Central Asia

Five years ago, Uzbekistan began re-engaging with the U.N. on matters of religious freedom. What progress has been made, and what remains to be done?

For Kazakhstan, supporting economic development along the north-south axis would see Afghanistan becoming a bridge, not a barrier. 

The Taliban have gained access to some of the erstwhile Afghan Republic's embassies and consulates in Central Asia. The consulate in Tajikistan's Khorog may be the latest.

The region needs to overcome four key structural challenges: lack of access to the sea, low level of development of the financial sector, lack of water and energy coordination, and climate change.

All eyes are on a series of critical meetings hosted by India in the lead up to the planned SCO Summit in July.

All of the candidates support President Serdar Berdymuhamedov and his father, Gurbanguly.

China seeks easier trade access to European markets by developing its rail network with Kazakhstan and trialing the Middle Corridor.

Political manipulations stripped the people of the choice they were promised in Kazakhstan’s latest parliamentary election.

Despite hundreds of independent self-nominated candidates, Kazakhstan’s new parliament will much resemble its former self.

Pressured not to hold a march, feminist groups in Almaty gathered in their hundreds for a rally anyway.

A debt dispute sits atop a host of other political risks, inserting uncertainty into operations at the important Baikonur spaceport.

Uzbek migrant workers in Russia, and those serving time in Russian prisons, are particularly vulnerable to recruitment into the Russian military.