Section 17. In Memoriam
Time and tide wait for no man and, unfortunately, our veterans pass away... but they remain in our memories forever.
On January 5, Academician, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Malik Zh. Burlibayev passed away.
He dedicated his career to the KazHydromet system, serving since 1996 in various roles. These included Senior Researcher, Head of Laboratory, Scientific Secretary, Deputy Director, and ultimately, General Director of the Republican State Enterprise "Kazakh Research Institute of Ecology and Climate" within the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Source: Kazhydromet
On May 4, Vladislav A. Bensman , Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Ecology, Human Security and Nature Sciences (MANEB), passed away.
He graduated from the Moscow Hydromeliorative Institute (now the Moscow State University of Environmental Engineering) in 1984 and the Ukrainian Agricultural Academy (Kiev) in 1989.
From 1990 to 2004, he worked in specialized secondary education, water construction, and transboundary water resources management.
Since 2005, he served as the Deputy Director for Scientific and Applied Work at TOO Ecoservice-S.
Source: MANEB
Myrat Koshekbaev , Director of the Dashoguz branch of the IFAS Executive Committee, died suddenly on May 31. He graduated from the Bezmeyin Construction Technical School in 1978, specializing in Industrial and Civil Construction. He was appointed Director of the Dashoguz branch on December 11, 2012.
Source: Dashoguz branch of the EC IFAS
Shukhrat Sh. Mukhamedjanov, a veteran of the SIC ICWC, passed away on June 20.
He began his career in 1977 at SANIIRI, where he progressed from engineer to Deputy Director.
Since 2008, he has dedicated his career to the SIC ICWC, focusing on the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and enhancing water productivity at the field level.
In recent years, he also served as the Secretary of the Working Group on Irrigation and Drainage in the States under Socio-Economic Transformation (WG-IDSST) of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage.
Source: SIC ICWC
Asanakun A. Isabekov, a veteran of the water sector with over 50 years of service, passed away on August 30 at the age of 84. He served as Deputy Minister of Water Management and was honored with the title of "Honored Irrigator" in 1981.
Source: Water Resources Service of the Kyrgyz Republic
On October 12, renowned scholar, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor Viktor Ye. Chub passed away. He served as the head of Uzhydromet from 1992 to 2017.
After graduating from Tashkent State University in 1967, he dedicated his career to Uzbekistan's hydrometeorological service, holding various positions until 1992.
From 1992 to 2004, he led the Main Department of Hydrometeorology under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Glavhydromet, later renamed Uzhydromet in 2004).
Concurrently, he served as Director of the Central Asian Research Hydrometeorological Institute named after V.A. Bugayev from 1993 onwards.
Source: News Agency "Gazeta.uz"
Medet O. Ospanov passed away on November 21.
After graduating from the Zhambyl Hydromelioration and Construction Institute (now Taraz State University) in 1972, he began his career at the Talas Irrigation Systems Administration of the Zhambyl Regional Water Management Organization.
From 1981 to 1989, he worked for the Ministry of Water Management of the Kazakh SSR, followed by a tenure at the State Water Resources Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 1990 to 1997.
He then dedicated his career to the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and its Executive Directorate in Kazakhstan from 1997 to 2019, holding key positions.
Medet Ospanov made invaluable contributions to fostering cooperation among the countries of the region during his time with IFAS.
