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
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
Kazakhstan: Ever more borrowers unable to repay loans Overdue loans have increased by 10 percent since January. Almaz Kumenov Sep 25, 2020
Central Asia: Belt and Road takes back seat in Chinese envoy’s tour Beijing is eager to show solidarity as the coronavirus pandemic rumbles on. Chris Rickleton Sep 16, 2020
Armenian kids head back to school despite smoldering COVID-19 outbreak Armenia is taking a faster route to in-person classes than its Caucasus neighbors, but it is adopting a number of precautions to make sure that schools don’t spread the virus. Ani Mejlumyan Sep 15, 2020
Kazakhstan: Classes continue in remote format Parents are pleading for relief from their kids learning from home, however. Almaz Kumenov Sep 10, 2020
Kazakhstan’s war on coronavirus fake news underwhelms Confusion and contradiction are at the heart of the government’s counter-disinformation strategy. Almaz Kumenov Aug 28, 2020
Kyrgyzstan opens up to Kazakhstan’s tourists. In theory Kyrgyz officials have drawn up a list of 31 countries from which people can visit. Almaz Kumenov Aug 24, 2020
Kazakhstan: Too close for comfort in the age of coronavirus Officials concede their exhortations to maintain social distance have had little impact. Joanna Lillis Aug 17, 2020
Tajikistan brings presidential election forward, to Oct. 11 Votes are usually held in November. Aug 6, 2020
Kazakhstan: Authorities see COVID-19 improvement, but tighten restrictions The lockdown regime was rolled over until mid-August. Almaz Kumenov Aug 4, 2020
China business briefing: Unclear borders, uneasy neighbors Our monthly briefing on China in Central Asia. Niva Yau Aug 3, 2020
Armenia sees steady decrease in COVID cases The prime minister said the once heavily infected country can now “break the back” of the novel coronavirus. Ani Mejlumyan Jul 30, 2020
After reopening, Armenian economy continues to struggle “It was the pandemic that hit the economy hard, not the lockdown itself.” Ani Mejlumyan Jul 30, 2020
Tajikistan: Coronavirus brings bonanza of aid, but zero accountability $300 million has been given and another $70 million may be on the way Jul 29, 2020