For nearly seven decades, Uygur Avazi (Voice of the Uyghur) has occupied a distinctive place in Kazakhstan’s media landscape. Established in Almaty on March 1, 1957, as Kommunism Tugi, the newspaper survived the collapse of the Soviet Union, adopted a new identity and continued providing journalism in the Uyghur language.
Its story is also one of institutional complexity. Operating within Kazakhstan’s established publishing system, Uygur Avazi has helped sustain Uyghur literature, cultural memory and public discussion while generally working within the country’s prevailing political framework.
Radio Free Asia reported that subscriptions reached 16,245 in 2023, illustrating the newspaper’s continued importance to its community. Yet its longevity invites a broader examination of how ethnic-language media balance cultural representation with institutional pressures and questions of editorial independence.
Media Monitor / Kazakhstan / Uyghur Journalism
Uygur Avazi: 69 Years of Uyghur Journalism in Kazakhstan
From a Soviet-era newspaper to an enduring Uyghur-language publication, Uygur Avazi offers a window into the relationship between cultural preservation, state institutions and editorial identity.
01 / Overview
What makes Uygur Avazi significant?
For nearly seven decades, Uygur Avazi, or Voice of the Uyghur, has provided news, commentary, literature and cultural coverage in the Uyghur language for readers in Kazakhstan.
Founded in Almaty in 1957 as Kommunism Tugi, meaning Banner of Communism, the publication experienced the institutional upheavals of the Soviet period and the independence of Kazakhstan. Its later name, Uygur Avazi, placed Uyghur community identity at the centre of its public presentation.
Foundation
The newspaper began publication in Almaty under the title Kommunism Tugi.
Political transition
Following the end of the Soviet Union, the paper adopted the Uygur Avazi name.
2023 subscriptions
Radio Free Asia reported this subscriber figure in January 2023. It should not be treated as a current circulation count.
Writing traditions
The newspaper’s Cyrillic-script publishing heritage and historical Arabic-script supplement reflect distinct traditions of written Uyghur.
Its significance extends beyond the survival of a title. A newspaper regularly published in a minority language can create space for writers, readers, cultural institutions and successive generations to communicate in that language.
02 / Interactive history
From Kommunism Tugi to Uygur Avazi
Expand each milestone to trace the publication’s development.
Kommunism Tugi begins publication in Almaty
The newspaper is founded in Soviet Kazakhstan. Its establishment provides Uyghur readers with a major republican-level publication in their own language.
The publication expands its journalistic and literary role
During the Soviet period, Kommunism Tugi covers political, economic and cultural life while reaching Uyghur audiences beyond Kazakhstan. A historical Arabic-script supplement, Yeni Hayat, also becomes part of its publishing tradition.
Increased publication frequency
Radio Free Asia’s 2017 retrospective reports that the newspaper moved to five issues per week in 1979. Historical frequency varied, so one schedule should not be applied to the whole Soviet period.
A new title following independence
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the publication adopts the name Uygur Avazi, or Voice of the Uyghur, reflecting its new post-Soviet setting and community identity.
Ershat Asmatov becomes editor-in-chief
According to the original article, Asmatov assumed leadership in March 2014. RFA interviewed him as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief in January 2023.
RFA reports 16,245 subscriptions
Radio Free Asia reports a record subscriber figure for 2023 and interviews editor Ershat Asmatov about the newspaper’s role and community support.
Uyghur Times publishes a media profile
Tahir Imin’s profile examines the paper’s origins, readership, publishing affiliation, editors and broader role in the Uyghur community.
03 / Historical data
What do the readership figures show?
The newspaper’s reach has changed across political periods, distribution networks and publication schedules. Historical accounts contain useful figures, but subscriptions and printed circulation should not be combined into an unqualified readership trend.
Copies, selected years. Figures drawn from the newspaper’s 2017 historical retrospective. Bars share a maximum of 24,000 copies.
Source: Uygur Avazi historical retrospective, 2017. These are selected historical figures reported by the newspaper, not an independently audited time series.
Reported subscriptions for 2023, according to Radio Free Asia on January 9, 2023.
This figure is displayed separately because a subscription total is not necessarily comparable with historical printed circulation.
RFA’s 2023 reporting included an interview with editor Ershat Asmatov, who associated demand for the newspaper with continued community interest in the Uyghur language and national press.
Historical circulation data also require political context. During the Soviet period, the publication reached Uyghurs in several republics. After independence, changes to borders, distribution arrangements and newspaper markets affected its potential readership.
04 / Script and cultural memory
One language, different writing traditions
Uygur Avazi has principally appeared in Cyrillic Uyghur, consistent with the writing tradition used by many Uyghurs educated in Soviet Central Asia. Its history also includes the Arabic-script supplement Yeni Hayat, or New Life.
The principal newspaper tradition
The Cyrillic writing system forms part of the newspaper’s publishing history and provides continuity for readers familiar with Uyghur Cyrillic in Kazakhstan.
A connected literary tradition
The historical Yeni Hayat supplement reflected the Arabic-script tradition of written Uyghur and helped connect different readerships and literary practices.
The script examples above render the newspaper’s name in two writing systems. They are not reproductions of historical mastheads.
Why does script diversity matter?
Writing systems influence how readers access literature, education, archives and family history. Different Uyghur script traditions developed through different historical and political experiences. Preserving access to older publications can therefore be important for cultural continuity.
05 / Interactive editorial analysis
Cultural preservation and institutional positioning
Uygur Avazi covers socio-political developments, cultural heritage, literature and interethnic relations. It also presents itself as a publication contributing to understanding among communities in Kazakhstan.
The original Uyghur Times profile describes the paper as operating under Kazakh Newspapers LLP, with support from the established publishing system and subscription income. Its analysis suggests an emphasis on national development and social stability consistent with much mainstream media coverage in Kazakhstan.
Institutional affiliation, however, is not by itself proof that every editorial decision is directly controlled by the government. Examining actual editorial independence requires evidence about ownership, appointments, funding, internal policies and published content.
Cultural role
Publishing in Uyghur provides a platform for literature, historical memory, language use and cultural expression. Its long publication history makes the newspaper significant to the continuity of Uyghur-language media in Kazakhstan.
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Cultural role: Journalism, literature and cultural discussion in Uyghur contribute to the language’s public presence.
Community journalism: Reporting on local institutions, cultural events and social affairs gives readers access to community information in their own language.
Institutional affiliation: The original profile associates Uygur Avazi with Kazakh Newspapers LLP. The exact current financial and governance relationship requires confirmation through corporate documents.
Editorial independence: The paper’s political positioning should be evaluated through a systematic content review, evidence about editorial decisions and comparison with other outlets, rather than ownership labels alone.
A minority-language newspaper can preserve cultural expression while its institutional environment shapes the boundaries of public debate. Analytical interpretation, not a quotation from the newspaper
The question of Xinjiang coverage
The original profile argues that Uygur Avazi has taken a cautious approach toward politically sensitive subjects involving Uyghurs in China. It additionally asserts that the newspaper has not used the phrase “Uyghur genocide” in its reporting.
That latter assertion should remain attributed to the original author until a comprehensive examination of the newspaper’s print and online archives establishes whether, where and how the terminology has appeared.
A rigorous content study would examine coverage dates, topics, sources quoted, headline language, omissions and the distinction between news reports, interviews, official statements and opinion pieces.
Such an examination could clarify how the paper balances community identity with its institutional setting without assuming that the absence of a particular term establishes the full extent of its editorial independence.
06 / Editorial leadership
The editors who shaped its development
The newspaper has passed through several periods of editorial leadership, reflecting changes in Soviet and independent Kazakhstan. The following sequence is reported in the original profile and supported in part by the publication’s historical retrospective.
Makhamet Azizov (1957–1960)
Akhmetzhan Mametov (1960–1971)
Abdulla Mashurov (1971–1979)
Turdakhun Nazarov (1979–1987)
Yuldash Azamatov (1987–2012)
Mukhtarzhan Zhumarov (2012–2014)
Ershat Asmatov
Identified as editor-in-chief in Radio Free Asia’s January 2023 reporting. Confirm current tenure before updating this historical profile.
07 / Evidence and claims
What do the available sources establish?
Founding in 1957 — supported historical fact
The newspaper’s historical retrospective and Radio Free Asia’s account identify March 1, 1957 as the beginning of Kommunism Tugi in Almaty.
16,245 subscriptions in 2023 — dated reported figure
Radio Free Asia’s January 9, 2023 report gives the subscription figure and quotes editor Ershat Asmatov about the newspaper’s role and readership.
It should not be interpreted as the present-day number of readers, annual readership or total printed copies without additional data.
Regional Uyghur press history — historical assessment
A 2017 Radio Free Asia historical feature discusses the broader tradition of Uyghur publishing in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, including Kommunism Tugi and the Yeni Hayat supplement.
The account should be understood in its 2017 context, rather than as a verified inventory of all Central Asian Uyghur-language publications in 2026.
Publishing affiliation — requires corporate verification
The original article identifies Kazakh Newspapers LLP as the publishing organisation and describes Uygur Avazi as state-affiliated.
A definitive description of present ownership and editorial governance should be checked against current corporate information, funding arrangements and publication records.
Absence of the term “Uyghur genocide” — unverified editorial claim
The original author states that the term has not appeared in the newspaper’s coverage. A systematic multilingual archive search has not been established here.
Before asserting this as a verified finding, examine both Cyrillic and Arabic-script material where relevant, archived print issues, online posts and variations in terminology.
08 / Conclusion
A cultural institution within a political system
Uygur Avazi’s history illustrates how minority-language journalism can survive profound political changes. First published during the Soviet period and maintained after Kazakhstan’s independence, it has contributed to the public presence of the Uyghur language across generations.
Its importance is cultural, institutional and historical. The publication has provided space for community reporting, literature and civic discussion while also reflecting the broader media environment in which it operates.
Its position within a state-affiliated publishing structure, as described in the original article, raises legitimate questions about editorial autonomy, especially on politically sensitive international issues. Those questions are best answered through verified ownership information and a systematic examination of published work.
The newspaper’s continued existence and its editorial limitations, to the extent they can be demonstrated, are not mutually exclusive. Both are relevant to understanding its place in Kazakhstan’s media landscape.
09 / Sources
Documentation and further reading
- Uyghur Times, April 23, 2026 — Tahir Imin’s original profile. Source article and editorial analysis.
- Uygur Avazi, 2017 — historical retrospective. Founding, leadership, development and selected circulation figures.
- Radio Free Asia, January 9, 2023. Report on 16,245 subscriptions, with comments from editor Ershat Asmatov.
- Radio Free Asia, June 19, 2017. History of Uyghur-language newspapers in Central Asia and the Yeni Hayat supplement.
- Uygur Avazi official website. Newspaper articles, announcements and institutional material.
Historical circulation figures and the 2023 subscription total are reported by different sources and should not be interpreted as a continuous audited dataset. Claims about political alignment, state support and omissions in coverage require appropriate attribution and further verification. This profile preserves the original article’s central assessment while distinguishing documented history from editorial interpretation.
Media Monitor / Kazakhstan / Uyghur Journalism
Uygur Avazi: 69 Years of Uyghur Journalism in Kazakhstan
From a Soviet-era newspaper to an enduring Uyghur-language publication, Uygur Avazi offers a window into the relationship between cultural preservation, state institutions and editorial identity.
01 / Overview
What makes Uygur Avazi significant?
For nearly seven decades, Uygur Avazi, or Voice of the Uyghur, has provided news, commentary, literature and cultural coverage in the Uyghur language for readers in Kazakhstan.
Founded in Almaty in 1957 as Kommunism Tugi, meaning Banner of Communism, the publication experienced the institutional upheavals of the Soviet period and the independence of Kazakhstan. Its later name, Uygur Avazi, placed Uyghur community identity at the centre of its public presentation.
Foundation
The newspaper began publication in Almaty under the title Kommunism Tugi.
Political transition
Following the end of the Soviet Union, the paper adopted the Uygur Avazi name.
2023 subscriptions
Radio Free Asia reported this subscriber figure in January 2023. It should not be treated as a current circulation count.
Writing traditions
The newspaper’s Cyrillic-script publishing heritage and historical Arabic-script supplement reflect distinct traditions of written Uyghur.
Its significance extends beyond the survival of a title. A newspaper regularly published in a minority language can create space for writers, readers, cultural institutions and successive generations to communicate in that language.
02 / Interactive history
From Kommunism Tugi to Uygur Avazi
Expand each milestone to trace the publication’s development.
Kommunism Tugi begins publication in Almaty
The newspaper is founded in Soviet Kazakhstan. Its establishment provides Uyghur readers with a major republican-level publication in their own language.
The publication expands its journalistic and literary role
During the Soviet period, Kommunism Tugi covers political, economic and cultural life while reaching Uyghur audiences beyond Kazakhstan. A historical Arabic-script supplement, Yeni Hayat, also becomes part of its publishing tradition.
Increased publication frequency
Radio Free Asia’s 2017 retrospective reports that the newspaper moved to five issues per week in 1979. Historical frequency varied, so one schedule should not be applied to the whole Soviet period.
A new title following independence
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the publication adopts the name Uygur Avazi, or Voice of the Uyghur, reflecting its new post-Soviet setting and community identity.
Ershat Asmatov becomes editor-in-chief
According to the original article, Asmatov assumed leadership in March 2014. RFA interviewed him as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief in January 2023.
RFA reports 16,245 subscriptions
Radio Free Asia reports a record subscriber figure for 2023 and interviews editor Ershat Asmatov about the newspaper’s role and community support.
Uyghur Times publishes a media profile
Tahir Imin’s profile examines the paper’s origins, readership, publishing affiliation, editors and broader role in the Uyghur community.
03 / Historical data
What do the readership figures show?
The newspaper’s reach has changed across political periods, distribution networks and publication schedules. Historical accounts contain useful figures, but subscriptions and printed circulation should not be combined into an unqualified readership trend.
Copies, selected years. Figures drawn from the newspaper’s 2017 historical retrospective. Bars share a maximum of 24,000 copies.
Source: Uygur Avazi historical retrospective, 2017. These are selected historical figures reported by the newspaper, not an independently audited time series.
Reported subscriptions for 2023, according to Radio Free Asia on January 9, 2023.
This figure is displayed separately because a subscription total is not necessarily comparable with historical printed circulation.
RFA’s 2023 reporting included an interview with editor Ershat Asmatov, who associated demand for the newspaper with continued community interest in the Uyghur language and national press.
Historical circulation data also require political context. During the Soviet period, the publication reached Uyghurs in several republics. After independence, changes to borders, distribution arrangements and newspaper markets affected its potential readership.
04 / Script and cultural memory
One language, different writing traditions
Uygur Avazi has principally appeared in Cyrillic Uyghur, consistent with the writing tradition used by many Uyghurs educated in Soviet Central Asia. Its history also includes the Arabic-script supplement Yeni Hayat, or New Life.
The principal newspaper tradition
The Cyrillic writing system forms part of the newspaper’s publishing history and provides continuity for readers familiar with Uyghur Cyrillic in Kazakhstan.
A connected literary tradition
The historical Yeni Hayat supplement reflected the Arabic-script tradition of written Uyghur and helped connect different readerships and literary practices.
The script examples above render the newspaper’s name in two writing systems. They are not reproductions of historical mastheads.
Why does script diversity matter?
Writing systems influence how readers access literature, education, archives and family history. Different Uyghur script traditions developed through different historical and political experiences. Preserving access to older publications can therefore be important for cultural continuity.
05 / Interactive editorial analysis
Cultural preservation and institutional positioning
Uygur Avazi covers socio-political developments, cultural heritage, literature and interethnic relations. It also presents itself as a publication contributing to understanding among communities in Kazakhstan.
The original Uyghur Times profile describes the paper as operating under Kazakh Newspapers LLP, with support from the established publishing system and subscription income. Its analysis suggests an emphasis on national development and social stability consistent with much mainstream media coverage in Kazakhstan.
Institutional affiliation, however, is not by itself proof that every editorial decision is directly controlled by the government. Examining actual editorial independence requires evidence about ownership, appointments, funding, internal policies and published content.
Cultural role
Publishing in Uyghur provides a platform for literature, historical memory, language use and cultural expression. Its long publication history makes the newspaper significant to the continuity of Uyghur-language media in Kazakhstan.
Read every dimension without JavaScript
Cultural role: Journalism, literature and cultural discussion in Uyghur contribute to the language’s public presence.
Community journalism: Reporting on local institutions, cultural events and social affairs gives readers access to community information in their own language.
Institutional affiliation: The original profile associates Uygur Avazi with Kazakh Newspapers LLP. The exact current financial and governance relationship requires confirmation through corporate documents.
Editorial independence: The paper’s political positioning should be evaluated through a systematic content review, evidence about editorial decisions and comparison with other outlets, rather than ownership labels alone.
A minority-language newspaper can preserve cultural expression while its institutional environment shapes the boundaries of public debate. Analytical interpretation, not a quotation from the newspaper
The question of Xinjiang coverage
The original profile argues that Uygur Avazi has taken a cautious approach toward politically sensitive subjects involving Uyghurs in China. It additionally asserts that the newspaper has not used the phrase “Uyghur genocide” in its reporting.
That latter assertion should remain attributed to the original author until a comprehensive examination of the newspaper’s print and online archives establishes whether, where and how the terminology has appeared.
A rigorous content study would examine coverage dates, topics, sources quoted, headline language, omissions and the distinction between news reports, interviews, official statements and opinion pieces.
Such an examination could clarify how the paper balances community identity with its institutional setting without assuming that the absence of a particular term establishes the full extent of its editorial independence.
06 / Editorial leadership
The editors who shaped its development
The newspaper has passed through several periods of editorial leadership, reflecting changes in Soviet and independent Kazakhstan. The following sequence is reported in the original profile and supported in part by the publication’s historical retrospective.
Makhamet Azizov (1957–1960)
Akhmetzhan Mametov (1960–1971)
Abdulla Mashurov (1971–1979)
Turdakhun Nazarov (1979–1987)
Yuldash Azamatov (1987–2012)
Mukhtarzhan Zhumarov (2012–2014)
Ershat Asmatov
Identified as editor-in-chief in Radio Free Asia’s January 2023 reporting. Confirm current tenure before updating this historical profile.
07 / Evidence and claims
What do the available sources establish?
Founding in 1957 — supported historical fact
The newspaper’s historical retrospective and Radio Free Asia’s account identify March 1, 1957 as the beginning of Kommunism Tugi in Almaty.
16,245 subscriptions in 2023 — dated reported figure
Radio Free Asia’s January 9, 2023 report gives the subscription figure and quotes editor Ershat Asmatov about the newspaper’s role and readership.
It should not be interpreted as the present-day number of readers, annual readership or total printed copies without additional data.
Regional Uyghur press history — historical assessment
A 2017 Radio Free Asia historical feature discusses the broader tradition of Uyghur publishing in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, including Kommunism Tugi and the Yeni Hayat supplement.
The account should be understood in its 2017 context, rather than as a verified inventory of all Central Asian Uyghur-language publications in 2026.
Publishing affiliation — requires corporate verification
The original article identifies Kazakh Newspapers LLP as the publishing organisation and describes Uygur Avazi as state-affiliated.
A definitive description of present ownership and editorial governance should be checked against current corporate information, funding arrangements and publication records.
Absence of the term “Uyghur genocide” — unverified editorial claim
The original author states that the term has not appeared in the newspaper’s coverage. A systematic multilingual archive search has not been established here.
Before asserting this as a verified finding, examine both Cyrillic and Arabic-script material where relevant, archived print issues, online posts and variations in terminology.
08 / Conclusion
A cultural institution within a political system
Uygur Avazi’s history illustrates how minority-language journalism can survive profound political changes. First published during the Soviet period and maintained after Kazakhstan’s independence, it has contributed to the public presence of the Uyghur language across generations.
Its importance is cultural, institutional and historical. The publication has provided space for community reporting, literature and civic discussion while also reflecting the broader media environment in which it operates.
Its position within a state-affiliated publishing structure, as described in the original article, raises legitimate questions about editorial autonomy, especially on politically sensitive international issues. Those questions are best answered through verified ownership information and a systematic examination of published work.
The newspaper’s continued existence and its editorial limitations, to the extent they can be demonstrated, are not mutually exclusive. Both are relevant to understanding its place in Kazakhstan’s media landscape.
09 / Sources
Documentation and further reading
- Uyghur Times, April 23, 2026 — Tahir Imin’s original profile. Source article and editorial analysis.
- Uygur Avazi, 2017 — historical retrospective. Founding, leadership, development and selected circulation figures.
- Radio Free Asia, January 9, 2023. Report on 16,245 subscriptions, with comments from editor Ershat Asmatov.
- Radio Free Asia, June 19, 2017. History of Uyghur-language newspapers in Central Asia and the Yeni Hayat supplement.
- Uygur Avazi official website. Newspaper articles, announcements and institutional material.
Historical circulation figures and the 2023 subscription total are reported by different sources and should not be interpreted as a continuous audited dataset. Claims about political alignment, state support and omissions in coverage require appropriate attribution and further verification. This profile preserves the original article’s central assessment while distinguishing documented history from editorial interpretation.