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Crossroads Asia
Police Disruption of Women’s Day March Illegal, Kyrgyz Supreme Court Rules
By Catherine Putz
Overturning the decisions of two lower courts, the Kyrgyz Supreme Court says police should not have cracked down on the March 8 protest.
Rail Freight Use on China’s Iron Silk Road Underdelivers
By Tristan Kenderdine
Is China’s CR Express destined for the industrial graveyard of Eurasian economic policy history?
Kazakhstan Still on the Long Road to a Latin Alphabet
By Catherine Putz
Kazakh has been written in a Cyrillic script since 1940, but government officials have long pushed for a gradual shift to a Latin alphabet.
Turkmenistan Still Persists in COVID Denial
By Catherine Putz
ASAP or maybe never: In August, the WHO wanted to visit Turkmenistan ASAP to test suspected COVID-19 samples. To date, no new mission has taken place.
Uzbekistan to Host Chinese Vaccine Trials
By Umida Hashimova
Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, a Chinese company, will run some of its phase three trial in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.
Presidential or Parliamentary? What Kind of Government Should Kyrgyzstan Have?
By Catherine Putz
With new presidential elections set for January and parliamentary elections sometime before June 2021, the debate over what kind of government Kyrgyzstan should have is critical.
Kyrgyz Presidential Hopefuls Rushing to Run
By Catherine Putz
Last month, Kyrgyz rushed into offices. This month, they’re running for the exits in hopes of contesting the January 10 early presidential election.
Former Kazakh Health Minister Detained in Corruption Probe
By Catherine Putz
Birtanov was minister until late June when he resigned after contracting COVID-19.
Russia, China Cautiously Watch Kyrgyzstan’s Lingering Political Turmoil
By Catherine Putz
Treading carefully, both Moscow and Beijing have engaged the new Japarov government but with a markedly light touch.
Is This Tajikistan’s #MeToo Moment?
By Sher Khashimov, Steve Swerdlow, and Sher Khashimov and Steve Swerdlow
Could a court decision punishing a victim of sexual harassment and the newspaper that helped her be Tajikistan’s #MeToo moment?
Tajiks Stuck in Russia, Flights Home Cancelled
By Catherine Putz
A pair of November 1 charter flights from Moscow to Dushanbe were cancelled.
New Election Dates and Challenges for Kyrgyzstan
By Catherine Putz
The presidential elections are now set for January 10, while challenges have been filed over the cancellation of the December 20 parliamentary redo.