Crossroads Asia

Tashkent’s 2021 strategy directs several government agencies to align with a number of EAEU regulations. 

Instability roils Mongolia’s political apparatus in the midst of a global pandemic.

Some travel restrictions remain due to COVID-19, but Kyrgyzstan is no longer subject to a direct U.S. visa ban.

A trial is ongoing, but behind closed doors, while citizens complain of unfair distribution of promised compensation.

Sadyr Japarov’s rise to power and a return to presidentialism demonstrate the limits of democracy promotion in Kyrgyzstan.

The first president’s daughter is on the list of 76 deputies Nur Otan aims to seat in the new parliament.

Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have all suffered in recent months from shortages and blackouts, their citizens experiencing cold nights and darkened lights.

In addition to electing Sadyr Japarov to the presidency, Kyrgyz voted by a huge margin to shift back to a strong presidential government system. 

The new Kazakh parliament will, at least numerically, look very much like the previous iteration.

Japarov soared past 16 other candidates with 79 percent of the vote in the January 10 election.

While the result is not in doubt, the elections could mark the next stage in Kazakhstan’s ongoing transition of power.