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Crossroads Asia
Russian Foreign Minister Finally Responds to Kazakh Sovereignty Worries
By Alimana Zhanmukanova
Five months after controversial comments regarding Kazakh territory, Lavrov dismisses them as coming from deputies “chasing after sensations.”
Kyrgyzstan’s Worrying New Limits on Dissent
By Colleen Wood
Kyrgyzstan’s president continues to sharpen the country’s legal code as a tool to limit dissent.
Vaccinations Progress Slowly in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
For myriad reasons, vaccination programs in Central Asia are proceeding slowly. Hesitancy is one factor.
How Mongolia Made the Most of Vaccine Diplomacy
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Mongolia has received vaccines not only from neighbors China and Russia, but from India and COVAX as well.
US Afghan Envoy Visits Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
By Catherine Putz
As the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan begins, some suspect Washington is looking for nearby basing options.
Uzbek Blogger Bazarov Under House Arrest Facing Libel Charges
By Catherine Putz
A month after being brutally beaten, Bazarov was released from the hospital and swiftly charged for insulting his old school in an October 2020 TikTok video.
Russia Turns to China to Make Sputnik Shots to Meet Demand
By Huizhong Wu and Daria Litvinova
While pledging hundreds of millions of doses, Russia has only delivered a fraction. It’s turning to Chinese companies to help pick up the pace.
Explaining the Evolution of Turkmenistan’s Assembly Bodies
By Rustam Muhamedov
Power consolidation and the institutional transformations of Turkmenistan’s assembly bodies.
Violent Clashes at the Troublesome Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border
By Catherine Putz
Last week’s violence was some of the worst the border has seen, with more than 40 killed.
Russia, Central Asian States Worry About Instability in Afghanistan
By Umida Hashimova
Military officials in Russia and Central Asia agree to unite efforts as they prepare for a worsening of the situation in Afghanistan.
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Trade Blame for Cross-border Shelling
By Associated Press
Reportedly one Kyrgyz man has been killed in the clashes over a long-unsettled border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Nations in Transit: Central Asia Remains Locked in Consolidated Authoritarianism
By Catherine Putz
Another bad year for democracy across the former Soviet Union, with Kyrgyzstan slipping further into authoritarianism too.