By Erica Marat (7/9/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Rapidly increasing prices for food, gas and electricity in Kyrgyzstan provide a fertile ground for public discontent with the government. That the Kyrgyz President is preparing for a hot political period in the coming months is evident from his recent government reshuffles and his public politics. But Kurmanbek Bakiyev is not the only one to worry about the implications of rapid inflation, as opposition camps are consolidating their forces as well.

By Zahid Anwar (7/9/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A workshop on ‘Regional Aspects of Militancy’ was held at the Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, Pakistan on Wednesday, May 14, 2008. Dr. Azmat Hayat Khan, the University's vice-chancellor and director of the Area Study Centre, chaired the workshop and welcomed the invitees who included retired civil and military officers, diplomats, journalists, university faculty and research scholars.

By Sergey Medrea (6/26/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On June 13, entrepreneurs of small and medium businesses gathered for a protest in front of the main building of the Tax Committee in Dushanbe. About 200 entrepreneurs, largely representatives of the local markets and small shops, protested the tax increase, which doubles their tax burdens starting in June 2008. Tax rates for individual entrepreneurs operating without legal person/entity registration was increased by 110 percent and threatens to bring to insolvency many owners of shops and private entrepreneurs in the local markets.