Uzbekistan: The Koryo Saram’s tragic Soviet soccer superstar A new documentary on a Soviet soccer star also tells the story of Central Asia’s ethnic Korean community, which was deported en masse to the region by Stalin. Chris Rickleton Dec 18, 2020
Tajikistan: Even Russia feels pain as pandemic wreaks havoc on migration lifeline Food prices have jumped this year and there are few jobs, but out-of-work migrants can’t get to where they are desperately needed. Dec 17, 2020
Russian nationalists again rile Kazakhstan by questioning its nationhood The Foreign Ministry warns these remarks are straining relations. Almaz Kumenov Dec 15, 2020
Perspectives | What did Turkey gain from the Armenia-Azerbaijan war? Turkey helped Azerbaijan win on the battlefield, but what Ankara stands to gain geopolitically remains to be seen. Nicholas Danforth Dec 11, 2020
Uzbekistan poised to start trials on Chinese COVID-19 vaccine 5,000 people are taking part in the trials. Dec 10, 2020
Kazakhstan: As election beckons, authorities tighten control on internet Authorities accuse critics of the measure of being NATO stooges. Almaz Kumenov Dec 7, 2020
Kazakhstan: Civil society complains of pre-election pressure Authorities have decided to inspect their tax returns just before parliamentary elections. Joanna Lillis Dec 7, 2020
Kazakhstan to start Sputnik V vaccinations early next year Trials for a domestically developed QazCovid-in vaccine are not expected to be completed until March. Almaz Kumenov Dec 4, 2020
Uzbekistan: The red pilgrimage to Mecca At the height of Stalin’s power, he let a handful of Soviet Muslims visit Mecca. Why? Dec 4, 2020
Kazakhstan sleepwalks toward choice-free parliamentary election But there is no papering over the festering disillusionment. Almaz Kumenov Dec 2, 2020
Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev-linked billionaire sucked into UK court battle The surprise asset freeze has sparked speculation of possible elite infighting. Joanna Lillis Dec 2, 2020
Tajikistan: Emomali’s Russia visit signals his emerging role Any breakthrough in improving the lot of labor migrants will be touted as sign of his political heft. Nov 26, 2020
Kazakhstan to borrow $1.8Bln for COVID fight The government is eager to stress that the loan is all but interest free. Almaz Kumenov Nov 24, 2020
Turkmenistan: The dammed united Travel bans, dams and Russian fans. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 24, 2020
Kazakhstan: Nearly half of ventilators bought for COVID-19 defective Numbers of coronavirus cases has seen a sharp surge recently. Almaz Kumenov Nov 19, 2020