The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of eastern Tajikistan, is a geopolitical treasure tethered to exterior interests, namely the authoritarian central Tajik government in Dushanbe, Chinese economic and military interests, and Russia, which historically frames the Pamirs as a part of its geopolitical backyard.
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Putin will not attend BRICS Summit 2023
South Africa has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has an outstanding arrest warrant issued in his name by the UN’s International Criminal Court (ICC), will not travel to a BRICS summit to be held in Johannesburg next month. The office of President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on July 19 that by mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
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At least 28 people have been killed in blaze on Philippines ferry
At least 28 people have been killed and 230 rescued after a passenger ferry caught fire in the Philippines. Officials said the blaze began in the ship’s air-conditioned cabins on Wednesday night but it is unclear how. Among the dead were at least three children, including a six-month-old baby. The Philippine Coast Guard said search and rescue operations were ongoing and there were no signs of overloading on the ship. The initial death toll amounted to less than a dozen people. These were thought to have drowned as they jumped into the water without life jackets.
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Struggling to Stem Extremism, Tajikistan Targets Beards and Head Scarves
Tajikistan is cracking down on signs of Islam after its citizen was charged with carrying out a deadly attack in Moscow. However, experts say that the measures do not address the causes of terrorism. People in Tajikistan expected a government crackdown after several Tajik men were arrested and charged for a terrorist attack on a concert hall in Moscow in March.
