Kyrgyzstan: Town near Tajik border renamed in nationalist gesture Isfana is to be renamed after a venerated first secretary of the Kyrgyz Communist Party. Peter Leonard, Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Dec 30, 2021
Uzbekistan: Changing the face of tourism Tashkent hopes to double tourist arrivals by 2025, but is the deluge sustainable? Paul Bartlett Dec 23, 2021
Uzbekistan’s traditional wordsmiths seek legacy in a changing world Changing tastes threaten askiya, a centuries-old Uzbek tradition that prizes wit, improvisation, and mastery of language. Dec 16, 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
Uzbekistan begins flights to secluded Sokh enclave Flights will take 30 minutes on a route considerably shorting travel times from the mainland. Dec 13, 2021
Tajikistan: Authorities go back on their word in deal with GBAO residents State TV has smeared the victim of a police shooting as a hotheaded vigilante. Dec 10, 2021
Uzbekistan pulls the plug on ‘negative influence’ TikTok festival Tashkent is regretting its early embrace of the Chinese app. Dec 8, 2021
Uzbekistan: Sex, politics, and videotape An outspoken local deputy says police are trying to shame her into silence, using techniques evocative of the late Islam Karimov’s dictatorship. Dec 1, 2021
Standoff in eastern Tajikistan ends peacefully Both sides have agreed to initiate a joint investigation into a recent police shooting. Nov 29, 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
Uzbekistan: Afghans fleeing Taliban get cold shoulder from Tashkent Uzbekistan says it will not accept Afghan refugees. Nov 18, 2021
Uzbekistan’s president further sidelines old guard Rustam Inoyatov was once considered the kingmaker of Uzbek politics. Nov 16, 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
Tajikistan: Teachers leaving for Russia and not looking back Salaries were always horribly low but living costs have soared since the pandemic began. Nov 10, 2021
Uzbekistan undermines reformist credentials with ban on foreign journalist The day before, the president promised accountability for officials who interfere with media freedoms. Joanna Lillis Nov 8, 2021