Crossroads Asia

Regional media have begun to report on the return of bodies, men born in Central Asia who took Russian citizenship over the years and ultimately died in Ukraine.

From Kunayev to Razzakov to Rashidov, Soviet-era Central Asian leaders continue to play an important role in constructing historical narratives 30 years after independence.

Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov gave one of the most direct refutations from a Central Asian official of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian flags dotted many recent rallies in Almaty -- about issues as varied as pollution and International Women’s Day -- as people in Kazakhstan call for peace.

For China, Mongolia, and Japan, the fallout from the invasion is just starting to be felt. The long-term consequences are not yet clear.

In a recent speech, Kazakh President Tokayev laid out the government’s understanding of the January events and proposed a litany of reforms to achieve a “New Kazakhstan.”

Although all indications are that Serdar intends to follow in his father’s footsteps, Turkmenistan is politically entering uncharted waters.

As Bishkek tries to maintain a balanced approach to the Ukraine crisis, demonstrations have been banned from key protest hotspots in the capital.

After a dozen years, the Cotton Campaign has finally announced the end of its pledge, signed by 331 brands and retailers, to boycott Uzbek cotton on account of forced labor.

Tokayev’s “new Kazakhstan” is much less in sync with Russia, as illustrated by the country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Will a change in president mean a change in leadership? And even if so, can that change in leadership measurably affect the challenges Turkmenistan faces?

In 2022, Central Asia was supposed to see slight growth in remittances. Thanks to Russia’s war in Ukraine, remittances are expected to drop dramatically instead.