Eurasianet

The mood in Baku is triumphal but it’s heavy and vengeful rather than joyous.

But there is no papering over the festering disillusionment.

Any breakthrough in improving the lot of labor migrants will be touted as sign of his political heft.

Travel bans, dams and Russian fans. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

The terminal state of the economy remains paramount in the minds of those wishing to leave.

A facile and naïve plan being discussed in Washington risks backfiring on Iran’s minority Christians.

This week in our Turkmenistan bulletin: Ashgabat and Moscow suddenly ratify an aged security agreement. Plus budgets, boasts and bribes.

Rigged elections have created political crises in two other post-Soviet countries this year, leaving Nur-Sultan edgy ahead of a parliamentary vote.

The president says the vote will marking a turning point. Skeptics yawn.

Some are speaking out against the conflict despite fears the government’s strong support for Azerbaijan could fuel nationalist reprisals.

While it would be wrong to start pointing fingers and formulating conspiracy theories, clearly the risks are many and real.

Beijing is eager to show solidarity as the coronavirus pandemic rumbles on.

Hypocritical election congratulations underscore the cold strategic underpinnings of a bloc that is as much about politics as it is about trade.

Confusion and contradiction are at the heart of the government’s counter-disinformation strategy.

Many in the territory blame the rising numbers of coronavirus cases on the authorities’ decision to open up to Russian tourists.