Region
Central Asia
Kazakhstan Is Vulnerable to Secondary Sanctions
By Sophia Nina Burna-Asefi
For Kazakhstan, the secondary sanctions risk is not just hypothetical.
Who Is Responsible for the Fires in Kazakhstan?
By Colleen Wood
Patterns in criticism of government officials reveal how President Tokayev views the chain of responsibility for the fires, but the broader public may disagree.
What Did Studying in China Teach Kyrgyz Students About Civic Engagement at Home?
By Adina Masalbekova
Although the students see China's tight control of political discussions as a source of extraordinary discipline, they vehemently oppose it.
Uzbek Journalists and Bloggers Suffer from Mirziyoyev’s Broken Promises on Freedom of Speech
By Umida Niyazova
Although there is much more freedom of speech compared to the Karimov era, ongoing attacks on bloggers and civil society activists show an alarming deteriorating dynamic in Uzbekistan.
Redeeming Book Culture in Uzbekistan
By Niginakhon Saida
In a new political era, boosted by social media, Uzbekistan’s publishers, translators, and book bloggers see rewarding opportunities amid the challenges.
The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act is US Law. Where Are the Sanctions?
By Omer Kanat
Three years on, the UHRP Act has seen only token implementation. Tokenism isn’t enough to fight a genocide.
Cultural Diplomacy as a Key Instrument of China-Central Asia Cooperation
By Paolo Sorbello
An interview with Chinese diplomacy researcher Giulia Sciorati.
Kyrgyz MPs Resurrect Bid to Brand NGOs ‘Foreign’ Agents
By Catherine Putz
The new attempt uses the phrase "foreign representative" but the implications are the same for Kyrgyzstan's largely foreign-funded NGOs.
Wildfire in Kazakhstan Sparks Corruption Complaints
By Catherine Putz
Clearing out entrenched corruption – abetted by an autocratic system in which the roads that are paved are those the president walks on – is a monumental task.
It’s Karimov Era 2.0 for Muslims in Uzbekistan
By Madina Amin
A new wave of arrests in Uzbekistan have centered on religious lectures, songs, and social media posts, calling up memories of the not-so-distant Karimov era.
Who Benefits From the Eurasian Economic Union?
By Elvira Aidarkhanova
Russia needs the support of its "old friends" more than ever and views the EAEU as a vehicle for that support.
Era of the First President Waning Further in Kazakhstan With Office Closure
By Catherine Putz
With the expected closure of the Office of the First President, de-Nazarbayevification marches on.