Blog
Crossroads Asia
Veteran Opposition Figure Resurfaces in Kazakhstan
By Paolo Sorbello
Could Bulat Abilov re-enter politics?
Turkmenistan Set for Dynastic Succession: Early Election March 12, President’s Son Running
By Catherine Putz
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov did not explicitly state he would step down, but the implication seemed clear when he called for early elections and said it was time to open the way for "young leaders."
Uzbek Justice Ministry Sounds Alarm Over Divisive Religious Messaging
By Umida Hashimova
The Justice Ministry is alarmed about religious figures whose teachings blur the line between religion, their personal moral views, and the law.
China, Mongolia Finalize Major Railroad Crossing Points
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Mongolia has been pushing for progress on the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod railway in particular for years.
Kyrgyz Opposition Leader in Hot Water Over a 2009 Border Deal
By Catherine Putz
A document signed in 2009 is now at the center of a scandal that has the Kyrgyz government crying treason.
Russian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Says US-NATO Steppe Eagle Exercise Will ‘No Longer Fly’
By Catherine Putz
Without directly commenting, CENTOM told The Diplomat that “plans for shared military environments involving our partners in Kazakhstan are currently underway.”
Voting with Their Feet: Emigration in the Aftermath of Kazakhstan’s Bloody January
By Akbota Karibayeva and Aruzhan Meirkhanova
Fears of continued instability and uncertainty over the government’s course of action may cause more people to decide to leave Kazakhstan.
New Strikes and Protests in Kazakhstan
By Catherine Putz
Though smaller in scale, ongoing protests highlight the economic inequality that lies at the center of Kazakh discontent.
CSTO Deployment in Kazakhstan: Strategic Shift or Political Consolidation?
By Gregory Gleason and Pal Dunay
A great deal depends on how Kazakhstan recovers from the disorder and orients itself toward the changing international security terrain.
Why Did Central Asia’s Leaders Go to Beijing?
By Catherine Putz
The visits by all five Central Asian presidents to China for the opening of the Beijing Games illustrate the importance of the relationship for both sides.
Killings and Arbitrary Arrests: Sorting Through Kazakhstan’s January Violence
By Catherine Putz
Officially, 227 people were killed in “Bloody January” and nearly 1,000 remain in detention. But what really happened?
Mongolia Now Has a Record Number of Women Ambassadors
By Bolor Lkhaajav
The achievement is part of a long trek toward gender equality in Mongolia's foreign policy.