Region
Central Asia

Tajikistan Orders Afghan Refugees Out en Masse
By Kulobiddin Norov
The Tajik government reportedly has given Afghan refugees residing in the country 15 days to leave voluntarily or face deportation.

‘You Need a Man’: How Sexual Harassment and Patriarchy Silence Women in Uzbekistan
By Gulnoz Mamarasulova
When the law functions more as a threat than a safeguard, silence becomes a survival strategy. And in that silence, impunity flourishes.

Kazakhstan Bans Veils in an Effort to Heighten Security
By Albert Otkjær
As the last country in Central Asia to do so, Kazakhstan has outlawed face coverings to increase public safety, a move that might put religious groups under pressure.

How Tajikistan’s Banks Help Russian Citizens Bypass SWIFT Ban
By Kulobiddin Norov
A new investigation and proliferating online ads reveal how Russian citizens send money to European bank accounts despite Western sanctions.

New Trump Tariffs Target Kazakhstan With 25% Rate
By Catherine Putz
A letter to the Kazakh president stated, "Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Kazakhstan a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Kazakh products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.”

Scripts and Power: How Russian Media Frame the Latinization of the Kazakh Language
By Aziz Berdiqulov
The Russian press often presents Latinization in Kazakhstan through a politicized lens, relying on conspiratorial framing, colonial nostalgia, and mockery.

Silencing RFA Uyghur Echoes Past Mistakes
By Omer Kanat
Forty-five years ago, the U.S. silenced Uyghur voices in the name of diplomacy. Today, they are being silenced in the name of austerity.

Mongolia’s WWII Legacy: Asset or Liability in 2025?
By Sumiya Chuluunbaatar
The stories of Mongolia's WWII heroes are deeply ingrained in the nation’s cultural fabric. But in an age of great power competition, remembrance is increasingly seen as a geopolitical signal.

What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani?
By Catherine Putz
An interview with Diana T. Kudaibergen on power, identity, and nation-building in Kazakhstan.

The US Aimed at Iran But Might Have Hit Central Asia
By James Durso
Is Washington ready to subordinate its talk about advancing sovereignty and economic prosperity in Central Asia in favor of trying to isolate and impoverish Iran?

A Region of Opportunity? US Policy and the Future of Central Asia
By Akilbek Tilavoldiev
Central Asia has rarely occupied a prominent place on the U.S. foreign policy agenda, but the region’s dynamism shouldn’t be ignored by Washington.

Russian Authorities Consider Additional Fees for Visiting Foreigners, Migrant Workers
By Catherine Putz
At present, a number of fees are already required for a variety of migration-related documents and processes. But Moscow might expand the list.
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