Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

The UK’s engagement in Central Asia

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Feb 2023 Closed: 26 Apr 2024 21 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

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 more details about the inquiry

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads: UK engagement in Ce… HC 1158 10 Nov 2023 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

10 items
8 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 governments and the currently intractable economic ties between Russian and …

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
9 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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
10 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 to shoulder this burden together. However, due to the uncertainties …

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
11 Conclusion Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 asylum to Chinese Uyghurs.

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
12 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues …

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
13 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 the cotton fields of Turkmenistan. Lessons should be learnt and …

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
14 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 those organisations that need it most. We recommend that the …

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
15 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 in the UK’s bilateral relationships. We have not seen evidence …

Government response. The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding human rights in Central Asia but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
16 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 to the UK. It is a strategy with potential long-term …

Government response. The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding education in Central Asian countries but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
17 Recommendation Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:… Not Addressed

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 the Government reviews its ability to issue visas and provide …

Government response. The government restates the committee's recommendation regarding the Migrant Workers Scheme but the response is truncated.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
5 Sep 2023 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 View ↗
27 Jun 2023 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 View ↗
9 May 2023 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 View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
18 Oct 2023 Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Europe) followi…