Kazakhstan: Taxmen slammed for unlawfully using COVID app data The government has ordered the fiscal inspection service to withdraw letters accusing businesses of evading taxes. Almaz Kumenov Dec 24, 2021
Turkmenistan: Money, money, money Despite Ashgabat’s fervent diplomacy, one ingredient is missing from its dream project across Afghanistan. Our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Dec 21, 2021
Taliban accidentally wires money to Tajikistan-based opposition The embassy says it refuses to give back the cash. Kamila Ibragimova Dec 20, 2021
Memoir | Where is Central Asia, anyway? A former top U.S. diplomat reflects on Central Asia’s identity crisis. Richard Boucher Dec 17, 2021
Kazakhstan: New Baikonur launch facility to be named after Nazarbayev The new launchpad is designed to accommodate more environmentally safe craft. Almaz Kumenov Dec 15, 2021
Turkmenistan: Howdy partner Turkmenistan is busily engaging with neighbors. Plus: Dancing diplomats and the president’s nephew liquidates a dodgy scheme after journalists exposed him. Our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Dec 14, 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: A stranded village on Tajik border struggles for survival Efforts to stop border trade are causing ethnic Kyrgyz to abandon a remote southern region. Peter Leonard Dec 9, 2021
Kazakhstan: Satellite images show scale of land squatting Historic efforts to combat the problem bring back memories of a dark episode in the country's history. Almaz Kumenov Dec 8, 2021
Kazakhstan: Polluters brace for sting of carbon tax The threshold of permitted CO2 emissions will decline annually by 5.4 percent through 2025. Almaz Kumenov Dec 8, 2021
Kazakh TikTokers conquer the world, incite suspicion at home The world’s most popular TikTok house is in Almaty. Not all locals are happy about it. Almaz Kumenov Dec 7, 2021
Facing yet more toxic waste, Kazakh town says NIMBY A grassroots environmental campaign has implications far beyond the small Kazakh town where it started. Artyem Sochnev Dec 3, 2021
Tajikistan press-gangs an army to defend long Afghan border The conscripts, generally Tajikistan’s poorest young men, are brutalized into service. And they are the country’s first line of defense. Kamila Ibragimova Dec 2, 2021
Turkmenistan: Door to Hell slammed shut As hopes for an Afghanistan gas pipeline fade again, there is more upbeat news to the west. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 30, 2021
Kazakhstan: Energy shortages push crypto miners to the exit Grid inefficiencies and the small-timer surge are leaving some miners in a tough spot. Daniyar Moldabekov Nov 26, 2021