The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Turkmenistan has historically been a difficult partner to deal with. The Turkmen government’s isolationist policies run counter to deep cooperation with any foreign party, but the Turkmen authorities seem to now perceive that these policies are costing them opportunities and revenue. In one of the latest shifts in foreign policy,...

CIS

Moldova Moves to Leave CIS as Post-Soviet Bloc Loses Another Member

Constitutional Reform

Opinion – Kazakhstan’s New Constitution Sends a Key Signal for Global Partners

In a nationwide referendum on March 15, over 87% of voters approved a new constitution for Kazakhstan. It was a significant victory for President Tokayev and his administration, all the more so because voter turnout exceeded 73%. Kazakhstan’s new constitution is a key signal for global partners. It replaces the...

Oil and Gas

Kazakhstan Gains Weight in China’s Energy System

The newly extended U.S. waiver for Russian oil transit through Kazakhstan and the reported giant onshore hydrocarbon discovery in western Kazakhstan point in different directions, yet they belong in the same analytical frame. One concerns an existing flow that already reaches China through working infrastructure, while the other concerns a...

Middle East Crisis

Central Asia Welcomes Ceasefire, Urges Talks as Energy Risks Persist

Central Asian governments have cautiously welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a necessary pause in a conflict that has already begun to affect regional stability, trade, and energy flows. Across the region, official statements struck a consistent balance: support for the truce, alongside...

Oil Supply

Middle East Crisis: Kazakhstan Could Become an Alternative Supplier of Petroleum Products to Asia

The two-week ceasefire announced after Pakistani mediation between Iran and the U.S. has reduced the risk of immediate escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, but disruptions to one of the key routes of global oil trade have already triggered structural changes in energy markets. Against this backdrop, Kazakhstan and other...

Arrests, Agreements and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict

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Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

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Opinions

Opinion – Kazakhstan’s New Constitution Sends a Key Signal for Global Partners

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion: Trump Has Golden Opportunity to Launch C6+1 on Sidelines of UN

Ken Moriyasu

Opinion: Islamic State Khorasan Province and the Strategic Risks for Central Asia

Aidar Borangaziyev

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

Business & Economy

Aitu Messenger

Kazakhstan Considers National Messaging App Aitu for Insurance Companies

Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market is considering the use of the domestic messaging platform Aitu for remote communication between insurance companies and other non-bank financial institutions and their clients. According to Bloomberg, the regulator has recommended that market participants consider using the Kazakh-developed messenger Aitu as a communication tool. Sources cited by the publication said that insurance and brokerage firms received proposals last month regarding the potential use of the platform, partly aimed at strengthening personal data protection. Market participants expressed concerns, pointing to Aitu’s relatively small user base, limited functionality, potential integration costs, and...

Economic Growth

ADB Growth Forecast Points to Strong Expansion in Tajikistan

Clean Energy

Uzbekistan Moves Forward with $6 Billion Biofuel Project in Khorezm

Automotive Industry

Kyrgyzstan Seeks to Increase Automobile Imports from China

Gold

Uzbekistan’s International Reserves Decline After Seven Months of Growth

Hydrogen Energy

Kazakhstan and China Launch Hydrogen Energy Technology Innovation Center

Kazakhstan and China have expanded cooperation in clean energy with the launch of the China-Kazakhstan Hydrogen Energy Technology Innovation Center at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty on April 9. The center is part of Kazakhstan’s strategy to build a modern technological base linking science, education, and industry in support of the country’s transition to low-carbon energy. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov highlighted the importance of international partnerships in the development of the energy sector. “Hydrogen energy is one of the strategic priorities for the development of the energy sector. The Concept adopted in 2024 laid...

Energy Transition

Investments, Resources, and Digital Transformation: How Central Asia Can Preserve Its Strategic Balance

Rising global demand for critical resources, the accelerating green transition, and the digitalization of the economy are turning Central Asia from a peripheral region into one of the key arenas of geoeconomic competition. Kazakhstan and its neighbors are increasingly in the focus of the United States, China, the European Union, and the Gulf states—as sources of raw materials, sites for infrastructure projects, and markets for the implementation of digital solutions. Under these conditions, the key question is no longer the volume of investment, but control over its quality, structure, and long-term consequences. The resource factor: from raw materials to a...

Air Routes

Turkmenistan’s Air Connectivity Shows Little Change Despite Expansion Plans

Turkmenistan’s airport schedules remain largely unchanged, with no new destinations added and previously announced flights yet to begin operating. Plans to expand international air links from Turkmenistan have been discussed for years, but little has changed in practice. At the end of last year, Russia’s S7 Airlines announced the launch of the Ashgabat-Novosibirsk route starting March 31. Tickets went on sale at the time, with flights planned once a week. However, as of early April, the flights are absent both from the airline’s schedule and from airport data. Only connecting options remain in booking systems. No official explanation has been...

TCA Interviews

Kazakhstan’s Logistics: Mukhtar Tolegen on Infrastructure and Reform

Kazakhstan has invested tens of billions of dollars in transport infrastructure in recent years and has positioned itself as a key transit link between Europe and Asia. Yet the country still ranks in the middle of the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI). Why have these large investments not produced a sharper improvement, and what reforms are needed to change that? The Times of Central Asia spoke with Mukhtar Tolegen, executive director for transport logistics at the Union of Transport Workers of Kazakhstan, “KAZLOGISTICS.” TCA: What is Kazakhstan's current position in the LPI, and how has it changed? Mukhtar: In...

Local Politics

Radicalization

Kazakh MP Calls for a Legislative Ban on Radical Religious Movements

Kazybek Isa, a deputy of the Mazhilis (Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament ), has called for a legislative ban on radical religious movements, arguing that their spread poses a threat to social stability and national security. In a parliamentary inquiry addressed to the government and law enforcement agencies, Isa stated that the ability of such groups to recruit followers could undermine social cohesion and national values. “A legislative ban on radical religious movements is a matter of national security. Such movements threaten social stability, and the state is obligated to protect its citizens from their influence,” the deputy said. He...

Constitutional Reform

Opinion – Kazakhstan’s New Constitution Sends a Key Signal for Global Partners

Justice

Kazakh Lawmaker Proposes Tougher Penalties for Poaching

Power Struggle

Kyrgyzstan Moves Toward Power Consolidation Ahead of 2027 Election

Rahmon in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Launch 10 Joint Projects During Rahmon’s State Visit

AI Will Help the Kyrgyz Parliament Speed Up the Legislative Process

The Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament of Kyrgyzstan) is introducing the e-Kenesh digital platform, which is intended to move parliamentary committee work into an electronic format and use artificial intelligence to help analyze draft legislation. According to the parliament’s press service, the platform is designed to replace paper-based workflows and provide lawmakers with access to all agenda materials via tablets already distributed to deputies. The software was developed by local specialists in cooperation with parliamentary staff. The e-Kenesh system will also allow civil servants and experts to participate in committee meetings remotely, joining discussions from their workplaces or while on official travel....

Cultural Heritage

Bukhara Demolitions Resurface as Developer Faces Financial Trouble

Concerns over demolition works linked to the “Eternal Bukhara” tourism project have resurfaced following renewed questions directed at Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage Agency, as the project’s main developer faces financial difficulties. In 2024, The Times of Central Asia reported that construction of the large-scale tourism complex near the historic center of Bukhara had drawn criticism from local residents and UNESCO. The project, located in the buffer zone surrounding the ancient city, was seen as a potential threat to the integrity of one of Central Asia’s most significant cultural sites. According to Uzbek outlet Uzdiplomat, the issue was raised again during a...

Kyrgyz-Tajik Border

Kyrgyzstan Develops Territories Received from Tajikistan

The Kyrgyz authorities have adopted a resolution that transfers into state ownership land and real estate received from Tajikistan under the agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border. According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the State Agency for State Property Management must register the transferred assets on its balance sheet, after which they will be handed over to local administrations in the Batken and Leylek districts of Batken region. District authorities are expected to distribute the property among citizens who lost their homes and assets as a result of the border agreement, as well...

Freight Industry

Kazakhstan Proposes Creating a Digital Platform Within the EAEU to Coordinate Freight

Kazakhstan has proposed the creation of a unified digital platform for coordinating cargo flows within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov presented the proposal at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Shymkent. The proposal involves developing an integrated system based on AI that will improve the efficiency of logistics processes across the union. Currently, the EAEU comprises five countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Moldova, Uzbekistan, Cuba, and Iran hold observer status. According to Bektenov, the creation of a unified AI-based platform will reduce cargo delivery times and lower business costs. “In order to...

International Affairs

Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Are Reinforcing the Middle Corridor’s South Caucasus Link

On April 7 Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev visited Tbilisi to hold talks with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili and sign a 2026–2027 foreign-ministry cooperation program. He called Georgia “a key link” in the Europe–Asia transport architecture and said the common task was to raise corridor capacity, improve service predictability, and ensure tariff transparency. The materialization of the bilateral cooperation is already evident from last June’s opening of the Poti multimodal terminal by a joint Kazakhstani-Georgian company. The real meaning of Kosherbayev's discussions in Tbilisi lies in their context. On April 2 in Baku, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said Kazakhstan...

EU-Turkmenistan Relations

Turkmenistan Opens the Door a Little Wider to Europe

Middle East Crisis

Central Asia Welcomes Ceasefire, Urges Talks as Energy Risks Persist

Critical Minerals

Opinion: Supply Chains of Power: How Critical Minerals Are Shaping China–U.S. Competition in Central Asia

C6+1

Opinion: Trump Has Golden Opportunity to Launch C6+1 on Sidelines of UN

Foreign Affairs

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Visits Caucasus to Expand Trade and Transit Ties

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Yermek Kosherbayev, conducted a diplomatic tour of the South Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as part of Astana’s efforts to strengthen trade and economic ties, expand investment cooperation, and develop key transit routes between Central Asia and Europe. Armenia: Trade, Investment, and Digitalization In Yerevan, Kosherbayev held meetings with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President Vahagn Khachaturyan, and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. He conveyed greetings from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and highlighted the high level of bilateral cooperation. “Thanks to the efforts of the leaders, bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Armenia have reached a qualitatively new level,” Kosherbayev...

CIS

Moldova Moves to Leave CIS as Post-Soviet Bloc Loses Another Member

Moldova’s parliament approved, in final reading on April 2, the country’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with 60 deputies voting in favor. President Maia Sandu then promulgated the denunciation decrees, which were published in the Official Journal on April 8 and entered into force, with the Foreign Ministry set to notify the CIS. If Moldova’s withdrawal takes full legal effect after notification and the relevant notice period, eight CIS member states would remain: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The CIS was created immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union as a framework...

Middle East Crisis

Tokayev Welcomes Middle East Truce, Reaffirms Kazakhstan’s Support for Peace Efforts

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the "ceasefire and truce” announced in the Middle East, praising the mediation efforts of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. According to Kazakhstan’s presidential press office, Tokayev stated that “this agreement became possible due to the goodwill and wisdom of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the senior leadership of Iran, as well as all countries involved in the military conflict.” He added that he hoped the agreement would be lasting and would contribute to global trade and the economic prosperity of nations....

U.S.-Uzbekistan Relations

The American-Uzbek Business Council Launches in Washington

Washington D.C. - At the launch of the American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council in Washington on April 6, the most revealing line came early. Ambassador Sergio Gor, the White House’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, and Co-Chair of the Council, did not begin with trade statistics or a list of deliverables. He began with a blunt assessment of how the region has been treated in Washington. “For too long, this region has not found the attention that it deserves,” he said. That observation is hardly novel to anyone who follows Central Asia. What made it notable was the...

Life & Culture

Aviation

Pilots for Turkmenistan Airlines to Be Trained in Turkey

Turkmenistan Airlines has announced a recruitment campaign for candidates to study aviation at the Turkish Aeronautical Association University. The four-year program will be funded by the airline. Selection will be conducted on a competitive basis. Applicants must be male, under the age of 25, hold Turkmen citizenship, and have completed secondary education. Additional requirements include passing a medical examination at the Ashgabat Airport Medical Center and holding a valid military ID. The admission process consists of several stages. Candidates first undergo an initial interview with airline representatives, followed by entrance exams and an interview with representatives of the Turkish university....

TCA Interviews

How Kazakhstan’s Animation Industry: An Interview with an ARA Studios Co-Founder

Tennis

Kazakhstan’s Bublik Remembers Clay Court Moment with Monfils

TCA Interviews

“Ornament Is a Language”: How a Tattoo Artist from Almaty Turns Culture into Art on Skin

Internet Freedom

Turkmenistan Ranked Last Among Central Asian Countries in Internet Freedom Index

Chess

Sindarov and Asaubayeva: Two Top Chess Players from Central Asia Form Friendship

He’s from Uzbekistan, and she’s from Kazakhstan. They’re elite chess players and good friends accustomed to the high-pressure environment of international tournaments. They went horse-riding together during downtime in South Africa and, on another occasion, played a game in which they had to guess each other’s character quirks. Both are competing right now in Cyprus, where Uzbekistani Javokhir Sindarov is the frontrunner in the eight-player FIDE Candidates Tournament that will determine who challenges the world champion later this year. On the women’s side, Kazakhstani Bibisara Asaubayeva was tied for first place in the early stages of the event but has...

Film Industry

Construction Begins in Kazakhstan on a World-Class Film Studio for a Movie Starring Jackie Chan

A project has been launched in Kazakhstan’s Almaty region that could significantly transform the local film industry. Construction has begun in the city of Kaskelen on the “Dala Stage” film studio project, which is positioned as a world-class facility and is being developed with the participation of international partners. According to local authorities, one of the most notable moments at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was the delivery of a time capsule from Jackie Chan, which was transported by helicopter. The capsule was received by director Robert Koon, who is set to work on the first production at the new site,...

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, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard 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, we examine a series of significant developments across Central Asia, from the deepening fallout of Kyrgyzstan's political power struggle,...

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy in Kazakhstan Reaches Record High

Life expectancy in Kazakhstan has reached 75.97 years, setting a record for the entire period of independence, according to the Ministry of Health. For comparison, in 1991 the figure stood at 67.6 years; in 2001 it fell to 65.6 years; in 2011 it rose to 68.98 years; and in 2021 it reached 70.23 years. Overall, life expectancy has increased by more than eight years over the past three decades. The ministry attributes this growth largely to measures aimed at combating noncommunicable diseases. In 2025, Kazakhstan ranked among the top ten countries in the European Region of the World Health Organization...

Justice

Cyber Fraud

Kazakhstan Announces Crackdown on Counterfeit Cellular Base Station Scheme

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (AFM) has reported the dismantling of a cyber fraud scheme involving counterfeit cellular base stations. According to the agency, this is the first such case identified in the post-Soviet region. Authorities say the criminal group used the equipment to intercept data on a large scale and send phishing messages. According to the AFM, the attackers used a special device, a so-called SMS blaster that imitated the operation of mobile operator base stations. The device generated a strong signal within a radius of up to 300 meters, causing mobile phones to connect to it automatically and switch...

Crocus City Hall Attack

Second Attack in Moscow Was Planned Alongside Crocus City Hall Assault

Death in custody

Convicted Crocus City Hall attack Defendant Found Dead in Moscow Detention Center

Cotton Industry

Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector: Focus Shifts to Farmers as Dialogue Continues

prisoner transfer

Russia Ready to Transfer Over 3,000 Uzbek Prisoners

court case

Kyrgyz Bank Wins Brussels Court Case Over Sanctions Accusations

Kyrgyzstan's Bakai Bank has announced victory in a Brussels court case against the non-governmental organization Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), which had previously published materials calling for sanctions against the bank. The court said the allegations were not supported by sufficient evidence. According to the bank, it filed the lawsuit to protect its business reputation after the Open Dialogue Foundation published materials in 2023 calling for sanctions against the financial institution to be considered. The ODF publications alleged that the bank may have been involved in schemes to circumvent European Union anti-Russian sanctions. Bakai Bank denied these allegations and initiated legal...

migrant workers

Uzbekistan Officials Intervene Over Wage Delays for Migrant Workers in Russia

Uzbek diplomats and migration officials have intervened to resolve wage disputes affecting dozens of Uzbek citizens working in Russia’s Tyumen region, according to a report by Dunyo Information Agency. Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Yekaterinburg, together with officials from the Migration Agency, traveled to the city of Tobolsk, where they met with more than 100 Uzbek citizens working temporarily for local companies. The delegation organized an on-site reception, providing legal and consular assistance and clarifying issues related to passport processing and compliance with migration laws. During the meetings, officials also warned workers about the risks of engaging with illegal...

Power Struggle

Kyrgyzstan Faces Elite Realignment as Tashiyev Network Comes Under Pressure

In the last week, political tensions in Kyrgyzstan have risen following the arrest of Shairbek Tashiyev, the brother of Kamchybek Tashiyev, the former head of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB). Shairbek, a former member of the Jogorku Kenesh, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, was detained on April 1 following questioning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The case unfolds against the backdrop of a widening rift between President Sadyr Japarov and his once long-time ally Tashiyev, who played a key role in helping Japarov consolidate power following the political upheaval of October 2020. After coming to power, President Japarov and Tashiyev built...

animal welfare

Uzbekistan Drafts New Law to Strengthen Animal Protection

Lawmakers in Uzbekistan are preparing a draft law aimed at strengthening protections for animals and addressing animal cruelty more systematically, according to the Ecological Party’s faction in the Legislative Chamber. Despite a reported decline in incidents in recent years, cases of animal cruelty continue to be reported, often without a clear motive and sometimes for entertainment, the party said. Deputies argue that existing measures, although recently tightened, remain insufficient to fully address the problem. On March 25, Uzbekistan adopted amendments increasing penalties for animal cruelty. Under the revised rules, offenders may face fines ranging from 15 to 25 times the...

Environment

Air Quality

Air Quality Report Shows Central Asia’s Air Getting Rapidly Worse

Tajikistan ranked as the world’s third most polluted country in 2025, according to the latest World Air Quality Report by IQAir. The report analyzed PM2.5 concentrations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries and territories. PM2.5, fine particulate matter measured in micrograms per cubic meter, is widely used as a key indicator of air pollution. The five most polluted countries in 2025 were Pakistan (67.3 µg/m³), Bangladesh (66.1 µg/m³), Tajikistan (57.3 µg/m³), Chad (53.6 µg/m³), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (50.2 µg/m³). Only 13 countries and territories met the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, including...

Mountains

Kyrgyzstan Elected First Vice-Chair of UN Mountain Partnership

Climate Change

Melting Glaciers Becoming an Increasing Threat to Central Asia’s Resources

Water

Kazakhstan Launches Water Spring Clean-Up Campaign

Desertification

Environmental Pressures Affect Up to 80% of Irrigated Land in Turkmenistan

Qosh Tepa Canal

Afghanistan Advances Qosh Tepa Canal While Urging Regional Water Cooperation

Uzbekistan just hosted the Tashkent Water Week forum, and the speaker many wanted to hear from was the representative from Afghanistan. Central Asia and Afghanistan are being hit hard by climate change. This region has endured several droughts already this decade, and indications are that this year will bring drought again. Hanging over the forum was Afghanistan’s plan to complete the Qosh-Tepa Canal in 2028, which will draw water from a river that Central Asian countries also use and further complicate the regional water situation. [caption id="attachment_18865" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Qosh Tepa Canal, artist's rendition; image: TCA, Aleksandr Potolitsyn[/caption] Our Fair...

Air Quality

Uzbekistan Launches “Clean Air” Project to Cut Pollution by 2030

Uzbekistan has approved a nationwide environmental initiative aimed at improving air quality and reducing pollution over the next five years, according to a presidential decree published on March 25. The decree outlines the implementation of the “Clean Air” national project for 2026-2030. The program sets a target of reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere by 10.5% and strengthening environmental monitoring across key industrial sectors. Under the plan, enterprises classified as having a significant environmental impact will be required to install automatic monitoring systems, as well as dust and gas purification equipment. The initiative also aims to reduce the number of...

Conservation

“Great News” for the Striped Hyena at Brazil Meeting, Conservation Group Says

Countries attending a U.N.-backed migratory species conference in Brazil have agreed to increased protections for the striped hyena, whose vast range includes parts of Central Asia, according to an international conservation group. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan had submitted the proposal to upgrade protections for the species during a meeting of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in Campo Grande this week. “The Committee agreed by consensus to the proposal to include the striped hyena in Appendices I and II,” and the approval will become official at a plenary meeting on Sunday, said Susan Lieberman, vice president for international policy...

Environment

Kyrgyz Retailers Prepare for Gradual Phase-Out of Plastic

Pressure is increasing on businesses in Kyrgyzstan to reduce their use of plastic. However, judging by the government’s latest initiatives, the transition to new environmental standards is expected to be gradual and shaped by compromise. The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision has announced the launch of the “Green Entrepreneur” platform, through which companies willing to phase out plastic can obtain official recognition. The initiative comes alongside preparations for large-scale restrictions on the use of plastic bags, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Although a full ban has not yet been introduced, several major retailers have...

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Are Reinforcing the Middle Corridor’s South Caucasus Link

Latest

Features

Features

Arrests, Agreements and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Arrests, Agreements and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Javier M. Piedra

Ken Moriyasu

Aidar Borangaziyev

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

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Considers National Messaging App Aitu for Insurance Companies

Kazakhstan and China Launch Hydrogen Energy Technology Innovation Center

Investments, Resources, and Digital Transformation: How Central Asia Can Preserve Its Strategic Balance

Turkmenistan’s Air Connectivity Shows Little Change Despite Expansion Plans

Kazakhstan’s Logistics: Mukhtar Tolegen on Infrastructure and Reform

Local Politics

Local Politics

Kazakh MP Calls for a Legislative Ban on Radical Religious Movements

AI Will Help the Kyrgyz Parliament Speed Up the Legislative Process

Bukhara Demolitions Resurface as Developer Faces Financial Trouble

Kyrgyzstan Develops Territories Received from Tajikistan

Kazakhstan Proposes Creating a Digital Platform Within the EAEU to Coordinate Freight

International Affairs

International Affairs

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Are Reinforcing the Middle Corridor’s South Caucasus Link

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Visits Caucasus to Expand Trade and Transit Ties

Moldova Moves to Leave CIS as Post-Soviet Bloc Loses Another Member

Tokayev Welcomes Middle East Truce, Reaffirms Kazakhstan’s Support for Peace Efforts

The American-Uzbek Business Council Launches in Washington

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Pilots for Turkmenistan Airlines to Be Trained in Turkey

Sindarov and Asaubayeva: Two Top Chess Players from Central Asia Form Friendship

Construction Begins in Kazakhstan on a World-Class Film Studio for a Movie Starring Jackie Chan

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

Life Expectancy in Kazakhstan Reaches Record High

Justice

Justice

Kazakhstan Announces Crackdown on Counterfeit Cellular Base Station Scheme