Eurasianet

Azerbaijan has kept its land borders shut ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Labor migrants are attempting to leave Russia as their jobs have been hit by sanctions. But they can’t cross the border into Azerbaijan, which has remained closed since the beginning of the pandemic.

Researchers used a jointly manufactured Chinese-Uzbek vaccine in their experiments.

A disengagement from the world medical community combined with conservative societal norms have led to many doctors shunning COVID jabs even as the wave of infections reaches new heights.

The government said the system was useless against the Omicron variant, but critics accused them of pandering to anti-vaxxer sentiment.

Tashkent’s vaccination campaign is getting a shot in the arm.

The country has belatedly introduced a COVID pass system to enter restaurants and bars as the vaccination rate remains at just 28 percent.

Tbilisi’s world-famous nightclubs were the country’s last businesses to reopen following the COVID lockdown. But it took a confrontation with the authorities to make it happen.

The government has ordered the fiscal inspection service to withdraw letters accusing businesses of evading taxes.

Compared to its neighbors, anti-vaccine sentiment hasn’t really taken hold in Azerbaijan. Some are still trying, though.

The Uzbek blogger who first raised these concerns was smeared, beaten, and now faces trial.

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.

Employers are now effectively required to demand proof of vaccinations from their workers. But the country’s health care system is now being pushed to the limit.

The government hopes to boost vaccination rates, but a new anti-vaccine campaign is on the rise.

The new rules come as the country is trying to stave off a third wave of the virus and vaccination numbers remain in the low single digits.

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.

The decision elicited criticism, in particular as bars, restaurants, and tourism infrastructure remain open.

The government signals it is taking COVID a bit more seriously, without admitting the virus is running rampant. And Ashgabat gets down to business with the Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing.

Poor and rural families are not equipped to handle online school. Now they fear another academic year is going to start with schools still closed.

With the Taliban at the border, the president heads in the other direction to oversee defense operations on the Caspian Sea. Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

Central Asia’s largest nations are using unique coronavirus vaccines that haven’t been carefully studied. Do they have a choice?

Vaccine uptake, the latest case surges, and related news from Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

Georgia’s mortality rate is among the world’s highest, and just under 6 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

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

The COVID-19 outbreak has compounded a problem caused by low salaries.