Kazakhstan imposes lockdown-lite to stem coronavirus surge The number of overall confirmed cases has risen to 42,500. Almaz Kumenov Jul 2, 2020
Kazakhstan pivoting back to robust lockdown Infections have increased sevenfold since lockdowns were eased. Almaz Kumenov Jun 29, 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
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
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
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
Kazakhstan grapples uneasily with its second coronavirus wave The country is experiencing a turnaround after apparent early successes. Almaz Kumenov Jun 18, 2020
Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev diagnosed with coronavirus His spokesman said the former president is still working remotely. Jun 18, 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
Azerbaijan imposes second weekend lockdown amid anti-police outrage The authorities have indicated some sensitivity to the public mood, announcing that they are investigating evidence of excessive use of force. Jun 12, 2020
Kazakhstan changes methodology, lowers COVID count The government has altered how it tallies infections and deaths to favor rosier statistics. Zholdas Orisbayev Jun 12, 2020
Kazakhstan: New study uses COVID-19 lockdown to isolate causes of air pollution Pollution fell along with traffic during quarantine, but airborne levels of several toxic chemicals rose far above WHO limits. Aliya Uteuova Jun 11, 2020
Azerbaijanis rebel against strict weekend lockdown Strict stay-at-home orders did not go over well with many Azerbaijanis, leading to clashes with police officers. Joshua Kucera Jun 8, 2020
Uzbekistan: Heartbreak and despair for expat laborers trapped by COVID Tens of thousands of Uzbek workers are trying to get home. In Uzbekistan itself, however, not everybody is eager to see them. Jun 5, 2020
Chinese business briefing: Working overtime Many Chinese workers have been stuck in Central Asia during the coronavirus lockdown, forced to work overtime to meet production quotas. Niva Yau Jun 4, 2020