Blog
Crossroads Asia

January 20, 2023
Uzbekistan’s Drawn-out Journey From Cyrillic to Latin Script
By Niginakhon Saida
Visit Uzbekistan and you’ll see a variety of alphabets used, a product of the country’s many changes and the long march toward fully using a Latin script.

January 17, 2023
Kazakhstan’s Media, Journalists Under Pressure
By Paolo Sorbello
An attack on a journalist highlights the difficult environment for the press.

January 11, 2023
Kazakhstan Annuls Law ‘On the First President’
By Catherine Putz
As expected, following last summer’s constitutional referendum dropping references to “elbasy,” many of the First President’s other special privileges are ending.

January 11, 2023
What’s Next for the Kempir-Abad Dissenters?
By Catherine Putz
It seems the Kyrgyz authorities are set on prosecuting the politicians and activists who stridently opposed the border deal with Uzbekistan, accusing them of coup-plotting.

January 10, 2023
What Are Central Asia’s Economic Prospects in 2023?
By Catherine Putz
The war in Ukraine, in particular, is putting a drag on economies across Central Asia.

January 10, 2023
Berdimuhamedov’s China Visit Pushes Forward China-Central Asia Relations
By Nian Peng
China has now forged comprehensive strategic partnerships with all the Central Asian states.

January 09, 2023
Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Kazakh Energy Ministers Sign Kambar-Ata-1 Roadmap
By Catherine Putz
All three countries have suffered from energy shortages this winter, underscoring the need for new sources across the region.

January 05, 2023
Kazakh Authorities Outline a Grand Conspiracy Behind Bloody January
By Catherine Putz
The government’s version of events highlights a high-level conspiracy, but provides few details on motives and methods.

January 04, 2023
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan Settle New Electricity Agreement Amid Winter Shortages
By Catherine Putz
Under the new agreement, Uzbekistan will supply Afghanistan with 450 megawatts of electricity during the winter as both countries suffer from outages.

January 04, 2023
Berdimuhamedov Headed to China for State Visit
By Catherine Putz
This will be the younger Berdimuhamedov’s first visit to China as president of Turkmenistan.

December 30, 2022
The Importance of Female Islamic Activism in Kyrgyzstan
By Aksana Ismailbekova
The international community, in seeking to pursue cooperation in the region, ought to look to Muslim women as a vital set of partners.

December 29, 2022
Central Asia’s Dangerous Pharmaceutical Industry
By Ryan Schweitzer
Central Asia’s pharmaceutical industry is in dire need of reform.