The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Fifteen-year-old Sanzhar Yerezhepov is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) translator to make online information more accessible to deaf people in Kazakhstan. Called Tusin (“Understand”), the platform converts speech and text into lifelike sign language videos that reproduce facial expressions as well as hand movements. Yerezhepov attends Daryn, a specialized school...

AI in Journalism

Astana Media Week: AI’s Opportunities and Risks for Journalism

Oil Licenses

Uzbekistan Confirms Cancellation of Saneg Oil Licenses

Uzbekistan has revoked some oil-field licenses held by Sanoat Energetika Guruhi (Saneg), a major Uzbek private oil and gas producer, after the company failed to develop deposits and meet licensing conditions. The move is another setback for the company, formerly known as Jizzakh Petroleum, following the collapse of its $100...

Religious Regulations, Russian Rehearsals, and the TCTC’s Regional Roadblocks

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Dastan
Short Stories from the Region

Dastan: Turkmenistan Takes to the Desert in Rally Cars

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Opinions

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

Opinion: Central Asia’s Shift from Silk Road Romance to Infrastructure Finance – What the June Forums Are Building

Dr. Magsud Mammadov

Business & Economy

Tourism

Tajikistan’s Panjakent Aims to Build Its Tourism Industry

The area around Panjakent in western Tajikistan has ancient ruins, including a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as picturesque landscapes that have attracted more than 41,000 tourists so far this year. However, the area faces obstacles to development of its tourist industry, including rough roads that make it difficult for visitors to move around. Panjakent city is about 60 kilometers from Samarkand, an ancient city across the border in Uzbekistan whose spectacular cultural heritage makes it one of Central Asia’s major tourist draws. While the Panjakent region has a history extending back thousands of years, it has attracted relatively...

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan ICAO Develop Civil Aviation Master Plan Through 2050

IT Industry

IT Park Uzbekistan Named Asia-Pacific’s Best Knowledge Zone

Oil Licenses

Uzbekistan Confirms Cancellation of Saneg Oil Licenses

Growth Forecasts

Central Asia Economic Growth Expected to Slow in 2027

Remittances

Opinion: The Remittance Economy’s Promise: How Migration Could Support Women Entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan

Migration has become a major socio-economic process, substantially affecting Uzbekistan’s economic development and quality of life. The primary destination countries for labor migrants from Uzbekistan have been Russia, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, and Turkey, as well as certain European and Asian countries. Remittances from migrants have become a major source of foreign currency inflows and a key form of economic support for households. Over time, they have raised economic activity and contributed to greater currency stability. In 2025, remittance inflows to Uzbekistan rose 28% compared to 2024, reaching $18.9 billion. Despite the positive growth of Uzbekistan’s economy, the country...

Telecommunications

Tajikistan Internet Link to China Launched Through the Pamirs

Tajikistan has opened a direct internet route to China through the high-altitude Pamir Mountains. The new fiber-optic link, with an initial capacity of up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps), gives the country another connection to international communications networks and reduces its dependence on transit through neighboring countries. The connection, built by state-owned Tajiktelecom and China Mobile International, was officially launched on October 17. The route runs from Dushanbe through Khorog, Kulma, and Karasu to Beijing. The Tajik section stretches 1,010 kilometers, including 435 kilometers through the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. At Kulma Pass, more than 4,300 meters above sea level,...

Foreign Investment

Citibank Kazakhstan Chairperson Sees Opportunities for U.S.-Central Asia Collaboration

Foreign investors are looking outside Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector. But turning that interest into investment will require predictable regulations and stronger cross-border connections, according to Saule Zhakayeva, chairperson of Citibank Kazakhstan’s management board and president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan (AmCham). Citi has operated in Kazakhstan since 1994, when it opened a representative office in Almaty. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Zhakayeva discussed the country’s investment climate and its role as a regional business hub. She also addressed the future of economic relations between the United States and Kazakhstan. TCA: How is...

Labor Migration

Kyrgyzstan Expands Foreign Worker Quotas While Citizens Work Abroad

Kyrgyzstan plans to allow up to 120,000 foreign nationals to work in the country in 2027, even as more than 700,000 of its own citizens have worked abroad this year. Although official estimates are lower than four years ago, the country remains heavily dependent on money sent home by migrant workers, particularly those in Russia. According to the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan received approximately $3.5 billion in transfers from abroad in 2025, more than 90% of which came from Russia. The Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration reported that 736,600 citizens had worked abroad so far...

Local Politics

Delivery Couriers

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

A delivery courier in Tashkent says police confiscated the electric bicycle he used to deliver orders after demanding a driver's license, leaving him unable to work. In an early October video appeal, the man said his bicycle could not exceed 25 kilometers per hour and that he did not ride on roads used by cars. Economist Otabek Bakirov published the video amid increasingly frequent police inspections of moped and scooter riders, including delivery workers. Police have justified the inspections by pointing to traffic accidents. Figures released in early October put the number of accidents involving mopeds and scooters in Uzbekistan...

political parties

Tokayev Dissolves Kazakhstan Local Councils Ruling Party Merger

Vibe Coding

Kazakhstan Begins Military AI Training for 75 Personnel

Election Campaign

Kyrgyzstan Presidential Election: What Has Changed Since 2020?

Population

Kyrgyzstan Aging Population Puts Growing Pressure on Pension System

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...

Agricultural Trade

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Apple and Potato Import Ban to Protect Domestic Farmers

Kyrgyzstan is considering temporary bans on apple and potato imports to prevent foreign produce from driving down prices during the domestic harvest season. The proposed apple import ban would remain in place until February 1, 2027, while potato imports would be restricted until March 1. The Ministry of Agriculture expects Kyrgyz farmers to harvest 179,400 metric tons of apples this year. Meanwhile, the country imported 6,400 tons between January and August, more than twice the amount imported during all of 2025. The main suppliers were Poland (3,600 tons), China (1,700 tons), and Uzbekistan (859 tons). Kyrgyz apple exports, by contrast,...

Ministry of Defense

Kazakhstan Names Former Finance Official Deputy Defense Minister Amid Military Shake-Up

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Tatyana Savelyeva deputy defense minister on October 7. The former vice minister of finance and member of parliament joins a ministry undergoing a major investigation following the deaths of 14 service members during exercises in the Caspian Sea. The investigation has led to criminal cases and arrests, while senior military commanders have been dismissed. Savelyeva replaced Asker Beisenov, who was dismissed from his position on the same day. To take up the appointment, she resigned early from the Kurultai, Kazakhstan's new unicameral parliament. Savelyeva joined it in late August 2026. The 50-year-old Savelyeva has spent most...

Tourism

Turkmenistan Launches E-Visa System, But Questions Remain

Turkmenistan says it has introduced an online visa system that will streamline travel for foreign citizens, though there is some uncertainty about the new procedures for visiting one of the world’s most closed countries. The State Migration Service briefed foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations about its system of processing and issuing electronic visas as well as an online system to register foreign citizens staying in Turkmenistan, along with “individuals and legal entities” hosting them. “New digital services will allow foreign citizens arriving in the country to save time, transfer documents to electronic management, and carry out all work...

International Affairs

U.S.-China Competition

China-Uzbekistan Economic Ties Expand as U.S. Seeks New Deals

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Uzbekistan on October 17–18, just ahead of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Samarkand on October 18 with a delegation of American business leaders seeking new contracts. While China already has a substantial presence in Uzbek manufacturing and energy, Washington is seeking to expand American involvement in critical minerals and technology. The visits highlight the growing competition between the world's two largest economies for influence in Central Asia. On October 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Li Qiang. According to the Uzbek presidential administration, the portfolio of joint projects backed by firm...

C5+1

Uzbekistan Signs Space Accords as Rubio Opens Samarkand Talks

Military

Russia and Kyrgyzstan Sign Military Cooperation Plan for 2027

Migrant School Fees

Russian Lawmakers Propose School Fees for Central Asian Migrants’ Children

Cyber Espionage

Silent Lynx Hackers Leave Their Central Asian Spy Campaign Exposed

С5+1

Opinion: C5+1 in Samarkand: What Uzbekistan Expects and What Washington Wants

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Uzbekistan with a delegation representing more than 200 American companies. He is attending a C5+1 ministerial meeting with the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The agenda includes regional connectivity, energy security, trade, private investment, and economic modernization. The visit brings the format back to its birthplace. The first C5+1 ministerial meeting was held in Samarkand on November 1, 2015, with then-Secretary of State John Kerry. The November 6, 2025, summit in Washington gave the relationship a substantial commercial dimension. Uzbekistan and the United States announced economic agreements...

CICA

CICA’s Next Chapter in Asian Cooperation

At the October 15 summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Kazakhstan proposed a mechanism for preventive diplomacy to address disputes before they escalate. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the mechanism would give each member state a role in decision-making and help translate political commitments into coordinated action. If adopted, the proposal could increase Astana’s influence among Asia’s larger powers by making its founding initiative more enduring. Influence Through an Asian Agenda Kazakhstan already coordinates CICA’s military-political dimension, working with Türkiye on military exchanges, training-center visits, and seminars that include mediation. Kazakhstan could...

Trans-Caspian Cable

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Launch Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have launched the first fiber-optic communications link across the Caspian seabed. The approximately 380-kilometer cable connects Aktau and Sumgait, with Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev inaugurating the line in Baku on October 15. Russian operators have long dominated Kazakhstan’s international connectivity. A 2025 Internet Society report identified them as the country's principal suppliers of international bandwidth. The new route will give operators the option of directing data through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey toward Europe, providing redundancy independent of existing routes through Russia. This is particularly important during outages or congestion on existing connections. Part of the...

Labor Migration

Uzbekistan Seeks Recognition of Its Driver’s Licenses in Germany

Uzbekistan is seeking recognition of its driver's licenses in Germany to make it easier for its citizens to work in the country's transport sector. The talks are linked to efforts to place Uzbek citizens in jobs with German transport and logistics companies. No agreement on license recognition has been reached so far. The issue was discussed at a meeting between Elyor Toshtemirov, deputy head of Uzbekistan's Migration Agency, and representatives of the German companies Global Talent Alliance and TSK Logistik. The participants discussed driver training and the requirements of German employers. The Uzbek agency intends to raise the possibility of...

Life & Culture

Art and Culture

Kazakhstan Joins Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia as Observer

Kazakhstan has been granted observer status in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, an organization established at China's initiative. The Ministry of Culture and Information announced the decision on October 18 following a meeting in Hangzhou. Representatives from more than 20 countries attended. Kazakhstan hopes to pursue joint archaeological research and use new technologies to preserve historical monuments. The alliance was established in 2023 and is headquartered in Beijing. It has operated as an intergovernmental organization since 2024. It focuses on preserving Asia's historical heritage, supporting archaeological expeditions, restoration projects, and the exchange of scientific data. Kazakhstan has joined...

Assistive Technology

Teen in Kazakhstan Develops AI Sign Language Translator

Swimming World Cup

Astana Plays Host to the Swimming World Cup

White Tigers

White Tiger Cubs Born at Ashgabat Zoo

Safety measures

Kyrgyzstan Road Safety Plan Proposed After 900 Traffic Deaths in 2025

Iranian Cinema

Iranian War Thriller Screened at Tajikistan Film Festival

An Iranian thriller about a cyberattack on a major bank in Iran during the 12-day war in 2025 is among films being showcased at a festival in Tajikistan. The Gambler, directed by Mohsen Bahari and starring Shabnam Ghorbani, is among several Iranian films featured at a state-backed festival in Dushanbe, which shares a Persian-language cultural heritage with Iran. The Toji Somon National Film Festival, which ends on October 20, also includes movies and documentaries from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Iranian cinema includes films made within the state-regulated industry and some independent movies that challenge the government and may be banned...

AI in Journalism

Astana Media Week: AI’s Opportunities and Risks for Journalism

The tenth edition of Astana Media Week is taking place in Kazakhstan's capital from October 14 to 16, with media professionals from Central Asia and other regions discussing how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing journalism. Dzhanibek Suleyev, a veteran Kazakh web publisher, and Alexander Smolin, former editor of Orda.kz, once one of the country's most popular online news outlets, spoke to The Times of Central Asia about how to take advantage of this technological leap while minimizing its risks. A New Revolution in Information Production AI can generate large volumes of content in seconds, but Suleyev argues that the technology...

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 unveiling plans that would require religious bloggers to be licensed and subjected to greater state oversight; further...

Small Businesses

Almaty Facade Renovations Leave Small Businesses in the Dust

When Gaukhar Osmonalieva rented a space in central Almaty for a pet grooming salon and coffee shop, renovations to the building’s facade were already underway. She was assured the work would be finished soon. Her business opened in August, but instead of a busy street and an outdoor terrace, she found herself surrounded by scaffolding, a torn-up sidewalk, and constant dust. By mid-October, construction was still underway, and the customers she had hoped to attract by choosing the location were coming less frequently. “At one point, the construction workers dug up the entire road, and foot traffic dropped noticeably. We...

Justice

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

Espionage

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

Military Deaths

Kazakhstan Defense Ministry Inspection Leads to 13 Criminal Cases in Wake of Soldiers’ Deaths

Religious Freedom

Why Central Asian Governments Are Regulating Religious Life

Drug Smuggling

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

Russian rapper Navai Bakirov, known professionally as Navai, was detained on October 13 while entering Kazakhstan from Kyrgyzstan. A Kazakh court has since ordered him held in custody as police investigate suspected drug smuggling and unlawful possession of narcotics. Police in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region said officers and border guards discovered and seized a narcotic substance during a search of his vehicle at the Korday checkpoint. They have not identified the substance or disclosed the quantity seized. Navai had performed in Bishkek the previous day as part of a Central Asian concert tour. His concert scheduled for October 14 in Astana...

Political Trials

Kyrgyzstan Court Jails Kadyr Atambayev and Temirlan Sultanbekov

A court in Kyrgyzstan has sentenced Kadyr Atambayev, the son of former President Almazbek Atambayev, to four years in prison and opposition Social Democrats leader Temirlan Sultanbekov to seven years over an alleged plot to seize power following last year's parliamentary elections. The defendants denied the allegations, and Sultanbekov described the prosecution as politically motivated shortly before the October 8 verdict. The trial at Bishkek’s Pervomaisky District Court was held behind closed doors despite defense lawyers’ requests for public hearings, preventing independent scrutiny of much of the evidence. Kadyr Atambayev entered politics in 2021, when he was elected to Bishkek's...

Asset Recovery

Kazakhstan Ratifies European Legal Assistance Convention as Asset Recovery Push Expands

Kazakhstan has ratified the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, in a step that could strengthen a long-running effort to obtain evidence and pursue assets held across foreign jurisdictions. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the ratification law on October 6. The 1959 Council of Europe convention requires participating states to assist in criminal cases, including gathering evidence, transmitting records, serving judicial documents, and executing certain search and seizure requests. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers invited Kazakhstan to join on June 18, 2025. Kazakh prosecutors have said accession would provide a common legal channel with European states where...

Ukrainian Childen

Ukrainian Woman Detained in Astana at Russia’s Request

Ukrainian citizen Lyubov Rozhanska has been detained at Astana airport at Russia’s request in connection with a criminal case over an alleged attempt to abduct a child, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported. She had flown from Istanbul to collect her grandson. Ukraine has called for her release and opposed her possible transfer to Russia. Rozhanska was detained on October 1 while passing through border control. She is currently being held in a pretrial detention facility in Astana, her Kazakhstan-based lawyer Riza Nurbayeva told DW. A court is expected to consider whether she should remain in custody. According to Nurbayeva and Russian...

Environment

Air Pollution

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

Almaty is investing 325.9 billion tenge (about $720 million) in converting a coal-fired power plant to natural gas, but the plant will continue burning coal for several more years. Bishkek is restricting certain types of coal while maintaining supplies of permitted fuel for winter. Tashkent reported lower pollution over much of the year, though early October brought a sharp increase in harmful particles. Across these three Central Asian cities, winter smog remains a problem as the heating season begins. According to World Bank estimates, concentrations of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, in major Central Asian cities frequently exceed World...

Water Security

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

Nuclear Safety

Kazakhstan Nuclear Emergency Center Opens With U.S. Support

Caspian Sea

Japan Funds $3 Million Caspian Sea Monitoring Project in Kazakhstan

Water Security

Opinion: Central Asia’s Old Water Bargain Was Built for Cotton

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...

Land Restoration

Kyrgyzstan Plans to Restore Land in Syr Darya Basin

Kyrgyzstan plans to restore degraded land in the Syr Darya basin as shrinking glaciers and declining forest cover raise concerns about the future of one of Central Asia’s main water systems. The four-year project will restore at least 264 hectares in the Jalal-Abad region, mainly within the Kyzyl-Unkur and Toskool-Ata forest enterprises. More than 27,000 people are expected to benefit directly from work on damaged land, including forests and agricultural areas. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will implement the project with the country’s Forestry Service, using financing from the Global Environment Facility. The work will include...

Environmental Assessment

Sea Breeze Uzbekistan Clears Second Stage of Environmental Review

The $5 billion Sea Breeze Uzbekistan project has completed the first two stages of its environmental impact assessment, receiving positive state environmental opinions for both, according to the Ecology Committee. The controversial resort is planned for the shores of the Charvak Reservoir, one of the most popular recreation areas near Tashkent. Its location has made the project the subject of sustained environmental scrutiny. Uzbekistan’s National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change said the second-stage opinion was issued on September 10. The review will continue with a final assessment planned after construction is completed and before the complex is put into...

Uzbekistan Signs Space Accords as Rubio Opens Samarkand Talks

Latest

Features

Features

Religious Regulations, Russian Rehearsals, and the TCTC’s Regional Roadblocks

Latest

Dastan: Turkmenistan Takes to the Desert in Rally Cars

Religious Regulations, Russian Rehearsals, and the TCTC’s Regional Roadblocks

Dastan: Turkmenistan Takes to the Desert in Rally Cars

Opinions

Opinions

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

Dr. Magsud Mammadov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Tajikistan’s Panjakent Aims to Build Its Tourism Industry

Opinion: The Remittance Economy’s Promise: How Migration Could Support Women Entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan

Tajikistan Internet Link to China Launched Through the Pamirs

Citibank Kazakhstan Chairperson Sees Opportunities for U.S.-Central Asia Collaboration

Kyrgyzstan Expands Foreign Worker Quotas While Citizens Work Abroad

Local Politics

Local Politics

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

Bishkek Metro Plans Resurface Despite High Costs and Low Demand

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Apple and Potato Import Ban to Protect Domestic Farmers

Kazakhstan Names Former Finance Official Deputy Defense Minister Amid Military Shake-Up

Turkmenistan Launches E-Visa System, But Questions Remain

International Affairs

International Affairs

China-Uzbekistan Economic Ties Expand as U.S. Seeks New Deals

Opinion: C5+1 in Samarkand: What Uzbekistan Expects and What Washington Wants

CICA’s Next Chapter in Asian Cooperation

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Launch Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable

Uzbekistan Seeks Recognition of Its Driver’s Licenses in Germany

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Kazakhstan Joins Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia as Observer

Iranian War Thriller Screened at Tajikistan Film Festival

Astana Media Week: AI’s Opportunities and Risks for Journalism

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

Almaty Facade Renovations Leave Small Businesses in the Dust

Justice

Justice

Uzbekistan Introduces Life Imprisonment for Rape of Children Under 14