Region
Central Asia
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.
State Projects and Proxies: All the President’s Men in Kyrgyzstan
By Catherine Putz
A new OCCRP, Temirov Live, Kloop investigation finishes “the work of those who can longer do journalism in Kyrgyzstan” by uncovering a murky network of connections profiting from state projects.
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.
A Remote Kyrgyz Village Fights for Survival as Mining Start Looms
By Emilia Sulek
Nestled in Kyrgyzstan’s picturesque mountains, along a hydropower reservoir on the Naryn River, the village of Kyzyl-Beyit strives to preserve itself.
Anti-Migrant Protests Expose Problems in Kyrgyzstan’s Evolving Migration Landscape
By Asel Murzakulova
The recent conflict laid bare genuine challenges within the labor market and significant shifts in the country's migration landscape.
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.
South Asian Students Targeted by Angry Mob in Kyrgyz Capital
By Catherine Putz
The mob, apparently triggered by a video of a fight between foreigners and locals earlier in May, “went on a rampage” targeting mostly South Asian students while raging against illegal immigration.
Taking Stock of Russia-Central Asia Relations in 2024
By Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
What do Russia and the Central Asian republics stand to gain from each other?
Russia Expands Oil Trade South via Afghanistan, Seeking Warm Water Ports
By Sophia Nina Burna-Asefi
Afghanistan is emerging as a key transit point for Russian oil as the Kremlin seeks to establish new trade routes to Asia and the Middle East.
Privatization in Uzbekistan: Potential Far From Fulfilled
By Bryn Windsor
While some progress has been made, foreign investors are starting to wonder if Uzbekistan’s privatization agenda will ever live up to its much-lauded potential.
Women as Wives: How Uzbekistan’s Justice System Fails to Serve Women
By Niginakhon Saida
Uzbekistan’s judicial system perceives women as wives in domestic violence cases and does not shy away from punishing them for responding to abuse.
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.