Postcard from Bishkek

Back in 2005, Kyrgyzstan experienced the first of its recent revolutions.  On March 24th, several weeks of protests culminated in a demonstration outside the Government House, (the White House), and President Askar Akaev feld, driving out of the back entrance of the compound as the masses gathered in front of the building.  The crowds were […]

The events of 6th and 7th of April in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, were nothing short of extraordinary. They brought with them great sadness, renewed hope, tragic destruction, victorious triumph and, above all, confusion about what to do next. Ian Claytor, General Director of the Celestial Mountains Companies in Kyrgyzstan, has lived in Bishkek for nearly 15 […]

One of our partners, is “Silk Road Media”, a publishing house established by Marat Akhmedjanov, an Uzbek citizen, who is based in London.  I actually consider them to be one of our most important partners … Why?, well, because one of the most valuable commodities in the modern world is information, especially about a new […]

The events in Bishkek on April 7th were dramatic and tragic.  Over eighty people died in protests against the existing government which basically fell from office and were replaced by an interim government headed by former Foreign Minister Roza Atunbaeva.  The President left the city to emerge later in his home village not far from […]

“When I was a lad, I served a term, as office boy in an attorney’s firm …” sings Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty, in Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operetta, “HMS Pinafore”.   I sometimes joke that this is really “my song” because, although I wasn’t exactly a lad when I arrived here in […]

This week, there was an earthquake in eastern Kazakhstan which, according to the United States Geological Survey, measured 4.5 on the Richter scale, (or whatever modification of the scale they use these days).  Some tremors were apparently felt here in Bishkek, although it wasn’t serious and I can’t say that I was particularly aware of […]

Bakiev has left Kazakhstan and apparently landed in Byelorussia. It is very odd … apparently he has been joined by his family … but not his sons Maxim and Marat who, according to the press, ensconced somewhere else.  If the reports I have seen are to be believed then it seems that he has a […]

Following the Maevka incident, the interim government vowed to restore order to the streets of Bishkek. Back in 2005, the new government, that time headed by one Kurmanbek Bakiev, commissioned Feliks Kulov to restore order.  He was helped in his task by volunteers from various sports associations, martial arts teams and so on, who formed […]

Following the events of the Easter Revolution, and the eventual resignation of President Bakiev, it might have been assumed that things would settle down and we could all get on with rebuilding our lives, our businesses and society.

One of the tasks that I fall to me from time to time is to make statements to the press about this or that. It’s not a task that I relish.  I have always tried to keep a “low profile”, but it is not always possible.  As one of the relatively few foreign investors here […]