local and tribal agencies. Logic dictates that in cases where operational requirements can be developed across agencies, the size of a given potential available market would increase. It is also certainly conceivable that various agencies across government share similar requirements for products and services. Further expanding requirements generation and collecting information on market potential across all of government can have transformative effects on the way government conducts business. The incorporation of commercialisation adds a “valuable tool to an agency’s toolbox” in providing increased speed-of-execution in deploying technologies/products/services to solve problems, as well as providing an increase in the net realizable budget of an agency. In fact, the expansion of public-private partnerships like SECURE across all of government are being recommended to both the President of the United States and Congress due to their many benefits. It should be noted that these principles are now being applied in innovative programs like MUNIS in Uzbekistan, as well as FPIP in Kazakhstan.

Acknowledgements

This article would not have been possible without the steadfast assistance of my former colleagues at the White House and US Department of Homeland Security. In addition, I thank all those I have, and continue to work with, across Central Asia who are applying these proven models in countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

by H.E. The Hon., Dr. Thomas A. Cellucci, MBA

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT IT!

I am finally in Astana, the capital and my old home. It is still winter but the sun is out and the streets, at this time of year, are more clear of snow than I can remember - maybe this year Nauryz will be a real spring, a real ‘new day’? I still wear my old army hat and winter coat as I walk across the marble clad square near Baiterek but I no longer move like a penguin. There are quite a few people around including volunteers canvassing with leaflets, baseball caps and shirts in their favoured party’s colours but they are less persuasive than those in Almaty and a biting wind has probably helped to drive away their smiles.

Away from the canvassers I amble towards my next meeting and decide to ask some people their views - a family with only a small amount of English understand what I ask and give the thumbs up - smiling and pointing at the cocoon wrapped child in a pushchair - I take this to mean that the election it is for her and the future but there may have been another meaning. A group

of boys and girls were ‘hanging out’ in the lee of the trees on a bench and they were keen to talk, often all at once! They were wrapped in scarves and hoodies looking like young people from any part of the globe. Of them all, Aigerim chose her words in English carefully, stopping the others with waves of her hands so she could speak. ‘I want to say the right thing - not the right thing for the party or the government, but the correct English!’ Her friends translated and laughed between themselves. She continued, ‘I feel that this is the time for the people to make change!’ I enquire as to why she thinks this? ‘I have not been able to vote before, I have not been interested in government before, I see my parent’s friends, people I know standing in the election and I have listened to what they are saying and I believe in them - they will make a difference!’ Their friends clap in appreciation and to keep away the cold. I asked her what is really different this time? ‘Everyone is talking about it!’ I realised she is right - everyone is talking about it!

A little later, I attend the official briefings for journalists and have the open opportunity to talk to candidates from parties and independent candidates. They are full of positivity and hope. They cite the same issues that need solving, the economy, infrastructure development, health care and a unified Kazakh population - some mention foreign policy but probably because I am foreign. These are the issues that President Tokayev - I listen as they talk passionately and I wonder how the people will choose between them? In some voting regions there are over thirty candidates to choose from and it will be interesting to see the voting process in action.

As the polling stations are being prepared, blue curtained booths are being constructed and information boards erected in numerous Universities and public halls across the country, I am also conscious that such an intricate ‘new’ process may have its issues! Some of these issues have been foreseen and planned for, even down to changing the size of the voting paper so that more ballots will fit the boxes. Processes are in place for people with mobility problems and volunteers have been trained to help but what is important is that the process has to be seen to be fair. For example, there are already murmurs, on social media, about independent candidates’ lack of access to the press - these inequality problems will need to be investigated and acted upon after the election, if only so that the trust in the electoral process is maintained and the momentum of the current positivity is continued.

That evening, I join some other international journalists and we mull over the day’s meetings and share stories. For some it is their first time in Astana and their curiosity in culture and history fired up and I am happy to know they will introduce the opportunities of Kazakhstan to a new audience in their home countries. Others are more seasoned election reporters, among them there is general agreement that these elections feel different and that they are part of the pathway to a new Kazakhstan - we wearily separate to complete our copy and recharge the batteries for another full day of interviews and research.

The next day winter has returned with light snow, low grey leaden colour clouds and the biting wind. In a couple of days, polling day, more snow is forecast which may possibly cool the excitement too. There will be

winners but there will be more losers and the reaction of the losers will be critical. If they feel they can lose graciously because the process was truly fair and transparent, then trust will be maintained, if not? Well ‘everybody will be talking about it!’ But for the wrong reasons!

by Gareth Stamp

THE FALL OF RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA

Eastern shores, not only of the South East Asian Sea, but those of the Caspian, are favoured with all the varieties of economic fortune and prosperity available to humankind.

Occasioned, probably, by the commercial settlement between the heads of Saudi Arabia and China, besides the deliberate prospects of being able to exchange commodities in the yuan currency, indeed, every intuitive journalist among political scientists is confident in the Red Dragon’s strength to enlarge its pretensions to equal influence and consideration in other states. Still, it is not so surprising, however, that the dollar should be attended with no better effects, as the united nations of BRICS and their neighbours are far from being agreed on the moral rectitude of its political nature, under the specious pretence of procuring to other peoples a lasting democracy; or on that degree of its encroachments on their freedom, and present itself to the view of the other nations as the supreme object of respect, fear and consideration.

As a committed “Eurasianist”, I find it odd when pundits tell us this war between the Russians and the Ukrainians should terminate in the ruin and desolation of the former nation. After all, it may be expected, in the first approaches of the confined, or simple observer, that it is certainly impossible, since they cannot be rendered subservient to the latter’s advancement; yet, if they were to have this power, in opposition to the formalities of military science, what would become of the five post-Soviet Central Asian states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan? This question may be sufficiently answered, by observing the historical scenes which gave employment

to and inspired the genius of Rudolf Steiner with whose imagination their futures were rehearsed and foreseen.

In this arrangement, as a crypto-Steinerian aware of Cultures as organic totalities, I am struck with the present succession of international affairs, which, in the progress of history, we consider its object as tending to raise or to sink the balance of nations, is administered by the material system of political, military and cultural policy on which our Western states have proceeded so far; the very policy by which they find their degree of ascendency removed, or greatly diminished, whilst the

Yet, in opposition to what has dripped from the pens of eminent writers, if the Russian Federation, and the supporters of the President were forever removed from the scene of international affairs, like the Soviet Union, the anti-dollar alliance already mentioned will be severely restrained in its pursuits; this alone, in the meantime, would be sufficient to confirm the hegemony of the United States in a considerable part of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The actual consequences of war, it must be confessed, are equally important in the history of this conjectured narrative. Displacement and forced migration from Russia are the earliest subjects of quarrel in the states of Central Asia: a total destruction of cultural assets, or an environmental degradation, are the prices of war, in proportion as the territory of Russia is dismembered; that

this truth will lead them to lose in the Steppes of Central Asia the fruits of trade and investment. Under the appearance of danger, arising from the geopolitical vacuum, and the black market for nuclear weapons and weapons-grade uranium and plutonium find their supply, if not checked by some collateral power, the five states would enter into contests of regional authority or elimination, such as might inspire any habitual principle of realist theory in the academical discipline of International Relations (IR). One order of moderns, in their aversion to any application in which they are not engaged by neoliberalism, are apt to presume, that the Central Asians are willing to prefer the delusive hopes of an energy, security, and economic connection with the United States and Europe, to the ties of familiarity and dependence betwixt the Soviet Union and the denomination of their clans and fraternities.

When I recollect what Oswald Spengler has written, as well as the writings of Rudolf Steiner on folk souls, I am struck with the aspect of a strange history of the world. Guided, indeed, by that superior discernment of their comparative morphologies, I too am instigated to think that civilisations must decline, and their power degenerate. Hence it is, that while we Anglo-Americans admire the advantages of civilised and flourishing peoples, these terms appear misapplied to the Western or our Faustian Civilisation per se, whether as victors or as vanquished. It should seem, therefore, that it is of no consequence to the natives of Central Asia who would settle or conquer on the north of their own happier climates; that the beginning of a new High Culture is necessary and unavoidable.

It is properly observed that Central Asia is the only instance, to which there is no parallel in the history of mankind due to their instinctive healthy nomadism and eco-friendly attitude. It is everywhere interwoven, according to David William Parry, the first Chairperson of Eurasian Creative Guild, with singular attachments to the High Cultures of the Ancient Chinese, the Russian, the Ancient Indian, and the ‘Magian’ to which it belonged. After all, they were once the focus of the Islamic Golden Age, and were devised to cultivate the best qualities of scientists and philosophers, such as alKhwarizmi, al-Biruni, al-Farabi, and Ibn Sina; and to be guided in the choice of their expressions by the supernatural insights of Gnosticism, Manichaeism and Zoroastrianism, and arguably their contemporary variant Anthroposophy.

So tentatively observed what passes during the life cycle of individual societies, we shall propose that the middle region of Asia, without hostility to those who oppose them, approaches the first step towards internal growth and, at the risk of a literary flourish, as is the case of any people are a proof rather of Cultural felicity to which their active spirit is destined. With this pretext, they en-

deavour to derive from their commerce and their inherited varieties of education, delivered by the ablest category of indigenous intellectuals, artists, and creatives, received from abroad, which their cultural organisations may enable them to pursue with all their cultivated manners, amidst the competitions of rival states. Happy are they who contend with such difficulties, and who can discover the new heights of the Central Asian High Culture which tend to fortify and energise, for their joint preservation. A challenge our contemporary Eurasian scholars would do well to encourage. All meaning, every apocalypse is a new genesis.

Bio: Daniele-Hadi Irandoost is an educator, historian and philosopher, as well as a former Commissioning Editor for E-International Relations, and a Member of Eurasian Creative Guild, whereas he is currently reading for his PhD at the Department of War Studies, in

King’s College London. Irandoost is also the published author of On the Philosophy of Education: Towards an Anthroposophical View, while he is presently in the process of having his second book published under the highly evocative title, A New Vision of Spycraft.

by Daniele-Hadi Irandoost

RIPPLES OF CHANGE IN CENTRAL ASIA

At the end of 2022 I travelled to Kazakhstan, as Chairman of Eurasian Creative Guild to report on the early Presidential Elections and constitutional reform called by President Tokaev. It was a showcase, multimedia affair, streamed live on TV, a modern ‘progressive’ event to show the world democracy exists in the ‘Stans’. Almost a year earlier Kyrgyzstan had undergone the same process, with a little less razzamatazz. Both countries cited earlier protests and unrest as reasons for these changes and the need for reform.

I was back in Kazakhstan again during March 2023, for local and parliamentary elections, where ‘listening to the people’ and ‘building a platform for the future’ were two new mantras. And now in April 2023 I am in Uzbekistan, where they too are holding a referendum on constitutional reform.

As I sit in a cafe drinking coffee and people watching, I am surprised that I get a text on my temporary Uzbek

Sim card - few people know where I am and even fewer know my number. As I retrieve my phone from the jacket hanging on the back of my chair I realised that other peoples phones had pinged. I opened the message and watched two well dressed women showing each other their phone screens and smiling, a young man pressed delete and unimpressed returned the phone to the table. Even with my limited language skills I could see the number 30 and Aprelya Referenduma. I worked out that below was a web link presumably telling me where the polling stations were. Another example of how technology is rapidly being used in this region steeped in tradition. Whether texts or TV encourages people to vote is debatable but over the next few days I received more texts and saw more electronic billboards and flags.

This ripple effect is described by opponents of those currently in power as a means to build more power and some even see it as a return to a more dictatori-

al leadership, extending presidential terms and setting up systems that these currently popular leaders vowed to dismantle when they came to power. Many others describe the process as a path to more democracy, stability and accountability. Which way it plays out in each country, and even if other countries in the region follow the ripples, will only be told over time.

Politics is a hot topic and, some twelve or so years since I first visited here, at least people are talking about it. Back in the early days my first taxi rides here were suddenly silent if I asked anything vaguely political but on my last Kazakh visit it was all that people were talking about. In Uzbekistan they are a little more reserved. In some cases it turned out they were not sure what they were voting for in the referendum. With 154 statements to read, understand and agree or disagree with but with only one ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote, who could blame them!

Domestic politics is one thing but it is played out in front of the glare of foreign affairs and international diplomacy and decisions made by leaders are instantly visible. The unexpected decision by Central Asian leaders to attend the May 9th parade in Moscow is one such example - only one high-ranking guest was due to attend: Kyrgyz President, Sadyr Japarov. All of the others either changed plans or laid a trail of false narratives before attending. Either way it shows that Central Asian countries are seen as important players in the current world ‘disorder’. Both for the West and for Russian and China!

Back on the streets of Tashkent, a day after the referendum, the warm spring enables the evening cafe culture to start in earnest and the fountains are being refilled and turned on to cool the air. Even before the flags proclaiming the referendum are removed, an announcement is given that snap presidential elections have been called by President Japarov. Within the next two months another multimedia extravaganza will fill the airways: phones will beep to urge the voters to the polling stations and democracy will move forward again. Or maybe the people will start to tire and voter apathy will take over? It is hard to see the currently popular leaders losing and in the case of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan extending their terms in office by seven and fourteen years respectively should ensure the continuity at least. However, history shows us that when leaders become unpopular or out stay their welcome the stability begins to break down. In any case it seems that the ripples are travelling across the region even further and will continue to do so until calm returns to the bigger pond of Central Asian politics!

by Gareth Stamp

The event was held at one of the best exhibition venues in Russia - “Expoforum”. Alongside the discussions and formal business, the forum was also accompanied by a rich cultural program. The participants were able to visit the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve, the State Museum of the History of Religion, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo and the Russian Ethnographic Museum.

Concerts in the Stroganov Palace of the Russian Museum from the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic, including Shostakovich, were elegantly complemented by the museum, theatre and exhibition components of the arrangements. The pearl of the cultural program was the evening reception of the first day of the forum, which was held in the format of an art cocktail. Opera stars of the Mariinsky Theater performed for the participants of the SPBILF at the reception.

Participants were also able to see important documents, rare exhibits, such as legal documents from 1861 and 1914. They were even able to sit at the desk of that era, where such history had been made. The event continues to be an important platform for the international legal profession and plans are already underway for next year’s event.

ST. PETERSBURG INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FORUM 2023

St. Petersburg recently hosted the XI St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPBILF), a key event in the field of jurisprudence. At the forum, the largest platform for professional discussions on this topic, representatives of the Russian and foreign legal community, well-known public and government figures and business and government representatives discussed the role and place of law in the modern world.

The Legal Forum had more than 150 events of the business program, with more than 500 speakers taking part.

SPBILF-2023 was attended by heads of supreme authorities from 36 foreign states, including 20 ministers

of justice, 10 heads of higher foreign courts, 5 heads of international organisations and 6 heads of the diplomatic corps and with more than 3800 participants from 54 countries and territories, including Russia; the forum was attended by 28 representatives of federal and regional executive and legislative authorities of the Russian Federation;

Within the framework of the SPBILF-2023, 15 agreements, treaties and memorandums were signed. Forum participants were able to attend training master classes and try their hand at tournaments and simultaneous chess, checkers and go sessions.

Written by Viktor Obydennov

Edited by Gareth Stamp

Photo by Kirill Strizhak

THE GREEN ARAL SEA

Back in 1960, the Aral Sea held the title of the world’s fourth-largest inland body of water, covering an expanse similar in size to Sri Lanka. It was the lifeblood of a bustling fishing industry that provided jobs for more than 60,000 people and facilitated maritime transport between the ports of Aralsk in Kazakhstan and Muynaq in Karakalpakstan. However, starting in 1961, the sea experienced a drastic decline, with its levels plummeting by as much as ninety centimetres each year. By the early 2010s, the Aral Sea had lost an astonishing 90% of its original volume.

This environmental disaster can be traced back to Stalin’s ambitious “Great Plan for the Transformation of Nature”, which swept across the Soviet Union in the 1940s. Intended to boost agricultural output through a series of hydrological projects and to create forested areas on the steppe to tackle drought and soil erosion, the plan spelled doom for the Aral Sea. Its lifeline, the freshwater supplied by the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers, was rerouted into an intricate canal system to irrigate the colossal cotton fields of the Soviet Union. From the 1960s to today, the Aral Sea has lost twenty metres of depth, causing it to split into separate water bodies: the North and South Aral Seas, and the smaller Barsakelmes between them. By 2014, the eastern side of the South Aral Sea dried up entirely, leading to the formation of the Aralkum, the world’s newest desert.

Spanning over 40,000 square kilometres, the Aralkum is a desolate expanse of sand dunes, salt flats, and hardened saline soil embedded with fertilisers and pesticides from agricultural runoff. Strong winds occasionally sweep across the desert, stirring up clouds of toxic salty dust that infiltrate farmlands and heighten the risk of respiratory illnesses and cancers among the local population.

While the loss of the Aral Sea and the birth of the Aralkum sounds like a hopeless situation, the good news is NGOs and researchers are working hard to improve the region’s ecology and turn the crisis into an opportunity for positive change. The UNDP’s Green Aral Sea campaign is one such example. Launched in 2020, their aim is to prevent the spread of sand and salt from the Aralkum by planting saxaul plants. The project is financed via public crowdfunding, with each tree costing less than US$1. So far, they’ve planted more than 100,000 saplings.

ECOLOGY

Saxaul Trees: A Native Solution

A saxaul plant is a small, drought-resistant shrub or tree native to the deserts of Central Asia, particularly in countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. There are two main species of saxaul: black saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum) and white saxaul (Haloxylon persicum). The UNDP plants both. They’re well adapted to arid environments, featuring long taproots that reach at least several metres deep into the ground to access water.

Saxaul plants play a crucial ecological role in stabilising sand dunes, preventing desertification, and providing shelter and food for various desert animals like longeared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus), steppe fox (Vulpes corsac), and tolai hare (Lepus tolai). Additionally, they are used by local communities for firewood, fodder, and as a source of wood for construction. According to the Green Aral Sea team, a single tree can fix and hold up to four tonnes of sand.

Planting Process and Timeline

Planting saxaul in the Aral Sea, via the Green Aral Sea project or a government-run initiative, involves a well-coordinated process. Local forestry departments and experienced farmers handle the planting, with crews of around ten people planting an average of five to six hectares. The optimal season for planting saxaul from seed is October–December, and January–March for seedlings. Once planted, they take root within a

matter of weeks and live for up to twenty-five years. To ensure their long-term success, forest rangers monitor the plantations to ensure they’re protected against cultivation as firewood and livestock grazing.

If over twenty-six percent of a plantation survives its early years, the zone is classified as a forest, which is the ultimate aim of the Green Aral Sea project—to turn the Aralkum and other arid regions of the Aral basin into a verdant forest.

Soil Improvement for a Greener Future

While saxaul is a hardy plant and sowing the seeds is a manual process, the Green Aral Sea team experiments with innovative technology to boost the plant’s survival rate. UPL Zeba™ is one example, which is a starch-based superabsorbent “soil amendment”, which is a technical term for any substance that’s added to enhance a soil’s chemical or physical characteristics. In the case of UPL Zeba™, it’s a granular material and increases water and nutrient retention.

According to the manufacturer, it absorbs and holds water up to 400 times its weight, releasing it slowly as the plants need it. This helps to reduce water stress on plants, improve soil structure, and minimise water and nutrient leaching.The product is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, too, breaking down over time and leaving no harmful residues in the soil. So far, the results are promising for the team, with plants showing an eighty-seven percent chance of survival using the product.

Technological Innovation and Traditional Medicine

Beyond Zeba™, there are other strategies that may optimise the yield and productivity of afforestation projects in the Aral region. These include soil amendments from other manufacturers; liquid nanoclay; SkyFi for on-demand, near real-time, high-resolution satellite photos; Land Life’s water-retaining Cocoon; cloud seeding; and distributing saxaul seeds via drones or wind-blown contraptions.

Saxaul isn’t the only promising plant for the Aral basin. In Karakalpakstan, there are several medicinal and nutritional plants that the local UNDP is exploring for planting and cultivating, for economic benefit. For example, “sasiq gewrek” (Ferula foetida (Bunge) Regel) for treating bronchial asthma and tuberculosis, and “adiraspan” (Peganum harmala L.) for preventing influenza.

Additional Initiatives

In the 1970-80s, the Soviet Union tried to address the Aral Sea crisis through various ecological and hydrological research projects. Although many were discontinued or lost funding after independence, the Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan governments, in collaboration with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, aimed to enhance cooperation. Today, their initiatives have given rise to an array of high-impact projects or organisations in the region, including the Green Aral Sea project. Others include:

A Darwin Initiative-funded project, spearheaded by Joseph Bull from the University of Kent and involving multiple international partners, secured protected status for the Aral’s Vozrozhdeniya Island. They are now working on zoning efforts to maximise protection for endangered flora and fauna, such as saiga antelope — http://joewbull.com/ and http://saiga-conservation.org/.

Natalya Akinshina and Azamat Azizov’s project to establish honey gardens on the Aral seabed, with an aim of creating healthy bee populations to aid crop pollination and improve food security.

The World Aral Region Charity (WARC) collaborates with local NGOs, schools, and farmers to address the challenges faced by vulnerable communities. They focus on desalinating water through reverse osmosis filtration, promoting water-efficient drip-line systems to local farmers, planting climate-resilient fruit trees, and saxaul planting.

In November 2021, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev introduced the forward-thinking “Yashil Makon” (Green Nation) initiative, aiming to plant one billion trees and shrubs nationwide within five years. This effort will not only promote cleaner air in urban areas, improving lives and livelihoods, but also support Uzbekistan’s Paris Agreement commitments to tackle climate change.

How to Help

If you care about the Aral Sea region or Central Asia’s environment, you can make an impact by sharing these projects with your friends, family, colleagues, and on social media.

You can donate to the Green Aral Sea campaign and the World Aral Region Charity via their websites:

https://www.greenaralsea.org

https://www.aralregioncharity.org/

Text by Mathew Traver Photos by UNDP Uzbekistan

MOLDOVA – A CULTURAL BRIDGE OF EURASIAN SIGNIFICANCE

Cultural diplomacy has long been recognised as a powerful tool for promoting peace, understanding, and co-operation between nations.

In the Eurasian region, where the boundaries between different cultures, religions, and political systems converge, cultural diplomacy projects have played a particularly important role in fostering dialogue and building bridges between diverse communities. From the Silk Road Initiative to the Eurasian Creative Guild, there have been numerous cultural diplomacy projects in the region that have helped to break down barriers and promote cross-cultural exchange.

The Eurasian region, stretching from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, is home to a vast array of cultures, languages, and religions. It is a region of tremendous diversity, but also one of complex political and historical tensions. Cultural diplomacy initiatives have proven effective in facilitating cross-cultural communication and exchange in the Eurasian region. They provide a platform for individuals and communities to learn about different cultures, values, and traditions, and to gain a deeper understanding of their shared humanity. This can help to break down stereotypes and prejudices, and promote mutual respect and tolerance, ultimately contributing to a more peaceful

and cooperative region. In addition to promoting social and cultural understanding, cultural diplomacy initiatives can also have significant economic and political benefits. By promoting cultural exchange and dialogue, they can create opportunities for trade and investment, as well as fostering political co-operation and stability. Furthermore, cultural diplomacy initiatives can help to build trust and confidence between nations, laying the foundation for stronger diplomatic relations.

An authentic example of the power of cultural diplomacy, flourished on the scene of National Theatre “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau in the last days of 2022. The power of music as a universal language for communication was on display at the European premiere of the Fifth Symphony “King Yu” by renowned Chinese composer Bao Yunkai in Chisinau, Moldova. The concert, held as part of the 30th anniversary of dip-

lomatic relations between China and Moldova, saw a select group of Moldovan musicians perform a range of music, including the famous “Yellow River Cantata” by Xian Xinghai and Eugen Doga’s celebrated waltz “Gramophone.” The Chinese Ambassador to Moldova, Yan Wenbin, emphasised the importance of music as a means of fostering understanding and friendship between nations. The event was seen as a New Year’s gift from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the people of Moldova, with hopes that it would strengthen the ties of friendship between the two nations. Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan expressed his gratitude for China’s ongoing support for Moldova in cultural, economic, and tourism-related matters. He expressed his confidence that the two nations would find new points of unity and cooperation to open up new horizons for bilateral relations in the future.

CULTURE

important for several reasons. Projects of such a kind help break down barriers and stereotypes. They also provide opportunities for people in both countries to learn about each other’s history, traditions, and way of life, which in turn can lead to greater appreciation and respect for each other’s cultures.

Furthermore, cultural diplomacy projects can also have a positive impact on economic relations between nations. By showcasing the cultural richness of a country, such projects can attract tourism and investment, as well as foster trade relations and business partnerships. In addition, cultural diplomacy can also help promote political cooperation and diplomatic relations between countries.

The concert showcased the unique talent of Bao Yunkai, whose Fifth Symphony “King Yu” draws inspiration from folk themes and mythological subjects from the history of Chinese civilisation. The symphony consists of seven movements, each conveying a unique message.

The National Symphonic Orchestra of the Public Broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova,” the Academic Choir “Doina,” the Choir “Spring Voices,” and several soloists from France, Romania and Republic of Moldova, performed alongside the symphony, bringing the music to life under the baton of conductor Andrei Zapsa. The event was organised by the Embassy of China in the Republic of Moldova with support from the Ministry of Culture, “Teleradio-Moldova,” and “Mihai Eminescu” National Theater. This event serves as a testament to the power of cultural diplomacy in fostering understanding and promoting cooperation between nations.

Continuing to develop common cultural projects between Moldova and China in a Eurasian setting is

In the case of Moldova and China, the establishment of diplomatic relations 30 years ago has laid the foundation for a strong and mutually beneficial partnership that continues to flourish. The recent Chinese music concert in Chisinau, which celebrated the anniversary of diplomatic relations, is an example of the successful cultural diplomacy initiatives between the two countries.

Therefore, it is important to continue fostering common cultural projects between Moldova and China in a Eurasian setting, as they can strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations, and promote peace, understanding, and cooperation in the region.

SPECIAL EDITION OCA CINEMA 2023

by Andrei Zapsa,

Titular of Medal “Mihai Eminescu”, State award of Republic of Moldova for special merits in creative activity.

The team of OCA magazine is happy to announce a new special edition OCA Cinema 2023! A special issue of OCA Magazine will be published in London in October 2023. It is planned to publish articles on cinematography and the whole film industry in Central Asia, as well as expert articles from leading experts, including British ones, in the magazine. The special issue OCA Cinema will be of interest to producers, filmmakers, actors etc. all over the world. You are welcome to contribute to the issue!

POLICY

REPLICATING INDIA’S SOFT POWER STRATEGY IN KAZAKHSTAN

ing cultural exchanges between India and other nations, building relationships with countries, and preserving India’s cultural heritage.

India’s “Neighbourhood First” foreign policy has been instrumental in strengthening its diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries and promoting shared economic interests.This policy has also helped India leverage its cultural influence to promote its values and build goodwill in the region.The focus on building a positive brand image has enhanced India’s soft power capabilities and positioned it as a responsible global leader.

The Indian government recognises the significant influence and resources of the Indian Diaspora (ID) and seeks ways to tap into them for achieving soft power diplomacy objectives. The ID has considerable capital and human resources that can support government initiatives, including strengthening cultural ties and projecting a positive image of India abroad.

India and Kazakhstan share a historical past characterised by ethnic-cultural and trade contacts. Aryan tribes migrated from the Eurasian steppes to the Indian subcontinent, and the Saka tribes established their rule in parts of northern India. The spread of Buddhism from India to Central Asia and China occurred through the Great Steppe of Kazakhstan. In recent times, the popularity of Indian films, culture, yoga, dance, and music in Kazakhstan has strengthened cultural relations between the two countries.

Soft power refers to a state’s ability to exert control through political, moral, cultural, or subtle economic means. It is important to know the ways in which regional leader countries and world super-powers create a positive image impact through their use of soft power. India is a great example in this sphere as it has steadily been gaining soft power in the international arena and is increasingly recognised as a key player in global politics. India’s soft power is derived from its rich cultural heritage, growing presence in the world economy, and strategic partnerships with other countries.

India’s cultural heritage and growing presence in the world economy has made India an attractive destination for foreign investments and a reliable partner for

international trade. Strategic partnerships with other countries have allowed India to actively participate in multilateral forums and address global issues. Initiatives such as the Cultural Exchange Programme and hosting international events like the Indian Culture Festival allow India to showcase its unique cultural heritage on the global stage.

India has a well-structured institutional mechanism to promote Indian culture both within India and globally. Government-run institutions, such as the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), actively participate in the creation and implementation of policies and programs pertaining to India’s international cultural relations. ICCR’s goals include promoting and strengthen-

India has the potential to leverage its rich soft power resources to strengthen its image and influence in Central Asia. By effectively marketing its diverse culture, vibrant film industry, heritage sites, diaspora networks, cuisine, and traditional medicine, India can enhance its soft power profile in the region. Collaborating with organisations such as the CICA and UNESCO to promote science and technology education initiatives can further expand India’s reach and enhance its standing.

The convergence of soft power and smart power, particularly in developing a digital economy, should be a key focus of Kazakh diplomacy. Public diplomacy plays a crucial role in fostering people-to-people relations, which can be more effective than official diplomatic channels. Embracing concepts like the Indian Diaspora (NRIs) in Indian diplomacy, Kazakhstan can strengthen the cultural ties of its citizens abroad and boost its positive influence and image worldwide.

Maintaining a multifaceted foreign policy based on the UN Charter and a humanitarian outlook is important during these turbulent diplomatic times. Kazakhstan should emphasise its culture, tolerance, and national unity through digital means such as e-books, translated literature, conferences, and innovative approaches to cultural issues. Peaceful methods will contribute to Kazakhstan’s prosperity in the new era.

To serve as a roadmap for soft power outreach, Central Asian countries should consider:

• Establishing institutional mechanisms, led by political leadership, to promote cultural heritage and contemporary achievements as part of foreign policy.

• Adopting a region-centric approach to project cultural, social, and educational prosperity to the outside world.

• Including soft power elements in the agendas of Central Asian forums.

• Promoting the Kazakh language and facilitating its transformation into Latin script for global learners.

• Reviving cultural heritage through policies that promote it from the school level.

• Collaborating to increase the number of IT projects and professionals in Central Asia.

• Translating the best Central Asian literature works into English to reach a broader audience.

• Incorporating soft power tools such as ‘Kazakh Invest’ and ‘Kazakh Tourism’ in the routine functioning of Kazakh missions abroad.

• Introducing the concept of “Overseas Central Asian Natives” (OCAN) to strengthen cultural ties with citizens living abroad.

• Creating and promoting national and cultural branding tools, similar to India’s ‘Incredible India’ program, through social and mass media platforms.

• While major powers often rely on hard power, smaller nations can continue to utilise soft power strategies to advance their interests and make their arguments on the global stage. It is essential for countries to thoroughly examine their available resources and cultivate them as instruments for soft power diplomacy, fostering global and bilateral interactions.

by Aset Kakimzhanov

UKRAINE TAPS INTO HANSEATIC LEAGUE INITIATIVE

The Hanseatic League is a unique phenomenon in the history of Europe. From the co-operation and association of merchants for the development of their trade abroad, a federation of cities arose, which in its heyday included almost 200 cities. The Hanseatic League was so powerful that it imposed economic blockades on kingdoms and principalities to defend its economic interests, and, in exceptional cases, even waged wars.

From the thirteenth to the middle of the fifteenth century, the Hanseatic League largely dominated the exchange of goods between north-eastern and northwestern Europe, covering the needs of the west in raw materials and food from the east, opened by German colonisation, and the east from the west, where necessary western European products were supplied. For centuries, the Hanseatic League had a significant impact on economy and politics of Europe.

The modern Hanseatic League is an active network of approximately 200 cities from 16 European countries, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.The aim of “DIE HANSE” is to contribute to the economic, cultural, social and national unification of Europe and, in this sense, to strengthen the confidence of cities and municipalities in their powers so that they can fulfil their tasks as a place of living democracy.

Prince Lev Danylovych gave the German, Voivode Berthold, a mill in Lviv and small villages, Vynnyky and Pidbereztsi. The German colonies and, accordingly, the Hanseatic merchants played back the role of mediators in the trade and cultural ties of Ukrainian lands with European countries. Thanks to their efforts, a number of Ukrainian cities were involved in Hanseatic trade. Wroclaw and Gdansk became the main addressees of Ukrainian export. Such model of trade relations of Ukrainian lands with the outside world was determined by the general historical situation after the Mongol-Tatar invasion of 1241, which caused a deep destruction of the economy and reduction in population.

In the modern sense, international organisations emerged as a legal phenomenon at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, when the needs of world development determined the necessity to create the permanent collective intergovernmental bodies. The experience of the development of the first interstate international organisations is connected with the thirteenth century creation of the Hanseatic League as a trade and political union of North German cities, headed by the city of Lübeck, which formally existed until 1669. The League carried out trade between Western, Northern, and Eastern Europe. It had a trade hegemony in Northern Europe, and became the prototype of the European Union, its original archetype.

Already in our time (1980) in the city of Zwolle, the “New Hanse” was founded as a “cross-border living and cultural community of cities”. The purpose of this organisation is to support trade and tourism and to hold “Hanse Congresses of the New Era” annually in one of the former Hanseatic cities.

There are also long-standing ties between Ukraine and the Hanseatic League. Among the Hanseatic cities, Toruń, which was the centre of trade of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, played the leading role in trade with Ukraine. Toruń merchants traded predominantly in fabrics. In return they exported wax, squirrel fur, oriental silk and spices, as well as cattle.

Gradual economic revival, intensification of trade began in the mid-fourteenth century, but these processes were still slowed down by raids of hordes from the steppe. Besides, Ukrainian lands remained under complete foreign control - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland, Hungary, Moldova, etc. This actually made independent trade activity impossible and increased the intermediary role of privileged merchant associations. In the period from the fourteenth to the the first half of the seventeenth century, both internal and external trade on Ukrainian lands was subject to strict regulation resulting into downfall of a large part of small and medium-sized merchants. Under such circumstances, the contacts of merchant guilds and cities were a particularly important form of political and legal support for the development of trade and economic relations. As an example of effective historical ties between Ukraine and the Hanseatic League, there is a letter from the council of the town of Volodymyr to the council of Stralsund dated 1324 confirming belonging of merchants Bertram and Mykolay Ruthenians to Volodymyr community, whose goods were detained in Stralsund after the shipwreck. This example clearly proves that Ukraine is definitely a natural component of the Hanseatic League.

The modern integration interests of Ukraine, among other things, are being implemented by a promising initiative of the representatives of the scientific, business, civil society of Ukraine using historical and modern experience in the practice of international cooperation.

An international non-government organisation has been created and successfully functioning, a humanitarian project - “Ukrainian Hanseatic Initiative”, which is the sole founder of the inter-structural interaction of

the Hanseatic League, representing not only Ukraine in the Hanseatic League, but also the Hanseatic League in Ukraine and in the world. It is initiates and implements the perspective of effective development of the potential of the Hanseatic League, on the timeless essence of whose standards the viability of the countries of Europe is based, which will be confirmed in the future.

Also, the Ukrainian Hanseatic Initiative is the organiser and inspirer of the creation of the Hanseatic University in Ukraine as a scientific, educational, cultural centre

SERGIY ANPILOGOV

HERITAGE

The Ukrainian Hanseatic Initiative, together with the Hanseatic League, is constantly studying of Ukrainian, German, Polish and other archives to determine the priority standards for effective co-operation and already now takes direct full-fledged participation in its most important events which clearly leads to the effectiveness of the chosen direction of activity in the fields of culture, science, sports, production, trade and other types of business, as well as in the construction and development of community and municipal arrangements.

and higher education institution in the traditions of the Hanseatic League, because universities, no less than the development of trade, economic and political interrelationships promoted European peoples’ awareness of their belonging to one civilization. So, the universities of that period were supranational institutions based on Latin, as well as ancient and Christian culture. Opening of the university encouraged activity of social life, trade and increase of incomes. That’s why city administrations were eager to open universities. Thanks to the universities, the culture based on intelligence and law spread in Europe.

Anpilogov Chancellor of the Principality of Kyivan Rus Chairman of the Presidium of Public Associations of Ukraine President of the NGO “Humanitarian Project” Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the “Ukrainian Hanseatic Initiative” Academician of the European Academy of Science, Arts and Letters

by Sergiy

EDUCATION

TASHKENT UPGRADES LEGAL REPUTATION FOLLOWING LAW SPRING EVENT

In this article, I, Professor of Law Kazushi Yamamoto, report on the Tashkent Law Spring held on 17 and 18 May 2023, with the participation of the United Nations Development Programme, Regional Dialogue and other international organisations, and the management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. I would like to report on the situation in Central Asia in recent years and discuss the latest developments in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The international symposium above is the “Tashkent Law Spring”. An overview of the International Symposium can be found at the following URL with an introduction to the world’s leading speakers from around the world: https://www.tashkentlawspring.uz/speaker/ index. The International Symposium is one of the key events in the field of law in the Central Asian. It is supposed to be held every two years under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the United Nations and other international organisations. I gave an international speech in the section of Digital Technologies in the Legal Sector Amudarya: https: //www.tashkentlawspring.uz/uploads/

images/Forum_ 2023-Dastur_Finish_14_05_2023.

pdf. You can also find a summary of my international speeches on the website, taking into account copyright, etc.: https://www.tashkentlawspring.uz/site/agenda. My international presentation is based on my publication just before the day of my conducted the international speech, through the Law School of the United States of America, a paper from IGI Global, a global publishing house located in Pennsylvania, USA, on the potential of the blockchain in terms of the vision of the concept of freedom: “The Vision of Freedom and the Potential of Blockchain”, Kazushi Yamamoto. If you’d like to explore my paper further, I invite you to read it in more detail and, if it resonates with you, consider the possibility of purchasing a copy. You can find the paper at the following URL: https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/the-visionof-freedom-and-the-potential-of-blockchain/323504. In this international speech, I spoke about the evolution of the ability of blockchain to enable human freedom on a global level, and made proposals for what we can do with blockchain technology. The speech was a keynote speech from the point of view of blockchain. At the same time, I presented a short but philosophical

perspective on what is meant by the concept of freedom when it comes to facilitating the freedom-enabling function, and how the concept of freedom is perceived. It will be proposed to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan as part of the international judicial policy in the Central Asian base.

In the light of these international speeches, I would like to express my appreciation to the Republic of Uzbekistan and Central Asia. I would like to write about what I feel about this. There are two perspectives in the description. One is the perspective from international development, mainly from the economic aspect. The other is from the perspective of progress at the international level in terms of education.

Therefore, firstly, I would like to describe my impressions of Central Asia, in particular the Republic of Uzbekistan, mainly from the perspective of international development from an economic aspect. The author stayed in Tashkent and Central Asia for a short period of time in 2006 to teach Japanese law at Nagoya University Education and Research Center for Japanese Law within the Tashkent State Law University as part of the so-called Global CEO Project by the Nagoya University Graduate School of Law and the Japanese Government. The first of his physical contacts with Tashkent and Central Asia was a short stay teaching Japanese law at the Centre for Japanese Law Teaching and Research, Nagoya University, Tashkent State Law University. From 2007 to 2010, I lived in Tashkent as a lecturer at the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan and at the Tashkent State Law University, where I was also a Special Lecturer at that time at the Nagoya University Graduate School of Law. Compared to that time, I have the impression that the city has become brighter. I can’t say for sure because I was only in the centre of Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia, for a short period of time, but I can say that the construction of the Intercontinental Hotel, where I gave an international speech, the construction of the sidewalks, which I was very concerned about when I lived there in the past, and the construction of a new building, the Intercontinental Hotel, have made the city a brighter place. The bumpy asphalt and brick paving bricks have been nicely paved and maintained, and Tashkent has become beautiful after 12 years. I hear that foreign capital has been introduced, as has the Intercontinental Hotel mentioned above, and also, as a friend of mine from an international law firm says, the philosophy has changed.

This is a matter of ideology, so it is difficult to generalise, but in the past, luxury cars were stopped by the police, but in recent years they are now seen as a sign of success. Whether this phenomenon is ideologically good for those who believe in communism or socialism may remain a philosophical issue, but from the perspective of constitutional democracy, which philosophically defines private property rights, the philosophy of a free world with this I at the heart of constitutionalism is gaining ground.

Secondly, I would like to discuss the changes in Tashkent from the educational aspect. In terms of teaching. In other words, young people have brightened up. This also has to wait for ideological exploration, but it seems that Soviet-style forced labour used to be still around, as I have read in student reports that this practice was still practised between 2007 and 2010, when I was in Tashkent, but I am not sure now. I don’t know about this. However, the youth have brightened up. This is definitely a real feeling. When a person lives in a society or organisation, he or she is usually able to behave cheerfully when belonging to that group brings a bright outlook for the future. Some people are so strong that they are able to make their way through life completely independent of the group or organisation. This is just a brief overview of the general trends. I remember giving up to 20 international speeches a year when I was once stationed in Uzbekistan, and the way the people of Tashkent worked in the management of the Ministry of Justice this time was, as far as I know, the best I have ever seen in an international symposium. There is no doubt about this. Many students from the Tashkent State University of Law also participated in the management of the symposium on a volunteer basis, but their participation was not forced upon them, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves in a positive sense, taking part in the symposium in a lively and enjoyable way, taking part in their own development. I myself was asked several times to take photos with them, and in this way I was able to see the voluntary attitude of the law students. I sensed a positive attitude. In addition, I also saw students 2 and 3 praising the content of my international speech and actively sending out information on LinkedIn, including their impressions of the content - to which I responded with a “like”. I felt that students were taking charge of their own lives, and not relying on government scholarships. I also felt that a positive social climate is developing in which this attitude can be put into practice. However, the Tashkent State Uni-

EDUCATION

is being put into practice. This is evident, for example, in the Central Asian Legal Research Fellowship, a global fellowship initiative that brings together leading legal scholars from around the world, of which the author is a Fellow as a matter of status. However, I should point out that the IMF: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND has calculated very high GDP growth rates for Central Asia and Uzbekistan, for example, and I have no doubt that the IMF: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND is a very good source of information. According to the word of a highly intelligent intellectual, I am sceptical about whether citizens actually enjoy such high rates of economic growth. However again, this is also something that should be examined in detail in terms of social stratification, class, etc.

OCA MAGAZINE EDUCATION

2023

versity of Law of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the one of the best international law schools in Central Asia, to put it mildly, representing the entire former Soviet bloc, and it is not possible to say that the attitude of students at such a world-class law school reflects the social situation or teaching environment in Central Asia as a whole, and it should be noted that this cannot simply be said.

In any case, the aspect of Tashkent that I felt during my international speech at the international symposium held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tashkent, the greatest city in Central Asia, was very definite. Reflecting this aspect of Tashkent, the faces of the world’s leading professionals from all over the world were also cheerful. The faces of my fellows and friends, who are professors of Tashkent State University of Law, were also cheerful. Moreover, the members of the management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan or the Tashkent State University of Law are rapidly rejuvenating themselves and, of course, there is still a need for exploration at the philosophical level, but the awareness of being at the forefront of the global trend

All in all, the international symposium “Tashkent Law Spring” 2023 was excellent, I think. Although the speeches by law firms and international organisations were general and could be improved from an academic point of view, the quality of the speeches at the symposium was still generally at a high level, as were the speeches in the teaching section, “LEGAL PERSONNEL FOR MODERN LAW” Sectional session on “New vision and perspectives of legal education for the digital generation “LEGAL PERSONNEL FOR MODERN LAW”, where students of Tashkent State University of Law actively asked questions and the response from the moderator was also excellent. In view of these facts, it can be said that students are becoming more active in the sessions at the international level in the education, and the city of Tashkent itself has been becoming a world-class city, including international investment. However, considering that Tashkent was undeniably a prestigious city during the Soviet era, the framing of such matters might be limited to the perspective of the transition to a market economy in post-Soviet socialist countries. It might be more appropriate to say that Tashkent was “originally a world-class city.” There is no doubt, anyway, that cities are developing internationally in a way that fulfils the trends of the above.

by Kazushi Yamamoto Professor, Fellow, Editorial Board Member, Doctor of Law

OCA Magazine is the only British independent magazine that since 2009 has been covering the political, economic and cultural events of Central Asia in the English speaking space. Circulation of the printed version of the magazine: from 2000-5000 copies. Audience of subscribers and readers: 50,000.

We are happy to announce OCA Education 2023! The aim of the project is to demonstrate the educational potential of the post-Soviet countries, experts and media representatives to promote education and opportunities for international cooperation in the framework of educational and research programs in the region.

A special issue of OCA Magazine will be published in London in August 2023 in English. It is planned to publish articles on the best practices of educational institutions in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as articles from leading experts, including British ones, in the magazine, which will comprehensively show the key opportunities for the development of international projects. The special issue will be of interest both to researchers, scientists and international students who plan to develop their scientific activities in key industries for the region, and to experts in the field of higher education, recruitment, etc.

THEY CALL ME «MZUNGU»

My interest in this region appeared back in the distant 80s when we were children and watched Soviet television. Even then, I was amazed by the footage from Africa: nature, animals, mystical traditions, and what is most important – the suffering of people, the low standard of living and disease. During that time, the idea to become a doctor was born in my head. I really wanted to help Africans, go to Africa and treat them. Since childhood, it was clear that I would become an infectious diseases doctor, and in my twenties I undertook that specialisation.

In the first year of my work in the infectious diseases hospital, I heard about an invitation to work in a hospital in Africa. I ran with joy to the head physician with my resume. But her answer was simple: “Your experience is 6 months. The required experience is 5 years. You are young and inexperienced. Go back in your department” It was very embarrassing!

Time passed, I had been working as an infectious disease specialist for 12 years. I Became a virologist, epidemiologist and molecular biologist.That time Africa itself was waiting for me. I was sent to Uganda from Israel.

And you do understand that I immediately agreed to go.

So, there I was, working in Africa, in Uganda, in Entebbe. The locals call me “MZUNGU” (white man in local language). For them, I am a curiosity, because I’m the only white-skinned blonde here. Children surround me on the street and follow me for a while. More and more of them every day.

The other day a group of kids ran up to me, holding bracelets woven from threads and ribbons in their hands. Children handed me these baubles, asking me to buy 1 dollar each. But I didn’t need bracelets, and I didn’t even have dollar bills with me, so I refused politely. But they continued jumping around me with begging eyes. At last, I decided to give them some sweets from my supply. Taking off my backpack, I opened it and began to rummage through the compartments with my hand. There was an unopened package of Bon Pari lollipops, which I handed to the busiest bracelet dealer. The children jumped happily, clapping their hands. Then something completely unexpected happened to me: they put their bracelets on my backpack and ran away

with a bag of sweets. I was left standing in confusion. I now had 10-15 baubles for $15, though I gave children some bags of sweets for $2. How unfair of me! On the other hand, from the children’s viewpoint, it was an amazingly profitable exchange. Rare Overseas sweets for some braided threads. Probably each of us thought that it was an incredibly successful deal. That’s how I got handmade bracelets that I would give away to my colleagues as souvenirs when I get back to the lab.

…I live near the great Victoria Lake. The second largest in the world. It looks like a calm sea, and you feel the same on its shore. However, the lake is teeming with schistosomes.This is a parasite that penetrates into the skin of a person and rises to the internal organs, destroying them. Therefore, even a drop of water from this lake is not harmless, especially if you have wounds on your skin. It’s like sitting on the shore of an acidic lake on Venus - beautiful, but extremely dangerous. Other parasites common on the ground are hookworms. They also penetrate the skin and then, according to the plan of all parasites, make their way to the internal organs. Perhaps you might think twice before walking barefoot on the grass along the picturesque shore?

There are snakes, but they are afraid of people, so you won’t meet them unless you specifically look for them. However, lizards come to the house, hang on the walls, wait for you in the shower, in the kitchen. They eat mosquitoes, so they are considered extremely useful. That is why sleeping surrounded by lizards is even safer. Better still, sleep under a net and have suitable repellent.

There is also an amazing lake fly phenomenon - a cloud of lake flies. They don’t bite, they don’t stick. They have only 24 hours to breed before they die.Therefore, they don’t care about you. But if this cloud gets in your way, then your nose, mouth and eyes will be plastered over. It’s not scary. It’s uncomfortable.

It’s a rainfall season now, and it feels like a waterfall from the sky. The roads here are made of a red clay, and when it gets wet, it turns into a slush, difficult to overcome. Only powerful jeeps could cope with such roads. Sometimes they are also pulled off the road into ditches, and stay there lying on their sides, like tired cows. This is how we went on expeditions to the villages. On jeeps slowly wending our way through such roads. There were some villages, where no one can get

for many days. Moreover, people there remain hungry and deprived of any help, including medical assistance.

I applied all my knowledge in medicine and virology here. I took blood myself, interviewed patients and worked with samples in the laboratory.

Africa has dramatically changed my view on epidemiology. What I understood while being here: we came to save this part of the world from infections. But people here are in such close contact with these viral, bacterial and parasitic infections that it has become an integral part of their condition. Looking at how children dive headlong into the dark waters of Lake Victoria, and then go home barefoot, I realized that treating hookworm and schistosomiasis in this case is a utopia, because tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and in 10 years, they will do the same. There was another question: what if these viruses, bacteria and protozoa get to us, visitors, or to another continent? Our mission was to answer these questions.

Just before our visit to Africa, the Zika virus caused troubles in the world. Women who contracted this infection for the first time during pregnancy gave birth to children with microcephaly. South America and the American South were the hardest hit.

The Zika virus is named thus because it was found in the Zika forest in Uganda. Therefore, we arrived at the heart of this infection and collected blood samples from people who live around Zika Forest. Since then we have studied their immune response against Zika virus. Based on the knowledge gained, a vaccine and treatment has been developed. Today, pregnant women avoid such consequences, and children are born healthy.

The data assembled during this expedition is of great importance for world science, especially considering the conditions under which it was assembled.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” as Neil Armstrong said.

by Anna Demina Winner of OEBF 2022 in Best Academy work category. Article published with the Saltanat Rakhimbekova grant.

BEYOND STEREOTYPES

These days unexpected and rapid transformations can be seen in the fine arts of Kazakhstan. The most surprising thing is radical changes in sculpture as one of the most conservative spheres which is firmly committed to established traditions.

It sounds unbelievable that a sculptor organising and participating in creative exhibitions and contests before their 50th birthday was prohibited in Soviet Kazakhstan. This kind of monumental art has had an officious nature from the beginning and has been subject to ideological attitudes, that curbed a sculptor’s freedom.

For the 30 years since the independence of Kazakhstan, innovations in this field were showcased only slowly and were not obvious. And that’s completely understandable. Existing ideals were ruined, and new ones took time to appear. Creative unions lost government support while monumental art needs huge investments.

Gradually everything returns to normal, however.To a certain extent the tried and tested traditions of social realism are still being used as well as gathered experience of academic schools along with some new innovations. It’s much more noticeable in chamber sculpture where artists have been given a big opportunity for expression of creative freedom. Acceptance of their points of view is more commonplace now.

Kazakh sculptures keep a connection with reality, however. There is recognition of their responsibility for the proposed concepts, incorporating social and personal conflicts around them. Their art reacts to the pulse of modern life challenging usual criteria, and also attempts to focus on the artist’s personal background. Direct feedback at the exhibition sites is very important to artists, after all by creating their works they wait for a live dialogue with the audience. Multiple components play an important role here: the artist’s audacity, unpredictability, unexpectedness of techniques, angles, and materials, quite often shock in terms of value, sensation, excitement and even arrogance in ways of presenting the object.

Vagif Rakhman is a master who was recognised in soviet time but stood apart from his colleagues. He has a solid academic training but was always known as “the cat that walked by himself”, avoiding official orders. During perestroika, Vagif Rakhman was highly valued in the West where he presented many of his bronze sculptures. His passion for stylistic features of hyperrealism and neorealism did not go unnoticed. His return to Kazakhstan was marked by works of entirely new type. The range of his message became deeper, more sincere, more ironic, more democratic, and more intriguing. A new scale of works and synthesis of different and unexpected combinations of materials provokes viewers. Small forms seem to hint at decorativeness as the main artistic dignity of works, but with a closer look you can see a thoughtful substance.

The sculpture “She” impresses with its beauty and sensual energy of bronze and bright glass. The first impression is confusion stemming from the lack of torso of a bohemian belle that makes you think. It’s possible that the artist sought to show that chasing after external attributes women have no capacity for serious reflection. And maybe it’s increasing feminisation that pushes back the social status of modern women.

The sculpture “Friends Table” attracts you with its bronze toning of the table as well as sculpture’s details with an amazing play of shadow and light contrast. All details reveal the hand of a great master who has skill to work with any natural material. But the accent here is not on the aesthetic expression. The lack of human images does not prevent it conveying the psychology of relationships through the variety of hand gestures. We can find such metaphorical statements in other works like “Incarnation” and “Challenge”.

Liliya Pozdnyakova has a delicate and impressionable nature with heightened reflection of her surrounding reality. Being an artist with her own established style, she suddenly changed her creative path when she became dissatisfied with tightness of the picture plane. Today’s dynamic life with its rapidly changing moral conflicts demanded another tool from the artist and formed the need not to react to others’ positions, but to create her own one with adequate ways of expression. Usage of the short-lived material didn’t prevent the depth of philosophical reflection.

Her sculptural composition “Wandering Angel” is made of egg cartons, old paper, plastic bottles and pieces of wire (all considered waste materials). The point is not from what, but how and for whom? We can see the accelerated transformation of a person inside and outside and their place in society, thus breaking ageold foundations, moral barriers, ethical and aesthetic ideas. The sculpture consists of two identical people connected by one root. The eternal dualism of two opposite principles inside each human - good and evil, light and darkness, emotional and intellectual - accompanies people until the end of life. It’s hard to accept or abandon something that constitutes your inner self. The technique used creates an illusion of long lasting material that is strengthened by relief texture.

“Overcoming the fog. The Breath” is Liliya’s burning reply to the bloody events on the 5th of January 2022 in Kazakhstan. It’s a three-part composition representing a relief and two separate three-dimensional shapes. True emotional immersion of the artist led her to create a piece of art with a social commentary and involvement in the tragedy of that situation. Relief implementation of the composition conveys the atmosphere: shaky and ominously low-lying mist, fire outbreaks, continuous shooting, burning cars, on the background of which an unwavering standard-bearer’s figure stands. Soaring above the golden eagle is a symbol of the released bird from the flag and a sign of accumulated public protest and advancing changings. In the foreground we see the warrior with closed eyes, lowered hands who is taking his first breath while he escapes from his long-running bondage.

Liliya’s ability to be relevant and find the culmination allows her to convey events as they happened, with maximum psychological expression. Her pain can’t

leave anyone indifferent. Form-creating searches were like sniper shots: right on target. Newspaper texture intensifies the imagery of the public’s approach to the incident. The work seems aimed at moral, ethical, aesthetic, and ecological cleansing of society.

These are only two examples of modern sculpture, which demonstrate that our masters learn new meanings in modern worldwide sculpture. Sustainability of value representations about past art that connected to concepts such as eternity, memory and three dimensional space has given way to modern dynamic formations that use a variety of forms, techniques and materials.

Now sculpture is a mysterious kind of art that opens an infinite field of creative opportunities, and there’s a hope that Kazakh artists are going to use it.

Maria Zhumagulova, An art expert, Winner of OEBF 2022 in Best Art Book category. Article published with the Igor Savitskiy grant.

THE CONTEMPORARY ART OF BAHKSHI

A NEW SOUND OF THE GOLDEN HERITAGE OF UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan is a country wrestling with its past and its future. Ancient historical cities where heroes such as Alexander the Great and Tamerlane walked the same smooth worn pavements as today’s tourists, need preserving, yet the country is also caught up in a headlong rush to modernity and globalisation. The balance between the demands for tradition and future are truly polarised here. It is not only the physical mausoleums, palaces and silk road fortresses that could be at risk but also the non-tangible heritage too. The folk literature, which often combines with traditional music (known here as Bahkshi), is a very important part of historical culture and is even recognised by UNESCO. Storytelling, singing and, in the past, even rallying the troops into battle was a skill, with works passed down between masters of the art. Until very recently much of that work was not written down and it is unimaginable how much of this aural cultural history has been lost over the centuries.

CULTURE

However today there are enthusiastic academics, scholars and performers from across the Turkic countries and beyond that are trying to maintain and reclaim the heritage. UNESCO has recognised non-tangible cultural art forms and in Guliston City, the capital of the Syrdarya region, in Uzbekistan the third international conference on the contemporary art of Bakhshi - ‘A new sound of the Golden Heritage’ was held over three days in the first week of May 2023. Alongside the conference an international Bakhshi competition was held with Musical performers from more than 40 foreign countries and international organisations gathering to showcase their talents at the festival. 64 performers, including ten local and 54 foreign artists, were selected from over 300 participants. It was a chance for performers to share their music and storytelling with each other and the wider public and the locals also revelled in the chance to take photos with Kimono clad singers from Japan, Sarong wrapped musicians from Indonesia, Bulgarian women in traditional clothes draped in golden coin jewellery, and of course the Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in Shapans and Ak Kalpak added to the colour. It was a great honour for me, as Chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild, to represent Great Britain, although at times I felt very underdressed! The pageantry was further highlighted by an epic performance of Uzbek and Turkic culture. Over 300 dancers from the local universities joined professional singers and artists in a nonstop riot of colour music and performance that thrilled the crowds and even got the visiting dignitaries on their feet dancing.

The conference itself was an opportunity to outline what Central Asian nations are doing to uphold the tradition and to promote it around the world. The conference was opened by the Uzbek Minister of Culture B.Sayfullayev and supported by the Adviser to The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Amir Muqam. Following two days of presentations and delivery of academic papers a resolution was passed to include the revival of Bakhshi Art in creative schools, and importantly the recording and cataloguing of current Bakhshi performers by using new technology to develop an international archive and use this to promote the Bakhshi arts.

The results of the competition saw accolades and prizes being awarded at an open-air public performance bringing the proceedings to a dramatic close.

During the Bakhshi festival in Gulistan City, Uzbekistan Gareth Stamp (Chairman of Eurasian Creative Guild) interviewed Maxmudaliyev Akmaljon, Governor of the Syrdarya District and one of the key organisers of the festival.

ECG - How Important is the Bakhshi Festival for The Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan?

Maxmudaliyev Akmaljon (MA) - Bakhshi folklore festival is crucial for Uzbekistan, and the first aim of having such a festival is to preserve historical traditions of art of Bakhshi. Also, we have a desire to save our unique culture, as cultural development means education and knowledge. And where there is education and knowledge, there only will be development and progress. For these, especially for Syrdarya district, and for the whole population of Uzbekistan, Bakhshi festival means happiness, and a cultural and meaningful event. For Uzbekistan, the sphere of culture is crucial, as we have the opportunity to struggle with ignorance.”

ECG - What plans for other festivals do you have in the coming months?

MA - We have big plans in the future to hold such kinds of festivals. In 2023, it will be the 60 years anniversary of Syrdarya district’s creation.

It means that from 1 January to 31 of December 2023 we will have a celebration in every home, street, administration, parks and regions. Also Syrdarya is popular for our special Mirzachol region melons, and Mirzabad region pomegranates. We have the seasonal harvest of melons and pomegranates festival, together with the celebration of our district’s anniversary - and we will definitely hold a big celebration, and will show it to the whole of the world.

ECG - What have you learnt from organising such an elaborate festival?

MA - The fact that the third Bakshi festival was held in Gulistan city, in Syrdarya, allows us to gain experience and preparation. During this preparation, we tried to pay attention to everything, especially for the development of tourism of Uzbekistan. Preparing for this festival was on the highest level, all the ministries and our president created very useful system for us. All members of our team supported each other in preparing for this event. It is now a unique experience for all of us.

ECG - It has been an amazing experience and I want to personally thank you and the organisers for the opportunity to witness the Bakhshi Festival.

MA - Hospitality is in our hearts and blood. Also I am very happy to meet with you because of this festival, and I want to add for the first question, culture unites peoples, friends and brotherhood

Text & Pictures by Gareth Stamp

THE ROAD TO BOROVOE

For people that live in the beginning of the third millennium, it’s hard to believe that a hundred years ago trips to Borovoe were not so easy and challenging for our ancestors. Now, almost everyone has his own car, there are intercity bus and train services all over Kazakhstan, and finally there are flights that allow you to fly thousands of kilometres in a couple of hours. So it is no longer a problem to get the resort Borovoe. For example, it would take three hours to get there from Petropavlovsk and even less from Astana. Today it seems impossible to think that the trip from Petropavlovsk to Borovoe in 1913 took from two to five days depending on the weather, different circumstances and kinds of carriages.

There wasn’t a highway at that time and cars were not common. Development of aircraft had just begun and the building of the Trans Siberian had just finished, but the closest stations of this railway were in Petropavlovsk and Omsk. That’s why visitors of Borovoe were mostly from these cities.

Hardly anyone from the southern part of the Steppe visited Borovoe. At that time Akmolinsk and Atbassar were some of the biggest cities and its citizens were Cossacks, philistines, merchants, relocated peasants, settled Kazakh people and supervised exiles. They were not ones who could afford to go to a resort. Almost all of them were on duty, engaged in farming and worked to live. However, steppe Kazakhs had known about healing properties of salt and the curative mud from the Borovoe lakes much earlier. Then the Russians came and regularly visited mainly for healing rheumatism and skin diseases.

The main flow of tourists (they were called summer residents) was from big and rich Siberian cities like Chelyabinsk, Petropavlovsk, Kurgan, Omsk, Tomsk, Novo-Nikolaevsk (Novosibirsk). People from different social classes - merchants, philistines, the intelligentsia, civil servants, and skilled workers - had enough money to pay for this trip for themselves and their family.

Let’s imagine the journey of such a “summer resident”, a teacher from Omsk for example, who had heard about the resort where extraordinary fresh air and

koumiss could improve health. A teacher’s salary in the Russian Empire was good but he did not have his own carriage. He had a choice to rent a horse-drawn carriage from Omsk directly to Borovoe or go by newly built Siberian railway to Petropavlovsk station and then go to the resort. The second option was more preferable because the distance was shorter.

Financially it was more profitable to find a fellow passenger on the train or before the trip by placing an advertisement in any newspaper, like “Siberian Life” that was popular all over the whole of Siberia. Another way to find a fellow traveller was to place an advertisement on the post station in Petropavlovsk and wait for a few hours. The total cost of the trip from Petropavlovsk to Borovoe resort was twenty rubles for a couple of horses or about thirty rubles for three horses.

When the teacher arrived at the railway station in Petropavlovsk he would need to hire a carriage driver (50 pennies) and go to the post station where he could rent a post horse that were provided by state postal service, or hire horse-drivers like taxi drivers nowadays. Unfortunately, both options had their disadvantages.

What was the trip by post horses like? If you imagine that the post carriage is like an intercity bus and post stations are additional stops, then you can get an approximate picture of this kind of traffic management. The cost of these post carriages was 3 pence for one horse per one verst plus 10 pence state fee for a horse for the whole road. Additionally, the cost of the carriage was 12 pence plus the usual tips. At that time, there were only two villages on the post road to Borovoe – Bogodukhovskoe (90 versts from Petropavlovsk) and Azat (80 versts from Borovoe). Azat was the last post station and people needed to hire horse-drivers to go further. The whole way from Petropavlovsk to Azat people had to make pickets among the boundless steppe. Pickets were post stations with 2 or 3 buildings. It was possible to overcome all the distance to Borovoe for 1.5 or 2 days depending on the post services and mood of the head of the station. Usually he used his authority and sometimes could postpone the carriage departure at his discretion, or could

wait for another carriage and transfer all post packages and passengers there. The road to Borovoe was pretty easy in good weather. The steppe path was well-rolled and was as good as asphalt. Wet weather conditions made this road much harder because there was a lot of dirt that stuck to the carriage wheels and horse’s hooves. So, drivers tried to ride on bumpy ruts. That was a really hard road to handle even for a healthy man.

The next way to get there was to hire a horse driver. There were lots of free horse drivers in Petropavlovsk who could offer their service or suggest another driver. The cost for horse drivers was 10 pence for each pair of horses per one verste. This way could guarantee a calmer journey on the road as you had to deal with only one driver and didn’t worry about rearranging baggage. The big disadvantage of this trip was its slow pace. The trip could last from 2 to 5 days depending on the weather, horse’s stamina and resistance of carriages with stops at Inns.

There was another unusual way to get to Borovoe, by bicycle. Before the trip people needed to train for a month. A cyclist could ride this distance over 16-20 hours (not counting stops to rest) in good weather. People who chose to get to Borovoe by bicycle rode usually along the main railway track till the first crossing and then along telegraph poles to the Azat village. From there it was possible to see the mountain top of Kokshe, which was a visual landmark. There were plenty of people who wanted to cover this distance by bicycle and a lot of information about this route has survived. Papers contain information on how much water and food you need to have with you on the trip, what clothes you should wear, and also medical advice was included. It’s not surprising that medical experts of the time considered bicycle riding as a great healing, preventive and strengthening remedy for many diseases.

But in 1913, the suffering of travellers came to an end when car traffic to Borovoe was established in Petropavlovsk. Three kinds of cars started to operate: light passenger, passenger and cargo. The same year the New Railways Commission decided to build a railway from Petropavlovsk to Kokshetau. But the first World War and then Civil war delayed realisation of this project for some time.

by Pavel Kossovich

5TH EURASIAN FILM FESTIVAL DESCENDS ON LONDON

From the 25th to the 30th May 2023, the Fifth Eurasian Film Festival was held in Romford, London. Films and presentations were made from more than twelve countries, embodying the best of culture and creative talent. The festival ran alongside the Romford Film Festival. President of Romford Film festival, Spencer Hawken, was very complimentary about the quality of the films and the thought provoking subject matter. “The Eurasian Film Festival adds another level to the Romfordfestival and we are happy to host the works and support the Eurasian Creative Guild,” he said.

As part of the festival, the Eurasian Creative Guild held its own meeting where there was a book launch of the famous Kazakh author, Dulat Issabekov’s book of short stories “Confrontation” which has been published by Hertfordshire Press in London. There was also an ex-

cellent art exhibition, with portraits by SarvinozHojieva, from Tajikistan. During the meeting there were poetry readings from John Farndon (UK), GenadiyGorovoy (Belarus - Israel), Natalie Wang (Lipatova) (Belarus - Bulgaria) and Tanya Ivanova (Bulgaria - Spain), who also presented her new collections of poetry. One of the highlights of the gathering was a musical performance by Erlan Ryskaly, on the Dombra from Kazakhstan. Erlan is currently in the UK on a musical internship supported by Eurasian Creative Guild.

Natalie Bays from Romford film festival spoke to the audience about her positive experiences of the Guild, “I would never have thought that I would experience Central Asia on my own doorstep. It is great for the people of Romford to have the opportunity to see the films, hear the music and experience the culture. Build-

ing bridges between communities is what the Eurasian Creative Guild is about and this is exactly what they are doing here!” she said.

The ECG Film festival 2023 Awards Ceremony was dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Maria Akhmedjanova - Shevel (Uzbekistan). Maria was an amazing architect and designer who led the conception and creative planning of Jizzakh, a city in Uzbekistan. The ceremony was held on the 30th May and was very well attended. There were welcome speeches by: HE ambassador of Kazakhstan to Great Britain - MagzhanIlyasov. He emphasised the power of film in conveying stories and sharing information but also said that films should be memorable and thought provoking.

Other speeches were made by the new Mayor of the London borough of Havering, Cllr. Stephanie Nunn. This was only her second official duty and she was very interested in the cultural diversity at the festival.

The founder of ECG Film festival, Mark (Marat) Akhmedjanov (Uzbekistan - UK), opened the formal proceedings and in the traditional film festival manner the award winners and recipients of prizes were announced.

Best Eurasian Feature Film

The Crying Steppe (Kazakhstan) | Marina Kunarova Prize was awarded by Kamshat Kumisbay, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom

Best Eurasian Short film

Khaibulla (Russia - Bashkortostan) | RustemShaikhutdinov

Best Eurasian Documentary Film

Katia and Rimma (France) | Gulya Mirzoeva

Detached (Russia - Chukotka) | Vladimir Krivov

Prizes awarded by a representative from the Embassy of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom

Best Eurasian Screenplay in English

Pirandello’s Wife (USA) | Lynn Elliott

Prize awarded by John Farndon, ECG former chairman

Best Eurasian Screenplay in Russian Home (Kazakhstan) | Zhorabek Musabayev

Prize awarded by Bella Kogan

Best Screenplay based on Kazat Akmatov’s ‘Thirteen Steps of Erika Klaus’

The Valkyrie (Israel) | Darien Shaul Roytman

Prize awarded by Lira Sabyrova – Counsellor of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS:

Honorary Achievement Certificate for Animation

History of the Music Hall (UK) | Tim Wilson

Prize awarded by Timur Akhmedjanov

Best Eurasian Cinematography

The Last Witness (UK - Poland) | Piotr Szkopiak

Prize awarded by Adam Siemieńczyk and Marta Brassart

Best Young Director

Selected (Kazakhstan) | Said Ashirbayev

Prize awarded by Natalie Wang

Audience Choice Award

Awakening of a sleeping beauty (Kazakhstan) | AkbobekTolzhanova

Prize awarded by Stephen M. Bland

Best Romance Screenplay

The Way of the heart(UK) | Aldona Grupas

Honorary Achievement Certificate for Art Direction

A Team of Heaven (Russia) | Vladimir Alenikov

Certificate of Acknowledgement for the Sincerity and Compassion Seen in the Production of War-Related Films

One War (Russia) | Natalya Ivanova

Certificate of Acknowledgement for the Promotion and Celebration of British Cinema and Filmmaking Talent in the UK and Internationally

Luba

Balagova

Certificate of appreciation and Barbara Nawrockamedal by Poezja London for contribution in promotion of Eurasian Culture

Sarvinoz Hojieva (Tajikistan) for her art exhibition

Genadiy Gorovoy (Belarus/Israel) for poetry presentation

Natalie Bays (UK) from Romford film festival

Erlan Ryskaly (Kazakhstan) for musical performance

Natalie Wang (Lipatova) (Belarus - Bulgaria) for jury service

Tania Ivanova (Bulgaria - Spain) for poetry presentation

Certificate of appreciation were also awarded to: John Farndon (UK)

Gareth Stamp (UK - Bulgaria)

Raza Syed (UK - Pakistan)

The event was supported by the presence of representatives from the following Embassies: Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus.

The Eurasian Creative Guild is proud to share the cinematographic culture and expertise of its members from around the world. It is also worth mentioning that films are rarely the work of one person, and what is seen on the screen has so many people behind the camera that make the creations come to life. Such collaboration and dedication need to be admired and continue to be supported. The moving images and stories that create these works are a powerful way of bringing people together through shared experience. Through the Eurasian Film Festival in London and the Burabay Short Film festival in Kazakhstan, the Eurasian Creative Guild continues to build bridges between different cultures.

EVENTS

THE CITY OF JIZZAKH HAS BECOME A SYMBOL FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS LONDON FILM FESTIVAL

On May 30th, 2023, at the fifth ECG Film Festival in London there was an award ceremony dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Maria Akhmedjanova - Shevel - an outstanding architect and creative artist of Uzbekistan.

Maria Akhmedjanova - Shevel - was born in May 1943. Mother of five children and grandmother of 15 grandchildren. In 1965, under Sharaf Rashidov’s personal guidance, she worked on the development of the Hungry Steppe and the architectural appearance of Jizzakh, the homeland of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. She was a holder of a number of state awards: Hero of Labor, Veteran of Labor, Medal of Maternity and many others.

Since 2014, there is a prize named after Maria Shevel, which is awarded annually for the best children’s work within the framework of the oldest international literary competition “Open Eurasia”. Her name has become a symbol of outstanding creative achievements in children’s literature.

“We decided to dedicate the award ceremony to the memory of Maria Akhmedjanova-Shevel, as a tribute to her achievements, her life experience, it is a symbol of the multinational city of Jizzakh, which gave the world talented writers such as - Hamid Alimzhan, Zulfiya as well as many others. It also brought us the most outstanding leaders of Uzbekistan,” - said one of the organisers of the ECG Film Festival, Alexandra Rey.

The Mayor of the London Borough of Havering, Stephanie Nunn, representatives of the embassies of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Tajikistan and Belarus were all guests of honour at the award ceremony.

The festival included screenings of films from around the world: France, Kazakhstan, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Great Britain, and Iran, as well as exhibitions, presentations and performances by artists.

“It is so wonderful that the film festival ended with an award ceremony dedicated to an outstanding woman from Uzbekistan, because it is through such personalities that the world learns about Uzbekistan and its culture,” said Gareth Stump, Chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London).

Since 2019, the ECG Film Festival has attracted many talented and ambitious people who are eager to discover new facets of cinematography, and continues to do so to this day. The festival is organised by the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) in partnership with the Romford Film Festival.

Contact us: festival@ocamagazine.com

+44 7903 837 823

ECG Film Festival

PEOPLE’S DIPLOMACY IN ACTION AT BURABAY

In European countries they have a tradition of taking a “gap year” after college before entering university. Usually this year is devoted to travel and volunteer work, and volunteering in itself is a form of social interaction. Even members of the British royal family are included in this process (this is how Prince William, for example, worked in an air ambulance, and donated his salary for charitable purposes).

In the former Soviet countries, where the education system is significantly different, and going to university is something of a compulsory step immediately after school, this tradition does not exist, and young people are concentrated solely on getting a highly paid and prestigious job. Volunteering is still perceived as an exceptional phenomenon, since “unpaid” work is often regarded as a waste of time.

The ECG HORIZONS Burabay residency, opened by the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) in 2021 in Shchuchinsk (Kazakhstan), was conceived as a volunteer mission to promote culture, creative experiments and create a space for the development of talented people, where they can exchange experiences with colleagues from different countries. ECG (London) is a non-profit organization, and the residence was originally a social project rather than a commercial investment. For two years, the team’s forces reconstructed the main work spaces, with some items done directly by the team themselves where specialized knowledge was not required. And there is still a lot of household and construction work that needs to be done - from caring for the territory to developing partnerships and joint projects with companies in the region. And it was this part of the work that was conceived as a volunteer project for creative people: they come to

engage in creativity and at the same time contribute to the development of the residency in exchange for living there. Unfortunately, this idea is an unfamiliar concept for those with the mentality of former Soviet countries. Besides this, international travel has become much more complicated over the past three years and has reduced the number of people who are able and willing to travel anywhere for a long time.

Currently, the ECG HORIZONS Burabay residency has become a more peculiar cultural diplomatic mission, since both heads of the Guild - Chairman Gareth Stamp and Vice Chairman Marat Akhmedjanov - were awarded medals for their contribution to the development of people’s diplomacy by the International Commonwealth of People’s Diplomacy. It hosts international festivals every year, and residents and guests who come here to work on their creative projects throughout the

year perform in the cultural and educational institutions of the region. We are waiting for more of our colleagues who are ready to come to the residence to share their creative experience with colleagues and children in Shchuchinsk, provide them with support in learning foreign languages, creative skills and help the Guild team improve the residence.

If you have any questions about co-operation, please contact us by email t-kaunis@ocamagazine.com

book of the year

best female AUTHOR

KAРА Автор Султан Раев (2015), РУССКИЙ / RUSSIAN

ISBN: 978-1910886137

RRP: £24.50

RAISA, WHAT HURTS MY HEART... ENG, ISBN: 978-1-913356-54-5

RRP: £24.95

THE LAND DRENCHED IN TEARS by Söyüngül Chanisheff

ENGLISH, PAPERBACK

ISBN: 978-1910886380 RRP:£24.50

A POETIC TREASURY FROM BELARUS: A celebration of the life and work of Vera Rich

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WAR WILL TELL THE FURTHER PLAN by Alexander Kazarnovsky ENG, ISBN: 978-1-913356-49-1

RRP: £14.95

IN THE LOYAL EYES OF A FRIEND Andrey Grodzinskiy ENG, ISBN: 978-1913356507

RRP: £14.95,

FARKHOD FROM NAVGHILEM by Gulsifat Shakhidi

ISBN: 978-1913356361

RRP: £17.50

PROJECTIVE GRAPHICS by Yelena Bezrukova

ISBN: 978-0993044434

RRP: £12.95

POETRYHERTFORDSHIRE PRESS

ACADEMY

“THE WORLD DISSOLVES LIKE A DREAM” by Leyla Aliyeva, 2018, ENG, HARDBACK

ISBN: 978-1-910886-76-2 RRP: £14.95

QUEEN KURMANJAN OF THE MOUNTAINS by Bubaisha Arstynbekova, HARDBACK, ENG

ISBN: 9781910886472 RRP:£24.95

S.S KUNANBAYEVA

CONCEPTUALLY-GROUNDED COGNITIVE-LINGUAL BASICS OF FORMING A MULTILINGUAL

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ORAZALY SABDEN

ABAI, FUTURE OF KAZAKHSTAN AND WORLD CIVILISATION

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MAESTRO AND MUSE

Sergey Bely, Hardcover ENG | 2021

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ПОЭЗИЯ В ЖИВОПИСИ

Марина Шкробова – Верналис, paperback, RUSS

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TLEKTES YESPOLOV

THE KAZAKH MODEL FOR A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

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RRP: £24.95

V.V KOZLOV

THE RUSSIAN MENTALITY

ISBN: 978-1-913356-46-0

RRP: £17.50

classicS

VANISHED KHANS AND EMPTY STEPPES

by Robert Wight (2014)

The book opens with an outline of the history of Almaty, from its nineteenth-century origins as a remote outpost of the Russian empire, up to its present status as the thriving second city of modern-day Kazakhstan. The story then goes back to the Neolithic and early Bronze Ages, and the sensational discovery of the famous Golden Man of the Scythian empire. The transition has been difficult and tumultuous for millions of people, but Vanished Khans and Empty Steppes illustrates how Kazakhstan has emerged as one of the world’s most successful post-communist countries.

HARD BACK ISBN: 978-0-9930444-0-3 RRP: £24.95

PAPERBACK ISBSN: 978-1-910886-05-2 RRP: £14.50

Overall, The Kaganate is a remarkably skilful and fabulously imaginative prose poetry collection, which explores the overwhelming need for young men to be destructive, the overtly pagan sensibilities of the authors native Kyrgyzstan, along with those disciplines required by adolescent boys to channel instinctive animosities away from their parents into the rigours necessary to become worthy young warriors in such a way that his volume proves virtually obsessive. After all, each one of these observations evokes a subtle type of “second puberty” occurring between older men assaying values above mere materialism, sexuality, and having children - in order to focus on shared spiritual concerns.

ISBN: 978-1910886960

HB RRP:£19.95

THE PLIGHT OF A POSTMODERN HUNTER

Chlngiz Aitmatov Mukhtar Shakhanov (2015)

ISBN: 978-1-910886-11-3

RRP: £24.95 ENG HARDBACK

“SHORT STORIES FROM AZERBAIJAN” 2018

ISBN: 978-1-910886-72-4

RRP: £19.95 ENG HARDBACK

VLADIMIR

TULINOV THE GUARDSMEN OF HIPPOCRATES

No people suffered more during the Second World War than the people of the Soviet Union and the soldiers of the Red Army. Tens of millions perished and further millions were wounded – horrific numbers, which would have been even higher if it weren’t for the efforts of the army of doctors, nurses, and medics who treated the wounded and the suffering. V.M. Tulinov’s The Guardsmen of Hippocrates brings the reader up close to the men and women who fought to save the lives of those struggling to resist the Nazi invasion.

ISBN: 978-1910886946

HB, RRP: £19.95

WEST MIDLANDS HO!

by Aldona Grupas

West Midlands Ho! is a compelling work of local history, focused on a particular corner of England but set against a background of tumultuous international events.In the book, Lithuanian author Aldona Grupas reveals the personal tales of Lithuanian migrants who moved to Britain in the wake of World War II. Unable to return to their homeland due to the Soviet occupation, from 1947 onwards, several thousand refugees swapped the refugee camps of Allied-occupied Germany for basic accommodation in Britain, along with jobs in manufacturing and agriculture. In the following decades, they put down roots in Britain, all the while keeping their Lithuanian identity alive. In a series of interviews, Grupas teases out the personal experiences of five members of this migrant community in the West Midlands of England.

PAPERBACK ISBN: 978-1913356231 RRP:£19.95

GOETHE AND ABAI by Herold Belger

ISBN: 9781910886168 Hardcover EN|2015 £19.95

TURMOIL by Dulat Issabekov

ISBN: 978-1913356569 Paperback

RRP: £14.95

KANYBEK IMANALIEV THE KAGANATE

HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS

DISCOVERY GUIDES & TRAVEL COMPANIONS

TRAVELOGUES

100 EXPERIENCES OF KYRGYZSTAN by Ian Claytor

ENG

ISBN: 978-0957480742

RRP: £9.50

101 Zážitok Z Kazachstanu

Editori: Nick Rowan a Roman Vassilenko

ISBN: 9781913356255

RRP: £9.50

100 EXPERIENCES OF MODERN KAZAKHSTAN by Vitaly Shuptar, Nick Rowan and Dagmar Schreiber

ENG

ISBN: 978-1-910886-15-1

RRP: £9.50

THE TASTE OF CENTRAL ASIA COOK BOOK by Danny Gordon ENG

ISBN:978-1-910886-09-0

RRP: £9.50

DISCOVERY KYRGYZSTAN travel guide by Ian Claytor ENG, DE, FR, RUS, JAP

ISBN: 9780955754920

RRP: £5.95

DISCOVERY UZBEKISTAN travel guide by Andrea Leuenberger ENG, DE, FR, RUS, JAP

ISBN: 9780957480704

RRP: £5.95

DISCOVERY KAZAKHSTAN travel guide by Vitaly Shuptar and Dagmar Schreiber

ENG, DE

ISBN: 9780955754937

RRP: £5.95

DISCOVERY TAJIKISTAN Travel Guide by Vitaly Shuptar

ENG

ISBN: 978-09557549-6-8

RRP: £5.95

FRIENDLY STEPPES. A SILK ROAD JOURNEY by Nick

THE SILK ROAD REVISITED

by Nick Rowan (2020)

Rowan (2012)

This is the chronicle of an extraordinary adventure that led Nick Rowan to some of the world’s most incredible and hidden places.

HARD BACK ISBN: 978-0-9927873-4-9

Take a trip along this remarkable historic trading route that once ran from Venice, through the Mediterranean, across Turkey and Iran, through the Caucasus and Caspian Sea, onwards via Central Asia and finally to China.

HARDBACK

RRP: £34.99

ISBN: 978-0-9557549-4-4

PAPERBACK

ISBN: 978-1-913356-07-1

ALPHABET GAME

by Paul Wilson (2014)

Travelling around the world may appear as easy as ABC, but looks can be deceptive: there is no ‘X’ for a start. Not since Xidakistan was struck from the map. Yet post 9/11, with the War on Terror going global, could ‘The Valley’ be about to regain its place on the political stage? Xidakistan’s fate is inextricably linked with that of Graham Ruff, founder of Ruff Guides. Setting sail where Around the World in Eighty Days and Lost Horizon weighed anchor, our not-quite-a-hero suffers all in pursuit of his golden triangle: The Game, The Guidebook, The Girl. With the future of printed Guidebooks increasingly in question, As Evelyn Waugh’s Scoop did for Foreign Correspondents the world over, so this novel lifts the lid on Travel Writers for good.

PAPREBACK ENG ISBN: 978-0-992787325 RRP: £14.50

MEET THE ‘STANS

by Christopher Jones

“If you want to travel in peace, you must howl like the wolves among whom you find yourself,” a 19th century French explorer advised on entering Central Asia. Which was simply the Central Asian version of raising your negroni and slurring ‘When in Rome’. Thankfully, the author discovered, the negroni’s had since made their way to Central Asia, or at least Almaty, as part of the somewhat inconsiderable encroachment made by the modern world.

HARDBACK

ISBN: 978-1-913356-15-6

RRP: £17.50

DOES IT YURT? by Stephen M. Bland

(2016)

Conjuring images of nomadic horsemen, spectacular monuments, breathtaking scenery and crippling poverty, Central Asia remains an enigma. Home to the descendants of Jenghiz Khan’s Great Horde, in the nineteenth century the once powerful Silk Road states became a pawn in the ‘Great Game’ of expansion and espionage between Britain and Russia, disappearing behind what would become known as the ‘Iron Curtain’. With the collapse of the USSR, the nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were born. Since independence, Central Asia has seen one civil war, two revolutions and seven dictators.

LANGUAGE ENG PAPER BACK RRP:14.95

ISBN: 978-1-910886-29-8

children award winning

HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS

RHYMES ABOUT BOYS by Lyudmila Dubkovetcaia (2019)

HARD BACK ENGLISH

ISBN: 978-1-913356-03-3

RRP: £17.50

СОФЬИНЫ НЕБЕСА, ИЛИ ВОЛШЕБНЫЙ ДАР ГНОМОВ

Оксана Гордийко (2019)

ISBN: 978-1-910886-97-7

RRP: £14.50

LEIA THE LITTLE MOUSE by Arina Chunaeva (2019)

HARDBACK ENGLISH

ISBN: 978-1-913356-01-9

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THE GOAT THAT WANTED TO TRAVEL

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RRP: £9.99

THE EGRET AND THE COW by Gareth Stamp

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RRP: £9.99

THE YARN NAMES SUN Mikhail Kunitskiy PAPERBACK ENG

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MENIK THE MAMMOUTH by OGDO (2017)

PAPERBACK ENG

ISBN: 978-1-910886-62-5

RRP: £12.50

TALES OF GRANDMA GULSIFAT by Gulsifat Shakhidi

HARD BACK ENGLISH

ISBN:978-1-910886-90-8 RRP: £22.50

Дневник Ёжика - путешественника, или Где живёт счастье? by Надежда Серебренникова

ISBN: 9781913356095

Paperback RU| 2020

£19.50

ELISH AND THE WICKER TALE by Timur Akhmedjanov

ISBN: 9781913356194

Paperback ENG | 2020 £9.99

ELISH AND THE WICKER TALES by Kamran Salayev

PAPERBACK SQUARE ENG

ISBN: 978-1-910886-88-5

RRP:£12.50

DANIEL AKHMED THE FINAL comic

ISBN: 978-1-913356-18-7

RRP: £14.50

LEAH AND AYA THE SEWING DOLL NARGISA KARASARTOVA

ISBN: 978-1913356453

RRP: £17.50

HUNTING DOGS

FARKHAT TAMENDAROV

ISBN: 978-1913356354

RRP: £17.50

AYSU AND THE MAGIC BAG by Maide Akan (2016)

CARDBOARD

ISBN: 978-1-910886-24-3 RRP: £10.00

POOL OF STARS by Olesya Petrova (2007)

PAPERBACK ENG / RUS

ISBN: 978-0955754906

RRP: £4.95

CONTENTS

KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM KEEPS EVOLVING

CAN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SOLVE CENTRAL ASIA’S CHALLENGES?

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT IT!

THE CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULT FROM THE FALL OF RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA

RIPPLES OF CHANGE IN CENTRAL ASIA

RESULTS OF THE ST.PETERSBURG INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FORUM 2023

THE GREEN ARAL SEA

MOLDOVA – A CULTURAL BRIDGE OF EURASIAN SIGNIFICANCE INDIA’S SOFT POWER OUTREACH STRATEGY:

IMPACT ON KAZAKHSTAN

CONTRIBUTORS DISCLAIMER

UKRAINIAN HANSEATIC INITIATIVE

TASHKENT LAW SPRING

THEY CALL ME «MZUNGU»

BEYOND STEREOTYPES

THE CONTEMPORARY ART OF BAHKSHI.

A NEW SOUND OF THE GOLDEN HERITAGE OF UZBEKISTAN

THE ROAD TO BOROVOE

5TH EURASIAN FILM FESTIVAL DESCENDS ON LONDON

THE CITY OF JIZZAKH HAS BECOME A SYMBOL FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS LONDON FILM FESTIVAL

PEOPLE’S DIPLOMACY IN ACTION AT BURABAY

UNITED KINGDOM

1. All articles/interviews submitted, regardless of the way they were submitted (by the author, approached by members of our OCA editorial team or otherwise), are subject to the Editor-in-Chief’s and/or publisher’s approval at their sole discretion. Without such approval the article may only be published online, or may not be published at all.

2. Only articles/interviews submitted according to the “Contributors Guidelines” published on ocamagazine.com (such as articles being in the English language, on suitable and relevant subject, copyrights, number of words) will be sent to the Editor-in-Chief and/or publisher for approval.

3. Priority is given to ECG members, advertorial and commissioned submissions, however, priority does not guarantee that the articles will be published in print or online.

4. Editorial team members and/or the Editor-in-chief and/or publisher shall not be required to any explanation as to why articles have not been approved.

5. Articles approved by the Editor-in-Chief and/or publisher will not be sent to contributors for print/design/layout/text approval unless agreed in advance in writing.

6. The Editor-in Chief and/or publisher may decide to allow certain approved articles to be published only online only as we are limited in the number of pages (For hard copy publication) and financial ability.

7. Contributors may obtain one free printed copy (unless agreed in an advertorial contract) at our meetings in London or alternatively magazines can be sent by post at extra charge (P&P international rates apply).

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