Uzbekistan to begin Chinese vaccine trial 5,000 volunteers have been mobilized for the phase-three trial. Nov 9, 2020
Uzbekistan to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials Officials say Uzbekistan plans to produce its own vaccine when tests are done. Sep 30, 2020
Kyrgyzstan: Authorities mulling return to lockdowns Batken has already reimposed restrictions. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Sep 29, 2020
Kazakhstan: Ever more borrowers unable to repay loans Overdue loans have increased by 10 percent since January. Almaz Kumenov Sep 25, 2020
Central Asia: Belt and Road takes back seat in Chinese envoy’s tour Beijing is eager to show solidarity as the coronavirus pandemic rumbles on. Chris Rickleton Sep 16, 2020
Kyrgyzstan: COVID-19 body blow leaves Issyk-Kul tourism operators reeling The tourist season was a disaster, with visitors down almost 90 percent. The taxman has not been sympathetic. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Photos by Danil Usmanov Sep 11, 2020
Kazakhstan: Classes continue in remote format Parents are pleading for relief from their kids learning from home, however. Almaz Kumenov Sep 10, 2020
Uzbekistan: COVID-19 adds more pain to university exam nightmare Only one in 10 university applicants is sure of a place. Sep 2, 2020
Kazakhstan’s war on coronavirus fake news underwhelms Confusion and contradiction are at the heart of the government’s counter-disinformation strategy. Almaz Kumenov Aug 28, 2020
Uzbekistan: Charities resist government monopolization of social protection Critics of the government’s charities ban suspect there is politics at play, not just a desire to stem potential fraud. Aug 26, 2020
Kyrgyzstan opens up to Kazakhstan’s tourists. In theory Kyrgyz officials have drawn up a list of 31 countries from which people can visit. Almaz Kumenov Aug 24, 2020
Kazakhstan: Too close for comfort in the age of coronavirus Officials concede their exhortations to maintain social distance have had little impact. Joanna Lillis Aug 17, 2020
Fighting COVID in Kyrgyzstan: Dog fat, ginger and bloodletting Some of the purported cures spreading on social media are dangerous. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Aug 13, 2020
Uzbekistan: Civil society hindered in ability to contain COVID-19 corruption The chair of the Senate says $171,000 have gone missing. Aug 10, 2020
Kazakhstan: Authorities see COVID-19 improvement, but tighten restrictions The lockdown regime was rolled over until mid-August. Almaz Kumenov Aug 4, 2020