Crossroads Asia

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.

The January 2021 World Bank Global Economic Prospects report is out, heralding a “subdued” recovery for the world. How fares Central Asia?

2020 was not the first time Tajikistan experienced the sharp costs of being a remittance-dependent country, but the lesson is important to heed.

A pair of Russian lawmakers last month said Kazakhstan’s territory was a “gift” from Russia, resurrecting an old offensive tune.

A bottleneck on the Kazakh-China border has left thousands of wagons waiting to cross for weeks on end.

Ts. Oyungerel has announced she will seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for this year's presidential election, sparking controversy before the race even starts.

Four opposition candidates, in anticipation of a second round run-off for the presidency, have pledged to unite behind a single candidate. But Sadyr Japarov is the favorite to win in the first round.

Tomato pests, quickly forgotten, suggest the brief ban on some Uzbek imports was of a political nature.