Country
Uzbekistan
Uzbeks, an Islamic State Smuggler, and the US Border
By Catherine Putz
A recent CNN report revealed that a smuggler with prior ties to the Islamic State may have helped a group of Uzbek nationals enter the U.S. We should not be surprised.
Can Islamic Finance Drive Banking Sector Development in Uzbekistan?
By Shokhrukhkhuja Fakhriddinkhujaev
Although there are challenges, such as a lack of legislation and expertise, Islamic finance may present new avenues for attracting investment.
Kyrgyzstan to Return Issyk-Kul Resorts to Uzbekistan
By Colleen Wood
Ownership of four lakeside resorts built during the Soviet period is another facet of water diplomacy in Central Asia.
Will We Soon See a Central Asia-US Leaders’ Summit?
By Catherine Putz
If Biden does indeed meet with the Central Asian presidents in New York on the sidelines of UNGA it will be with both Russia and China in mind.
Digitalization: How the EU Can Transform Central Asia
By Alouddin Komilov
The EU has the potential to contribute to the digital transformation of Central Asia by leveraging its comparative strengths.
Talk of Gas Unions Riles Up Turkmenistan
By Catherine Putz
What compelled a Turkmen foreign ministry official to push back on admittedly vague comments from a Russian foreign ministry official?
2 Karakalpak Activists Denied Asylum in Kazakhstan
By Catherine Putz
The two men – and three other detained Karakalpak activists – face the potential of being deported to Uzbekistan should their appeals fail.
Uzbekistan: The Tourism Destination Where LGBTQ+ Dare Not Venture
By Alva Omarova
No one should be imprisoned for who they love. Yet in Uzbekistan, the authorities engage in ongoing criminal prosecution and cruel treatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
After Spectacles in Karakalpak Civilian Trials, Uzbek Authorities Sentence 3 Law Enforcement Officers With Little Fanfare
By Catherine Putz
When civilians were put on trial in relation to the Karakalpakstan unrest, their names were known, their faces splattered across the media. We only have initials for the three law enforcement officers tried.
The Hujra Phenomenon: How Do Uzbekistan’s Children Learn About Islam?
By Niginakhon Saida
The apparently increasing number of hujra, clandestine religious classrooms, in Uzbekistan indicates a growing need for formal religious education that is not attainable for many at present.
A Cold War-Era Amendment is Preventing a Deepening of U.S. Relations With Central Asia
By Chris Murphy
The U.S. has an opportunity to offer Central Asia a strategic alternative to China and Russia based on partnership rather than exploitation. The Jackson-Vanik amendment stands in the way.
How to Increase Green Finance Inflows in Central Asia
By Nikolai Podguzov
With domestic policy changes, and robust external support, the region could push itself toward a net-zero future.