Eurasianet

Several of the tunnels start near a vast bazaar in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Residents of the hub are being lured through generous tax incentives.

Obsessing about sports, building bridges, and speaking up for China. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

The 20-year-old informant for Russia’s security services was sent to Tbilisi to report on the many exiles here. Now, he says, he’s come clean.

Tashkent sees the link as part of a transcontinental route bypassing Russia.

Ashgabat wants Afghanistan to become part of the global economy. It’s not so keen to bankroll integration, however.

Central Asia sees its economic future in China, not Russia.

Law enforcement sources have said Dzhumagulov might have been plotting to wrest power from gangland leader Kamchybek Kolbayev.

The cause of the problem may lie in Russians hoovering up all the available greenbacks.

After seizing the country’s most profitable mine, Kyrgyzstan is using new regulations to drive out more private mining companies and place the bulk of the industry into the hands of a single state firm.

Greenpeace found radiation levels three times higher than earlier reported by the IAEA.

Far from Turkmen people acquiring new rights, there is every reason to believe things are poised to get worse on at least one front, if that is even possible. Our weekly briefing.

The five presidents could not seal a friendship deal or agree on which challenges face their region.

The gathering had been intended to create regional solidarity in the face of overbearing pressure from China, Russia.

The Chinese leader downplayed repression in the region, while hyping economic possibilities.