By Sergey Medrea (6/11/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On May 15, Emomali Rahmon flew to Soghd oblast in northern Tajikistan, with two main points on his agenda: first, to hold an official meeting with the president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiev, on water and border issues. Second, to observe the overall socio-political situation in the Soghd oblast and evaluate the fulfillment of the objectives set during this year's annual Presidential message to Parliament. The primary issue concerns measures to prepare for the coming winter.

By Nurshat Ababakirov (6/11/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On June 3, Kyrgyzstan’s President Kurmanbek Bakiev appointed his brother, Janysh Bakiev, as head of the State Security Service, which is responsible for the personal security of government officials.  He has been out of office for almost two years after his dismissal as Deputy Chairman of the National Security Service (NSS), a result of the political scandal surrounding the planting of heroin on Omurbek Tekebaev, an ardent opposition member, in Warsaw’s airport. Within the recent government reshuffle, his return, while generating different interpretations, appears the most sensational.

By Sergey Medrea (3/5/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

President Emomali Rahmon once again made newspaper headlines by turning the media’s attention from the ongoing energy crisis to himself, only to reinforce his portrayal of a national “savior.” At a government meeting on January 25-26, Rahmon carried out major government reshufflings, punishing and firing some officials while sparingly complimenting others. The government sitting was meant to sum and review the major achievements and failures of 2007.