The bizarre, apparently politically motivated case has unspooled like a Da Vinci Code-style thriller, complete with secret historic documents, ancient churches and an alleged web of conspiracy.
The coronavirus inoculation program is the first in the Caucasus and Central Asia, starting out with Chinese vaccines but incorporating Russian and Western ones at later stages.
Tehran’s foreign minister has made a tour of the region, where Russia and Turkey have become the dominant outside powers since the autumn war, leaving little room for Iran.
While the hydrocarbon field that Baku and Ashgabat will jointly develop isn’t itself a gamechanger, it could finally open up Turkmenistan’s massive gas reserves for European markets.
The state has set up three “voluntary” funds for Azerbaijanis to cover post-war needs. But widespread reports suggest that people are being forced to contribute.
Widely seen as one of the losers of the recent conflict, the EU could contribute to making the emerging regional order more viable – and rebuilding trust with the parties.
Spraying chlorine, new infrastructure on the Afghan border, and claims of a naturally occurring COVID vaccine. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan bulletin.