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
Kyrgyzstan: Last tango in Naryn Ahead of elections this weekend, one candidate’s signature campaign gimmick was to hold a contest for his daughter’s hand. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 24, 2021
The great paywall of Turkmenistan Letters from Washington, cybersecurity cooperation with China, and negotiating with a bankrupt Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 23, 2021
Kazakhstan looks to nuclear amid crypto-driven energy shortage The country no longer has a choice, the president says. Almaz Kumenov Nov 22, 2021
Uzbekistan: Trade tops agenda as president visits Russia The question of whether Uzbekistan should join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, with its single market of 184 million people, has provoked fierce debates. Nov 22, 2021
China-Kazakhstan venture to begin nuclear fuel production Kazakhstan is moving through the production cycle, powered by Chinese demand. Daniyar Moldabekov Nov 18, 2021
Uzbekistan state firm makes debt market debut Tashkent views bond issuance as a key test ahead of privatization. Nov 11, 2021
Uzbekistan: People no longer in the dark about power shortages Until now, officials had been silent about ongoing power cuts, even calling them a thing of the past. Nov 10, 2021
Kazakhstan seeks to buy electricity from Russia amid crypto shortages Officials blame an 8 percent spike in consumption on crypto miners from China. Almaz Kumenov Nov 8, 2021
Migration out of Armenia spikes A struggling economy and defeat in last year’s war appear to be driving large numbers of Armenians to leave the country. Ani Mejlumyan Nov 8, 2021
‘Expect less water next year,’ Kyrgyzstan warns downstream neighbors Relations between upstream and downstream Central Asian countries can be tense. This won’t help. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 5, 2021
Uzbekistan: Will transparency trump cronyism as Tashkent woos investors? If Uzbekistan wishes to attract big-ticket investors, a recent telecoms deal is sending the wrong message. Nov 5, 2021
Uzbekistan: Isolated exclave excited about new air link The government promised to act after locals protested their isolation in 2020. Nov 2, 2021
Tajik labor migration to Russia hits historic high, officially More than a fifth of Tajikistan’s total population has entered Russia so far this year. Kamila Ibragimova Nov 2, 2021