Region
Central Asia
Russian Defense Minister Uses Stage at Chinese Military Forum to Accuse US of Fueling Tensions
By Simina Mistreanu
Sergei Shoigu also accused NATO of trying to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific under the pretense of seeking dialogue and collaboration with regional countries.
Central Asian Governments React to the Israel-Palestine Conflict
By Colleen Wood
To what extent have religious ties or geopolitical ambitions shaped Central Asian governments’ responses to growing violence in Gaza?
In Samarkand, USAID Head Power Announces New Funds for Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced an additional $14.3 million in regional programing, plus $18.7 million to boost collaboration in Uzbekistan, specifically.
Kyrgyz ‘Foreign Representatives’ Bill Passes First Reading in Parliament
By Catherine Putz
The bill must be passed in three readings before heading to the president, but time is growing short for amendments to be made.
How Kazakhstan Helps Russia Bypass Western Sanctions
By Rahimbek Abdrahmanov and Kamshat Zhumagulova
The parallel imports that pass through Kazakhstan to Russia represent a complex equation with variables ranging from the customs union to corruption.
Who Will Actually Benefit From the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railroad?
By Navruz Karimov and Abror Kurbonmuratov
Connectivity projects are crucial for landlocked Central Asian countries. Yet the railway brings major concerns: a lack of transparency, smuggling risks, and a possible debt trap.
Central Asian States and Great Power Geopolitics
By Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
What's driving Central Asian foreign policy in 2023?
In Uzbekistan, a Nascent Push for Green Energy
By Zhanaiym Kozybay
Amidst the energy and electricity crisis, Tashkent’s pursuit of renewables is as much about addressing the threat of climate change as it is about shoring up its energy security.
Another Summit to Watch: Commonwealth of Independent States Heads to Gather in Kyrgyz Capital
By Catherine Putz
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to attend. It will be his first trip abroad since the ICC issue an arrest warrant in March 2023.
A Fourth Karakalpak Released From Detention in Kazakhstan
By Catherine Putz
While the releases in Kazakhstan have been welcomed by the Karakalpak community, it’s clear that a sense of unease remains.
A Brief Chronicle of Enforced Disappearances in Tajikistan
By Catherine Putz
When a government captures, imprisons, or kills a detainee and refuses to acknowledge the person’s whereabouts, it generates a very specific kind of terror for other dissidents and their families.
Voices of Doubt: Unraveling the Ambiguities Surrounding Kolbaev’s Killing
By Aksana Ismailbekova
The Kyrgyz public’s doubts and questions about the Kolbaev killing are the expression of what they cannot see for lack of a transparent legal system amid the state’s apparent fight against criminality.