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
Birth and marriage rates increase in Nagorno-Karabakh The increases have reversed a demographic decline that the territory has seen since the pandemic and war with Azerbaijan. Lilit Shahverdyan Jul 25, 2022
Uzbekistan’s new constitution: More for Mirziyoyev, less for Karakalpakstan A draft constitution is causing anger in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan, whose rights have been diminished by the changes. Jul 1, 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
Kazakhstan: Labor unrest troubles another Chinese project Kazakh officials know they cannot be seen siding with a Chinese company. Apr 15, 2022
Uzbek scientists spy herd immunity potential in milk of vaccinated cows Researchers used a jointly manufactured Chinese-Uzbek vaccine in their experiments. Feb 25, 2022
Amid spike in COVID, Georgia drops passport system The government said the system was useless against the Omicron variant, but critics accused them of pandering to anti-vaxxer sentiment. Giorgi Lomsadze Feb 8, 2022
Uzbekistan: Get a jab, win a car Tashkent’s vaccination campaign is getting a shot in the arm. Feb 2, 2022
Armenia introduces new restrictions as COVID again rises The country has belatedly introduced a COVID pass system to enter restaurants and bars as the vaccination rate remains at just 28 percent. Ani Mejlumyan Jan 27, 2022
A belated return to Georgia’s dance floors Tbilisi’s world-famous nightclubs were the country’s last businesses to reopen following the COVID lockdown. But it took a confrontation with the authorities to make it happen. Giorgi Lomsadze Jan 14, 2022
Perspectives | How ADB’s pandemic aid to Uzbekistan was misused, whistleblower silenced The Uzbek blogger who first raised these concerns was smeared, beaten, and now faces trial. Nina Lesikhina Dec 6, 2021
Georgia introduces COVID passports amid record high numbers Similar systems have been used around the world to encourage vaccinations. But under Georgia’s, you may be better off not being vaccinated at all. Tornike Mandaria Nov 30, 2021
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