Eurasianet

Government agencies and Kazakh-Chinese companies are using the pandemic to shield themselves from scrutiny.

While clumsy on COVID-19, Turkmenistan is being more sure-footed, or consistent at least, on the Afghanistan front. Plus, unsustainable agriculture. Our weekly briefing.

Kazakhs unable to travel abroad are discovering their country is full of nice places to vacation. But what’s good for the local economy is not always good for nature.

Will Turkmenistan come to Kyrgyzstan’s rescue?

The saiga population has rocketed by 150 percent in the last two years.

Protesting artists chose the visit of their better-paid Russian colleagues to make their point.

The government has limited fuel exports, citing the need to stabilize prices.

The president seems troubled by the well-documented shortage of hard currency. This and more in our weekly briefing.

Ecological conservation is a matter of pride in Turkmenistan. But a disconnect between rhetoric and reality is a hallmark of the Berdymukhamedov era.

Acting President Japarov came to power on the crest of rallies, but will he know how to deal with them as leader?

The country's largest oil refinery is no stranger to scandals.

The appearance of the self-defense units is the second time this year that civil society has been forced to hold the line. Where the state repeatedly fails to live up to its obligations, volunteers step in.

Severe economic and epidemiological challenges now lie ahead.

Any political turmoil was bound to worsen Kyrgyzstan's eviscerated economy, but what has happened over the past week has been especially destructive.

The election did not feel very competitive in the president's hometown.