Country
Kazakhstan
Former Almaty Police Deputy Head Detained in January 2022 Torture Case
By Catherine Putz
Kyrgyz jazz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov was detained, tortured, and forced to make a false confession amid the chaos of the January 2022 events. It’s yet to be seen if justice will be ultimately served.
A Trojan Horse? The New Kazakh Gambling Legislation Needs a Closer Look
By Adilbek Abdulov
The betting industry in Kazakhstan is profitable, making the question of who controls its profits of utmost importance.
Germany’s Zeitenwende: Turning Toward Central Asia?
By Timon Ostermeier and Eldaniz Gusseinov
Bilateral contacts between Berlin and the region have intensified considerably since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but many challenges remain.
Competing Digital Futures: Europe and China in Central Asia’s Tech Development
By Andrew Gundal and Eldaniz Gusseinov
Both the EU and China aim to establish technological leadership in Central Asia, but their focuses differ.
Viral Bishimbayev Trial in Kazakhstan Ends With 24-Year Sentence
By Colleen Wood
Under Kazakhstan’s hybrid jury model, jurors and the judge make a final decision together. In this case, the former minister was convicted of murdering his wife and handed a long sentence.
Diplomatic Engagement in Central Asia on the Rise
By Aizada Nuriddenova and Zhanibek Arynov
The number of interactions between high-level Central Asian officials has visibly increased since 2015, from 60 interactions that year to 158 in 2023.
How Authoritarian Oppression Breeds Religious Extremism in Central Asia
By Kashif Hasan Khan and Marin Ekstrom
The overwhelmingly authoritarian governments in Central Asia have utilized severe repression against Islamist movements – extremist or not.
Central Asian Presidents to be ‘Guests of Honor’ for Russian Victory Day Parade
By Catherine Putz
For the second year in a row, Central Asia’s leaders are making the trek to Moscow to mark a holiday of fleeting relevance in the region.
US Religious Freedom Watchdog Recommends Kyrgyzstan for Special Watch List
By Catherine Putz
For the first time, all five Central Asian states are named in some fashion in the annual USCIRF report for violating religious freedoms.
UK Foreign Secretary’s Visit to Central Asia: Deciphered
By Sophia Nina Burna-Asefi
What did U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s trip across Central Asia achieve?
Fines for Critics in the Aftermath of Kazakhstan’s Terrible Spring Floods
By Catherine Putz
A Kazakh journalist was charged with "petty hooliganism” for using profanity in his complaint about media being barred from accessing flood zones.
TikTok’s Rocky Road in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
TikTok has faced pressure across Central Asia, with governments often citing the protection of children to justify restriction.