A large Kurultai of Hunnic and Turkic peoples is planned in Hungary, scheduled for August 14 to 16. The event will take place on the Bugac plain and will feature a demonstration of nomadic life, as well as historical battles and performances by archers and horsemen.
Representatives of 27 different peoples and ethnic groups will participate in the Kurultai. Among them are Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turks, Turkmen, Azerbaijanis, Karakalpaks, Tatars, Bashkirs, Gagauz, Nogais, Uyghurs, Yakuts, Mongols, and others. Hungarians are acting as the host nation.
The program places great emphasis on the historical and military traditions of nomadic peoples. Nomadic movements involving horses, donkeys, and carts will be shown, along with demonstrations of infantry and archers dressed as Hunnic, Avars, and ancient Magyar warriors, including reconstructions of historical battles.
Performances such as mounted archery, archer martial arts, fencing, and hunting using lachin and burgut are also planned.
Large bonfires will be set up on the Kurultai grounds to demonstrate the traditional lifestyle of nomads. Archaeological and anthropological exhibitions will feature historical finds from Central Asia, Mongolia, and the Carpathian Basin, as well as reconstructions of ancient weaponry.
Uzbekistan will also participate in the event, showcasing handicrafts. Samples of folk art from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia will be presented at the 'Eastern Bazaar'. Additionally, the official program includes performances by singers and dancers from Uzbekistan.
The Kurultai has been held in Hungary since 2008. Organizers present this event as a meeting demonstrating the historical ties between the peoples of Hungary, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Anatolia in the field of steppe and archer culture.
During the period of independence, numerous efforts were made in the country to develop the education system and implement international experience. In particular, thanks to fundamental changes and organic reforms in higher education, many new higher education institutions have been established in recent years.
Admission quotas were increased threefold. The level of coverage of graduates with higher education increased from 8.8 percent in 2016 to 47.7 percent in the 2024-2025 academic year.
In recent years, the country has been conducting large-scale work aimed at improving public health protection and enhancing the quality of treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, which are the main cause of premature mortality. Special attention is paid to the early detection and fight against familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which was designated by the World Cardiology Fund in its 2022 Cholesterol Combat Roadmap as one of the most serious global problems.
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disease inherited from parents to offspring. In people suffering from this disease, the level of 'bad' cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) is initially elevated. This differs from ordinary cholesterol elevation caused by poor nutrition or lifestyle; it is an innate genetic defect in the body's cholesterol cleansing system. The main danger is that persistently high blood cholesterol levels lead to deposition on the walls of blood vessels, causing them to narrow and become blocked, which can lead to serious risks such as ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke, even at a young age.
Since the disease often progresses silently, it cannot be fully diagnosed with a simple blood test. Modern genetic tests are required for early risk detection, after which patients are prescribed special therapies, medications, and medical monitoring to prevent complications.
Raano Aliyeva, senior researcher at the Laboratory of the Republican Specialized Center of Cardiology and Secretary of the Association of Cardiologists of Uzbekistan, shared her opinion regarding scientific solutions, the latest research results, and practical measures for this problem. She noted that given the high rate of cardiovascular diseases in the country and their link to atherosclerosis, immediate action is necessary. Specifically, FH is an innate monogenic disease that patients are often unaware of.
She provided examples of the scale of the problem: if we take the average prevalence of heterozygous FH in Europe (1 case per 200 people), then among the population of Uzbekistan, which numbers 38 million people, there may be about 190 thousand citizens. According to data, myocardial infarctions in the age group of 25–55 account for 20% of cases and can lead to severe consequences, including sudden death.
This is why, within the framework of a scientific grant from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, titled 'Development of protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of primary dyslipidemia,' work has begun to assess the entire spectrum of FH genetic variants using advanced technology—next-generation sequencing (NGS). This three-year project includes three stages of sequencing. It was conducted for the first time on patients with ischemic heart disease, whereas previously genetic studies were only conducted to identify hereditary diseases in children.
A positive aspect is that in the first stage of the project in 2025, 10 pathogenic genetic variants and 21 variants of uncertain significance were identified among patients with ischemic heart disease and FH. These unique results allow for cascade screening in families. This, in turn, contributes to effective primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases by early detection of the disease in close relatives, including young children.
This study marks the first step not only in Uzbekistan but also in the Central Asian region in mapping the spectrum of FH genetic variants. It contributes to global efforts to comprehensively study the genetic diversity of familial hypercholesterolemia and develop advanced diagnostic and treatment methods.
The results of this scientific study have been highly praised by the international scientific community and were published in the authoritative journal PLOS One. For systemic problem-solving and implementation of best practices, the Republican Specialized Center of Cardiology collaborates with the Association of Cardiologists of Uzbekistan in several prestigious international projects. In particular, they participate in initiatives of the European Atherosclerosis Society, such as 'FHSC' (Global Initiative), 'ScreenProFH' (Eastern Europe Screening Project), 'HICC' (International Collaboration on Homozygous FH), as well as in the 'Lipid Clinic Network' projects of the European Atherosclerosis Society, starting from 2025.
Furthermore, joint activities with the Sanitary and Epidemiological Committee and other industry organizations are being carried out to promote a healthy lifestyle among the population and timely identification of risk groups. These efforts contribute to elevating our medicine to a global level and reliably protecting the health of citizens.
Yozovon, located in the central districts of the Fergana Valley, possesses a unique climate and geographical zone. Livestock farming is also developed among the sand dunes. Thanks to the picturesque landscapes in the region, there are more than ten ponds where famous carp is grown, which is in demand among consumers in neighboring provinces.
Initially, fishing could have been the driving force for the area, but the development of the industry was hindered by problems with feed supply.
The Chinese company 'HUALONG SILIAO' studied the needs and demand for aquaculture in Yozovon and built a plant that produces 30 thousand tons of feed annually, investing $10 million in it. The plant has already been commissioned and has started shipping its first products to local farms.
Company head Jasurbek Ikromjonov reported that they produce five types of products, which differ depending on the type and size of the fish. 80 tons of feed are prepared on each shift at the plant. The product includes flour, fish, chicken meat, soy, corn, rice, and millet.
Co-founder of 'HUALONG SILIAO', Joe Bing, noted that the produced feed has medicinal properties, helping to cleanse the fish of various parasites. Furthermore, this feed does not sink in the water, meaning that one hundred percent of the provided feed is consumed by the fish. Previously, the previous feeds decomposed in the water, and 15-20% settled before the fish could eat them.
The plant's products are continuously sent to customers. The unique characteristics of this feed attract aquaculture farmers and enterprises from remote provinces.
Jasurbek Ikromjonov added that currently, special vitamin, medicinal, and antibacterial feeds for fish, as well as feeds against various parasitic diseases, are being produced. The finished products are delivered to Samarkand, Khorezm, and Jizzakh. The main goal for next year is to start exporting products to foreign countries. The company is located in the Fergana region and is currently the only enterprise in Central Asia in this field.
