The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Uzbekistan has lodged a diplomatic protest with Iran over social media posts describing Samarkand's architecture as part of Persian civilization. The posts targeted United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On October 23, Uzbekistan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromjon Aloyev met with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Ali Eskandari, who was handed...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

SCO Economic Ambitions Outpace Agreement

Accelerating Arrests, Command Cleanouts, and Retreating Regional Rights

00:00 / 00:00

Dastan
Short Stories from the Region

Dastan: Turkmenistan Takes to the Desert in Rally Cars

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Opinions

Opinion: I Spent 15 Years in Government. Here Is What the State Can Learn Next

Zhandos Sabit

Opinion: Central Asia Is More Than Minerals

Eric Rudenshiold & S. Frederick Starr

Opinion: Weaponizing Faith – The Cold War Roots of Central Asia’s Security Dilemma

Zabikhulla Saipov

From Lenin to Kenesary: What Kazakhstan’s Renamed Streets Say About Power

Issatay Minuarov

Opinion: Why Central Asia Cannot Afford to Abandon the Iranian Route

Timur Serikuly

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Show What Diplomacy Can Deliver as Vast Rail Project with China Advances

Javier M. Piedra

Uzbekistan’s Heritage Did Not Stop With the Silk Road

Mathieu Lemoine

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Demining Expertise Could Provide Boost to Afghanistan

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Uzbekistan Census – When the Village Reappears in the City

Zamirbek Minbaev

Opinion: The Specter Is Back – A Kazakh Warning to America

Askar Alimzhanov

Opinion: The Amu Darya Stress Test – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Politics of Agricultural Adaptation

Zamirbek Minbaev

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s New Income Growth Plan – Administrative Measures Against Market Realities

Igor Klevtsov

Business & Economy

Payments

Apple Pay and Google Pay Begin Rollout in Uzbekistan

Apple Pay and Google Pay began rolling out in Uzbekistan on October 27, allowing customers of local banks to add eligible Visa and Mastercard cards to their digital wallets to make contactless payments. The launch marks another step in Uzbekistan's efforts to integrate its banking system with international payment services, following changes to the country's data protection laws and months of negotiations with Apple and Google. Which Banks and Cards Are Supported? According to Spot, Apple Wallet initially supports cards from eight banks and financial institutions: Uzum Bank, Orient Finans Bank, the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Kapitalbank, Hamkorbank, Ipak Yuli...

Private Equity

Oman Investment Authority Plans $500 Million Fund for Central Asia and Caucasus

Interest Rates

National Bank of Kazakhstan Cuts Base Rate to 15.75%

Gas Exports

At Ashgabat Conference, Turkmenistan Seeks Wider Gas Export Markets

Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan Expands Middle Corridor Fleet as Caspian Sea Levels Fall

Electric Vehicles

Kyrgyzstan’s BARS Electric Vehicle Plant Opening Delayed

Kyrgyzstan’s BARS electric vehicle assembly plant has missed its planned September opening, with production now expected to begin in late 2026 or spring 2027. In August, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce reported that construction was 75% complete and the plant would begin production by the end of September. However, speaking to residents of Tash-Kumyr and Kara-Kul on October 23, President Sadyr Japarov said the factory might not open until March or April 2027. The plant, covering a 15-hectare site, is designed to produce up to 10,000 vehicles annually, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and special-purpose vehicles. Production will initially...

Labor Migration

New Tajikistan Migration Law Aims to Improve Overseas Recruitment

Tajikistan has adopted a new migration law that introduces a system for rating foreign employers and provides for assistance to citizens returning from work abroad. The legislation also seeks to make it easier for Tajik citizens to find jobs overseas through official recruitment channels. President Emomali Rahmon signed the law on October 21, and the full text was published on October 23 by the parliamentary newspaper Sadoi Mardum. It replaces legislation dating back to 1999. According to the World Bank, approximately one-quarter of Tajikistan's labor force works outside the country. Between 2022 and 2025, migrant remittances averaged nearly half of...

Huang Backs Kazakhstan’s AI Plans as NVIDIA Expands Partnerships

NVIDIA is expanding its partnerships in Kazakhstan as the country draws on its energy resources, engineering talent, and industrial base to develop AI computing facilities and deploy advanced technology in mining, manufacturing, robotics, and other industries. Kazakhtelecom has already installed NVIDIA processors, while much larger projects involving Firebird and Freedom Holding are under development. On October 23, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang made his first visit to Kazakhstan, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev. Huang met President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and discussed computing investment, robotics, and technology development with government and business leaders. “I commend you for...

Logistics

Kazakhstan and China Plan Cross-Border Driverless Truck Trials

Driverless trucks could eventually carry freight between Kazakhstan and China, with the two countries planning to test them on international routes. The Kazakhstan Road Research Institute (KazdorNII) and Chinese technology company China TransInfo Group signed an agreement in Astana on October 16 to develop the trials and establish a joint center for autonomous transport. The partners plan to establish a testing ground and introduce systems that can weigh trucks while they are moving. They are also considering a joint center to coordinate transport operations and share data. KazdorNII will work to adapt the Chinese company's technologies to Kazakhstan's roads and technical requirements....

Local Politics

Republic Day

Kazakhstan Marks Republic Day as World Leaders Send Congratulations

Kazakhstan marked Republic Day on October 25 with a flag-raising ceremony in Astana and congratulations from its international partners. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio used the occasion to describe bilateral relations as the “strongest” in their history. “Our countries are working together to strengthen regional security, expand economic cooperation, and create new commercial opportunities which will pair Kazakh ambition with American innovation to benefit both of our nations,” Rubio said in his October 24 statement. He praised Kazakhstan’s diplomatic role and support for President Donald Trump’s “peace initiatives,” and said the U.S. looks forward to further cooperation in the...

Military Training

Kazakhstan Military Training Overhauled with New Drone Forces Planned

Language Politics

Rubio’s Remarks Reignite Debate on Russian Language in Uzbekistan

Delivery Couriers

Uzbekistan Delivery Drivers Under Police Scrutiny: Why Tashkent Lacks Space for Mopeds

political parties

Tokayev Dissolves Kazakhstan Local Councils Ruling Party Merger

Public Service

Opinion: I Spent 15 Years in Government. Here Is What the State Can Learn Next

Zhandos Sabit spent more than 15 years in Kazakhstan’s public service, including the Ministry of National Economy, a regional akimat, and the Prosecutor General’s Office. He now works in the private sector. In March 2014, I went to a meeting in Astana on the development of the machine-building industry. It was held at the then Ministry of Industry and New Technologies. Officials from central and local bodies came, along with the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and several business owners. I was there as a representative of a state body. When the entrepreneurs began to talk about problems in the industry...

Children’s Health

International Network Launched to Support Childhood Cancer Care in Uzbekistan

An international network to support children with serious and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, was announced in Samarkand on October 21. The new initiative will bring together first ladies and spouses of heads of state. The network's establishment was announced by Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, executive vice president of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the United States and director of St. Jude Global, which works to improve childhood cancer care worldwide. Uzbekistan's First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva was named chair for a two-year term. Participants in the initiative intend to share expertise and help expand children's access to diagnosis, treatment, and quality medical...

LRT

Almaty Builds New Tram Line as Residents Question Costs and Delays

Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city with a population of more than two million, is laying tram tracks again, more than a decade after shutting down its old network. The authorities aim to open the first 18.3-kilometer light rail transit (LRT) line in December 2027. The city has allocated 61.4 billion tenge (approximately $136 million) for construction in 2026, but the authorities have yet to disclose the project's total cost. As construction closes streets and disrupts traffic, some residents are questioning why the city dismantled its old tram system only to build a new one. The Project The new line will run...

Public Transport

Bishkek Metro Plans Resurface Despite High Costs and Low Demand

Bishkek is once again talking about building a metro, despite an assessment by the Kyrgyz capital's own planners that it would attract too few passengers and cost roughly ten times as much as a tram network. Officials have now raised it with French and European development partners. Plans for the new transport systems were discussed on October 9 by Bishkek First Deputy Mayor Kubanychbek Imanaliev, French Ambassador Nicolas Faye, and representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The French side expressed its willingness to help finance a feasibility study. Alexander Baranov, one of the developers of the city's...

International Affairs

Migration

Uzbek Labor Migration to Russia Falls 13.2% in First Half of 2026

Uzbek citizens accounted for more work-related arrivals in Russia than any other nationality in the first half of 2026, despite a 13.2% decline compared with a year earlier. According to data published by TASS on October 26, Uzbek citizens listed employment as the purpose of entry on 1,178,609 occasions. Tajikistan ranked second with 494,518 entries, followed by Kyrgyzstan with 289,061, Kazakhstan and China. The statistics count border entries rather than individual people: a single worker may have crossed the Russian border several times. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan reported approximately 1.358 million such trips in the first half of 2025,...

CSTO

CSTO in No Hurry to Help Tajikistan

Diplomatic Protest

Iranian Embassy Posts on Samarkand’s Persian Heritage Spark Uzbek Protest

Russia's War in Ukraine

Ukraine Says More Than 20,400 Central Asians Signed Russian Army Contracts

Rare Earth Metals

Kazakhstan Opens $15 Million Rare Metals Research Center with South Korea

С5+1

C5+1 Statement Omits Afghanistan, Prioritizes Trans-Caspian Trade

The United States and the five Central Asian republics have issued a joint statement on economic and security cooperation that makes no mention of Afghanistan, once a central concern of U.S. regional policy. The document followed the October 19 C5+1 ministerial meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Afghanistan's absence from the statement does not mean it has disappeared from negotiations or Washington's strategic interests. Nevertheless, a comparison with earlier C5+1 documents reveals a shift in the published agenda. Where Washington once placed considerable importance on connecting Central Asia with South Asia through Afghanistan, the latest statement focuses on trade across the Caspian...

Bilateral Relations

A First for Kyrgyzstan – Japarov’s Historic Visit to Armenia

For the first time, a Kyrgyz head of state has made an official visit to Armenia. President Sadyr Japarov arrived in Yerevan on October 15 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and called the three-day trip “historic.” Talks remained firmly bilateral and produced ten signed agreements, a joint commitment to protect Lake Issyk-Kul and Lake Sevan (Armenia), and a stated interest in expanding transit links. Nothing in Japarov’s statement framed cooperation as directed against any third country. He presented it in terms of trade, cooperation, and friendly relations, with dialogue and peace underpinning regional stability. Japarov opened his...

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

SCO Economic Ambitions Outpace Agreement

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) renewed calls for a development bank at its October 20 heads of government meeting in Dushanbe, but the institution remains under negotiation more than a year after members reached political agreement on its creation. Participants adopted a joint communiqué and decisions on economic cooperation, including joint manufacturing and transportation. Financing those ambitions remains a central challenge. Members backed the bank at their September 2025 summit in Tianjin. A year later, the Bishkek summit ended without a founding agreement or capital commitments, and no launch date was set. The SCO brings together ten countries whose economic...

Regional Security

The Taliban’s Road Reaches China, but the Border is Closed

After several years of slow progress, the road connecting Afghanistan to China is finally ready. On October 4, Taliban officials inaugurated the 121-kilometer road through Afghanistan’s remote and arid northeastern Wakhan Corridor. China, however, has not been too keen on the project, and, according to one report, when the Taliban reached the Chinese border, the way was barred, with Chinese border guards ordering the Taliban to leave the area. The Hard Road The Wakhan Corridor was part of ancient trade routes through Asia, but was clearly only used by hardy merchants. The area is one of the most isolated regions...

Life & Culture

Film and Literature

Interview: Alina Mustafina on Her New Book and Freedom in Filmmaking

Kazakh filmmaker and writer Alina Mustafina moved from Almaty to Dubai before relocating to Barcelona with her husband. There, she studied film directing after working as a journalist, a career change she recounts in her second book, Between Heaven and Cinema: When a Dream Changes the Route. Her debut feature documentary, Gingerbread for Her Dad, premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2024 and competed at the Torino Film Festival later that year. Those screenings give her firsthand experience of taking a film made in Kazakhstan to international audiences. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Mustafina about her...

Archaeology

Prehistoric Rock Paintings Found in Uzbekistan’s Nurota Mountains

Cycling

Kazakh Cyclists Sweep UCI Asia Tour Podium for First Time

NVIDIA

NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang Receives Honorary Judo Black Belt in Astana

Kazakh Cinema

Kazakh Director Daulet Zhumabayev on New Film Kesu and Pursuing a Career in Hollywood

Viral Music

Brazilian Funk’s Kazakh Side Hustle

Orpheus took music somewhere it had no business going. Luís Guilherme Gonçalves, known as DJ Guilherme, created a beat that has managed something less fatal but almost as improbable. A Brazilian funk track born in São Paulo has found an unlikely second home in Kazakhstan, where local creators have embraced it as part of their digital culture. BEAT UnderCover – Taqap Taqap (Slowed Reverb), produced by DJ Guilherme and remixed by Rand0m, was released through Clima Funk in June 2025. It grew out of Só Socadinha, a baile funk single first released in January 2019. The scale of its reception...

Saiga

Prince William Praises Kazakhstan’s Saiga Recovery

Britain’s Prince William has highlighted Kazakhstan’s success in restoring its saiga antelope population, crediting government support for the animal’s recovery during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. Asked about the distinctive antelope and the Altyn Dala conservation initiative, William said the species had recovered from critically endangered status to large numbers. Kazakhstan’s government had recognized the animal’s importance to the country and to conservation, he said: “They threw their full weight behind it.” Video: The Graham Norton Show / So Television / BBC The exchange came during an Earthshot Prize edition of the BBC chat show broadcast on October...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, 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 of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team looks at Kyrgyzstan carrying out a new round of arrests in the run-up to the country's upcoming presidential elections, including...

Cold War History

Kazakh Academic Kanysh Satpayev in Britain: A View from 1947

After the end of World War II, relations between the Soviet Union and Western countries began to deteriorate rapidly. Although Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union had been allies, the period known as the Cold War began. Winston Churchill's famous speech in Fulton, Missouri, on March 5, 1946, is often regarded as one of its defining early moments. Nevertheless, just over a year after the speech, a large official Soviet delegation visited Britain in March 1947. The delegation represented the Supreme Soviet, the Soviet Union's legislature, and arrived in London at the invitation of both houses of...

Justice

Oil Arbitration

Kashagan Arbitration: Tribunal Rejects $12 Billion in Kazakhstan’s Claims

An international arbitration tribunal has rejected approximately $12 billion in claims brought by Kazakhstan against investors in the Kashagan oil field, Bloomberg reported on October 22. Citing sources familiar with the confidential proceedings, the report said the claims concerned field development costs incurred between 2011 and 2015 and were filed after the applicable deadline. Claims concerning another $8 billion in disputed costs have been allowed to proceed. Kazakhstan had sought to exclude approximately $20 billion from the costs investors are entitled to recover through oil production. The arbitrators did not examine whether the expenses covered by the rejected claims were...

Harassment Laws

Sexual Harassment in Kazakhstan: Why Are Such Cases Difficult to Track?

Drug Smuggling

Russian Rapper Navai Detained at Kazakhstan Border on Suspicion of Drug Smuggling

Political Trials

Kyrgyzstan Court Jails Kadyr Atambayev and Temirlan Sultanbekov

Asset Recovery

Kazakhstan Ratifies European Legal Assistance Convention as Asset Recovery Push Expands

Sexual Violence

Kazakh Women Share Stories of Sexual Violence Under #IAmJaneDoe Hashtag

Women in Kazakhstan have joined the international #IAmJaneDoe social media campaign, sharing accounts of sexual violence they experienced as children and teenagers. The posts include allegations of abuse by relatives, acquaintances, and strangers. Many participants say they remained silent because they feared being judged and did not trust law enforcement authorities. Denis Dzhivaga, director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, told The Times of Central Asia why speaking out publicly sometimes becomes the only way for survivors to draw attention to their experiences, despite tougher legislation. How #IAmJaneDoe Began The international #IAmJaneDoe campaign emerged...

Child Protection Laws

Uzbekistan Introduces Life Imprisonment for Rape of Children Under 14

Uzbekistan has introduced penalties of 15 to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment for rape and certain other serious sexual offenses against children under 14. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law eliminating the statute of limitations for prosecuting these crimes. The amendments affect five codes and six laws and expand legal protections for children against physical and psychological violence, including abuse by relatives and educational staff. For intentional crimes resulting in a child's death, suspended sentences and early release on parole will be prohibited. “Violence against a young child can never be tolerated, and punishment must be inevitable...

Victim Compensation

Most Compensation for Uzbekistan’s Dok-1 Max Victims Remains Unpaid

Families affected by Uzbekistan's Dok-1 Max poisoning scandal are still owed most of the 78 billion soums awarded in compensation, more than two years after the court verdict, according to the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement. The case dates back to late 2022, when children across Uzbekistan fell ill after taking contaminated cold medicines, including Dok-1 Max, manufactured by the Indian pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech. Laboratory tests confirmed that samples of Dok-1 Max and another syrup, Ambronol, contained dangerous levels of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol, toxic substances that can cause severe kidney damage and death. By February 2024, the medicines...

Espionage

German Spy Scandal Puts Central Asian and Caucasus Espionage Cases in Focus

The arrest of former German intelligence chief August Hanning has drawn attention to Azerbaijan. German journalists reported that he allegedly had contacts with Azerbaijan's intelligence service. Baku rejected the allegations, while German prosecutors have not confirmed any Azerbaijani involvement. In recent years, citizens of Central Asia and the South Caucasus have repeatedly been implicated in espionage and treason cases. The accused and suspects include former intelligence chiefs, military personnel, officials, scientists, and foreign nationals. Some have received lengthy prison sentences, while others remain under investigation. In many cases, information about alleged foreign intelligence connections is limited to media reports. German...

Environment

National Parks

Kyrgyzstan Plans to Expand Protected Natural Areas

Kyrgyzstan plans to expand its protected natural areas under a draft strategy for 2026–2035. The expansion would bring additional high-altitude glaciers, rocky mountain areas, and state forest lands under protection. The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision released the document for public consultation on October 26. An accompanying explanatory note proposes increasing protected land from 11.8% of the country’s territory to 20% by 2030 and 30% by 2035. However, another section of the strategy sets 2030 as the deadline for reaching 30%, leaving the intended timetable unclear. Kyrgyzstan’s protected natural areas currently cover approximately 2.36 million hectares. The...

Snow Leopard Conservation

Kyrgyzstan Opens Snow Leopard Research and Rehabilitation Center

Air Pollution

Air Pollution in Central Asia: Why Winter Smog Persists in Almaty, Bishkek, and Tashkent

Water Security

Central Asia Agrees New Water Limits, but National Quotas Remain Unclear

Nuclear Safety

Kazakhstan Nuclear Emergency Center Opens With U.S. Support

Cotton Harvest

Uzbekistan Cotton Harvest Reaches 4.63 Million Tons as Water Losses Persist

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture says the country had harvested 4.63 million metric tons of raw cotton as of October 22, exceeding its target by 3%. About 76% of the cotton harvested so far was harvested mechanically, reflecting the industry's shift away from manual labor. A new study, however, highlights another challenge: extensive water losses in the country's irrigation system. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, nearly 3,000 harvesting machines collected 3.52 million metric tons of cotton. Mechanized harvesting accounted for 98.5% of the crop in the Jizzakh region, 94.2% in the Syrdarya region, and 81.2% in the Tashkent region. In...

Nature protection

New $8 Million Central Asia Conservation Program to Protect Rare Wildlife

Around 100 grants will be made available to local conservation groups under a new five-year program to protect threatened wildlife in the Pamir and Tien Shan mountains. The initiative will cover mountain ecosystems across five Central Asian countries, running from 2026 to 2031. The program has a budget of up to $8 million, with the European Union providing the majority of funding through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). The British conservation organization Fauna & Flora will coordinate activities in the region, overseeing grants, providing technical assistance, and helping local organizations develop and manage conservation projects. The Pamir and Tien...

Water Shortages

Uzbekistan Rejects Claims That the Amu Darya Is Drying Up

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Water Resources has rejected claims circulating on social media that the Amu Darya River is drying up. The ministry said water continues to flow through the river, although discharge at some locations is lower than a year ago. On October 9, the water level near Termez, where the Amu Darya enters Uzbekistan, was 27 centimeters higher than it had been at the same time in 2025. Farther downstream, however, discharge at the Kerki monitoring station was approximately 11% lower than a year earlier. These figures provide little indication of the river’s longer-term condition. The ministry noted that...

Energy

Uzbekistan Solar Panel Program Targets 3,100 Sites in $20 Million Project

A $20 million solar-panel program in Uzbekistan has so far provided 1,580 homes and 334 public institutions with free electricity-generating systems. A further 1,197 households are expected to receive the equipment by May 2027. The program, known as Yorqin Xonadon (“Bright Home”), is being implemented by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy, Saudi energy company Acwa, and China Southern Power Grid International. According to information provided to The Times of Central Asia by Acwa, the initiative was launched in April 2023. About 65% of the new installations are intended for Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in northwestern Uzbekistan that has been severely affected...

CSTO in No Hurry to Help Tajikistan

Latest

Features

Features

Accelerating Arrests, Command Cleanouts, and Retreating Regional Rights

Latest

Dastan: Turkmenistan Takes to the Desert in Rally Cars

Accelerating Arrests, Command Cleanouts, and Retreating Regional Rights

Dastan: Turkmenistan Takes to the Desert in Rally Cars

Opinions

Opinions

Zhandos Sabit

Eric Rudenshiold & S. Frederick Starr

Zabikhulla Saipov

Issatay Minuarov

Timur Serikuly

Javier M. Piedra

Mathieu Lemoine

Timur Serikuly

Zamirbek Minbaev

Askar Alimzhanov

Zamirbek Minbaev

Igor Klevtsov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Apple Pay and Google Pay Begin Rollout in Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan’s BARS Electric Vehicle Plant Opening Delayed

New Tajikistan Migration Law Aims to Improve Overseas Recruitment

Huang Backs Kazakhstan’s AI Plans as NVIDIA Expands Partnerships

Kazakhstan and China Plan Cross-Border Driverless Truck Trials

Local Politics

Local Politics

Kazakhstan Marks Republic Day as World Leaders Send Congratulations

Opinion: I Spent 15 Years in Government. Here Is What the State Can Learn Next

International Network Launched to Support Childhood Cancer Care in Uzbekistan

Almaty Builds New Tram Line as Residents Question Costs and Delays

Bishkek Metro Plans Resurface Despite High Costs and Low Demand

International Affairs

International Affairs

Uzbek Labor Migration to Russia Falls 13.2% in First Half of 2026

C5+1 Statement Omits Afghanistan, Prioritizes Trans-Caspian Trade

A First for Kyrgyzstan – Japarov’s Historic Visit to Armenia

SCO Economic Ambitions Outpace Agreement

The Taliban’s Road Reaches China, but the Border is Closed

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Interview: Alina Mustafina on Her New Book and Freedom in Filmmaking

Brazilian Funk’s Kazakh Side Hustle

Prince William Praises Kazakhstan’s Saiga Recovery

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

Kazakh Academic Kanysh Satpayev in Britain: A View from 1947

Justice

Justice

Kashagan Arbitration: Tribunal Rejects $12 Billion in Kazakhstan’s Claims