COVID spikes in Armenia even as vaccine mandate goes into effect Employers are now effectively required to demand proof of vaccinations from their workers. But the country’s health care system is now being pushed to the limit. Ani Mejlumyan Oct 29, 2021
Kazakhstan turning ‘blind eye’ to Chinese corporate polluters – watchdog Government agencies and Kazakh-Chinese companies are using the pandemic to shield themselves from scrutiny. Oct 20, 2021
Kazakhstan jails political dissidents in fresh crackdown All the defendants are strident government critics, but their dissidence was confined to online attacks and tiny street protests. Joanna Lillis Oct 11, 2021
Armenian vaccination mandate faces backlash The government hopes to boost vaccination rates, but a new anti-vaccine campaign is on the rise. Karine Ghazaryan Sep 29, 2021
Armenia to effectively require COVID vaccinations for all employees The new rules come as the country is trying to stave off a third wave of the virus and vaccination numbers remain in the low single digits. Ani Mejlumyan Sep 8, 2021
Kazakhstan bars entry to Xinjiang repression researcher Bunin has also been banned from entering Uzbekistan. Sep 6, 2021
Kazakhstan wheat redirected away from Afghanistan Iran and Georgia considered as alternatives. Almaz Kumenov Aug 26, 2021
Central Asia and Afghanistan: Enemies at the gate? The Taliban has assured the region’s governments that it has no designs on them, but can it keep more hostile groups in check? Chris Rickleton Aug 13, 2021
Armenia changes vaccination policy as Iranian vaccine tourists flock Iranians have been flooding into Armenia to get COVID vaccines, causing Tehran to complain and Yerevan to tighten the rules. Karine Ghazaryan Jul 12, 2021
Kazakhstan draws on current crises in designing national security strategy The documents focuses on viruses, droughts, water shortages and food deficits as potential crisis flashpoints. Almaz Kumenov Jun 23, 2021
Uzbeks weigh vaccines: Russian vs. Chinese Vaccine hesitancy in Uzbekistan is high, bred by social media conspiracies that seem credible in a country without accountable authorities. Ezoza Yakvalkhodjieva Jun 2, 2021
Kazakhstan: Endangered antelope bounces back The saiga population has rocketed by 150 percent in the last two years. Joanna Lillis May 28, 2021
Kazakhstan: Authorities use pandemic to quash protests Restrictions on movement do not appear intended to stem the spread of COVID-19. Almaz Kumenov Mar 1, 2021
Armenia eschews lockdown, but enjoys COVID reprieve Analysts believe the country may be benefiting from herd immunity after devastation last year. Ani Mejlumyan Jan 27, 2021
Following war with Armenia, Azerbaijan gains control of lucrative gold mines The losses to tax revenues will hit the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh government even harder than Yerevan. Ani Mejlumyan, Ulkar Natiqqizi Jan 27, 2021