The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Uzbekistan has announced a new electricity rationing schedule as power shortages strain the national grid. The Ministry of Energy said temporary evening outages would help stabilize supply while repairs and emergency measures continue. The outages, which began this week, are concentrated during peak hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m....

Neutrality

Turkmenistan Marks 30 Years of Neutrality

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Available Sunday

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard...

Visa

The Silk Visa Deadlock: The Long Road to a Borderless Central Asia

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

00:00 / 00:00

Opinions

Opinion: Is Uzbekistan Importing a Future Crisis?

William Cui

Opinion: Kazakhstan Bets Big on AI to Power Local and Global Growth

Altair Akhmetov

Opinion: After the UN Gaza Resolution – Kazakhstan’s Potential Role

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Abraham Accords Can Help Kazakhstan Reshape Its Energy Future

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Electoral Reforms – Why Officials and Experts Are Reconsidering Local Democracy

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Central Asia Is Consolidating Its Role as a Full-Fledged Actor in Global Processes

Mavlon Bobokhonov

Opinion: Multi-Vectorism 2.0 – Kazakhstan Seeks Balance in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: The Integration of Afghanistan into Central Asia

Dr. M. Assem Mayar

Opinion: Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords – More Than a Symbolic Gesture

Uzma Parveen

Opinion: A Trump Visit to Central Asia Would Deliver Results and Anchor a Corridor Strategy

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion: China’s Diplomatic Power Play Unfolds in Tianjin

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Gas, Geopolitics, and Realism: U.S.–Turkmenistan Talks Signal Shift

Javier M. Piedra

Business & Economy

Education reform

World Bank Approves $250 Million Loan to Expand Student Financing in Uzbekistan

The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to support Uzbekistan’s ambitious reform of its student financing system, the institution announced on December 11. The funding will back the Edulmkon Program, a three-year initiative aimed at expanding equitable access to higher and vocational education across the country. Scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2028, the program is expected to benefit approximately 600,000 young people. Roughly 80% of the loan will be allocated to tuition loans for students from low-income families and for women, groups that continue to face significant barriers to accessing higher education. Uzbekistan, home to around 10...

Organization of Turkic States (OTS)

Organization of Turkic States Discusses Key Eurasian Energy Projects

Economic Growth

ACRA Raises Kazakhstan Economic Growth Forecast

Electricity supply

Uzbekistan Announces New Electricity Rationing Amid Power Shortages

Agriculture

Uzbekistan to Import 300,000 Animals, Launch $367 Million in Livestock Projects

Foreign debt

Opinion: Is Uzbekistan Importing a Future Crisis?

Once hidden from the view of international investors, Uzbekistan is rapidly rewriting its economic narrative. Over the past eight years, the nation attracted over $113 billion in foreign investment, drawing financial firms and mutual funds eager to seize the momentum of Tashkent’s trade liberalization and its ambition to double GDP by 2030. And rightly so; 40% of the country’s population, which is the largest in Central Asia, is under the age of 25, while its gold production is within the top ten globally. Uzbekistan is in its breakout moment. With Uzbek bonds receiving a further upgrade to a BB rating...

Oil Export

Kazakhstan Looks to Reduce Dependence on Russian Oil Transit Routes

Escalating drone attacks on Russian infrastructure amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, including key facilities in Novorossiysk and the Orenburg region, are compelling Kazakhstan to accelerate its search for alternative oil export routes. In this context, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which transits Russian territory, is increasingly viewed as an unreliable option for transporting the country’s crude oil. In November, damage to the VPU-2 single-point mooring at the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal near Novorossiysk disrupted operations. Only VPU-1 remains functional, while VPU-3 is undergoing scheduled maintenance. As a result, CPC oil shipments have dropped. The pipeline accounts for over 80% of...

Gold Mining

Kyrgyzstan Advances Underground Project at Kumtor Mine

The state-owned Kumtor Gold Company, Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mining asset, has announced the high efficiency of its new underground mining operations. According to the company, up to 5 grams of gold can be extracted from each ton of ore mined using the underground method. Experts believe this yield is sufficient to ensure the long-term viability of the deposit. Although underground mining was officially launched in August 2025, actual excavation began in February. In a response to The Times of Central Asia, the company reported that geological reserves in the underground zones of Kumtor are estimated at 147 tons of gold,...

Investments

South Korean Firm Invests $12 Million in Kyrgyz Meat Processing Facility

A major South Korean investment is set to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s agricultural sector with the launch of a $12 million agro-industrial complex. A groundbreaking ceremony held on December 10 in the village of Baytik, Chui region, marked the start of construction on the project, a joint venture between the state-owned Kyrgyz Agroholding JSC and South Korea’s DOD Company. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, the facility will feature the country’s first shock-freezing unit capable of blast-freezing meat to -35°C. This technology helps preserve the natural structure of the meat, minimizes moisture and weight loss, and...

Local Politics

Diplomacy

Uzbekistan, Paraguay Deepen Ties During First-Ever Presidential Visit

Uzbekistan and Paraguay have agreed to enhance political and economic cooperation following high-level talks in Tashkent, according to the presidential press service. The meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña took place at the Kuksaroy residence, with participation from both countries’ official delegations. Mirziyoyev welcomed his counterpart and highlighted the historical significance of the visit, noting it as the first time a president from a Latin American country has traveled to Uzbekistan. The visit is expected to usher in a new era of bilateral relations. The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation across several sectors. Talks focused...

Digitalization

Face Pay, Palm Scans, and AI Cameras: Inside Kazakhstan’s Digital Transformation

Higher Education

Kazakhstan to Train Nuclear Energy Specialists Abroad Through Bolashak Program

Society

Women Who Wear Niqab in Public in Kazakhstan to Risk Fines Under New Law

Kyrgyzstan Elections

Kyrgyzstan Election Delivers Wins for Women and the President’s Allies

Neutrality

Turkmenistan Marks 30 Years of Neutrality

On December 12, 2025, Turkmenistan marks the 30th anniversary of a UN decision granting Turkmenistan the status of a neutral country. Defining what “permanent neutrality” means for Turkmenistan is impossible, as it is a flexible term used to justify a range of policies, both domestic and foreign. This vague special status has not provided many benefits, but has helped Turkmenistan’s leadership isolate the country and create one of the most bizarre and repressive forms of government in the world today. Last Item on the Day’s Agenda On Tuesday, December 12, 1995, the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) 90th plenary meeting...

Energy cooperation

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Strengthen Energy Ties as Kambarata-1 Project Advances

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are deepening their energy partnership as progress continues on the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), one of Central Asia’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibrayev in Tashkent to discuss regional energy cooperation, according to Kyrgyz news agency 24.kg, citing the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy. The talks focused on strengthening strategic ties between the two countries, with particular emphasis on hydropower development. Both sides acknowledged the growing momentum in bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to joint regional energy initiatives. Mirziyoyev underscored the importance of collaborative water and energy projects,...

Human rights

New CIVICUS Report Warns of Mounting Restrictions on Freedoms in Turkmenistan

The global civil society alliance CIVICUS has published an updated report on the worsening state of rights and freedoms in Turkmenistan. The document, compiled by the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR), covers the period from June to November 2025 and outlines several disturbing trends. According to the report, Turkmen authorities continue to target individuals they deem politically “inconvenient.” This includes former political prisoners, who, despite their release, remain under tight surveillance and face ongoing restrictions. The report highlights an intensifying crackdown on freedom of expression. While state-controlled media project an image...

Import

Over Half a Million Tons of Cargo Blocked from Entering Kyrgyzstan in 2025 Over Phytosanitary Violations

In the first 11 months of 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s Department of Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Chemicalization detected 35 cases of non-compliance with phytosanitary requirements at border checkpoints. As a result, 562.5 tons of agricultural cargo were denied entry and returned to the countries of origin. According to the agency, authorities also blocked the import of more than 70,000 plant seedlings, over 11,000 flowers, and 136 cubic meters of lumber. Diplomatic notes regarding the violations were formally sent to China and the Netherlands. Violating shipments were either returned, destroyed, or decontaminated, the agency said. Officials emphasized that phytosanitary controls are a vital...

International Affairs

Media

Nomad TV: Russia’s Latest Media Venture in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has a new TV station. At first glance, it’s the kind of cozy, local news channel satirized in 2004’s Anchorman. The headline item on December 10th was the fact that it had snowed in Bishkek, with the on-screen reporter treading around the city asking residents whether they felt cold. “Not really,” is the general response, given that plummeting temperatures are hardly a new phenomenon in the Kyrgyz capital. “What kind of precautions did you take against the weather?” the reporter asks one gentleman. “Put on a hat and gloves,” comes the droll reply. This piece is followed by an...

Bilateral Trade

Kazakhstan and Iran Discuss Trade on Pezeshkian’s Visit to Astana

Baikonur

Soyuz Crew Lands Safely in Kazakhstan After Space Mission

Urban development

Pakistani Developer Proposes “New Uzbekistan” Complex in Islamabad

Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Protecting Critical Infrastructure: Lessons from the CPC Drone Attack

International Year of Peace and Trust

Ashgabat Hosts Forum Marking International Year of Peace and Trust

An international forum marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality has opened at the Maslahat Köşgi Palace in Ashgabat. The event has drawn high-level delegations and representatives of international organizations. Among those attending are President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, and the presidents of Turkey and Iran, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Masoud Pezeshkian. The forum has also brought together the presidents of the Central Asian states, including President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. Other participants include Prime Minister of Pakistan...

Visa

The Silk Visa Deadlock: The Long Road to a Borderless Central Asia

The year 2025 will likely be remembered as a milestone in Central Asian diplomacy. Regional leaders signed landmark agreements on water and energy cooperation and launched major investment projects. At high-level meetings, Central Asian presidents emphasized a new phase of deeper cooperation and greater unity, highlighting strategic partnership and shared development goals. But at ground level, at border crossings such as Korday between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, or the congested diversion routes replacing the closed Zhibek Zholy checkpoint, the picture is far less seamless. Long queues, heightened scrutiny, and bureaucratic delays remain the norm. While political rhetoric celebrates unity, the reality...

Pope

Vatican, Uzbekistan United in Pursuit of Diplomacy and Peace

On 6 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV accepted the credentials of thirteen new ambassadors, among them Abat Fayzullaev of Uzbekistan, in Vatican City’s splendid, fresco-festooned Sala Clementia in the Apostolic Palace. The accreditation of Uzbekistan’s ambassador marks a further milestone in the development of Tashkent’s relations with the Holy See. Addressing the new diplomats, Pope Leo XIV asserted the primacy the Holy See accords peace and diplomacy, and its conviction that peace can take root whenever the will to embrace it exists. “Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but an active and demanding gift, one that is built...

Goa Fire

Kazakh Dancer Recounts Escape from Deadly Goa Fire

A Kazakh artist's narrow escape from a deadly nightclub fire in the Indian state of Goa has become one of the most widely discussed accounts of the tragedy. The dancer credits her survival to a warning from a colleague, whom she later called her “Indian god.” Footage of Kristina, a professional belly dancer from Kazakhstan, performing on stage at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub circulated rapidly on social media. The video shows her finishing her routine, unaware that a fire had already begun backstage. Moments later, flames erupted in the dressing room she was about to enter. It was...

Life & Culture

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi on How the Alash Movement Is Studied in the West

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi is a poet and academic whose work bridges literature and Kazakh intellectual history. Though born and raised in Europe, her writing and scholarship show a deep affinity with the Kazakh people. Her early poetry earned attention and acclaim, and during her university studies she began researching the Alash Movement, work that culminated in a PhD completed in Ireland. We recently spoke with her in a short but insightful interview. TCA: Your academic research focuses on the Alash Party. How did you come to choose this topic while studying in a Western country? Özgecan: Growing up as a Kazakh...

Renewable energy

Kazakhstan Launches First Domestic Green Hydrogen Production Station

Healthcare

Uzbekistan Performs First Liver Transplant on Seven-Month-Old Infant

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Available Sunday

Science

Almaty Scientists Develop Innovative Method to Extract Valuable Materials from Agricultural Waste

TCA Interviews

Kazakhstan’s Independence Day: Plenty to Cheer, More to Consider

As Kazakhstan prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on December 16th, The Times of Central Asia (TCA) sat down with its special correspondent, Javier M. Piedra, a banker, corporate executive, writer, and seasoned international development expert whose professional ties to Kazakhstan date back to 2000. Piedra lived in Kazakhstan for 16 years. Over that time, he headed KPMG’s M&A (2007 – 2012), set up a credit bureau - the only one in the region at the time - and was a senior advisor for a private equity fund. He also taught corporate finance at Narxoz University. Back in Washington, he...

Electricity

How Tajikistan Is Struggling to Keep the Lights On Amid Winter Power Shortages

As winter grips Tajikistan, severe electricity restrictions have become a daily reality. While officials claim that recent rainfall has helped partially stabilize the country’s largest hydroelectric power plant, residents across multiple regions report worsening shortages, with power barely available for a few hours each day. Government officials say that water inflow into the Nurek Reservoir has increased following recent rains. Kurbon Ahmadzoda, a representative of the state energy company Barki Tojik, reported an increase of 30-40 cubic meters per second, enabling authorities to supply electricity for four to five hours daily. Earlier, the government had attributed stricter electricity limits to...

Cultural Heritage

Kobyz Musical Instrument and Karakalpak Yurt Added to UNESCO Heritage List

At the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi from December 8-13, Uzbekistan’s nominations for the kobyz musical instrument and the Karakalpak yurt were officially approved for inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. As part of the application process, researchers documented the historical and cultural significance of the zhyrau (oral storytellers), whose performances are traditionally accompanied by the kobyz. A documentary film was also produced in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, highlighting the craftsmanship involved in making the kobyz. The nomination emphasized the urgent need...

Aviation

Rare Antonov An-124 Cargo Plane Makes Brief Stop in Tashkent

A rare sight drew the attention of aviation enthusiasts in Tashkent this week as an Antonov An-124-100M Ruslan, one of the world’s largest serially produced cargo aircraft, landed at Islam Karimov International Airport. According to Tashkent Sky News, the aircraft arrived from Urumqi and was registered as UR-82027. Notably, it bore the inscription “Be brave like Kharkiv”, a tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian city under Russia's invasion. The An-124 remains a global leader in transporting oversized and heavy cargo. Capable of carrying between 120 and 150 tons, it features a cargo hold with a volume of approximately 1,050...

Justice

Shooting

Uzbek Student Among Two Killed in Brown University Shooting

Two students were killed, and nine others were injured in a shooting on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, a tragic event that has drawn international attention. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that one of the deceased was an Uzbek national. The shooting occurred overnight on December 13-14 at the Ivy League institution. The death of Muhammad Aziz Umurzoqov was first reported by family members through a fundraising appeal on the GoFundMe platform and later officially confirmed by the press secretary of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry. In the GoFundMe statement, Umurzoqov was remembered as a kind,...

Crypto-mining

Tajikistan Introduces Prison Terms for Crypto Mining Using Stolen Electricity

Freedom of Speech

Information Sovereignty? Central Asia Tightens Control Over Its Information Space

Human rights

Human Rights Groups Urge Turkmenistan to Release Activists Ahead of Neutrality Anniversary

Migrants

Number of Tajik Citizens on Russia’s “Controlled Persons” List Surpasses 150,000

Human rights

Turkmenistan Denies Early Release to Activist Mansur Mingelov Despite Serious Illness

Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has rejected a request to initiate early release procedures for imprisoned human rights activist Mansur Mingelov, despite his confirmed serious medical diagnosis and the legal provisions that would permit such action. According to an official response dated October 20, the Department for the Enforcement of Sentences under the Ministry of Internal Affairs concluded there were “no grounds” for early release. The response followed appeals by Mingelov’s family to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, citing his deteriorating health and referencing multiple legal articles supporting their request. Mingelov, who has been imprisoned...

Saltanat Law

Saltanat Law One Year On: Domestic Violence Crackdown, Hidden Barriers Remain

In the spring of 2024, the world's attention turned to Astana as the trial of former minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev unfolded. Accused of the brutal murder of his common-law wife, Saltanat Nukenova, the proceedings were broadcast live, marking the region’s first live-streamed murder trial, which was widely followed like a reality show. The livestream drew hundreds of thousands across Kazakhstan, with daily clips dissected on TikTok and Telegram channels, a public fixation that turned the courtroom into a national arena Under intense public pressure, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a landmark legislative reform popularly dubbed “Saltanat's Law.” These amendments enhanced protections for...

Tajik-Afghan Border

Taliban Arrests Suspects After Deadly Attacks on Chinese Citizens Near Tajik-Afghan Border

The Taliban has announced the arrest of two suspects following two deadly attacks on Chinese workers in Tajikistan’s border regions, which left five dead and several others injured. Afghan media, citing Taliban officials, reported that two individuals were detained in connection with the killings of Chinese nationals in Tajikistan. According to Ehsanullah Kamgar, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s security department in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, the arrests took place in the Maymay district. The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed. Tajikistan’s security services believe that the militants crossed the border from this area before launching an assault in the...

Trump Administration

Turkmenistan Included as Trump Tightens U.S. Immigration Ban After D.C. Shooting

President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping crackdown on immigration following a deadly shooting near the White House this week, placing new scrutiny on immigrants from certain countries – including Turkmenistan. Trump vowed to “permanently pause migration” from what he called “Third World” countries after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C., one of them fatally. In response, U.S. immigration authorities are re-examining green cards and visa approvals for people from 19 countries deemed “countries of concern,” a list that features Turkmenistan alongside nations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. New Immigration Review Follows D.C. Attack The...

Environment

Tajikistan Struggles to Fund Cleanup of Soviet-Era Uranium Waste

Tajikistan continues to grapple with the extensive environmental legacy of the Soviet-era uranium industry. Tens of millions of tons of radioactive waste still pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Addressing this legacy will require hundreds of millions of dollars and sustained international support. Uranium mining in Tajikistan began in the 1940s in areas including Taboshar, Adrasman, and nearby settlements. After mining operations were shut down, the country was left with abandoned mines, underground tunnels, and extensive tailings ponds containing more than 55 million tons of radioactive waste across an area exceeding 170 hectares. In 2023, partial rehabilitation...

News Round-Up

Hydropower, Social Media and Climate Change: Some News From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Electric Vehicles

China’s Expanding Electric Bus Footprint in Central Asia

Water resources

Central Asian Countries Agree on 2026 Water Allocations from Amu Darya and Syr Darya

Environment

Kyrgyzstan Launches Environmental Strategy for Lake Issyk-Kul

Wildlife

Kyrgyzstan Adopts Online Tools to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade

Customs and border officers in Kyrgyzstan haven’t traditionally focused on the smuggling of animals and plants, even though conservationists say the country is a transit point in Central Asia’s illegal wildlife trade. Backed by international expertise, Kyrgyzstan’s government is working to change that in a campaign that supporters hope will foster more regional collaboration. “We recognize that this work must be done step by step; we cannot build everything at once,” said Bakytbek Tokubek uulu, Central Asia program manager of TRAFFIC, a Britain-based conservation group. Some species considered to be vulnerable to illegal commerce in Central Asia include Saker falcons,...

Irrigation

South Kazakhstan Braces for Irrigation Water Shortages in 2026

On December 4–5, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, accompanied by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov, visited the southern regions of Turkistan, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl. The delegation met with local farmers to address the growing risks posed by declining transboundary water inflows and to discuss measures to ensure efficient water use during the 2026 irrigation season. Agriculture in these arid regions depends heavily on water from the Syr Darya River, which originates in Kyrgyzstan. According to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector consumed 11.01 billion cubic meters...

Climate Change

Journal Retracts Climate Study After Discovering Errors in Uzbekistan’s Economic Data

The scientific journal Nature has retracted a high-profile article on the economic impacts of climate change after significant inaccuracies were discovered in economic data related to Uzbekistan. The study, originally published online on April 17, 2024, examined how rising global temperatures could affect economic output by mid-century. According to the retraction notice, the dataset contained serious errors in Uzbekistan’s economic indicators from 1995 to 1999, which substantially altered the study’s findings. The authors acknowledged that the results were highly sensitive to the inclusion of Uzbekistan. Upon review, they found the country’s reported economic figures during that period were inaccurate. They...

Water Crisis

Russia Revives Plan to Redirect Siberian Rivers as Central Asia Faces Worsening Water Crisis

The long-contested idea of diverting Siberian rivers to Central Asia has re-emerged after the Russian Academy of Sciences announced on November 14 that it is studying a new version of the project. The updated proposal revives elements of a Soviet-era plan from the 1970s and 1980s that aimed to channel water from the Ob River basin to arid regions of Central Asia. This time, however, the focus is on a closed pipeline system, rather than open canals, to transport large volumes of water to countries facing acute shortages, particularly Uzbekistan, according to Fergana News. Discussions within the Russian Academy had...