Eurasianet

That Central Asia's presidents seemed to enjoy themselves together was itself a breakthrough. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

Cases are rising rapidly and vaccines – for those who want them – are hard to find.

The health minister then drank the concoction at a press conference.

The region appears wholly unprepared for the latest rise in cases.

It can take four days to get to the front of the line at this bitterly cold pass almost two miles high.

The losses to tax revenues will hit the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh government even harder than Yerevan.

The state has set up three “voluntary” funds for Azerbaijanis to cover post-war needs. But widespread reports suggest that people are being forced to contribute.

Surabaldiyeva says "several thousand" people may have died.

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan are taking triumphalist stances on coronavirus.

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

Medics say they are actively discouraged from seeking the compensation.

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

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

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.

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