Memoir: Clinching the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline A former US Caspian energy envoy recalls the ups and downs of getting a key post-Soviet energy export route built. Steven Mann Jan 3, 2024
Memoir | Thirty years of Kazakhstan: A prelude to an epilogue A former American ambassador to Kazakhstan examines lessons learned since first visiting the country weeks after independence. John Ordway Mar 11, 2022
Memoir | Diplomacy in Ashgabat in the 1990s The former U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan discusses lessons learned and missed opportunities in the early years of independence. Michael Cotter Feb 11, 2022
Memoir | Where is Central Asia, anyway? A former top U.S. diplomat reflects on Central Asia’s identity crisis. Richard Boucher Dec 17, 2021
Memoir | A tale of two cities and many mountains Even in the late 1990s, there were already signs that President Rahmon would ignore the peace accords, writes the former U.S. ambassador. Robert Finn Oct 29, 2021
Memoir | Diplomatic tradeoffs in Central Asia A senior American official describes trying to square two Bush administration priorities: human rights and the Global War on Terror. George Krol Sep 17, 2021
Memoir | 9/11 shifted the world. In Central Asia, diplomatic frenzy ensued Behind the scenes with an American negotiator who helped forge a radical new level of U.S. engagement in Central Asia after 9/11. Richard E. Hoagland Sep 10, 2021
Memoir | Turkmenistan vignettes 1992-95 While encouraging educational exchanges and agricultural innovation, Washington's first ambassador to Turkmenistan found government suspicion overwhelming. Joseph S. Hulings III Sep 3, 2021
Memoir | 9/11: The American discovery of Tajikistan The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe became a frenetic staging post for the Afghan war in late 2001. Franklin P. Huddle, Jr. Aug 27, 2021
Memoir | In the Court of Turkmenbashi The former U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan describes close interactions with a paranoid and shortsighted dictator. Steven Mann Aug 20, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Japarov, last hope or populist menace? Even in a political scene as personality-driven as Kyrgyzstan’s, the cult of Japarov, who is standing for president this weekend, is striking. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jan 6, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: Constitutional Chamber nixes attempt to halt power grab Activists worry the country is sleepwalking toward authoritarianism. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Dec 2, 2020
Kyrgyzstan: Hundreds rally against constitutional tinkering Changes to the constitution are widely perceived as another power grab by the man who recently seized all levers of government. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 22, 2020
Kyrgyzstan's proposed new constitution provokes widespread revulsion The document has been dubbed a "Khanstitution" for the powers it gives the president. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 18, 2020
Kyrgyzstan's wacky electoral races There are more than 60 candidates hoping to run, but almost none are serious contenders. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 18, 2020