Moscow Increases its Influence in Central Asia

News:

On 24 May, Sputnik Kyrgyzstan news agency reported: “The 54th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies and Special Services of the CIS countries was held today in Bishkek. The meeting was opened by Kamchybek Tashiev, Chairman of the SCNS of Kyrgyzstan.

Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian Federal Security Service, spoke next. He made a number of statements such as: the Anglo-Saxons want to gain a foothold in Central Asia by any means; the United States, Great Britain, their NATO allies in an effort to maintain global dominance are using the entire arsenal of hybrid warfare against sovereign states that disagree with their policy; Ukraine's military intelligence is directly involved in the terrorist attack in Crocus.”

Sergei Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, also spoke. In particular, he said that: “The West is using terrorist organisations for its own purposes; the terrorist attack in Crocus is one of the links in the chain in the enemies' efforts to destabilise the situation in Russia and disrupt inter-ethnic harmony in the CIS; Western elites are in a certain state of confusion - they have realised that the strategic initiative on the battlefield has completely passed to Russia.”

Comment:

It was not by chance that Moscow planned and held the meeting of the CIS special services heads in Kyrgyzstan. As usual, they discussed security, countering extremism and terrorism. They recalled the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall. But against the background of the protracted war in Ukraine and the West's intensification in Central Asia, Moscow wanted to show everyone that it still controls the situation on its territory and has brought order even in liberal Kyrgyzstan.

Over the past few years, politics in Kyrgyzstan has changed from a liberal multi-party system to a brutal dictatorship like Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Whereas previously parties with different views were present in parliament and had the opportunity to compete freely, today everything is decided by President S. Zhaparov. The Kremlin has found loyal servant-dictators in the person of S. Zhaparov and K. Tashiev, who are not afraid to get their hands dirty and pursue a tough policy in the interests of Moscow.

The West has repeatedly tried to undermine the situation in the country and gain political influence, but all efforts have proved futile. Moscow has successfully cleansed the country of undesirable pro-Western liberals and nullified all attempts by the West to establish itself in the country.

The law on “NGOs performing the functions of a foreign representative” is a case in point. The basis and content of the law fully coincide with the legislation adopted by Moscow in the Russian Federation, as many experts have written about. The law concerns the control of public organisations sponsored from abroad. The Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General's Office and the Ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan opposed this bill. Even E. Blinken himself intervened and expressed his concern, but President S. Zhaparov asked E. Blinken not to interfere in the internal politics of the state and still approved this bill.

The West has long used and is using NGOs to spread the ideas of democracy, liberalism, freedom of speech and human rights in society to achieve its political goals. The U.S. State Department and various commissions and committees of the European Union are constantly talking about respecting civil rights and building Western-style civil institutions in Central Asia.

Former Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Shoigu also spoke about this tool as a political influence. In spring, at a regular meeting of the Ministry of Defence, he said: "There are more than 100 large pro-Western non-governmental organisations operating in the region, with more than 16,000 representative offices and branches. Against the background of the special military operation, these NGOs have significantly increased their anti-Russian activities in order to reduce military-technical, economic and cultural co-operation between Central Asian states and the Russian Federation. We are taking proactive measures.

Earlier the same bill was adopted in Tajikistan, after which more than 700 NGOs ceased their activities. The situation is similar in Kazakhstan. Now the turn has come to Kyrgyzstan. Strict control of NGOs and their closure leave the West without leverage over those in power in the region and, as a consequence, lead to a loss of political influence.

For example, the adoption of a similar law in Georgia led to mass unrest and discontent in society. The authorities had to use force to disperse the protesters. This showed how much the West has infiltrated society with ideas of human rights, freedom of speech and liberalism.

Also, none of the Central Asian leaders took part in the “peace summit” in Switzerland, showing their full loyalty to Moscow. In particular, the President of Kyrgyzstan S. Zhaparov refused to go. Thus, Moscow is clearly demonstrating its power by methodically eliminating any presence of Western influence in the region.

In turn, the country's Muslims have also suffered. In the past few months, dozens of Muslims, both men and women, sincere bearers of the Islamic call, have been arrested. This has become the rule: in the struggle between disbelieving colonisers for spheres of disbelievers, it is the Muslims who suffer. The only correct solution to liberation from the shackles of disbelieving colonisers and the opportunity to freely practice their religion will be to work on the revival of the Second Righteous State Khilafah (Caliphate) by the method of Prophethood, headed by a righteous ruler. The Almighty Allah said in His Noble Book:

[وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ]

“Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good that He will certainly make them successors in the land, as He did with those before them; and will surely establish for them their faith which He has chosen for them; and will indeed change their fear into security – provided that they worship Me, associating nothing with Me. But whoever disbelieves after this promise, it is they who will be the rebellious” [24:55].

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Eldar Khamzin
Member of The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir