Eurasianet

It was the latest in a string of arrests of people accused of smuggling in the territories Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenia in the 2020 war.

Turkmenistan is difficult to access, but it is a strategic location. In this week’s briefing we examine the assorted flavors of “north-south” corridor, trade with neighbors, and much more.

Political movements based on Shia Islam have faced an uphill battle, as both the government and mainstream opposition are devoted to a secular, pro-Turkic national narrative.

The U.S. is pressing companies to show vigilance over export control evasion attempts.

Because official statistics are nonsense, we look to personnel reshuffles to understand where the government recognizes it is underperforming. Our weekly briefing.

Turkmenistan wants to export gas to Europe without angering Russia. This and more in our weekly briefing.

Expanding Ashgabat’s dependence on China, visiting Iran, and talking north-south transportation links. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

Dushanbe regularly used to accuse Tehran of supporting militant activity, but no longer.

Remembering an accidental leader whose brief political career mirrored the greater tragedy of his country.

Is Azerbaijan promoting Iranian separatism? Is Iran harboring Azerbaijani Islamists?

But Kazakhstan has more to lose.

The route is an alternative to a corridor crossing Armenia, one of Azerbaijan’s key demands since the 2020 ceasefire.

The idea that the Eurasian Economic Union can help Moscow violate sanctions is exaggerated.

As anti-Russian sentiment rises in Georgia, the many Russians here share Georgians’ shock and disgust at what is happening in Ukraine.

Turkmenistan’s president dreams big. Reliance on China remains strong. And Russia drops a bombshell. This and more in our weekly briefing.