TRANSCENDENTAL ART

INTERVIEW WITH IGOR GUSHCHIN OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / workIgor Gushchin: The sphere in which I work is not only my job but also my life. I can talk a lot about art, this is a phenomenon and a product of human consciousness. What distinguishes a person from […]

NEW UZBEKISTAN BEGINS AT THE SCHOOL DOORSTEP EDUCATION REFORMS ENSURE LONG TERM GROWTH OF UZBEKISTAN

From the beginning of the written history of humankind, Central Asia was at the crossroads of civilisations, cultures and development. Archaeological discoveries show that the first known cities and states were present here for more than five thousand years. Magnificent monuments, temples and government buildings, with the sophisticated structures, prove that this land was full […]

I HAVE AN ARDENT DESIRE TO CREATE AND SHARE MY CREATIVITY

INTERWIEW WITH LIDIYA DROZDOVA OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity.Lidiya Drozdova: I live in Kazakhstan. I create from the beauty around me and give the happiness of creativity to everyone who wants to learn how to paint. I am the worker of Kazakh art, member of the Kazakhstan Designers Union, […]

UZBEKISTAN’S GROWINGINTERNATIONAL CULTURE & ARTS SCENE

International art lovers attending the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale were in for a treat. For the very first time in the history of this prestigious festival, Uzbekistan had a national pavilion, situated within the Arsenale. Titled “Mahalla: Urban Rural Living”, this 1:1 scale model of a house in a traditional Uzbek mahalla (neighbourhood) was curated […]

ACHIEVING SOCIAL INCLUSION THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE IN UZBEKISTAN: WHY ACCESSIBILITY IS SO IMPORTANT

“I really want our society to be inclusive. I think we should start with culture because music and arts do not require interpretation. If we make culture inclusive and accessible, everything else will go by itself, God willing,” said Mirsaid Mukhotorov, a blind student of international law at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. […]

MARGARITA YAGUDAEVA

EVERYTHING THAT IS IMAGINABLE – IS POSSIBLE OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activityMargarita Yagudaeva: I was born in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, grew up there before I went travelling around the world. Recently, I completed my PhD in Linguistics and am now a Doctor of Linguistics.As for my creative […]

A SPRING OF KNOWLEDGE AND BEAUTY:UZBEK AND CHAGATAI COLLECTIONS AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY

Since its creation in 1753, the British Library – formerly the Library of the British Museum – has amassed more than 170 million collection items. A small portion of these are in Uzbek or Chagatai, or related to the territory of the contemporary Republic of Uzbekistan. Despite their small number, the 50-odd Turkic manuscripts from […]

Commitment to international principles

Commitment to international principles The situation in Afghanistan was a real test of the international community’s commitment to democratic values and principles of mutual assistance. One of the first Central Asian states to pass the test was Kazakhstan, which promptly responded to the UN appeal and hosted missions by the international organisation. As the military […]

PEOPLE’S WRITER OF KYRGYZSTAN, PUBLIC FIGURE, SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHTER 80TH ANNIVERSARY SINCE KAZAT AKMATOV’S BIRTH

BIOGRAPHY: Kazat Akmatov is a well-known people’s writer of Kyrgyzstan. He is the author of such wonderful works as “Arhat”, “Munabiya”, “Howl”, “13 steps of Erica Claus”, “Shahidka”, “Sacred Hearth”, etc. The works of K. Akmatov have been translated into dozens of languages and included in the study programme in many countries. They have also […]

GUEST EDITOR’S WORD

Dear Reader It is was a great honor to be asked to be the Guest Editor for this edition of OCA magazine. The magazine is now in its twelfth year and has grown in influence over that time. I have been involved with OCA and the Eurasian Creative Guild for nearly nine years – having […]

EMINESCU – AN ECHO OF LOVE

Love has no boundaries. Anyone can find their favorite poetry through the work of Mihai Eminescu. In Romania, as well as in the Republic of Moldova, children study the poetry of Mihai Eminescu from a young age. He is the most beloved poet for Romanians of all ages. For in his poems we find the […]

ARCTIC: AN INTERCONNECTED CULTURE AND CLIMATE

One of the global problems of our modern world is climate change. The most noticeable process of climate change is observed in the Arctic. There are lots of rallies, actions and campaigns held in support of work on preserving the climate in the Arctic, and on preserving the local habitat and settlements. And against the […]

THE EURASIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY IS BORN HERE

YERLAN SYDYKOVCHANCELLOR OF THE EURASIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITYCHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF RECTORS OF UNIVERSITIES OF KAZAKHSTAN This year, The Eurasian National University (ENU), named after L.N. Gumilyov, will reach over a quarter of a century in age, during which time, its consistent successes across all areas of the educational space, has seen the institution comfortably […]

THE ROAD TO GROWTH

Prior to 2020, Uzbekistan was one of the fastest growing travel destinations in the world, with the surge in visitors arriving beyond even the highest expectations of those within the Central Asia tourism scene. It was an exciting time to be creating product and leading sales of Uzbekistan holidays for a company organising tours for […]

HOW HAVE KAZAKHSTANIS FARED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

From March 2020 and throughout the whole year, the Business Information, Social and Marketing Research Center “BISAM – Central Asia” had been monitoring public sentiments and social situation by tracking changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The information was collected within the framework of international surveys by Gallup International, whose representative in Kazakhstan is BISAM […]

NAVRUZ CELEBRATION IN TAJIKISTAN

Navruz is one of the most ancient of holidays that has survived from the depths of centuries to present day. It is one of the biggest holidays of the Aryan people, including the Tajik people, and other peoples and cultures celebrate it under the same name. Each region in Tajikistan celebrates Navruz with its own […]

SECRETS AND MYSTERY OF BRASLAV LAKES

The largest lake group in Belarus, including more than 50 lakes spanning 130 square kilometres, is located around Braslav. The lakes are connected by numerous, but mostly shallow, rivers and streams with a length of more than 300 km. The most famous of the Braslav lakes are the Drivyaty, Tsno, Nespish, Nedrovo, Potsekh, Voyso, Boloyso, […]

OCA PEOPLE: VLADIMIR TULINOV

At the age of 27, Vladimir began writing poetry and articles, many of which were published in newspapers and magazines. He graduated from two universities,and in 2011 his first book of a journalistic nature with the title “My language is my friend” was published. His other book such as “Guards of Hippocrates” – was highly […]

OCA PEOPLE: VICTORIA LEVIN

COVER STORY   Victoria is a writer, poet born in the Chita region. Graduated from Moscow State Technical University. Bauman. Author of two novels and seven collections of poetry. She has been published in magazines in Israel, Russia, Germany, Bulgaria and others. Also she’s a Winner of the Russian Literary Prize medal. Laureate of several […]

OCA PEOPLE: SULTAN RAEV

INTERVIEW Sultan Akimovich is a writer, playwright. People’s Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic (2011). Laureate of the CIS Interstate Prize. He’s known as an acclaimed playwright and theater director. Author of more than two dozen plays. Performances based on his plays have repeatedly won victories, incl. Grand Prix, at theater festivals in Germany, Tatarstan, Uzbekistan, […]

OCA PEOPLE: SARIYA MAMEDOVA

Sariya Aga Mamad kyzy, graduated with honors from the institute, full-time postgraduate study. Since 1976, candidate of chemical sciences. Editor of the magazine “Society and Woman”. She is the owner of the “Golden Pen” by the Azerbaijani media, 2013. Member of the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan 01.16.1913 Member of the Russian Writers Union (RSP) since […]

OCA PEOPLE: NINA BELOMESTNOVA

Nina Belomestnova is a freelance journalist, historian (anthropologist), writer. Engaged in scientific and ethnic journalism. In journalism, holder of the titles “Journalist of Siberia”, 2016, “Golden Pen of Russia”, 2017. Winner of the Y. Rytkheu International Literary Prize in 2016 for the nomination “small prose”. OCA: Tell us about yourself and your activity / work? […]

OCA PEOPLE: MARINA PODLESNAIA

Marina Podlesnaya was born in Moldova. She’s a poet, writer, museographer of the House-Museum of A.S. Pushkin in Chisinau, member of the Administrative Council of the Writers’ Union of Moldova A. S. Pushkin; board member and member of the ballroom committee of the Center for Russian Culture of the Republic of Moldova; organizer and presenter […]

International media forum

International media forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan and the election of our country as Vice-Chairman of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly was held in Ashgabat   On September 16, 2020, International media forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan and […]

OCA PEOPLE: LENAR SHAEKHOV

Lenar (Lenar Shaekhov), a Tatar poet, children’s writer, translator, publicist. Born on 4 October 1982 in the village of Taktalachuk of the Aktanyshsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia). Graduated from the Menzelinsk Pedagogical College, Department of Tatar Philology and History of Kazan State University, Post Graduate Programme. Chief Editor of the Tatarstan Book […]

OCA PEOPLE: LARISSA PRODAN

Larissa was born in Uzbekistan, her childhood and youth were spent in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. She graduated from university in Kazakhstan. After receiving her PhD, I taught economics in Central Asian and Caucasus countries. At the moment she lives in the USA. She’s a prose writer. Her historical novel “The Fine Thread of […]

OCA PEOPLE: JOHN FARNDON

John is an author, playwright, songwriter and poet, and chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild. He is the author of over thousand books on many topics, and has been shortlisted for the Young People’s Science Book Prize five times. He is also a translator of literature from Russia and Central Asia. He was joint winner […]

OCA PEOPLE: HAMID LARBI

Hamid Larbi is a journalist and poet, born in Algiers, currently lives at Montpellier. He is the author of various essays and poetry collections translated into Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Arabic and Serbian languages. He received the journalism award from the Press Circle of Milan for Giornalistàesterain Milan, Italy.He won the Silver Medal at […]

OCA PEOPLE: GARETH STAMP

Gareth is originally from the UK, with Welsh routes and heritage. He originally trained as a designer and then, over thirty years ago, he found his passion for education, both teaching shared ideas and learning new things every day. He worked in Kazakhstan for nearly nine years in a wide variety of educational settings; from […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELVIRA SVETLOVA

Elvira Svetlova was born in Russia. She graduated from Pedagogical University. After moving to Almaty, Elvira’s articles were published in many media sources. She also wrote several books. She received the title of Doctor of Creative Sciences and Teachings of the Moscow Academy of Sciences. OCA: Tell us about yourself and your creative activity/work ES: […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELENA KORNEEVA

Elena graduated from Ryazan State Pedagogical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography. Elena took part in research expeditions, scientific conferences, won several competitions of poetry and scientific works. She is a laureate of international and all-Russian music competitions of songs for children and teenagers. Her poetry is multifaceted, extending to recitations to music, the […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELENA BOSLER-GUSEVA

Elena is a founder and director of a ‘Premium Group’ company in Kyrgyzstan, a member of the Eurasian Creative Guild, a recent chairman of the Expert Council in the category of “Translation”. Hobbies: literature (writing articles, children’s stories, poems, dubbing texts), foreign languages (individual teaching, drawing up progressive training programs, consulting), painting, travel. OCA: Please […]

OCA PEOPLE: MICHAEL DANIEL SAGATIS

Michael Daniel is a British independent researcher, composer and filmmaker with Baltic & Slavic roots. He created an intergenerational memory project “Józefa’s Letters” that’s been widely exhibited throughout the Eurasian space. In 2019, he made and co-scored the documentary short film “Józefa’s Letters” which has received 9 official film festival selections. Visit: https://vimeo.com/michaelsagatis OCA: Tell […]

OCA PEOPLE: MARGARITA MIKHAILOVA

Born in Russia, Margarita began her studies as a pianist and choral conductor in St Petersburg Academy of Art. Since 2002 she has worked in Norway and gradually extended her repertoire from classical and romantic composers to contemporary music. After completing her Master Degree in Choral Conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music Margarita worked […]

OCA PEOPLE: GULNARA KAPANOVA

Gulnara is a stage movement researcher, professional ballerina – leading soloist of the Kazakhstan Opera House, master of arts (choreography), certified specialist in functional anatomy. Author of documentaries about classical ballet, founder of the “Gift” award for graduates of the Almaty Choreographic School named after Seleznev. Author of a number of scientific articles from the […]

OCA PEOPLE: NURYM TAIBEK

Nurym is a mathematician, business manager, ideologue of general prosperity (through natural market / ‘Islamic’ economic system), scholar of philosophy of religion, theologian, author of scientific works, articles in the press and interviews with major media, blogger, translator. He is an author of dozens of scientific publications on philosophy of religion, appeared in the media […]

OCA PEOPLE: STEPHEN M. BLAND

Stephen M. Bland is a freelance journalist, award-winning author, researcher and editor specialising in post-Soviet territories. His book on Central Asia was released in 2016, and he is currently putting the finishing touches to a book about the Caucasus.  www.stephenmbland.com OCA: Tell us about yourself and your work SMB: My name is Stephen M. Bland; […]

OCA PEOPLE: LAURENT MARGADANT

Laurent has been working in the banking industry. He worked in the accountancy of a private aviation company and I have worked for the TPG Transport Publics Genevois, a State Company for public transport in Geneva twenty years as Manager of the Trolleybus Operations. He has been passionate about Central Asia since 2007, with many […]

OCA PEOPLE: ELENA BEZRUKOVA

Business coach and owner of the “Elena Bezrukova Center” aimed at training and consulting,she is also practicing psychology. Her work experience over 26 years. More than 5000 specialists have been trained by her programm and now they successfully apply learned knowledge. Education: pedagogical, economic, psychological. Elena Bezrukova has Kazakh and international certificates for conducting training […]

OCA PEOPLE: ANATOLY SKARGHIN

Anatoly Skarghin was born in Kyrgyzstan, worked in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1995 went out on pension from the Ministry of Internal Affairs — deputy minister’s position. He is the president of the International Public Association “Generals of the World – for Peace,” the Police Major General. ECG: Tell us […]

OCA PEOPLE: ANASTASIA FOX

  Founder of CIC ” Communities Art of Life” Humanitarian, NLP Master practitioner certificate Coach, Public speaker, Well-being Mentor / Coach, Performed in NHS High-security hospitals – art therapist. Farmer Olympic athlete – the Moscow Olympic Game 1980 Survivor of severe child abuse and domestic violence I was born in Latvia into the times during […]

MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS

The Tariverdiev International Organ Competition is one of the world’s largest organ contests. For organists, it has the same significance in Russia as the Tchaikovsky competition does for pianists and violinists. Outstanding organists from a number of countries have been on the competition’s panel on several occasions, including Martin Haselböck, Michel Chapuis, Jean Guillou, Thierry […]

ART UNITES

www.ocamagazine.com #35 summer 2020 text and photos by Pavel Podzorov pavelspne@tut.by The modern world is complex and diverse, it is full of opposing trends. Never before our earth has been subjected to such political and physical overloads. Never before has man taken from nature so many resources and never been so vulnerable to the power […]

IS IT IN OUR BLOOD? OR SWEAT?

www.ocamagazine #35 summer 2020 text by Tara Pandeya Dance is an integral part of life in Central Asia; it can be seen both in rural settings and on the proscenium stage, from highly developed virtuosic classical styles to nuanced and subtle folk-dance forms. Western audiences might be surprised to learn that Central Asia has an […]

FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO TASHKENT: A CAREER IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#35 SUMMER 2020 Interview with Michael Schena recorded by Saniya Seilkhanova Growing up in Plymouth, Massachusetts and later studying at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he pursued a degree in International Affairs, Michael Schena decided to pursue a career that would allow him travel and work. A regular visitor to […]

DEFENDING WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN

I am from Afghanistan. I am Uzbek by ethnicity and Uzbeks are the least privileged and the most marginalised ethnic group in Afghanistan. Educational opportunities are scare for an Afghan Uzbek woman in the male-dominated society. I managed to complete my masters degree in International Public Law with distinction. I am among the very few […]

ADVOCATING FOR MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

www.ocamagazine.com oca#35 summer 2020 Since 1999, Utah Valley University (UVU) has partnered with the International University of Kyrgyzstan (IUK). The important feature of their academic exchanges was to study and share experiences of economic development in mountain areas, which are affected not only by traditional challenges from nature such as high altitude, harsh climate, environmental […]

INTERVIEW: IHOR KYZYM, AMBASSADOR OF UKRAINE TO BELARUS

WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#35 SUMMER 2020 As Ukraine continues to look towards the EU for its future, OCA Magazine met with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus, in order to find out more about the European geopolitical direction of the country, as well as the development of Ukrainian-Belarusian relations. OCA: What is the regime of work of your embassy during […]

EURASIANIASM — FROM LITHUANIA TO LONDON

  OCA #35 SUMMER 2020 WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM interview prepared by Saniya Seilkhanova INTERVIEW: ALDONA GRUPAS Born in Riga, Latvia, to Lithuanian parents, Aldona Grupas later moved to Klaipėda in Lithuania, before resettling in the UK, where she embarked on a geriatric-nursing career. She has written books for Lithuanians who move to the UK to help them […]

Lecture about Savitsky Museum helps to raise funds for anti-COVID-19 campaign in Uzbekistan

Last Sunday, Solidarity with Uzbekistan, a digital fundraising campaign benefited from yet another webinar to help raise money for the vulnerable people affected by COVID-19 lockdown in the country. An interesting lecture about the Savitsky Museum given by its former director Marinika Babanazarova was fully booked. Held at 3pm in London, the Zoom-session attracted over […]

Azerbaijanis around the world celebrate their National Day on May 28

Establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on 28 May, 1918 was a glorious page in Azerbaijani history. Committing to principles of democracy and secularity, ADR was the first parliamentary republic in the Muslim East, granting women the right to vote before most western democracies. ADR fell in April 1920 after Bolshevik invasion. Nevertheless, it laid the […]

Extinction Rebellion Inspires Ecological Readings In Kyrgyzstan

International Extinction Rebellion and the Legacy of the 2003 London Anti-war marches I have been following the discourses and actions by Extinction Rebellion for a while now, pretty much ever since its inception in London. It is an quite an endeavour and a very brave approach of handling current climate issues and the potential for […]

Transforming Education in Uzbekistan: A President’s Initiative

Stories and reminders of Uzbekistan’s great scientists and scholars of the past can be found everywhere in the country. Travellers on the magnificent Tashkent subway, when stopping at the Kosmonavtlar station, can walk the length of the platform and view a gallery of those who built, influenced and pioneered the Soviet space program. In chronological […]

Poverty, Paralysis And Persistence Create Pure Perfection

INTERVIEW: EVGENII DOGA Moldovan musician, Evgenii Doga, dismissed his life of poverty and paralysis to realise his dream of becoming a musician. His fascinating story is uncovered here. OCA: How did you become such a talented creative person in Moldova? Evgenii Doga: I liked music from my childhood, but I could not even imagine that […]

Dubai Hosts 2020 Focus on Turkmenistan Oil & Gas

The vice-сhairman of Eurasian Creative Guild (London), Marat Akhmedjanov, visited the official opening ceremony of the international conference “TAPI – the Pipeline for Peace and Cooperation” and the roadshow “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan” which took place in the Al Maha conference hall of the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Hotel on 24 February 2020. […]

2020: The Year to Visit Tajikistan

My trip to Tajikistan in the summer of 2019 was one of my most memorable adventures ever. I’ve been travelling full-time for the past 9 years and seen some stunning destinations, but not many countries have touched me like this little Central Asian country did. What exactly makes Tajikistan so special? 93% of the country is covered in mountains, […]

Fighting For Political Change in Georgia

In Conversation: Shalva Natelashvili   Sixty-two year old Shalva Natelashvili is no ordinary Georgian politician. Born in the northern mountainous part of Georgia, he graduated from Tbilisi State University with a degree in Law before pursuing a post-graduate degree at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian federation. He began […]