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Dushanbe is, like all other Central Asian capitals, seeing a major construction boom. (Photo: Eurasianet)

EurasiaChat: Intrigue in Central Asia's ruling palaces

In the latest edition of EurasiaChat, impressions from Tajikistan, Russian soft power, Turkmen foreign policy, and tales of elite infighting.

Alisher Khamidov, Aigerim Toleukhanova, Peter Leonard, EurasiaChat Oct 2, 2023

The blast occurred around 2:43 a.m, according to emergency officials. (Photo: Social media)

Uzbekistan: President demands swift investigation into huge Tashkent blast

At least one person was killed as a result of nighttime explosion.

Sep 28, 2023

Uzbekistan: Secretive extortion trial ends with long sentences for journalists

Daliyev and his accomplices are accused of having used blackmail to get large amounts of money from top officials.

Sep 27, 2023

Pan Yue (right), the head of China’s State Committee for Nationalities Affairs, and Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture, hold copies of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between their agencies signed on September 18. (Photo: gov.kz)

Xinjiang crackdown downplayed during Chinese nationalities rep’s visit to Kazakhstan

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Sep 22, 2023

Missing out: All the Central Asia presidents minus one, Kyrgyzstan's Sadyr Japarov, seen in Dushanbe last week. (Photo: Tajik presidential press service)

EurasiaChat: Speaking truth to (and about) power

Kyrgyzstan's Media Struggles, Electricity Woes, and Uzbekistan's Religious Discourse.

EurasiaChat, Alisher Khamidov, Aigerim Toleukhanova, Peter Leonard Sep 18, 2023

Say integration: The presidents of Central Asia and Azerbaijan posing for a photo ahead of a plenary session on September 14. (Photo: Tajik presidential office)

Central Asia's leaders get into specifics on trade-boosting initiatives

The fifth consultative meeting of the region's presidents was rich with dialogue on practicalities, but implementation is a tricky task.

Sep 15, 2023

A train leaves China’s Zhangjiakou for Uzbekistan’s Tashkent on August 29. In late August, PRC opened two new freight rail routes to Uzbekistan as part of an effort to expand Europe-bound export route options. (Photo: Xinhua)

China mobilizing Central Asia’s support on Taiwan issue

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Sep 8, 2023

Saida Mirziyoyeva’s rise through the ranks has been meteoric. (Photo: Saida Mirziyoyeva Telegram account)

Uzbekistan: Presidential administration shakeup hints at nervousness among leadership

A once fast-rising young politician is on the outs, and the president's daughter is on the rise.

Sep 7, 2023

Flying the flag. (Photo: Turkmenistan government website)

Turkmenistan: Uzbek to the future

Ties with Uzbekistan have never been so strong. The situation is producing tangible results. This and more in this week's Akhal-Teke Bulletin.

Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Sep 5, 2023

Kok-boru match before things went south. (Photo: Kyrgyz presidential administration)

EurasiaChat: The rough with the smooth in Kyrgyzstan

How a bike ride showed the depth of Kyrgyz hospitality, and the places where tensions persist nevertheless. This and more in the latest EurasiaChat podcast.

Alisher Khamidov, Peter Leonard, Aigerim Toleukhanova, EurasiaChat Sep 4, 2023

Kazakhstan unveiled prototypes of four different drone models produced in cooperation with China. (Photo: Ratel.kz)

Central Asia: Could Kazakh-Chinese joint venture export drones to Russia?

Our weekly update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Aug 30, 2023

Few see the sense of turning up to soccer matches in Turkmenistan these days. (Photo: Turkmenistan football federation)

Turkmenistan: Union busting

Unfair soccer league, and potential and real gas deals aplenty, with Hungary, Iraq and Uzbekistan.

Aug 29, 2023

Kyrgyz soldiers by a Belarus-made Pechora-2 BM air defense missile system. Belarus has emerged as one of Kyrgyzstan’s newest arms purveyors amid the latter’s simmering tensions with Tajikistan. (Photo: president.kg)

Perspectives: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan building up for another potential round of fighting

An unusual constellation of outside players taking shape.

Svenja Petersen Aug 28, 2023

Turkmenistan remains the largest supplier of pipeline gas to China, but Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also made the top 5. (Photo: Samruk-Kazyna)

Central Asia: Quiet flows the natural gas from Eurasia to China

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Aug 24, 2023

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov (center right) and China’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Du Dewen, speak during a recent tour of the Sary-Jaz River where Kyrgyzstan is aiming to build a hydropower project with Chinese assistance. (Photo: gov.kg)

Central Asia: Low water levels on Irtysh River create quandary for Kazakhstan