Quantifying the Caucasus’ gains from BRI trade Two new papers find that Georgia and Azerbaijan would gain more from improving trade with their neighbors than pursing a place on the Belt and Road. Sep 27, 2021
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan diverge on approaches to Afghanistan Kyrgyzstan has sent a delegation to the Taliban, while neighbor Tajikistan flirts with the Afghan resistance. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Kamila Ibragimova Sep 24, 2021
China’s footprint in Georgia causes anxiety Beijing’s influence is expanding in Georgia’s education sector, as Chinese businesses put down roots. Nino Bakradze Sep 23, 2021
Kazakhstan: 100 famed textbooks translated into Kazakh The project is intended to partially bridge the language knowledge gap with Russian. Almaz Kumenov Sep 23, 2021
Turkmenistan: Time for a change? Ashgabat has pursued a notably distinct line in its engagements with the Taliban. Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Sep 21, 2021
Nuclear power riles Kazakhs once again Kazakhstan’s energy needs are overwhelmingly served by burning dirty coal. Zholdas Orisbayev Sep 16, 2021
Perspectives | Taliban’s triumph threatens Beijing’s Eurasia plans Afghanistan will test China’s vision for itself. Srdjan Uljevic Aug 25, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: As Akayev returns, government looks to keep control of Kumtor cash cow Can the former president, in exile for 16 years, help the government's case that a major foreign investor has played dirty from the start? Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Aug 2, 2021
Analysis | Iran-China pact not a cure-all for Tehran’s economic woes Beneath the veneer of optimism in Iran, there is suspicion about China’s reliability as a partner. An Iranian journalist Jul 29, 2021
Climate change is shortening Central Asia’s growing season – study It’s bad news for plans to expand farming, but even worse for herders. Jul 27, 2021
Perspectives | Assessing the threat of weaponized corruption In many former Soviet states, corruption is not simply a matter of individual officials abusing public power for private gain but, rather, an organizing principle of governance. Matthew H. Murray, Alexander Vindman, Dominic Cruz Bustillos Jul 12, 2021
Azerbaijan steps up talk of peace deal with Armenia Russia is back to dominating the diplomacy between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But would a final peace deal get Moscow out of the way? Post-war report. Joshua Kucera Jul 9, 2021
Will Kazakhstan reap fruits of China’s crypto crackdown? The energy-intensive cryptomining process is a source of growing environmental concern. Chris Rickleton Jul 8, 2021
Georgia: The discreet inevitability of Chinese vaccines A few months ago, the thought of taking a Chinese COVID vaccine was unthinkable to Georgians. Now it’s the norm. Giorgi Lomsadze Jul 8, 2021
Kazakhstan reaches tentative sanctions-ducking oil deal with Belarus Russia could play the spoiler, though. Almaz Kumenov Jun 30, 2021