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Catherine Putz

Catherine Putz is managing editor of The Diplomat.

Catherine (Katie) Putz is managing editor of The Diplomat.

She manages the monthly magazine as well as writing on Central Asia and Afghanistan. She writes on politics, security and culture in former Soviet spaces, particularly where they link to greater Asia. Katie also co-hosts The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics Podcast.

Katie is a graduate of the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, where she studied international security and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in history with a focus on U.S. diplomatic and conflict history. Previously, Katie worked in several positions at the Atlantic Council and as a communications consultant at the World Bank. She is a member of the Military Writers Guild and the National Press Club.

Get in touch with Katie on LinkedIn, or email.

Posts by Catherine Putz

July 27, 2021

Kyrgyz Politician Arrested for Involvement in October Unrest Begins Hunger Strike

By Catherine Putz

Jenish Moldokmatov, a harsh critic of President Japarov, is facing charges of orchestrating riots during last October's unrest; the same unrest that saw Japarov rise to power.

July 27, 2021

Tajikistan’s Latest COVID Outbreak: The Rahmon Family

By Catherine Putz

Tajikistan’s leaders declared the country COVID-free back in January, but the recent death of the president’s sister, reportedly from COVID-19, exposes the reality: The pandemic isn’t over.

July 22, 2021

Ted Cruz Blocking State Department Nominees Over Nord Stream 2

By Catherine Putz

With news of a deal on the pipeline, Cruz isn’t getting what he wants. Will he finally let important diplomatic posts be filled?

July 21, 2021

Russia to Hold Military Drills Near Afghan Border in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

By Catherine Putz

Moscow is also reported to be open to some kind of cooperation with the U.S., though far short of American bases in Central Asia.

July 15, 2021

Concerns Rise as Kyrgyzstan Enacts New NGO Controls

By Catherine Putz

Kyrgyzstan has added additional reporting requirements for NGOs in the name of financial transparency, but opportunities for misuse concern activists and foreign governments.

July 14, 2021

Allegations of Torture and Kyrgyz Involvement in Orhan Inandi case

By Catherine Putz

Inandi's lawyer suggests possible Kyrgyz involvement in his client's kidnapping; others suggest Inandi has been tortured.

July 14, 2021

Measuring the Scale of Chinese Transnational Repression

By Catherine Putz

A group of researchers recently compiled as much information as they could on Chinese efforts to render Uyghurs back to China -- they’ve only exposed the tip of the iceberg.

July 14, 2021

Russia Cautions Central Asia Against Hosting US Forces

By Catherine Putz

As the U.S. looks to station over-the-horizon capabilities to address issues in Afghanistan, Central Asia is an obvious locale.

July 12, 2021

Uzbek Singer Abandons Presidential Ambitions

By Catherine Putz

Jahongir Otajonov, picked by the banned Erk party as its presidential candidate, has reportedly quit the race.

July 12, 2021

Can Washington Speed Up Special Visa Processing for Afghans?

By Catherine Putz

Afghans who assisted U.S. forces are eligible for a special immigrant visa, but the process, hogtied by legislation and reporting requirements, has been backlogged for a decade.

July 09, 2021

Kumtor Saga Roils With Additional Arbitration Claims and Scathing Open Letters

By Catherine Putz

The fight for control over Kyrgyzstan's single most valuable asset has devolved into ugly public recriminations.

July 08, 2021

Tajikistan Asks CSTO for Assistance on the Afghan Border

By Catherine Putz

With Afghan forces fleeing into Tajikistan and the Taliban managing a border crossing, Dushanbe has reportedly called on its CSTO partners for aid.