By Marat Yermukanov (3/9/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Launching a call for Central Asian union in his address of the nation delivered on March 18 in Parliament, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev provided rich food for speculations in neighboring countries. He chose emotionally charged words to get across his message to Turkic-speaking brothers who should be “worthy of our common ancestors who would always see us together”. Were these words pronounced sincerely, or were they aimed at scoring points on the international scene? The first skeptical voice about Nazarbayev’s good-will gesture came from an unofficial source.

By Fariz Ismailzade (3/9/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Both the government and the opposition as well as dozens of international media and human rights organizations have condemned the killing, calling for an immediate investigation of the tragedy. Political parties from the entire spectrum of the political arena of the country have met subsequently to discuss the murder and take necessary measures to build a public consensus and avoid the politicization of the issue. Yet this could not prevent the transformation of the funeral of the slain editor into a public protest.

By Nazgul Baktybekova (2/23/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A week ago the MSN newspaper, formerly known as Moya Stolitsa Novosti, published an article presenting a list of several strategic companies and enterprises for the country, which belong to and are controlled by the President and his family. President Akaev said that by publishing libel articles one after another, the MSN newspaper smears him and his family. “The newspaper began a purposeful campaign of discrediting me and pursues far-reaching aims”, said the Kyrgyz President in his appeal to the people through Kyrgyz National Television.