By Benjamin Abner (7/11/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Media is in no short supply in Uzbekistan, but state media and access to independent and international media is tightly controlled by the state.  Historically, Western governments have actively promoted alternative information in the region through shortwave radio broadcasts, satellite television, and Internet media.  In recent years however, Uzbekistan has almost completely stamped out independent and international voices as well as Western-funded programs to support them.

By Chemen Durdiyeva (6/27/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On June 12, President Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov held a plenary Cabinet session at the Turkmen State University named after Turkmen poet Magtymguly and signed a major decree on the “perfection of science in Turkmenistan.” In accordance with this new decree, a new Higher Professional Examination Board of the High Council of Science and Technology and a new Foundation of Science and Technology were created. Within the framework of the latest changes in the socio-economic life of the country, Berdimukhammedov’s recent education reforms are decisively promising given the president’s relatively short period of time as a head of state.

By Kevin Daniel Leahy (6/27/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

For months now, Ramzan Kadyrov has been calling for Russia’s constitution to be altered so that President Putin would be allowed to stand for a third term. Putin, however, is on record as saying he does not want another term. Therefore, the time is fast approaching when Kadyrov must acknowledge, with as much grace as he can muster, that Putin will indeed be relinquishing the presidency for at least four years.