Tajikistan

A powerful earthquake registering 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Ferghana Valley early July 20, affecting Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The epicenter of the quake was about 45 kilometers south of the Uzbek city of Ferghana.

Uzbekistan wound up 2010 still quarrelling with its neighbors over water, energy, and security issues. Tashkent cut off gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan, which is still struggling to recover from political and ethnic unrest, and provided only 72,000 cubic meters per day instead of the usual 90,000 cubic meters, Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) reported.

Mutual acrimony is prompting Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to trade increasingly harsh accusations and blame each other for mounting commercial damage over competition for Central Asia’s water supplies. The prolonged battle may further damage Tajikistan’s already ailing economy, EurasiaNet reported.