Central Asia

A Father Frosts parade will take place downtown Bishkek on December 31, public relations department of the city administration informed the news agency on Wednesday.

Russian energy giant Gazprom signed a contract to increase the volume of gas it purchases from Uzbekistan starting in 2010, the company said.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the head of Russia's joint stock financial corporation "System", Leonid Melamed, on December 28.

The CIS mission of observers considers the elections to the lower (legislative) chamber of the national parliament held in Uzbekistan on Sunday to be free and open, corresponding to the universally recognized norms.

Kyrgyzstan has signed a long-awaited gas deal with Uzbekistan Monday in Tashkent, press service of the Kyrgyz government reported.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received a congratulatory New Year message from President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev. The text of the message was published in the central Turkmen media.

The head of state signed the law on ratification of the contract on establishment of the Anti-Crisis Fund of the Eurasian Economic Community.

At 8 pm Sunday, voting at elections of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and local councils completed at all polling stations in Uzbekistan.

At 8 pm Sunday, voting at elections of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and local councils completed at all polling stations in Uzbekistan.

In 2009, the level of the economic growth of Kazakhstan will reach more than 0.1 %. The Minister of Economy and Budgetary Planning of Kazakhstan, Bahyt Sultanov, informed today in an interview to journalists, following the results of the selector government meeting.