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
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
Kazakhstan: Labor unrest troubles another Chinese project Kazakh officials know they cannot be seen siding with a Chinese company. Apr 15, 2022
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
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
Iranians report arbitrary ban at Georgian border In recent years the Caucasus country has become a magnet for Iranian students, business owners, and dissidents. But now many report they’re not being allowed to enter. Giorgi Lomsadze Sep 24, 2021
Kazakhstan bars entry to Xinjiang repression researcher Bunin has also been banned from entering Uzbekistan. Sep 6, 2021
COVID deepens digital divide in Georgian schools Poor and rural families are not equipped to handle online school. Now they fear another academic year is going to start with schools still closed. Giorgi Lomsadze Aug 19, 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
Coronavirus in Georgia ‘five times worse than India’ Georgia’s mortality rate is among the world’s highest, and just under 6 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Giorgi Lomsadze Aug 13, 2021
Armenia changes vaccination policy as Iranian vaccine tourists flock Iranians have been flooding into Armenia to get COVID vaccines, causing Tehran to complain and Yerevan to tighten the rules. Karine Ghazaryan Jul 12, 2021
Georgia: The discreet inevitability of Chinese vaccines A few months ago, the thought of taking a Chinese COVID vaccine was unthinkable to Georgians. Now it’s the norm. Giorgi Lomsadze Jul 8, 2021