For the most part, pro-government forces did not sympathize with the protests, but they also didn’t like the idea of Russia and Armenia getting involved in suppressing them.
Many object that the CSTO didn’t aid Armenia when it asked for help, and pointed at the irony of the current government coming to power as the result of street protests.
While encouraging educational exchanges and agricultural innovation, Washington's first ambassador to Turkmenistan found government suspicion overwhelming.
What did America have to offer the Central Asian states at their independence? A senior diplomat reflects on programing assistance to support development, rather than squabbling elites.