Blog
Crossroads Asia
At Eurasian Economic Union E-Summit, Tokayev Finds His Voice
By Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Kazakh President Tokayev pushed back on Moscow’s timelines for the EAEU’s 2025 development strategy.
Mongolia’s Next Election Will Feature New Types of Candidates
By Bulgan Batdorj and Julian Dierkes
The breadth of Mongolian democracy is widening.
Can Mirziyoyev’s Reforms Bring About a Real Free Market Economy in Uzbekistan?
By Bekzod Zakirov
The hope that reforms will ultimately bring about free market capitalism with accompanying democratic politics is utmost naivety.
Kyrgyz Rapper Strikes Chord With Track Condemning Corruption
By Colleen Wood
Fans of Kyrgyz rap are quick to see parallels between traditional musical forms and a famous artist’s new release.
Can Uzbekistan Put the Uzbek Language First?
By Umida Hashimova
Moscow made an unprecedented comment in defense of the Russian language in Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan’s Coronavirus Payments: The Quest for 42,500 Tenge
By Anastassiya Fershtey
The process of receiving financial aid from the Kazakh government turned into a “quest” for Kazakhs.
Investigating Dam Collapse a Test for Uzbekistan
By Catherine Putz
How the Uzbek government handles the investigation of the dam collapse matters.
Mongolia: How Nalaikh’s Youth See Democracy
By Claire Casher, Samantha Coronel, Rasmus Dilling-Hansen, and Cassandra Jeffery
A Canadian research team shares their findings from a Mongolia youth engagement study.
Askarov’s Final Appeal Denied By Kyrgyz Supreme Court
By Catherine Putz
After a decade in jail and repeated international calls for his release, ethnic Uzbek human rights activist Azimjan Askarov remains behind bars in Kyrgyzstan.
Technology and Policing a Pandemic in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
Regional governments are retooling surveillance systems in their “smart” cities to fight the pandemic, heightening existing concerns of rights and privacy.
Kazakhstan Begins Easing Some COVID-19 Restrictions
By Catherine Putz
Kazakhstan isn't quite out of the woods, but the government has ended the state of emergency and outlined plans for a staged re-opening.
Kazakhstan’s Richest Sell Almaty Airport
By Paolo Sorbello
TAV, a Turkish holding, completed the purchase of Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan's most active airport.