Kyrgyzstan: The rise and fall of a sex webcam magnate Daniel Azhiyev came to prominence during the COVID-19 crisis, when his philanthropy made him something of a minor folk hero. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Oct 27, 2023
Tajikistan pleads poverty, spends money on unneeded luxuries A panhandling president is unaccountable to his Western benefactors. Apr 26, 2023
Kyrgyzstan: Authorities bristle at Black Death research Officials suspect a newly published paper on the 14th century plague is a plot to kill the country's tourism industry. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jun 17, 2022
Kyrgyzstan: Controversy-mongering health minister ends up behind bars Beishenaliyev says he has been set up by vindictive prosecutors. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Jun 6, 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
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
“I avenged my father”: A saga of crime and bloodshed in the highlands of Kyrgyzstan The criminal underworld reaches across generations. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva May 16, 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
The rough-tongued poison-prescriber overhauling Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare system Beishenaliyev enjoys a close relationship with the president. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Apr 11, 2022
Turkmenistan: Berdymukhamedov 2.0 hits campaign trail The president-in-waiting plans to change nothing. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Mar 1, 2022
Turkmenistan: TAPI talk turns to pragmatic matters In our weekly briefing: The Taliban visit Ashgabat, the dauphin is received by Uzbekistan’s president, and authorities tighten control after unrest in neighboring Kazakhstan. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jan 18, 2022
Kyrgyzstan: Pakistani students demand protection from assaults Victims of crime say they are not properly treated by police. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Dec 23, 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
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