Week In Review: Voting, Migration, and More

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Orda has put together a brief synopsis of this past week's news. 

One of Kazakhstan's more popular media sources saw a switch-up last Monday. Dmitry Dubovitsky, long-time host and co-founder of "Za Nami Uzhe Vyehali," parted ways with the project. Asset Matayev, the head of KazTAG, has taken his place as head. Dubovitsky stated he was tired of the "information stream" and wanted to focus on other projects.

The State Revenue Committee released a list of individuals and organizations receiving foreign funding in September last year. The journalist and co-founder of the YouTube channel "Za Nami Uzhe Vyehali" was on it. Perhaps the two events are mere coincidences, but they are noteworthy nonetheless.

On 28 October, Georgians took to the streets in protest against election results widely being called into question. Prosecutors have launched a probe into the alleged rigging, though not in the way one would assume. Despite observers' statements, they chose to call President Salome Zourabichvili in. She refused to do so. Moldova saw peculiar headlines concerning voting as well. People have received threats and offers of bribery.

They supposedly came from the ruling PAS party and the country's president, Maia Sandu. The PAS party and local law enforcement have warned about these attempts. Several Moldovan journalists have received calls with death threats if they do not vote for Maia Sandu. 

We know where you live, what editorial office you work for, and we can kill you. Choose Maia Sandu and save your life,  a voice message says.

The Moldovan Prime Minister has vowed to find those responsible. Sandu clinched her second term regardless.

In Chechnya, A drone struck a special forces university named after Putin. Chechen leader Ramazan Kadyrov responded by ordering "not to take any prisoners" in Ukraine. He, however, would walk it back later, claiming to have received letters from Ukrainians requesting their soldiers be left "the only option to survive." His statement indeed runs contrary to the cases of surrendering Ukrainian troops being killed.

Meanwhile, a Kyrgyz man could face extradition, as Russian authorities have requested he be handed over for desertion. A week earlier, he was detained in Bishkek for the charges brought forward. Before Russia's war against Ukraine started, the young man was unsuccessful in terminating his military contract despite prior promises that he would be able to. Fifty of his compatriots have died in the war against Ukraine, per Azattyq, though the number of such people who have served or died may be much higher.

In other news related to Kyrgyzstan, President Sadyr Japarov sacked four internal affairs generals. All four received their positions two days before Japoarov's predecessor, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, resigned in the wake of protests. They erupted after widespread dissatisfaction with parliamentary elections. Two days later, A Kyrgyz deputy openly admitted that although legislation has been bolstered, Kyrgyz police lack the proper funds to combat domestic violence effectively. Still, funds are surely not the only factor, as social stigma and distrust toward local law enforcement and the judicial system likely remain.

In an unexpected turn of events in neighboring Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon criticized law enforcement agencies for unjustified criminal cases over likes on the Internet, emphasizing the need to end this practice. Before Rahmon's seemingly "humane" speech, a German court ordered the deportation of a Tajik oppositionist even though he could face torture at home. Dilmurod Ergashev is a prominent Group 24 member. The oppositionist group is banned in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan also prohibited video games with violent images to combat anti-social behavior among youth. Yet, expert opinion points to ineffective preventive work being a problematic root. In the same speech about likes, Rahmon lambasted Tajik representatives operating in Russia amid the nation's ramping up of anti-immigration laws.

According to Turkmennews, Turkmenistan may have sought to ratchet up migration control like their Russian counterparts, only the other way around. The alleged reason is Türkiye has relaxed migration legislation on work and residence permits. Turkmennews reports that the Ashgabat airport migration service has removed people from flights to Türkiye. At the same time, the nation's representatives in Türkiye announced they would not renew passports beyond December 31, 2024.

Sanctions also made the news in Central Asia, as locally registered companies fell under their scope: one each from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and two from Uzbekistan. While combating such reexport rages on, Slovakia and Hungary have reportedly restored Russian oil supplies via Ukraine. European companies have yet to conclude a supply deal to replace Russian gas imports via Ukraine from Azerbaijan. 

With the current agreement for Russian gas supplies transiting through the same route approaching its end, Moscow has declared willingness to continue them. Kyiv has rejected this option. Reports previously surfaced that Moscow and Kyiv resumed talks on stopping strikes on energy infrastructure, though Moscow's press secretary was quick to dismiss them as "disinformation." Russia, meanwhile, has increased natural gas supplies from Russia to Georgia to record levels.

Last Wednesday, Hungarian authorities seemed to have shown their true colors once again, snubbing a meeting with NATO representatives to discuss Budapest's growing ties with Russia and China. Russia and North Korea have continued making inroads with each other as well. After sending troops to aid Moscow in Ukraine, North Korea signed a deal with Russia on cooperation in telecommunications and IT. Pyongyang is likely attempting to capitalize on an opportunity to deepen ties beyond Moscow's war of aggression.

On the other end of the spectrum, Zelenskyy voiced frustration with the leak about his request for tomahawk missiles, and his Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated Ukrainian troops are fending off one of Russia's "most powerful" offensives.

On November 2, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted there is a dictatorship in Belarus – a dictatorship of stability, security, order, kindness, and hospitality. Conversely, according to Viasna, at least 7,400 people faced criminal prosecution after the 2020 anti-government protests in Belarus. More than six thousand have been convicted.

Lukashenko issued pardons in August and September, but who was released is still unknown.

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