Tajikistan pleads poverty, spends money on unneeded luxuries A panhandling president is unaccountable to his Western benefactors. Apr 26, 2023
China gets Central Asia’s votes, Russia gets its silence Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan opposed discussion of Xinjiang at the UN Human Rights Council. Artyem Sochnev Oct 14, 2022
China warns against meddling in Kazakhstan ahead of Putin meeting It sounded like Xi Jinping was warning Putin against any adventures in Central Asia. Joanna Lillis Sep 14, 2022
Turkmenistan: Where the streets have neigh name Out-of-touch elites, poor planning, and some signs of progress in regional trade. Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin May 31, 2022
Kyrgyzstan’s donkeys-to-China trade courts controversy, corruption Religious mores, politics and the coronavirus have cast a shadow over one of the few Kyrgyz products China buys. Aigerim Turgunbaeva, Chris Rickleton May 30, 2022
Uzbekistan denies Russian claim it violated Afghanistan’s airspace Tashkent has also announced it will not return Afghan aircraft flown by pilots fleeing the Taliban last summer. Joanna Lillis May 2, 2022
Turkmenistan: No COVID, no worries In our weekly briefing: Restrictions easing, COVID denialism persists, foreign suitors come visiting in hope of business, and the latest annual horse jamboree. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Apr 26, 2022
Kazakhstan: Labor unrest troubles another Chinese project Kazakh officials know they cannot be seen siding with a Chinese company. Apr 15, 2022
The great paywall of Turkmenistan Letters from Washington, cybersecurity cooperation with China, and negotiating with a bankrupt Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 23, 2021
Tajikistan: Teachers leaving for Russia and not looking back Salaries were always horribly low but living costs have soared since the pandemic began. Nov 10, 2021
Afghan refugees hope Tajikistan is just a pit stop Middle-class Afghans with the means to navigate Tajikistan’s bureaucracy see the country as a springboard to the West. Kamila Ibragimova Oct 15, 2021
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan stand united on Afghanistan That sets them apart from Afghanistan’s other post-Soviet neighbor, Tajikistan. Oct 6, 2021
Kazakhstan bars entry to Xinjiang repression researcher Bunin has also been banned from entering Uzbekistan. Sep 6, 2021
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan experiment with vaccines amid lack of public confidence Central Asia’s largest nations are using unique coronavirus vaccines that haven’t been carefully studied. Do they have a choice? Aug 16, 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