By Gulnara Ismailova, a freelance journalist based in Baku, Azerbaijan (4/24/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

By-elections to the Azerbaijani parliament were held on April 12 for 3 seats in majoritarian districts.  17 candidates contested the three seats. According to the information center of the Central Electoral Committee, (CEC) elections were valid in all three districts, as a turnout of over 25% was registered in all three areas.

By Marat Yermukanov, Kazakhstan (4/24/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Some years ago “cholera” was used merely as a swearword in Kazakhstan. Hardly anyone at the time gave much thought to the real meaning of the word at the time. The true epidemic proportions of cholera became known to local people only last year when to the awe of the self-assured medical officials, 29 residents of the Mangystau region contracted the disease within a few days.

By Konstantin Sudakov (8/14/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The first two-day National Information Fair of NGOs on the "Role of NGOs in socio-economic development of Kyrgyzstan and implementation of Complex Development Program as well as National Strategy on Poverty Reduction" finished its work in Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan, on July 19th.  The Association of NGOs and NCOs, the executive administration of the Osh region, and the Coalition of NGOs "For Democracy and Civil Society" were the organizers of this fair. 

The fair was originally going to be held in June, but it was postponed until July 18-19 because of the riots and its consequences in the south of Kyrgyzstan.