Kyrgyzstan: Only 15 percent of infected healthcare workers compensated Medics say they are actively discouraged from seeking the compensation. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Dec 8, 2020
Kazakhstan to start Sputnik V vaccinations early next year Trials for a domestically developed QazCovid-in vaccine are not expected to be completed until March. Almaz Kumenov Dec 4, 2020
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
Kyrgyzstan: Authorities mulling return to lockdowns Batken has already reimposed restrictions. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Sep 29, 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
Kyrgyzstan: COVID-19 body blow leaves Issyk-Kul tourism operators reeling The tourist season was a disaster, with visitors down almost 90 percent. The taxman has not been sympathetic. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Photos by Danil Usmanov Sep 11, 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
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
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
Fighting COVID in Kyrgyzstan: Dog fat, ginger and bloodletting Some of the purported cures spreading on social media are dangerous. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Aug 13, 2020