Turkmenistan: Schrodinger’s coronavirus Turkmenistan is finally going into lockdown – without admitting it has any cases of coronavirus. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jul 14, 2020
COVID-19 reality starts to hit home for Azerbaijanis Denialism and conspiracy theories about the disease appear to be in retreat as more and more people are infected. Jul 8, 2020
Azerbaijani president calls into question negotiations with Armenia As diplomatic talks stall, Ilham Aliyev blames the negotiators for failing to push Armenia toward concessions. Joshua Kucera Jul 7, 2020
Turkmenistan: Guess WHO’s coming to dinner Precautions against the spread of COVID-19 may only have been adopted on the eve of the WHO team’s deployment as a piece of theater. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jul 7, 2020
Turkmenistan: It’s my party, and I’ll go if I want to Micromanagement, avoidance, and the regime’s helpless fig-leaf – this and more in our weekly Turkmenistan bulletin. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jun 30, 2020
Azerbaijan faces prospect of COVID doctor shortage The coronavirus has continued to spread rapidly, and President Ilham Aliyev put the blame on residents who don’t wear masks. Jun 29, 2020
Abkhazia leader meets Putin hoping for Russian bailout As coronavirus cripples the territory’s tourism season and Russia has stopped sending aid, Abkhazia faces a 10 percent GDP decline this year. Joshua Kucera Jun 25, 2020
The modern-day struggle sessions of Central Asia The apology or recantation is uploaded to social media. Often, there is a pretense of the repentance being voluntary. But that is not always the case. Jun 25, 2020
Moscow’s delayed Victory Day in photos Most foreign leaders stayed away, but Putin’s Central Asian crew is a dependable lot. Jun 24, 2020
Tajikistan intensifies and broadens war on journalists A state TV program accuses reporters of working in league with would-be extremists. Jun 24, 2020
Pashinyan, Aliyev bow out of Moscow parade The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan cited the coronavirus for missing the big event, but the real reasons appear to be crises at home. Joshua Kucera Jun 24, 2020
Turkmenistan: Birthday boy blows off Putin The president wrestles with mortality and Muhammad. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jun 23, 2020
Azerbaijan re-introduces electronic permits to restrict movement as COVID spread worsens The country’s public health officials also have warned that the growing outbreak is straining the country’s health care system. Jun 23, 2020
Turkmenistan: Is coronavirus façade slipping? A “pneumonia” outbreak, more floods and a warm Russian embrace: this and more in our weekly Turkmenistan bulletin. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jun 16, 2020
Hundreds of Azerbaijanis languish on Russian border The labor migrants are trying to return home after losing their jobs in the coronavirus pandemic. Tensions are rising, and a protest on the border has been violently broken up by Russian police. Jun 16, 2020