Central Asia

Russia needs the support of its "old friends" more than ever and views the EAEU as a vehicle for that support.

With the expected closure of the Office of the First President, de-Nazarbayevification marches on. 

Moscow’s needs are more immediate, giving Tashkent time and space to negotiate. 

Last year, the EU’s meeting with Central Asian leaders followed their summit with Putin; this year it trailed their meeting with Xi.

Emerging economies are “struggling just to cope,” the World Bank says. The latest Global Economic Prospects report notes slight improvements but many risks.

Taking advantage of the very real persecution of the LGBTQ community in Russia and across much of the former Soviet Union, a pair of lawyers conspired to commit immigration fraud. 

Tazhimuratov’s 16-year sentence was upheld while terms of others were either reduced or shifted to house arrest.

The two countries, faced with sanctions and political isolation, are not completely isolated from global networks.

For the second time in just over a year, Kyrgyzstan’s prosecutor general has sought to strip opposition politician Adakhan Madumarov’s immunity so he can be prosecuted. 

Much of what is written about soft power in Central Asia focuses on countries like Kyrgyzstan as passive recipients of Russian, Chinese, and American cultural influence. D Billions may flip the script.

Kazakh President Tokayev said in tweet that it was the “duty” of all to “learn the terrible lessons of the past and do everything possible so that such events do not happen again in the future.” What about the present?

The same circumstances that do not dissuade Tajik migrants from heading to Russia drive some Russians toward Kyrgyzstan and beyond.