The UK’s engagement in Central Asia

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Feb 2023 Closed: 26 Apr 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry will scrutinise the UK’s diplomatic activity and soft power influence in Central Asia. The inquiry will examine priorities and challenges for the Government as it seeks to deepen its engagement on security, energy, trade, environment and investment to pursue mutually beneficial objectives. Read the call for evidence for … Read more
21 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
25 Jan
2024
Report published
10 Nov
2023
Report published
18 Oct
2023
Correspondence
5 Sep
2023
Oral evidence
5 Sep
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
27 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
27 Jun
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
9 May
2023
Oral evidence
9 May
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
5 Sep 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Charles Garrett Chris Allan · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Erlan Dosymbekov · Ernst and Young (EY) in Kazakhstan and Central Asia Leo Docherty · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27 Jun 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Erica Marat · National Defense University Khalida Azhigulova Luca Anceschi · School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow Maisy Weicherding · Amnesty International Noah Tucker · The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs
9 May 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Annette Bohr · Chatham House Dr Aijan Sharshenova · Foreign Policy Centre Oliver Bullough Peter Frankopan · Worcester College, Oxford University Professor John Heathershaw · University of Exeter Professor Kristian Lasslett · University of Ulster
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads: UK engagement in Central… HC 1158 10 Nov 2023 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
8 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Close opportunities for Russian sanctions evasion and reduce Central Asia's economic dependence
Sanctions evasion by Russia via Central Asian states is a real and significant threat to the international measures against Russia’s renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine. 56 Countries at crossroads: UK engagement in Central Asia The kleptocratic nature of Central Asian … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's conclusion/recommendation regarding sanctions evasion by Russia via Central Asian states but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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9 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Prioritise preventing Qosh Tepa canal project from causing regional environmental crisis
Ensuring that the Qosh Tepa canal project does not lead to an environmental and political crisis for countries accessing the waters of the Amu Darya should be a key priority of the UK’s engagement with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Government Response
The government restates the committee's conclusion regarding the Qosh Tepa canal project.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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10 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Prepare detailed action plan for Central Asian climate adaptation, mitigation, and regional cooperation
The vulnerability of all five Central Asian countries to climate change is real and severe. Without rapid and concerted action, the consequences of food and water insecurity pose threats to regional and global resilience. It is in our mutual interest … Read more
Government Response
The government response only repeats the first sentence of the recommendation, and does not address the requested action plan.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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11 Conclusion Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Central Asian governments show insufficient support for persecuted Uyghur populations
The relationship between Central Asian governments and their own Uyghur populations is sometimes complex. The persecution of the Muslims in Xinjiang continues with little obvious objection from Central Asian governments. In some cases, Central Asian Governments have failed to provide … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's conclusion regarding the complex relationship between Central Asian governments and their Uyghur populations.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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12 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Support investigation into Gorno-Badakshan human rights abuses and add Tajikistan to FCDO priority list
The crackdown on human rights defenders as well as the repression of Pamiri culture and Ismaili religion in Gorno-Badakshan in Tajikistan is a particularly concerning example of human rights abuses by the Tajik Government. We recommend that the Government supports … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding human rights abuses in Gorno-Badakshan in Tajikistan but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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13 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Implement recommendations to address forced labour in Turkmenistan's cotton supply chains
We recommend, once more, that the Government implements the recommendations made in the Committee’s report Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond, to focus on supply chains that might be facilitating forced labour in … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding supply chains that might be facilitating forced labour in the cotton fields of Turkmenistan.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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14 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Amend reporting requirements for civil society organisations receiving UK funds to maximise operational agency
Civil society organisations act as a bastion against totalitarianism and a counter to foreign disinformation. We welcome the UK Government’s support of civil society organisations in Central Asia. However, this support needs to be fit for purpose and accessible to … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding reporting requirements for civil society organisations receiving funds from the UK Government, but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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15 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Rigorously assess DCTS countries against human rights criteria, ready to suspend trading arrangements
The situation for human rights, and the environment for human rights defenders, may be different in different Central Asian countries, but there is evidence of a negative trajectory in all of them. This is a situation which cannot be ignored … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding human rights in Central Asia but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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16 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Increase British Council resources and expand Chevening scholarships to boost UK soft power in Central Asia
Education provides one of the most promising opportunities for the UK to be a force for good and to build soft influence in Central Asian countries—contributing to a generation of educated young people who know English and have had exposure … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding education in Central Asian countries but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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17 Recommendation Not Addressed
Tenth Report - Countries at crossr…
Review visa issuance and establish more application centres for migrant workers
The Migrant Workers Scheme is highly effective, with benefits for the UK, the workers themselves and the societies they are returning to. We see huge potential for this to be expanded for agricultural workers and other trades. We recommend that … Read more
Government Response
The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding the Migrant Workers Scheme but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 28 of 21 classified
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 2
Not Addressed 10
Rejected 1
Total 21 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
18 Oct 2023 Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Europe) following up on the FAC oral evidence session on Central Asia, dated 13/10/2023 and 13/09/2023
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