By Maria Utyaganova, International Comparative Politics Department, American University in Kyrgyzstan, (12/18/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Kyrgyzstan was the last but not the least country in President's Putin tour to Asia. Having paid official visits to China and India, the Russian president landed in Bishkek to discuss the current situation in the region with his Central Asian counterpart Askar Akaev. The Head of the Security Council Vladimir Rushailo, Defense Minister Igor Ivanov and Science and Technology minister Klebanov accompanied President Putin in negotiations on establishing closer Kyrgyz-Russian relations.

By Chemen Durdiyeva (2/26/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Since the independence period, the number of holidays in Turkmenistan has been mushrooming. At the same level with the Flag\'s Day, Turkmenistan celebrates other occasions such as Holiday of Poetry of Magtymguli, Horse holiday and Melon Day at different times, which adhere to the respect of national values. According to a 1994 decision of the parliament, the 19th of February, the President\'s birthday, was to be celebrated as a national holiday in Turkmenistan.

By Karim Sayid (2/26/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Probably the most scandalous story in the chronicle of long chain of human rights abuses and disrespect for civic liberties in recent months was the trial of the prominent independent journalist Sergey Duvanov, charged of allegedly raping a teenage girl in October last year. Although people who knew the journalist and campaigned for his defense said that he was not the man to stoop to such a conduct, Duvanov was sentenced to 3,5 years of prison in January. The speedy trial was described by human rights campaigners and close friends as “a brazen judicial farce”.