The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Kazakhstan has formally asked Russia to restore oil deliveries to Germany through the Druzhba pipeline after a six-month suspension. Russia suspended transit on May 1, citing unspecified technical constraints. Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said on November 4 that he had delivered the request personally. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chancellor Friedrich...

CSTO

CSTO Without Armenia: What Keeps Yerevan From Leaving and What the Summit Means for Central Asia

COP31

Uzbekistan Proposes Regional Disaster Warning System at COP31

Coal Transit

Russian Rail Curbs Put Up to $470 Million in Kazakh Coal Exports at Risk

Cove Kaz

U.S. Financing Uncertainty Emerges for Kazakhstan Tungsten Project

Two U.S. government lenders are not currently pursuing up to $1.6 billion in financing for a major tungsten project in Kazakhstan, raising questions about construction funding for a venture intended to supply critical minerals to American industry and defense. The U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation...

Kyrgyz Art

Bishkek’s Vanishing Spaces Through the Eyes of Artist Sonata Raiymkulova

On Abdymomunov Street in Bishkek, a café serves Qurt Mocha, a drink based on coffee, hot chocolate, and qurt, the local extra-salty Kyrgyz cheese. It’s easy to get addicted to it, and the presentation is aesthetic enough to make a captivating Instagram story. Perhaps it’s still a long way before...

CSTO

Russia Tries to Keep the CSTO Relevant in Central Asia

Russia used the November 11 CSTO summit in Moscow to promote closer military cooperation with allies increasingly looking elsewhere for partners. Plans to develop the collective aviation force and supply equipment for Tajikistan's Afghan border would keep their militaries working with Russia, but Armenia's estrangement shows how far confidence in...

Critical Minerals

Kazakhstan Highlights Mining and Processing Strengths at Washington B20 Summit

New NATO Base Rumours, Organised OTS Opposition, and the Future of Kazakh-Turkish Ties

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Dastan
Short Stories from the Region

Dastan: Restoring an Ancient Buddha Head in Turkmenistan

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Opinions

Opinion: A Deeper Understanding of Transshipment

Daniel A. Witt

Opinion: Why Agriculture Cannot Afford to Overlook Women Farmers

Viorel Gutu

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

Business & Economy

Credit Ratings

Karakalpakstan Credit Rating: Fitch Assigns BB- With Stable Outlook

Fitch Ratings has assigned Uzbekistan’s Republic of Karakalpakstan a long-term credit rating of BB- with a stable outlook. In its first assessment of the republic, Fitch cited Karakalpakstan’s reliance on central government transfers and its limited power to raise revenue or borrow. The November 11 rating is below investment grade and applies to borrowing in both foreign and local currencies. The agency also assigned the republic a short-term rating of B. Within Uzbekistan, the Jizzakh and Fergana regions both have BB- ratings with stable outlooks. Outside the country, Yerevan in Armenia and Konya Metropolitan Municipality in Türkiye share the same...

Energy Security

What Berlin Can Offer to Finance Kazakhstan’s Oil Routes

Science Funding

Kazakhstan Science Funding Audit Finds 103 of 141 Projects Missed Sales Targets

Cove Kaz

U.S. Financing Uncertainty Emerges for Kazakhstan Tungsten Project

Bilateral Trade

Japan Sets Sights on Deeper Economic Ties with Kyrgyzstan

Precious Metals

Solidcore Tajikistan Agreement Targets Precious Metals Exploration

Kazakhstan-based gold producer Solidcore Resources has signed an agreement with Tajikistan’s Main Department of Geology to explore for precious metals and polymetallic ores in the country. The two sides signed the memorandum on November 7 following talks between the presidents of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan in Astana. Solidcore CEO Vitaly Nesis said the company’s newly formed subsidiary, Solidcore Tajikistan, will work with local authorities and partners to identify potential projects. Once approved, the parties will agree separately on a project's implementation and financing. Tajikistan has seen rapid growth in gold mining, with production reaching 14.5 metric tons in 2024, more than...

Livestock Farming

ADB Approves $60 Million Loan for Livestock Farming in Uzbekistan

The Asian Development Bank has approved a $60 million concessional loan to help livestock farmers in Uzbekistan raise productivity and cope with drought and water shortages. The bank expects its Resilient Livestock Development Project to benefit about 29,000 smallholder farmers in the Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Navoi, and Samarkand regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. International financing totals $68 million, including a $5 million grant from the Green Climate Fund under the Glaciers to Farms Regional Program and a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific. Smallholders are particularly vulnerable to drought and extreme...

Coal Transit

Russian Rail Curbs Put Up to $470 Million in Kazakh Coal Exports at Risk

Transit shipments of Kazakh coal through Russia toward European markets fell by 97% in two months, from 1 million metric tons in August to 30,000 in October 2026, according to figures cited by economist Yernar Serik. Russian Railways approved no requests to ship Kazakh coal to Baltic ports for October or November, despite an agreement that gives qualifying shipments priority. Kazakh economist Yernar Serik estimates that up to 3.5 million metric tons of coal exports, worth $400 million to $470 million, could be at risk by year-end. The problems began in August, when shipments of Kazakh coal through Russia’s Black...

Critical Minerals

Kazakhstan Highlights Mining and Processing Strengths at Washington B20 Summit

Kazakhstan already produces materials central to U.S. critical minerals supply chains, from uranium used by American nuclear power plants to titanium supplied to major aerospace manufacturers, Kanat Sharlapayev told the B20 USA Summit in Washington on November 10. “We’re not just resource-rich; we’re a processing country,” said Sharlapayev, chairman of the presidium of Kazakhstan’s Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. Sharlapayev identified four advantages for attracting U.S. investment: substantial mineral resources, investor protections, established transport infrastructure, and a skilled domestic workforce. The discussion, moderated by Jennifer Miel, vice president for the Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye at the U.S. Chamber...

Local Politics

Corruption

Kazakhstan Detains Heads of Samruk-Kazyna and National Railways in Corruption Probe

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) has confirmed the detention of the heads of the state-owned Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund and the national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ). Nurlan Zhakupov and Yelzhas Otynshiyev are suspected of involvement in a corruption-related offense. Both organizations play a central role in Kazakhstan's economy: the fund manages some of the country's largest state-owned assets, while KTZ operates its railway network, including freight transit between China and Europe. According to the KNB, which announced the detentions on November 12, the two executives were taken into custody the previous day during an operation conducted by the...

Homelessness

Bishkek Homeless Shelters Prepare for Winter Amid Uncertainty Over Numbers

Energy Drinks

Japarov Orders Cabinet to Consider Kyrgyzstan Energy Drink Ban

Reshuffle

Tokayev Names Zhanassova Deputy Prime Minister in Transport Shake-Up

State of the Nation

Tokayev Unveils $14 Billion Construction Plan in Kazakhstan State of the Nation Address

Sadyr Japarov

Kyrgyzstan Presidential Election: Sadyr Japarov Seeks Second Term

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has applied to run for a second term in the January 27, 2027, presidential election. Since he came to power in October 2020, Kyrgyzstan has shifted to a presidential system of government, recorded strong economic growth, and seen several prominent politicians and journalists face criminal prosecution. Less than 24 hours after Japarov filed on November 10, the electronic system had recorded 60,000 signatures in his support, the maximum a candidate can submit. Kyrgyzstan’s Central Commission on Elections and Referenda (CEC) must still verify the signatures. By November 11, the commission listed nine applicants, all self-nominated. Alongside...

Media Ownership

Uzbekistan Media: 67% Privately Owned as Survey Highlights Press Freedom Concerns

Privately owned outlets now account for 67% of Uzbekistan’s media, presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov said at the third Uzbekistan-Russia Media Forum in Tashkent on November 9. He said internet coverage had reached 94% and discussed the development of digital content and the launch of what he described as Central Asia’s first national media bank, an online collection of photographs and videos. The forum was organized by the Uzbekistan National News Agency and Russia’s TASS news agency. Asadov identified journalist training, joint fact-checking, and the use of AI as areas for cooperation between the two countries. "Information attacks and fake...

Public Transport

Opinion: Overcrowding on Almaty Buses – A Man-Made Transit Crisis

The Kazakh authorities' grand plans to turn Almaty and its picturesque surroundings into Central Asia's next tourist mecca have run headlong into a public transportation crisis this fall. Almaty residents have been flooding social media with photos and videos of overcrowded buses and trolleybuses, saying they have not seen anything like this since the 1990s. But a closer look at the problem suggests that the current chaos is largely man-made. Almaty is a university city, so residents have long been accustomed to several months of crowded conditions each year. Public spaces, inexpensive cafés, and public transportation all become noticeably busier....

Rogun Hydropower Plant

Rogun Hydropower Plant Accident Sparks Conflicting Injury Reports

A water tank ruptured in a construction tunnel at Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant on October 21, sending water rushing toward workers below. While the authorities maintain no one was injured, witnesses have reported that more than five workers were hurt. The accident occurred inside the plant’s tunnel system, Asia-Plus reported, citing Tajikistan’s industrial safety regulator. An upper tank used to collect water ruptured, damaging a second drainage tank below it. Water from both tanks then flowed into the lower section of the tunnel, where workers from the Chinese subcontracting company Sinohydro were carrying out construction work. The regulator said none...

International Affairs

CSTO

CSTO Without Armenia: What Keeps Yerevan From Leaving and What the Summit Means for Central Asia

Armenia has effectively stopped participating in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) but has not formally withdrawn from the military alliance. At the November 11, 2026, summit in Moscow, Armenia lost its voting rights because of unpaid membership dues, while the CSTO's five other members — Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus — agreed to develop collective aviation forces and mobile air defense units. Kazakh political analyst Maksim Kaznacheyev explained to The Times of Central Asia why Armenia's leadership is reluctant to sever ties with the CSTO and what the new military agreements could mean for Central Asian countries. Why...

CSTO

Russia Tries to Keep the CSTO Relevant in Central Asia

U.S.-Kazakh Partnership

Kazakhstan Brings Largest Foreign Delegation to B20 as U.S. Firms Detail Industrial Expansion

Property Rights

Kyrgyzstan Border Settlements Bring Property Documents to Villagers

Observer Status

Turkish Official Questions Tokayev’s Proposal for OTS Observer Status for Russia

Cyber Espionage

Kazakhstan-Linked Hackers Used AI to Steal Tajik Defense Documents, Researchers Say

Hackers used AI to steal more than 2,000 documents that passed through Tajikistan’s Defense Ministry, according to cybersecurity firm CloudSEK. The company traced the theft to Silent Lynx, a group researchers have linked to Kazakhstan. The stolen documents included flight clearance requests, records of military personnel transfers, and reports on construction in border areas. In its November 11 report, the Singapore-based company said it had pieced together the operation from records on a server the hackers inadvertently left open to the public. Around mid-August, the group began using Hermes Agent, an open-source AI tool, to scout potential targets. A few...

U.S. Sanctions

U.S. Sanctions Tajik National Over Alleged Role in Iran’s Efforts to Buy Missiles

The United States has imposed sanctions on Alisher Domullodzhanov, a native of Dushanbe whom the State Department accuses of involvement in Iran’s efforts to obtain man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). The November 4 designation falls under Executive Order 13949, which targets individuals and companies involved in Iran’s conventional arms trade. The State Department identified Domullodzhanov as based in Russia but gave no details of his alleged role. According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Domullodzhanov was born on November 29, 1989, and is a national of both Tajikistan and Russia. His sanctions listing also gives his...

Kazakhstan-Tajikistan

Kazakhstan Tajikistan Sign Fuel Supply and Mining Agreements

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have signed a framework agreement on fuel supplies as part of wider plans to expand cooperation in mining and manufacturing. Following talks between Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Emomali Rahmon in Astana on November 7, Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry reported that 20 cooperation documents were signed, while businesses from the two countries concluded 25 agreements worth a total of $2.5 billion. It is fuel supplies that are particularly important for Tajikistan. The country has substantial hydropower resources but depends on imported petroleum products, primarily from Russia. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Russia accounted for 72.3% of...

Aqaba Process

Uzbekistan Offers to Host Regional UN Counterterrorism Office at Astana Summit

Central Asian leaders and Jordan’s King Abdullah II met on November 6 to discuss how terrorist groups could use artificial intelligence to recruit members, coordinate their activities, and spread propaganda. At the Aqaba Process summit, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev offered to host a Central Asian office of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. The proposed office would help Central Asian countries set up channels for reporting terrorist content and detect terrorist financing, according to the Uzbek presidential press service. Co-hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Abdullah II, it is the first time Central Asia has hosted the Aqaba Process....

Life & Culture

Kazakhstan Tourism

Kazakhstan’s Charyn Canyon Ranks Among World’s Top 20 as Tourist Numbers Surge Fifteenfold

Charyn Canyon in southeastern Kazakhstan has ranked 17th in the Worldworthy 100: Canyons & Gorges 2026 international ranking. It was the only destination in Central Asia to make the list of 100 canyons and gorges across 46 countries. The Grand Canyon in the United States ranked fourth, while Letchworth Gorge in New York State took first place. Visitor numbers at Charyn Canyon have increased more than fifteenfold over the past five years, rising from 16,105 in 2020 to 249,928 in 2025. The number of visitors more than doubled from 117,793 in 2024. Charyn is located approximately 200 kilometers east of...

Kyrgyz Art

Bishkek’s Vanishing Spaces Through the Eyes of Artist Sonata Raiymkulova

Sports

Kazakh Race Walker Stripped of Asian Games Gold Over Shoes Receives State Award

Women’s tennis

World No. 1 Elena Rybakina Withdraws from WTA Finals

Athletics

Mo Farah to Present Medals at Samarkand Marathon

Central Asian Music

Meirambek Besbayev and the Dombra: Music That Connects Generations

As a teenager, Meirambek Besbayev became famous across Kazakhstan with Boztorgai (The Lark), a song about an orphan searching for his mother. He sang it on all three days of a national competition in 1991, and it became his signature piece. Besbayev turned 50 on November 7, 2026, and marked the occasion with a concert tour across Kazakhstan. He gave two concerts at the Palace of the Republic in Almaty on November 6. The Gaissin Orchestra and his mentor, composer Altynbek Korazbayev, joined him onstage. Today, Besbayev is one of the most recognizable figures in Kazakh popular music, with a...

Adoption

A Social Media Like Helps Reunite Kazakh Adoptee with His Birth Family

When Rustam Masimov joined a video call with his uncle in Almaty, he was reconnecting with a family he had left behind as a young child. Adopted in 2010 and raised in Europe, the 21-year-old had been searching for his relatives in Kazakhstan. “Hello, my dear nephew!” were Alimzhan’s first words. The reunion followed a search that gained momentum through a single social media like. It helped confirm the identity of Rustam’s uncle, whose old online profile eventually led to a working phone number. [caption id="attachment_60353" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Screenshot of the video call between Rustam and Alimzhan[/caption] The Search Begins...

Uzbek Crafts

Uzbekistan Showcases Traditional Crafts at Design Doha

Three Uzbek artists are transforming traditional floral designs into glass sculptures, embroidered textiles, and miniature paintings at the second Design Doha Biennial in Qatar. Their exhibition, A Leaf from the Rose Garden, takes its inspiration from a 13th-century Persian literary classic. Organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), the exhibition opened on November 5, 2026, and runs until January 31, 2027. It brings together Tashkent-based artists Ruben Saakyan and Madina Kasimbaeva, alongside Bukhara-based artist Davlat Toshev, each exploring floral ornamentation through a different material and technique. [caption id="attachment_60229" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Participating Artists for A Leaf from the...

Samarkand Marathon

Petrov Leads Uzbekistan’s Athletes in Samarkand Marathon

Uzbekistan´s runners posted a strong showing in the Samarkand Marathon on Sunday. Andrey Petrov was second overall with a time of 2:16:02 in the race, which is among the more high-profile marathons staged in Central Asia. Shokhrukh Davlatov finished in sixth place overall in 2:19:50. On the women’s side, Yekaterina Tunguskova was sixth in 2:43:13. Leonard Barsoton of Kenya won the men’s marathon in 2:15:44 and Obse Abdeta of Ethiopia was the top woman to finish, posting a time of 2:39:25. The results were posted by marathon organizers and on the World Athletics website. Petrov, 40, is a two-time silver...

Justice

Forced Labor

Turkmenistan Cotton Harvest: Forced Labor Persists Amid Reform Talks

In Turkmenistan, teachers, healthcare workers, and employees of state-owned enterprises continue to pay from their salaries to avoid being forced to pick cotton, according to independent reporting. The independent news outlet Turkmen.news reported in October that employees of an oil depot in the Dashoguz region paid approximately $19 a month despite earning around $110. Bank employees paid $3.50 three times a week, while school employees in Turkmenabat paid $1.50 up to 10 times a month. These dollar amounts are approximate, based on an unofficial exchange rate of around 19–20 manat to $1, compared with the official rate of 3.5 manat....

Victim Compensation

Kazakhstan Victims Compensation Fund Pays Out Just 9% of Revenue

Cybercrime

Kazakhstan Proposes UN Cybercrime Center in Astana

Extremism

Kazakhstan Detains Ten Over Alleged Plot to Change Constitutional Order

School Violence

School Bullying in Kazakhstan: Prosecutors Propose New Deputies to Protect Students from Violence

Gas Safety

18 Dead in Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisonings in Uzbekistan

Eighteen people died in three suspected carbon monoxide poisoning incidents in Uzbekistan between October 25 and November 1, prompting warnings about dangerously modified gas boilers being sold as new. On October 25, seven members of one family died in the village of Chimyon in the Fergana region. On November 1, another five people died in Kokand, including three girls aged seven, three, and one. An initial inspection of the Kokand home found a disconnected exhaust pipe on the gas boiler. In Tashkent, six people were found dead in a house under construction on October 25, and two others were hospitalized...

Data Breaches

Hackers Walk Back Claim of Uzbekistan Data Leak Affecting 27 Million

Journalists in Uzbekistan found their own personal information and details about relatives in a database circulating online, Gazeta.uz has reported. The Interior Ministry announced an investigation on October 29 after reports linked the records to SAFE Service, formerly known as SafeRoad, a digital service for motorists. As of November 5, the authorities had yet to announce their findings. Separately, on November 1, a hacker group known as Butterfly claimed it had accessed a government database containing personal information on more than 27 million Uzbek citizens. The group said it had accessed passport details, addresses, phone numbers, personal identification numbers (PINFL),...

Child Labor

Child Labor in Kyrgyzstan: Poverty and Gaps in Enforcement

Dozens of children have been found working at markets in the southern Kyrgyz city of Manas, formerly Jalal-Abad. Police officers and social workers spoke to the children’s parents and guardians and issued warnings, Turmush reported on November 2. Nationwide, 19.6% of children aged 5–17 were involved in child labor in 2023, according to a survey conducted by Kyrgyzstan’s National Statistical Committee with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund. Yet the country had just 28 labor inspectors in 2025. Manas is in the Jalal-Abad region, where the survey found one of the country’s highest rates of child labor, at 24%....

Russia's War in Ukraine

Tajik Prisoners in Russia Say They Face Pressure to Fight in Ukraine

Tajik citizens imprisoned in the Russian city of Volgograd say they are being put under pressure to sign military contracts and fight in Ukraine, allegations which the Russian prison authorities have rejected. The prisoners are asking Tajikistan to facilitate their transfer home. Two inmates contacted Radio Ozodi, the Tajik service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on October 29. They said about 150 prisoners from Central Asia were facing pressure, including approximately 60 Tajik citizens. The outlet said it knew the men's identities but had withheld them for their safety. The men said that despite difficulties, they had obtained a mobile...

Environment

Air Pollution

Kyrgyzstan’s Junda Oil Refinery Faces Pollution Complaints During $194 Million Upgrade

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said his government would consider relocating residents of Kara-Balta if living near the Junda oil refinery was harming their health. A resident had asked him to close the Chinese-owned plant or require better pollution controls. At the November 8 meeting in Kara-Balta, about 60 kilometers west of Bishkek, the woman described cases of allergies, hair loss, and high blood pressure that residents associated with the refinery. Japarov defended keeping the plant open, saying Kyrgyzstan needed to develop its industries and produce more of its own fuel. In a November 11 response, Junda said its modernization project...

Aral Sea

Uzbekistan Announces $3.3 Billion in Aral Sea Projects

Water Security

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Mineral Ambitions Depend on Water

Waste-to-Energy

Chinese Firm Proposes $95 Million Kyrgyzstan Waste-to-Energy Plant

Nature Reserve

Kazakhstan Tree Planting Drive Faces Wildfires and Low Survival Rates

COP31

Uzbekistan Proposes Regional Disaster Warning System at COP31

Uzbekistan has proposed establishing a joint early warning system for natural disasters in Central Asia. The plan also calls for greater climate data sharing and coordinated efforts to fund land restoration. The initiative was presented by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 11 at the COP31 leaders' summit, part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye. “No country can address the challenges of climate change on its own,” Mirziyoyev said. Mirziyoyev proposed beginning with the exchange of information on climate risks, supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The next step would be to establish common indicators for...

Caspian Sea

Shrinking Caspian Sea Challenges Kazakhstan’s Transport Ambitions, Environmentalist Warns

Kazakhstan’s plans to develop the Trans-Caspian transport route face a growing environmental challenge as the Caspian Sea shrinks. Environmentalist Vadim Ni questioned the coordination behind those plans in an interview with The Times of Central Asia. "Negotiations on the Trans-Caspian Corridor are taking place at the presidential level and among the economic ministries, while the Ministry of Ecology still does not know what its role is within this route. It only recently became involved in negotiations on the issue. But how can you develop the Trans-Caspian Corridor if the sea continues to shrink?" he emphasized. Ni, an environmental law specialist...

COP31

Opinion: What is on the agenda for Central Asia at COP31?

The 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, better known as COP31, is taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20. Delegations from almost 200 countries will participate in the event, including all the Central Asian republics, but Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will play an outsize role in coordinating their messaging and ensuring the regional environmental agenda gets the time it needs in the spotlight. The buzzword for the C5 in Türkiye is “cooperation.” Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources will host a meeting for Central Asia’s five environmental ministers at its national pavilion to discuss regional cooperation and...

Tiger Reintroduction

Kazakhstan Tiger Reintroduction: Second Amur Tiger Released into the Wild

Kazakhstan has released a second Amur tiger into the wild as part of a program to restore the big cats to Central Asia. The male, named Amur, was freed in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in southeastern Kazakhstan on October 31. The first tiger, a female named Umit, was released on July 31. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, she is already hunting independently and exploring her new territory. Both animals are being tracked using satellite collars. Tigers disappeared from the wild in Kazakhstan by the middle of the 20th century. Hunting contributed to their local extinction,...

Kazakhstan Detains Heads of Samruk-Kazyna and National Railways in Corruption Probe

Latest

Features

Features

New NATO Base Rumours, Organised OTS Opposition, and the Future of Kazakh-Turkish Ties

Latest

Dastan: Restoring an Ancient Buddha Head in Turkmenistan

New NATO Base Rumours, Organised OTS Opposition, and the Future of Kazakh-Turkish Ties

Dastan: Restoring an Ancient Buddha Head in Turkmenistan

Opinions

Opinions

Daniel A. Witt

Viorel Gutu

Zhandos Sabit

Eric Rudenshiold & S. Frederick Starr

Zabikhulla Saipov

Issatay Minuarov

Timur Serikuly

Javier M. Piedra

Mathieu Lemoine

Timur Serikuly

Zamirbek Minbaev

Askar Alimzhanov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Karakalpakstan Credit Rating: Fitch Assigns BB- With Stable Outlook

Solidcore Tajikistan Agreement Targets Precious Metals Exploration

ADB Approves $60 Million Loan for Livestock Farming in Uzbekistan

Russian Rail Curbs Put Up to $470 Million in Kazakh Coal Exports at Risk

Kazakhstan Highlights Mining and Processing Strengths at Washington B20 Summit

Local Politics

Local Politics

Kazakhstan Detains Heads of Samruk-Kazyna and National Railways in Corruption Probe

Kyrgyzstan Presidential Election: Sadyr Japarov Seeks Second Term

Uzbekistan Media: 67% Privately Owned as Survey Highlights Press Freedom Concerns

Opinion: Overcrowding on Almaty Buses – A Man-Made Transit Crisis

Rogun Hydropower Plant Accident Sparks Conflicting Injury Reports

International Affairs

International Affairs

CSTO Without Armenia: What Keeps Yerevan From Leaving and What the Summit Means for Central Asia

Kazakhstan-Linked Hackers Used AI to Steal Tajik Defense Documents, Researchers Say

U.S. Sanctions Tajik National Over Alleged Role in Iran’s Efforts to Buy Missiles

Kazakhstan Tajikistan Sign Fuel Supply and Mining Agreements

Uzbekistan Offers to Host Regional UN Counterterrorism Office at Astana Summit

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Kazakhstan’s Charyn Canyon Ranks Among World’s Top 20 as Tourist Numbers Surge Fifteenfold

Meirambek Besbayev and the Dombra: Music That Connects Generations

A Social Media Like Helps Reunite Kazakh Adoptee with His Birth Family

Uzbekistan Showcases Traditional Crafts at Design Doha

Petrov Leads Uzbekistan’s Athletes in Samarkand Marathon

Justice

Justice

Turkmenistan Cotton Harvest: Forced Labor Persists Amid Reform Talks