The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Over the past decade, global geopolitics has witnessed a clear return to Great Power competition, reviving elements of Cold War-style rivalry and a pronounced East-West divide. Yet, contrary to the belief that international relations are defined exclusively by great powers, the countries of Central Asia, historically perceived as chess pieces...

Power Struggle

Japarov Breaks the Kyrgyz Tandem

Arkadag

Turkmen Arkadag Without “Unnecessary” People: Crackdown on Residents Without Jobs or Registration Intensifies

U.S. Ambassador

U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Highlights Cultural Diplomacy, AI, and Strategic Partnerships

At a wide-ranging press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, the recently appointed U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Julie M. Stufft, underscored the deepening ties between the United States and Kazakhstan, highlighting cooperation in cultural diplomacy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. “I arrived in Astana a month ago, and while...

Afghanistan

Coordination Instead of Declarations: Astana Hosts Meeting of Regional Contact Group on Afghanistan

Z5+1

Germany Builds a Z5+1 in Central Asia

Germany’s meeting on February 11 with the five Central Asian foreign ministers in Berlin formalized the Z5+1 (“Z” for “Zentralasien”) format as a standing work channel. It joins other “plus-one” formats now crowding Central Asia that function as instruments of influence. The United States is using C5+1 to push a...

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

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Opinions

Opinion: Mirziyoyev in Washington – New Deals Expected Amidst Peace Diplomacy

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion – The “Board of Peace” and Afghan Diplomacy: A View from Kabul

Dr. Bismillah Mangal

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum – Strategic Reset or Institutional Consolidation?

Raza Syed

Opinion: Afghanistan and Central Asia – Security Without Illusions

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: The New Silk Road to the Sea – Connecting Central Asia to Karachi and Gwadar

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo & Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi

Breaking into Project Vault: A U.S. Role for Central Asia’s Strategic Minerals

Dr. Eric Rudenshiold

Opinion: Tokayev’s National Kurultai Address: A Moral Message, Not a Political One

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion: Central Asia–Japan Summit Signals Shift in Eurasian Geoeconomics — and Russia’s Waning Role

Anvar Nazirov

Opinion: Iranian Unrest Creates Opening for U.S., Partners in Central Asia

Nilaya Magidish

Opinion: Prospects for Central Asia’s Access to Persian Gulf Infrastructure

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Is Uzbekistan Importing a Future Crisis?

William Cui

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

Altair Akhmetov

Business & Economy

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Increases Export Revenues from Processed Agricultural Products by One-Third

Kazakhstan significantly increased exports of high value-added agro-industrial products in 2025. Revenue from exports of processed agricultural goods rose by nearly one-third compared to the previous year, according to Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov. By the end of 2025, food production reached $8.1 billion, an 8.1% increase year-on-year. Exports of processed agricultural products totaled $3.2 billion for the first 11 months of 2025, marking a 33.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. By contrast, total exports of high value-added products in 2024 stood at $2.7 billion, with annual growth not exceeding 15%. The share of processed goods in...

Drones

Kyrgyzstan Tests Technologies for Tracking Civilian Drones

Hydropower

Kazakhstan Intends to Triple Its Hydropower Capacity by 2030

Rogun Hydropower Plant

Tajikistan Plans Over $1 Billion for Rogun Hydropower Project in 2026

Gig Economy

Taxing the Gig Economy in Kazakhstan

Quantum Technologies

Kazakhstan-Singapore Center for Quantum Technologies Opens at Farabi University

The Kazakhstan-Singapore Center for Quantum Technologies has been inaugurated at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty. The project, implemented in partnership with Singapore-based ASTRASEC PTE. LTD and Qubitera LLP, aims to serve as a foundation for developing a national quantum technology ecosystem in Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the center will focus on both fundamental and applied research, the training of researchers, engineers, and technology entrepreneurs, and the development of quantum-secure communication and computing solutions. It also plans to facilitate the transfer of advanced international expertise and support the creation of joint technology startups. The...

Oil and Gas

Kazakhstan Intends to Accelerate Oil Refining Expansion to 40 Million Tons per Year

Kazakhstan plans to accelerate the expansion of its oil refining capacity to reach 40 million tons per year by 2033, seven years earlier than the previously announced 2040 target. The revised timeline was announced by Deputy Energy Minister Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbaev at a government meeting on February 17. A full cycle of work is scheduled for 2026-2033, covering feasibility studies, design, construction, and the commissioning of a fourth large refinery with a projected capacity of 10 million tons per year. Once completed, the new facility would increase Kazakhstan’s total refining capacity to 40 million tons annually. Previously, in its updated Concept...

Oil and Gas

More Than 20 Promising Oil and Gas Fields Identified in Kazakhstan’s Aral Basin

A large-scale state geological exploration program in Kazakhstan has identified more than 20 promising hydrocarbon sites in the Aral Basin. The announcement was made by Kanat Yerubaev, Acting Chairman of the Geology Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Construction. According to Yerubaev, by the end of last year 29 promising exploration areas had been identified as part of the state geological study program, covering a range of minerals from gold and copper to lead, zinc, and tungsten. Particular attention was given to oil and gas. Work in the Aral Basin enabled specialists to specify the geological structure of the...

Trade

Kyrgyzstan Ready to Act as a ‘Gateway’ for Tajik Goods to EAEU and EU Markets

On February 13 in Bishkek, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev and Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda held the first meeting of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Intergovernmental Council. Opening the session, Kasymaliev said that 2025 marked a historic milestone in bilateral relations, citing the completion of the delimitation process of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. He described the agreement as “a decisive factor in strengthening security and stability not only in our countries but also in the entire region.” Addressing trade and economic cooperation, Kasymaliev stated that Kyrgyzstan is ready to expand supplies of meat and dairy products, clothing...

Local Politics

TCA Interviews

Kyrgyzstan Between the Russian World and Global Chaos: An Interview With Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov

Edil Baisalov is a politician who began his career as a civil-rights activist, became a prominent member of Kyrgyzstan’s non-governmental organization (NGO) sector, and is now serving as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister. In an exclusive interview with The Times of Central Asia, he explained not only how his views have changed over the years, but also how Kyrgyzstan is seeking to find its place in what he described as a rapidly changing global landscape. In Baisalov’s assessment, the global system is facing a crisis of democracy. “The world order, as we know it, is collapsing – or at least...

Education

Kazakhstan Moves to Require Content Creators and Online Course Authors to Confirm Qualifications

Kamchybek Tashiyev

After Firing Close Ally Tashiyev, Japarov Says Goal for Kyrgyzstan is Unity

Referendum

Cost of Holding Referendum on Kazakhstan’s New Constitution Estimated at $42 Million

Politics

Amid Questions, Tajikistan’s Presidency Says Rahmon Has Upcoming Meetings

Power Struggle

Japarov Breaks the Kyrgyz Tandem

When Kamchybek Tashiyev returned to Bishkek from medical travel abroad after losing his post as Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), as well as the deputy chairmanship of the Cabinet of Ministers, he returned to a system already being disassembled. Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov dismissed him on February 10, ending a five-year arrangement in which the presidency and the security apparatus were closely fused. The decision deliberately dismantled the governing tandem that had defined Kyrgyzstan’s power structure since 2020. The immediate question was whether this was a closing of an episode or the opening of a new...

Arkadag

Turkmen Arkadag Without “Unnecessary” People: Crackdown on Residents Without Jobs or Registration Intensifies

The “smart” city of Arkadag, developed at the initiative of Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has once again become the focus of a campaign to “clean up” its population, according to Turkmen.news. Local officials are reportedly conducting apartment inspections to identify residents who do not hold official employment in the city. Inspectors are said to be focusing on three main criteria: possession of a local residence permit, confirmed employment in Arkadag, and the degree of kinship with the property owner. The legal basis for these inspections remains unclear, but reports indicate that authorities are taking a strict approach, requiring individuals...

Emomali Rahmon

After Absence, Tajikistan’s Rahmon Highlights a Daily Schedule

He’s back. President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan met Kazakhstan’s foreign minister on Monday, two days after welcoming the head of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to Dushanbe. It might seem like routine business for the leader of a country. But the meetings, during which Rahmon was photographed and shown in video, followed more than two weeks during which Tajikistan’s president hadn’t been seen in public. The absence prompted some media and other online questions about his whereabouts and health, possibly prompting the presidency to issue a statement last week that said Rahmon had upcoming meetings. The 73-year-old president, who has...

Constitution

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum – Strategic Reset or Institutional Consolidation?

Kazakhstan will hold a nationwide referendum on March 15 to adopt an entirely new constitution – an initiative President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev describes as a decisive break from the country’s super-presidential legacy. The draft, published on February 12 after deliberations by a Constitutional Commission, proposes far-reaching institutional reforms. Among the most notable changes are the replacement of the bicameral parliament with a unicameral body known as the Kurultai; the reinstatement of a vice presidency; and the constitutionalization of commitments to digital transformation, economic modernization, and strengthened sovereignty. The government presents the reform as a necessary modernization of the state in response...

International Affairs

ISIS

Over 5,700 ISIS Detainees Transferred from Syria to Iraq, Including Central Asians

A total of 5,704 ISIS detainees have been transferred from prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraq, including dozens of citizens from Central Asian countries, according to data from Iraq’s Ministry of Justice shared by journalist and Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights founder Mustafa Saadoun on X. The figures, issued by the Iraqi Correctional Service under the Ministry of Justice, detail the number of inmates held at Al-Karkh Central Prison by nationality. Among them are 36 citizens of Uzbekistan, 63 of Tajikistan, 42 of Kyrgyzstan, and four of Kazakhstan. The list also includes 165 individuals identified as “Turkestan,” 130 from Russia,...

Foreign Policy

Opinion: Turning Rivalry into Opportunity: Kazakhstan’s Strategic Autonomy

U.S. Ambassador

U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Highlights Cultural Diplomacy, AI, and Strategic Partnerships

Z5+1

Germany Builds a Z5+1 in Central Asia

Board of Peace

Central Asia and Azerbaijan on Board as the Gaza Peace Effort Gets Underway

Board of Peace

Opinion: Mirziyoyev in Washington – New Deals Expected Amidst Peace Diplomacy

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has arrived on a working visit to Washington to participate in the inaugural meeting of President Trump’s Board of Peace on February 19, 2026, alongside the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and other heads of state. Against a backdrop of deep geopolitical tensions and raging conflicts across the world, Mirziyoyev’s second visit to the White House in less than four months suggests that U.S.-Uzbekistan relations are at their strongest in decades. Mirziyoyev will be joined by Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade, and other high-ranking officials. Uzbek Ambassador to the U.S. Sidikov...

Israel

Hundreds of Central Asian Nationals Have Served in Israeli Army During Gaza War

Hundreds of citizens from Central Asia have served in the Israeli military during its ongoing campaign in Gaza, according to an analytical report published by Al Jazeera, which cited official data provided by Israeli sources. The data, shared with Al Jazeera by Israeli lawyer Elad Man, legal counsel for the organization Hatzlacha, indicates that as of March 2025, thousands of foreign nationals were enlisted in the Israeli army, 17 months after the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Among them were 264 individuals holding Uzbek citizenship, according to the report. The publication noted that these individuals were...

Afghanistan

Coordination Instead of Declarations: Astana Hosts Meeting of Regional Contact Group on Afghanistan

On Monday, Astana hosted an extraordinary meeting of the Regional Contact Group of Special Representatives of Central Asian Countries on Afghanistan, with delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in attendance. The agenda focused on trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan, including joint projects, investment protection, transit tariff policy, and the development of transport corridors through Afghan territory. The establishment of the group represents the practical implementation of agreements reached at the Sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held in Astana in August 2024, and reflected in the Roadmap for Regional Cooperation for 2025-2027. The...

Board of Peace

Opinion – The “Board of Peace” and Afghan Diplomacy: A View from Kabul

A new trend is becoming increasingly apparent in global politics: key decisions are being discussed not only within traditional international institutions but also through more flexible political and diplomatic formats. One such initiative is the announcement of the creation of the “Board of Peace” by U.S. President Donald Trump, a structure that, according to its authors, is intended to provide an alternative mechanism for conflict resolution. Reactions have been mixed. Some states view the new platform as an opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of peace efforts; others warn that it could weaken existing institutions, particularly the United Nations, and contribute...

Life & Culture

Winter Olympic Games

Kazakhstani Skater Denis Ten, Killed in 2018, Is Honored As Nation Celebrates Olympic Gold

After Olympic figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov won gold for Kazakhstan, he was quick to pay tribute to Denis Ten, a Kazakhstani who got the bronze medal in the same event at the 2014 Winter Olympics and was killed in an attempted robbery in Almaty four years later. It was a bittersweet moment. Shaidorov, 21, was basking in his extraordinary accomplishment in Milan, Italy last weekend even as he honored an inspiring figure whose violent death in 2018 shocked Kazakhstan, a country that was delighted when Ten made it onto the podium in Sochi, Russia. “I think my medal would have...

Abdukodir Khusanov

Researchers Name Abdukodir Khusanov Fastest Center Back in Champions League

Nurlan Saburov

Nurlan Saburov Case Sparks Speculation After Russia Entry Ban and Kazakhstan Security Check

Motorsports

Uzbekistan’s Umarov Appointed to Board of World Motorsport Body

Society

On the Eve of Valentine’s Day: Customs of Love and Marriage in Central Asia

Travel

Turkmenistan Effectively Bans Passengers from Taking Food Abroad

Since February, passengers departing from Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat have effectively been prohibited from taking food products out of the country. The restrictions reportedly apply to meat and fish products, canned goods and even bread. No official explanation has been provided. According to turkmen.news, a ban on the export of most food items was introduced at Ashgabat International Airport in February. The measures affect passengers flying to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other destinations. Controls are reportedly carried out before the main customs inspection, in the oversized baggage area. Only after this additional screening are travelers allowed to proceed to...

Driver's licenses

Kyrgyzstan to Introduce One-Year Temporary Licenses for New Drivers

Kyrgyzstan plans to introduce a one-year temporary driver’s license for driving school graduates in an effort to ensure that new motorists develop sustainable skills for safe and responsible behavior on the road, according to a draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan currently undergoing public discussion. The training period at driving schools in Kyrgyzstan has recently been extended from 2.5 months to 10 months. Under the proposed resolution, students demonstrating excellent academic performance would be eligible to take exams after four months of training and receive a temporary driver’s license valid for one year and restricted to use...

Health

How Kazakhstan Once Again Finds Itself Vulnerable to Measles

Kazakhstan is once again experiencing a rise in measles cases. According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 2,000 infections were registered between the beginning of the year and February 5, accounting for almost half of the total recorded in 2024. Analysts at Energyprom.kz attribute the renewed outbreak to systemic gaps in prevention and declining vaccination coverage. Over the past decade, measles incidence in Kazakhstan has fluctuated significantly. In 2017, 2021, and 2022, the country reported only isolated cases and was considered close to eliminating the disease. However, the situation deteriorated sharply in 2023-2024. In 2023, reported cases surged to 29,700....

Winter Olympic Games

Figure Skater Shaidorov Delivers Gold for Kazakhstan at Winter Olympics

Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won his country’s first gold medal in figure skating at the Winter Olympics, while the favorite, Ilia Malinin of the United States, finished eighth after falling twice during his program. Secured with five quadruple jumps, Shaidorov's unexpected win in Italy on Friday also marked the first gold medal for Kazakhstan in any sport at a Winter Olympics since the games in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. In those games, Vladimir Smirnov came first in cross-country skiing. "To be honest, I still can't believe it. I struggled with myself throughout the season. This season was very tough for...

Justice

Crime

Uzbekistan’s 2026 Reform Program Introduces Life Imprisonment for Pedophilia

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved draft reform programs setting out priority measures for 2026, along with the State Program for implementing the “Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy during what has been declared the “Year of Community and Social Prosperity,” according to the presidential press service. The documents were presented to the president at a briefing that highlighted a new methodology drawing on advanced international experience. Officials stated that the drafts define the main policy directions and target indicators for the coming year, in line with the President’s Address to the public and the Parliament, the Oliy Majlis, and outline specific implementation mechanisms. A...

Violence against women

Second Uzbek Woman Confirmed Dead in Istanbul Murder Case

Aigul Sailybayeva

Murder of Aigul Sailybayeva: Husband Among Key Suspects in Ongoing Investigation

Fraud

Telephone Scammers in Kyrgyzstan Begin Using AI Tools

Healthcare regulation

Kazakhstan Moves to Regulate Chinese Medicine Clinics

Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack

Prosecutor Seeks Life Sentences for Crocus City Hall Attack Defendants

A state prosecutor has asked the Moscow City Court to sentence the alleged perpetrators of the Crocus City Hall attack to life imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony. The request was made during closing arguments, lawyer Daniil Gauthier, who represents victims in the case, told RBC. According to the report, Fariduni Shamsiddin, Dalerjon Mirzoev, Muhammadsobir Faizov, and Saidkrom Rachabalizoda are charged with undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities, illegal arms trafficking, participation in the activities of a terrorist organization, and committing a terrorist act under several articles of the Criminal Code. The state prosecutor also requested...

Prison System

Shooting in Tajikistan’s Detention Center: Prosecutor General’s Office Reveals Details of January Incident for the First Time

Tajik authorities have for the first time officially commented on the incident on January 31 at a detention facility in the city of Khujand. Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General, Khabibullo Vokhidzoda, disclosed details during a press conference in Dushanbe that was reported by Asia-Plus. Vokhidzoda confirmed that an armed confrontation took place at the Khujand pre-trial detention center. According to him, three prisoners attacked facility staff while in the exercise yard. The prosecutor general stated that the inmates used “various objects” to inflict bodily harm on staff members and assaulted another prisoner who was present. He said they ignored repeated demands to...

Online Safety

Uzbek Minister Says No Evidence of 15 Million Citizens’ Data Leak

In early February, The Times of Central Asia reported that the personal data of Uzbek citizens may have been leaked from government information systems and circulated on darknet forums. The report followed online discussions alleging that databases linked to state institutions were being distributed via anonymous platforms. According to posts shared on Reddit, links to online repositories, including darknet resources, allegedly contained data obtained from Uzbek state institutions. Some users claimed the breach could involve the personal information of up to 15 million citizens. The allegations quickly spread across social media, prompting public concern and official responses. On February 12,...

Social Media

Kazakhstan Proposes Restrictions on Social Media Access for Minors

An active and ongoing debate is taking place in Kazakhstan over proposed amendments to legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media. The initiative has been raised repeatedly by lawmakers, although many experts believe teenagers would still find ways to circumvent such restrictions. The primary objective cited by lawmakers is to protect children from harmful content, including violence and pornography, and to reduce cyberbullying. The Ministry of Culture and Information has already prepared draft amendments that would affect the regulation of social media. Mechanisms for verifying users’ ages will be developed jointly with the...

Environment

Earthquakes

New Earthquake Jolts Almaty, Highlighting Central Asia’s Seismic Threat

Many residents of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, have known since childhood what to do in the event of an earthquake. Children are taught to stand near load-bearing walls or structural beams in their homes, as these areas are considered more resistant during tremors. Many households keep an emergency kit with water, food and blankets in an accessible place. Such precautions are not excessive: Almaty experiences regular seismic activity. The latest significant tremor occurred on February 17, with an epicenter located 74 kilometers northeast of the city. The earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.0. City residents left their homes and offices...

Air Pollution

Choking on Smog: Air Crisis in Öskemen Deepens

Wildlife Conservation

Up to Eighty Persian Leopards Now Roam Turkmenistan

Water Resources

Kyrgyz MP Questions Why Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Don’t Pay for Irrigation Water

Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan Draws International Attention to Climate Risks for Lake Issyk-Kul

Traffic Regulations

Kazakhstan May Introduce Traffic Restrictions Based on Beijing Model

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has proposed that city authorities draw on Beijing’s experience in restricting private vehicle traffic on days with unfavorable weather conditions as part of efforts to combat air pollution. Beijing has operated an “even-odd” traffic system since 2011, under which vehicles with even-numbered license plates may drive on even dates, and those with odd-numbered plates on odd dates. While the measure in the Chinese capital was initially introduced to reduce traffic congestion, in Kazakhstan, it is being considered primarily as a tool to improve air quality. After reviewing Beijing’s practice, the ministry has instructed...

Water-Saving Technologies

Kyrgyzstan Plans Full Transition to Water-Saving Irrigation in Issyk-Kul Region

Kyrgyzstan’s government is preparing to fully transition the Issyk-Kul region to water-saving irrigation technologies, offering farmers preferential financing amid growing concerns over falling water levels in the country’s largest lake and key tourist destination. Speaking in parliament on February 11, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobaev announced that farmers adopting drip or sprinkler irrigation systems will be eligible for low-interest loans at a preferential 2% rate. Lending is expected to begin next month. Torobaev emphasized the urgency of reducing agricultural water consumption to stabilize inflows into Lake Issyk-Kul....

Water Access

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Resume Data Sharing on Reservoirs and Transboundary Rivers

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have renewed formal cooperation in hydrometeorology, agreeing to exchange key hydrological data on major reservoirs and transboundary rivers, a development officials say is vital for regional flood management and agricultural planning. The agreement covers data exchange on the Kirov, Orto-Tokoy, and Toktogul reservoirs, all located in Kyrgyzstan but directly influencing downstream water supply in Kazakhstan. The signing took place on February 9 in Astana, where Kyrgyzstan’s First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Mambetov Muratovich and Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurlan Aldamzharov endorsed a 2026-2028 cooperation program between Kazhydromet and the Kyrgyz Hydrometeorological...

Rogun Hydropower Plant

Rogun Dam’s Cross-Border Environmental Impact Draws Scrutiny

An international environmental coalition has raised new concerns about the environmental assessment of Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant, warning that its potential cross-border and cumulative impacts on downstream countries are being underestimated. The group, Rivers without Boundaries, presented its latest report, Eyes Wide Shut: Ignoring the Transboundary and Cumulative Impacts of the Rogun Hydropower Plant, highlighting what it describes as serious shortcomings in the project’s environmental and social review. According to the report, the current assessment of Rogun’s transboundary effects does not fully comply with the environmental and social standards of the World Bank. Experts argue the analysis relies on outdated...

Kyrgyzstan Between the Russian World and Global Chaos: An Interview With Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Javier M. Piedra

Dr. Bismillah Mangal

Raza Syed

Aidar Borangaziyev

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo & Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi

Dr. Eric Rudenshiold

Javier M. Piedra

Anvar Nazirov

Nilaya Magidish

Timur Serikuly

William Cui

Altair Akhmetov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Increases Export Revenues from Processed Agricultural Products by One-Third

Kazakhstan-Singapore Center for Quantum Technologies Opens at Farabi University

Kazakhstan Intends to Accelerate Oil Refining Expansion to 40 Million Tons per Year

More Than 20 Promising Oil and Gas Fields Identified in Kazakhstan’s Aral Basin

Kyrgyzstan Ready to Act as a ‘Gateway’ for Tajik Goods to EAEU and EU Markets

Local Politics

Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan Between the Russian World and Global Chaos: An Interview With Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov

Japarov Breaks the Kyrgyz Tandem

Turkmen Arkadag Without “Unnecessary” People: Crackdown on Residents Without Jobs or Registration Intensifies

After Absence, Tajikistan’s Rahmon Highlights a Daily Schedule

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Referendum – Strategic Reset or Institutional Consolidation?

International Affairs

International Affairs

Over 5,700 ISIS Detainees Transferred from Syria to Iraq, Including Central Asians

Opinion: Mirziyoyev in Washington – New Deals Expected Amidst Peace Diplomacy

Hundreds of Central Asian Nationals Have Served in Israeli Army During Gaza War

Coordination Instead of Declarations: Astana Hosts Meeting of Regional Contact Group on Afghanistan

Opinion – The “Board of Peace” and Afghan Diplomacy: A View from Kabul

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Kazakhstani Skater Denis Ten, Killed in 2018, Is Honored As Nation Celebrates Olympic Gold

Turkmenistan Effectively Bans Passengers from Taking Food Abroad

Kyrgyzstan to Introduce One-Year Temporary Licenses for New Drivers

How Kazakhstan Once Again Finds Itself Vulnerable to Measles

Figure Skater Shaidorov Delivers Gold for Kazakhstan at Winter Olympics

Justice

Justice

Uzbekistan’s 2026 Reform Program Introduces Life Imprisonment for Pedophilia