Azerbaijani power struggle intensifies The under-the-surface schism within the government has dominated public discourse in Azerbaijan in recent weeks. Sep 9, 2020
Kazakhstan: Presidential address fails to excite Pledges to let people raid their pension pots were met favorably, though. Almaz Kumenov Sep 3, 2020
Uzbekistan: COVID-19 adds more pain to university exam nightmare Only one in 10 university applicants is sure of a place. Sep 2, 2020
Chinese hydroelectric investments in Central Asia: A snapshot The first in a series of briefings on Beijing's investments in Central Asian renewables. Niva Yau Aug 31, 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
High-profile COVID wedding highlights Azerbaijani political schism A longtime gray cardinal is in trouble after violating social-distancing laws. But breaking rules is what bigwigs do in Azerbaijan. Aug 26, 2020
Uzbekistan: Charities resist government monopolization of social protection Critics of the government’s charities ban suspect there is politics at play, not just a desire to stem potential fraud. Aug 26, 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
Abkhazia calls for volunteers to help with COVID outbreak Many in the territory blame the rising numbers of coronavirus cases on the authorities’ decision to open up to Russian tourists. Joshua Kucera Aug 19, 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
Ukraine’s census attempt crashes and burns yet again Independent Ukraine has held only one census, almost 20 years ago. Mariya Chukhnova Aug 12, 2020
Russian tourists flood into newly reopened Abkhazia The territory's public health officials have warned against opening up to tourism, and the arrival of tourists has coincided with a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. Joshua Kucera Aug 11, 2020
Kazakhstan squeezes China critics as Xinjiang anxieties spread Kazakh activists are outraged at how their government kowtows to Beijing. Chris Rickleton Aug 10, 2020
Uzbekistan: Civil society hindered in ability to contain COVID-19 corruption The chair of the Senate says $171,000 have gone missing. Aug 10, 2020
Azerbaijani president slams State Oil Company, announces privatization In an unprecedented speech, Ilham Aliyev blasted the “socialist economic model” behind his country’s largest companies. Aug 9, 2020