Uzbekistan: Female tech entrepreneur cuts out the middleman Her social media bot promises to help Uzbek farmers get their goods to market while increasing their profit margins. Joanna Lillis Dec 13, 2021
Uzbekistan begins flights to secluded Sokh enclave Flights will take 30 minutes on a route considerably shorting travel times from the mainland. Dec 13, 2021
Tajikistan: Authorities go back on their word in deal with GBAO residents State TV has smeared the victim of a police shooting as a hotheaded vigilante. Dec 10, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: A stranded village on Tajik border struggles for survival Efforts to stop border trade are causing ethnic Kyrgyz to abandon a remote southern region. Peter Leonard Dec 9, 2021
Perspectives | Islamic State continues anti-Taliban PR push, with Tashkent in crosshairs The Islamic State in Afghanistan is using the Taliban’s cozy relations with Uzbekistan as propaganda fodder. Lucas Webber Dec 9, 2021
Uzbekistan pulls the plug on ‘negative influence’ TikTok festival Tashkent is regretting its early embrace of the Chinese app. Dec 8, 2021
Kazakhstan: Satellite images show scale of land squatting Historic efforts to combat the problem bring back memories of a dark episode in the country's history. Almaz Kumenov Dec 8, 2021
Kazakhstan: Polluters brace for sting of carbon tax The threshold of permitted CO2 emissions will decline annually by 5.4 percent through 2025. Almaz Kumenov Dec 8, 2021
Turkmenistan: This is Fine A cratering economy, the world’s slowest internet, and the army takes charge of food production. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Dec 7, 2021
Kazakh TikTokers conquer the world, incite suspicion at home The world’s most popular TikTok house is in Almaty. Not all locals are happy about it. Almaz Kumenov Dec 7, 2021
Kazakhstan: China protests reach landmark, despite official war of attrition Some protesters spend most of their pensions traveling daily to picket outside the Chinese consulate. Daniyar Moldabekov and Nazerke Kurmangazinova Dec 6, 2021
Perspectives | How ADB’s pandemic aid to Uzbekistan was misused, whistleblower silenced The Uzbek blogger who first raised these concerns was smeared, beaten, and now faces trial. Nina Lesikhina Dec 6, 2021
Facing yet more toxic waste, Kazakh town says NIMBY A grassroots environmental campaign has implications far beyond the small Kazakh town where it started. Artyem Sochnev Dec 3, 2021
Tajikistan press-gangs an army to defend long Afghan border The conscripts, generally Tajikistan’s poorest young men, are brutalized into service. And they are the country’s first line of defense. Kamila Ibragimova Dec 2, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Opposition leader assaulted by busloads of men Tekebayev says he was warned to stop protesting the results of the election. Dec 1, 2021
Uzbekistan: Sex, politics, and videotape An outspoken local deputy says police are trying to shame her into silence, using techniques evocative of the late Islam Karimov’s dictatorship. Dec 1, 2021
Turkmenistan: Door to Hell slammed shut As hopes for an Afghanistan gas pipeline fade again, there is more upbeat news to the west. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 30, 2021
Standoff in eastern Tajikistan ends peacefully Both sides have agreed to initiate a joint investigation into a recent police shooting. Nov 29, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Suspect vote-count bungling casts shadow over election The new parliament is dominated by figures loyal to the president. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Peter Leonard Nov 28, 2021
Tajikistan: Testy demonstrations in the Pamirs drag into third day At least three people have reportedly been killed by government forces to date. Kamila Ibragimova Nov 27, 2021
Kazakhstan: Energy shortages push crypto miners to the exit Grid inefficiencies and the small-timer surge are leaving some miners in a tough spot. Daniyar Moldabekov Nov 26, 2021
Kazakhstan’s longest-serving political prisoner dies Aron Atabek died weeks after being released in failing health. Joanna Lillis Nov 24, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Last tango in Naryn Ahead of elections this weekend, one candidate’s signature campaign gimmick was to hold a contest for his daughter’s hand. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 24, 2021
The great paywall of Turkmenistan Letters from Washington, cybersecurity cooperation with China, and negotiating with a bankrupt Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 23, 2021
Kazakhstan looks to nuclear amid crypto-driven energy shortage The country no longer has a choice, the president says. Almaz Kumenov Nov 22, 2021