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
China promises more investment at Central Asia summit Xi Jinping said trade has grown 25-fold over the last two decades. Almaz Kumenov Jan 26, 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
China-Kazakhstan venture to begin nuclear fuel production Kazakhstan is moving through the production cycle, powered by Chinese demand. Daniyar Moldabekov Nov 18, 2021
Georgia’s tourism industry welcomes small return in October Most of the tourists came overland from neighboring Turkey and Russia. Nino Bakradze Nov 16, 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
Uzbekistan: Will transparency trump cronyism as Tashkent woos investors? If Uzbekistan wishes to attract big-ticket investors, a recent telecoms deal is sending the wrong message. Nov 5, 2021
Kazakh food exports to China plummet Kazakh exporters say China is pushing them aside, interested in a transit corridor but not a supplier. Almaz Kumenov Nov 3, 2021
Kazakhstan turning ‘blind eye’ to Chinese corporate polluters – watchdog Government agencies and Kazakh-Chinese companies are using the pandemic to shield themselves from scrutiny. Oct 20, 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