By empty (2/2/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Zuhriddin Husniddinov, an adviser to President Karimov, told ITAR-TASS on 2 February that about 700 people convicted of religious extremism have been freed under the December amnesty commemorating the 11th anniversary of the Uzbek Constitution. He added that the state-supported Muslim Spiritual Board of Uzbekistan and the State Committee for Religious Affairs have been tasked with helping the former extremists to find jobs and with ensuring that they do not return to extremist groups. (ITAR-TASS).

By empty (2/2/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

An adviser to President Nursultan Nazarbaev, Yermukhamet Yertysbaev, told journalists in Almaty on 31 January that Nazarbaev will definitely run for re-election in 2006. Yertysbaev said that the president revealed his re-election plans on 16 January, and the president also predicted that he would win. The next presidential election must be held in December 2006.

By empty (2/2/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry and the independent Press Council established last year have drafted measures to minimize the likelihood that journalists covering political demonstrations will be targeted by police in the event that a demonstration turns violent. Press Council Chairman Aflatun Amashev explained that 500 special jackets will be manufactured at a cost of 20 million manats ($4,091) and distributed to editorial offices. Special access to the site of demonstrations will also be provided for journalists, and a group comprising Interior Ministry and Press Council representatives will monitor demonstrations and take immediate action if journalists are endangered.