Kyrgyzstan: Town near Tajik border renamed in nationalist gesture Isfana is to be renamed after a venerated first secretary of the Kyrgyz Communist Party. Peter Leonard, Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Dec 30, 2021
Uzbekistan: Changing the face of tourism Tashkent hopes to double tourist arrivals by 2025, but is the deluge sustainable? Paul Bartlett Dec 23, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Pakistani students demand protection from assaults Victims of crime say they are not properly treated by police. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Dec 23, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Rights still on hold for disabled citizens A key convention was ratified after eight years, but political will and finances are thwarting implementation. Aigerim Turgunbaeva Dec 21, 2021
Kyrgyzstan, where partying is tough and playing is rough The end of the harvest is a time for ritual partying in southern Kyrgyzstan. The festivities can last for days. Danil Usmanov Dec 17, 2021
Uzbekistan’s traditional wordsmiths seek legacy in a changing world Changing tastes threaten askiya, a centuries-old Uzbek tradition that prizes wit, improvisation, and mastery of language. Dec 16, 2021
Tajikistan: Little person’s bigtime courts controversy A charismatic, handicapped singer has gone viral, triggering appearances with Russian superstars and a member of the ruling family. Dec 13, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: TV presenter’s racy photos ignite morality furor Debates about women’s bodies recur periodically in Kyrgyzstani social media skirmishes; now there are signs that policymakers are eager to get involved. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva 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
Uzbekistan pulls the plug on ‘negative influence’ TikTok festival Tashkent is regretting its early embrace of the Chinese app. Dec 8, 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
Kyrgyzstan: Uzbek-language electioneering fuels tensions Ethnic intolerance has surfaced in an increasingly vicious political battle. Bakyt Ibraimov Nov 22, 2021
Uzbekistan: Afghans fleeing Taliban get cold shoulder from Tashkent Uzbekistan says it will not accept Afghan refugees. Nov 18, 2021
Severe dust storm engulfs Uzbekistan Drought and construction have contributed to the worst dust storm in Uzbekistan’s recorded history. Nov 5, 2021
Uzbekistan: Outraged netizens win partial victory over social media blocks The president signed legislation that shuttered the sites. Then after an outcry, he saved the day. Joanna Lillis Nov 3, 2021