Field Reports

The most hardly hit by unemployment, depleted infrastructure, worsening educational standards, low income and other concomitants of the economic changes in Kazakhstan was the rural population. The utter pauperization of people of rural areas have always been the trump card in the hands of the opposition. Now the leaders of the country seem to realize that rural areas can no longer be ignored.

The local election campaign has dominated politics in Georgia for the last few weeks, and has been plagued by a struggle for control over the formerly ruling Citizen\'s Union of Georgia Party. Four main parties are leading the polls, but none looks likely to poll even 15%.

The state commission that had been investigating the Aksy events released its report on May 18. The report points out the main causes of the tragedy, on the basis of which the Commission makes nine suggestions including the suggestion to President Askar Akayev considering personal responsibility of several senior state officials for the events.

In 2001 Kyrgyzstan officially achieved growth in key macroeconomic indicators. According to statistical information, there was an increase in the country\'s GDP, inflation dropped, the local currency kept a relatively firm exchange rate, and there was a rise in real household incomes. However, many observers are critic and claim nothing has improved in the economy.