Uzbekistan

Despite domestic opposition in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek and Tashkent are moving ahead with their agreements on the Kempir-Abad reservoir.

And in Uzbekistan, Berlin sees a rising regional power.

Uzbekistan has made impressive development gains over the past five years by relentlessly pursuing the path of market-oriented reforms. 

There’s no evidence that Uzbekistan is assembling Iranian drones for Russia to use in Ukraine, but Tashkent’s firm retort to the suggestion underscores its difficult geopolitical position. 

“Shame” culture and poverty are forcing some Uzbek women to sell their newborns for pennies and purity.

The war’s negative impacts on regional economies outweigh any incidental benefits, and Central Asians know it.

Amid a rapid rapprochement, Ankara has relied on soft power in Uzbekistan by strengthening cultural ties in language and education opportunities. But is it enough?

Since the early 2000s the Central Asian republics have largely kept their debt levels stable.

Outside the Kyrgyz president's recent meeting with residents in Uzgen, villagers reportedly held signs reading “It is better to give life than land!”

Moscow denies that Central Asians are being conscripted into the Russian military, but the risk is real.

On the back of high remittances and oil and gas revenues, the outlook for Central Asia’s economies has improved. But it’s not all good news.

Under the September 14 agreement, the three parties will jointly fund a feasibility study of a proposed route through Kyrgyzstan necessary to bring the CKU Railway into being.