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
Kazakhstan: Police locate sense of humor, drop case against satirist Most visitors to the Instagram account are aware it is not a news website. Almaz Kumenov Sep 15, 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
Turkmenistan: Where the streets have neigh name Out-of-touch elites, poor planning, and some signs of progress in regional trade. Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin May 31, 2022
Kazakhstan: Labor unrest troubles another Chinese project Kazakh officials know they cannot be seen siding with a Chinese company. Apr 15, 2022
Kazakhstan: Almaty protest calling for mayoral elections draws small crowd The demonstration, which city hall allowed, passed peacefully. Joanna Lillis Feb 5, 2022
Uzbekistan: Get a jab, win a car Tashkent’s vaccination campaign is getting a shot in the arm. Feb 2, 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
Kazakhstan jails political dissidents in fresh crackdown All the defendants are strident government critics, but their dissidence was confined to online attacks and tiny street protests. Joanna Lillis Oct 11, 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