The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Kazakh producer and screenwriter Inna Baitukenova, known for projects such as Satash, the documentary Oleg: The Story of Oleg Vidov, and the television series Ana Zhuregi and Taitalas, has opened a new chapter in her professional life since relocating to the U.S. A lawyer by education, she now works as...

Investments

EBRD Invested Over $100 Million in Tajikistan’s Economy in 2025

Football

Abdukodir Khusanov Named Manchester City’s Player of the Month for January

Uzbekistan national team defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been named Manchester City’s Player of the Month for January, marking a major milestone in his early Premier League career. The club announced that Khusanov won the fan vote by a wide margin following a string of standout performances. The 21-year-old made seven...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode – B5+1, Sanctions, and a New Constitution – 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...

Armed Forces

In the Line of Duty: Hazing, Tragedy, and Reform in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces

Kazakhstan mandates universal military conscription for men between the ages of 18 and 27, with a standard service term of 12 months. Tens of thousands of young men are drafted into the military each year during two annual call-up periods. Evasion is illegal, yet public attitudes toward mandatory service are...

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

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Opinions

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

Opinion: After the UN Gaza Resolution – Kazakhstan’s Potential Role

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Abraham Accords Can Help Kazakhstan Reshape Its Energy Future

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Electoral Reforms – Why Officials and Experts Are Reconsidering Local Democracy

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Central Asia Is Consolidating Its Role as a Full-Fledged Actor in Global Processes

Mavlon Bobokhonov

Business & Economy

Infrastructure Development

Uzbekistan and Islamic Development Bank Sign $164 Million Agreements for Roads and Schools

Uzbekistan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have signed new financing agreements totaling $164 million to support major infrastructure and education initiatives, further deepening a partnership that plays a key role in the country’s long-term development strategy. The agreements were formalized on February 8 in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, during the Second AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies. Prior to the signing, both sides held bilateral talks focused on scaling up cooperation across transport, education, and other high-priority sectors. The discussions emphasized the importance of projects that strengthen regional connectivity and human capital. Road Infrastructure: 4R40 Project One agreement allocates $70...

Data Centers

Kazakhstan to Establish International Computing Hub in Pavlodar Region

Healthcare technology

Kazakh Scientists Launch Medical Exoskeleton for Stroke Rehabilitation

Kazakh Startup Higgsfield Becomes AI Unicorn, Signaling Nation’s Tech Aspirations

Central Asian Startups

Where Motherhood Meets Innovation: The Kyrgyz Startup Mama Space

Freight Industry

Kyrgyzstan Launches e-Permit System for Freight Transport to China and Turkic States

Kyrgyzstan has launched a new digital system for international freight transport, replacing paper permits with an electronic platform for cross-border trucking to China and several Turkic states. The Ministry of Transport and Communications introduced the e-Permit system in January 2026, allowing domestic carriers to obtain permits online for shipments to China, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Previously, Kyrgyzstan and China operated under a fixed annual quota of paper permits exchanged on a parity basis; 130,000 permits were issued in 2025 alone. The digital platform eliminates in-person applications, significantly reducing queues and administrative burden. According to the ministry, the new system has...

Investments

EBRD Invested Over $100 Million in Tajikistan’s Economy in 2025

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested nearly $103 million in Tajikistan’s economy in 2025, signing 19 agreements over the course of the year. The funding targeted key sectors including energy, transport, municipal infrastructure, and private sector development. According to the bank, 83% of its 2025 loan portfolio in Tajikistan supported sustainable infrastructure projects. Another 14% of resources were channelled through local banks to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women’s and youth entrepreneurship initiatives, and programs focused on climate adaptation and resource efficiency. The public sector received the majority of financing, accounting for 83% of the EBRD’s...

Pakistan

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

A historic shift is quietly but decisively reshaping the economic geography of Eurasia. On 5 February 2026, Pakistan and Kazakhstan agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Pakistan— the first such visit by a Kazakh head of state in 23 years. This moment marked far more than a diplomatic renewal; it signaled a potential turning point in regional connectivity, one that could unlock long-suppressed economic potential across Central Asia and South Asia by overcoming longstanding geographical and logistical barriers. For decades, Central Asia’s landlocked status has imposed structural...

State Visit

Uzbekistan, Pakistan Set $2 Billion Trade Target Following High-Level Talks in Islamabad

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Islamabad on a state visit on February 5, marking a new chapter in Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations. According to official sources, the Uzbek leader’s aircraft was escorted by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets upon entering the country’s airspace. At Nur Khan Airbase, Mirziyoyev was received by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and senior Pakistani officials. Shortly after his arrival, Mirziyoyev visited the headquarters of Global Industrial & Defence Solutions, where he met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. The two sides discussed strengthening the strategic partnership, with an emphasis...

Local Politics

Presidential Election

Is Kyrgyzstan About to Have a Snap President Election?

Kyrgyzstan held early parliamentary elections at the end of November 2025 that were moved forward by a year so that they would not overlap with the campaign for the presidential election scheduled for January 2027. On February 9, a group of 75 former officials and notable figures from various spheres of society publicly submitted a letter to the president and speaker of parliament calling on them to “immediately initiate a new election for president.” While there has yet to be any official response, such a proposal is likely to be accepted, leaving anyone who planned on running against incumbent President...

Armed Forces

In the Line of Duty: Hazing, Tragedy, and Reform in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces

Parliamentary Reform

Kazakhstan’s Draft Constitution and the Reordering of State Authority

Road Safety

Kyrgyzstan Suspends Private Driving Schools in Bid to Improve Road Safety

Urban development

Bishkek Unveils New Master Plan for 2050

Healthcare

Tokayev to Personally Oversee Probe Into Medical Insurance Fund Embezzlement

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to personally oversee the investigation into large-scale embezzlement from Kazakhstan’s Social Medical Insurance Fund (SMIF) and has instructed the government to accelerate the rollout of a unified national healthcare information system. The move follows a series of alarming revelations about systemic fraud in the medical insurance system. In January, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered that control of the SMIF be transferred to the Ministry of Finance to bring financial flows under tighter oversight. Subsequent audits uncovered widespread violations, including the registration of fictitious patients, the billing of unnecessary medical services, duplicate financing of procedures, and...

Civil Service

Kazakh Civil Servants Fined Nearly $100,000 for Poor Public Services

In 2025, Kazakh civil servants were fined a total of $99,300 for violations related to the provision of public services, according to the Agency for Civil Service Affairs (ACSA). The agency reported that 917 administrative reports were filed against 442 officials for infractions such as missed deadlines, improper procedures for issuing permits, and unjustified refusals of service. Of those held accountable, 375 were local government employees and 67 represented central government agencies. In addition to financial penalties, 1,636 public employees faced disciplinary measures, 1,331 from local administrations and 305 from ministries and central agencies. Among them, 27.3% were in managerial...

Political Reforms

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

On January 20, 2026, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, addressed the nation at a session of the National Kurultai, an age-old platform for public dialogue, akin to a wise men’s council – at any rate, that’s how it’s often billed. To no one’s surprise, Tokayev pressed ahead with his stated agenda of political reform, highlighting foreign, economic, and development policies and goals. While not devoid of interest, those parts of the speech felt like little more than window dressing that tended to obscure the address’s underlying fire and true import. Tokayev’s oration seemed at points to echo Alexis de...

Kyrgyz-Uzbek border

Kyrgyzstan Seeks End to Extra Transit Fees for Its Citizens Crossing Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan has formally requested that Uzbekistan eliminate additional fees imposed on Kyrgyz citizens transiting through Uzbek territory, including charges for vehicle insurance and window tinting. The matter was raised during a session of the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament), where Deputy Foreign Minister Almaz Imangaziev confirmed that negotiations with Uzbek authorities are ongoing. According to Imangaziev, the request is currently under internal review in Uzbekistan. “When Kyrgyz citizens transit through Uzbekistan, mainly en route to the southern regions of our country, they are required to purchase car insurance and pay additional fees if their windows are tinted. On our side, no such...

International Affairs

TCA Interviews

Ukrainian Ambassador to Kazakhstan: “The War Will End This Year. I Truly Believe In That.”

As the war between Russia and Ukraine approaches its fourth year, diplomatic efforts to reshape trade routes, energy flows, and regional partnerships are intensifying far beyond the battlefield. For Ukraine, Central Asia has emerged as an increasingly important economic and logistical partner, particularly as Kyiv seeks alternatives to disrupted transport corridors and supply chains. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Viktor Mayko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, about the prospects for deeper economic cooperation with Central Asia, the role of the Middle Corridor, energy transit challenges in the Caspian region, Kyiv’s expectations for international support, and a possible path toward...

Trump Administration

U.S. to Host “Board of Peace” Meeting on February 19

Russia

Nearly 200 Uzbek Citizens Sought Asylum in Russia in 2025

U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

Behind Turkmenistan’s Neutrality, Quiet U.S. Military Ties Endure

Military Cooperation

Kyrgyzstan Expands Security Cooperation with the U.S.

Human Rights

Up to 300 Tajik Women and Children Remain in Syria and Iraq

An estimated 250 to 300 Tajik women and children remain in Syria and Iraq, according to Suhaili Kodiri Abduhafizzoda, Head of the Department for State Protection of Children's Rights at the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Tajikistan. Abduhafizzoda stated that the repatriation process, previously overseen by a dedicated Tajik working group, has stalled since the change of government in Syria. At its peak, approximately 800 Tajik nationals, mainly women and children, were believed to be in the two countries. While more than half have returned home, hundreds remain stranded. Four Repatriation Waves Since 2019 Tajikistan has conducted four...

Fatal accident

11-Year-Old Uzbek Girl Killed by School Bus in Brooklyn

An 11-year-old girl from Uzbekistan was fatally struck by a school bus on the afternoon of February 5 in the Bath Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Daily News reported. The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. at the intersection of Bath Avenue and 23rd Avenue. According to police, the girl was crossing the street when a yellow school bus turned into the crosswalk and hit her. She was transported to Maimonides Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The victim, later identified as Amira Aminova, had just purchased chocolate at a nearby store moments before the collision. Wael Alghithi,...

Pakistan

Kazakhstan Bets on Pakistan for Central Asian Connectivity

In early February, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a historic visit to Pakistan. The last such visit was a two-day trip in 2003 by then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev, during which he met with the Pakistani president at the time, General Pervez Musharraf. Kazakhstan’s outreach to Pakistan reflects a broader recalibration of its connectivity strategy, as Astana looks to secure more reliable southbound trade routes amid shifting geopolitical and logistical constraints across Eurasia. The topic of connectivity was already on the table in 2003, and it was also one of the most important issues during the latest visit, with Tokayev discussing the...

U.S.-Central Asia Engagement

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

The Trump Administration has decided to go head-to-head with Beijing to secure an independent supply chain for critical minerals and insulate U.S. industries from supply shocks. Among many initiatives, the United States launched Project Vault on February 2 to establish a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve. The public-private stockpile is expected to secure essential minerals and metals for U.S. national security purposes and high-technology industries. The effort formalizes the U.S. strategy to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from rival China and, in the process, harness broader global capacity. As part of this effort, mineral-rich Central Asia is already factoring...

Life & Culture

Nurlan Saburov

A Stranger Among His Own: Rejected by Russia, Kazakh Comedian Nurlan Saburov Faces Cold Reception at Home

Kazakh comedian Nurlan Saburov has become the third stand-up performer to be officially barred from entering Russia, this time with a 50-year entry ban. The decision, reportedly issued on national security grounds, follows years of mounting controversy surrounding the artist, who has struggled to reconcile his dual identity as a Kazakhstani citizen and a celebrity shaped by Russian showbusiness. From Stepnogorsk to Moscow Spotlight Born in 1991 in Stepnogorsk (Akmola region, Kazakhstan), Saburov’s career took off through KVN, the long-running Soviet-era improv competition, after enrolling at Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg. In 2014, he relocated to Moscow with his family...

TCA Interviews

Life After Relocation: Kazakhstani Inna Baitukenova on the U.S., Blogging, and Building a Business

Football

Abdukodir Khusanov Named Manchester City’s Player of the Month for January

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode – B5+1, Sanctions, and a New Constitution – Out Now

Starlink

Starlink Satellite Internet Now Available in Tajikistan

Education

Uzbekistan Bets on Digital Schools to Turn Demographic Growth into Human Capital

With one of Central Asia’s youngest populations and a rapidly changing economy, Uzbekistan is betting that education – particularly digital and inclusive schooling – can determine whether demographic growth becomes an economic asset or a long-term challenge. Officials from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Preschool and School Education say the country’s education system is being reshaped to support a development model centered on human capital, equal opportunity, and modern skills. The reforms are anchored in the national Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy, which identifies education and human capital development as central pillars of long-term economic and social transformation. Around 6.8 million students are enrolled...

Tourism

New Rail Tour Launched Across Silk Road Routes in Central Asia

Rail tourism is gaining traction in Central Asia, offering travelers a slower yet more immersive way to experience the region’s historic Silk Road cities. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have recently expanded their joint Jibek Joly tourist train route to include Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, an initiative that further strengthens regional railway tourism. A new high-end offering has now entered the market. British operator Golden Eagle Luxury Trains has launched The Grand Silk Road, a 22-day luxury rail journey traversing key cultural and historical landmarks along the ancient Silk Road corridor. Spanning approximately 3,862 kilometers, the route begins in Beijing and...

Pharmaceuticals

Digital Labeling Uncovers Widespread Violations in Kazakhstan’s Pharma Sector

Kazakhstan’s digital drug labeling system, which was due to be fully implemented by the end of 2025, has revealed extensive violations in the distribution and retail of pharmaceuticals. Infractions include the sale of medicines designated for free public distribution, code reuse, and the sale of expired drugs. Introduced in mid-2024, the digital labeling system assigns a unique identifier to every medication package. Kazakhstan is now the only country in Central Asia with a state-controlled, end-to-end digital traceability system covering the entire pharmaceutical supply chain from production and import to pharmacy sales. According to Tanba, the unified national operator for product...

Classical Music

Uzbek Pianist Delivers “Blazing” Performance with National Symphony Orchestra in DC

Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in the American orchestra’s first performance there since President Donald Trump said he was closing the performing arts venue for two years starting in July. Abduraimov joined Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda and the orchestra at the center on Thursday night, with performances scheduled on Friday and Saturday. The pianist delivered a “blazing” debut with the orchestra - also known by its acronym NSO – with his performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the Washington Classical Review reported. “The display of technical...

Justice

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...

Karachaganak

Why Kazakhstan Is Not Celebrating Its Multi-Billion-Dollar Win in the Karachaganak Oil Arbitration Just Yet

Alisher Usmanov

German Court Restricts Media Claims About Russian-Uzbek Billionaire Alisher Usmanov

Protests

Killing of Uzbek Migrant Woman in Istanbul Sparks Protests in Turkey

Criminal Investigation

Olympic Boxing Champion Serik Sapiyev Assaulted by Deputy

Healthcare regulation

Kazakhstan Moves to Regulate Chinese Medicine Clinics

Amanzhol Altai, a deputy of the Mazhilis, has submitted a formal request to the Ministry of Health proposing tighter oversight of centers operating under labels such as “Eastern medicine,” “Chinese medicine,” “acupuncture,” and “manual therapy.” The central proposal is the creation of an open digital register of such institutions, particularly those involving foreign specialists. According to the deputy, he regularly receives complaints from citizens about the provision of medical services without proper licenses or verified qualifications, the performance of invasive procedures in violation of sanitary standards, the use of unregistered medicines, and misleading advertising that promises to “cure” serious illnesses....

Ministerial Dismissals

Uzbekistan Fires Counter-Narcotics Chief as Drug Trade Surges

In late January, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sacked a series of high-ranking officials in the Interior Ministry, National Guard, and the Emergency Situations Ministry. Their dismissals for corruption overshadowed the firing of the director of the Agency for Control of Narcotics and Illegal Firearms, who was let go for failing badly to combat illegal trafficking and use of drugs. Poor Results Ravshan Mamatov was appointed director of the National Center for Narcotics Control in August 2024. In July 2025, a presidential decree transformed the center into the Agency for Control of Narcotics and Illegal Firearms. On January 27, President Mirziyoyev...

Karachaganak

Shell and Eni Face Up to $4 Billion Payout to Kazakhstan After Arbitration Ruling

Oil and gas majors Shell and Eni, key stakeholders in Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak field, have lost a key stage in an international arbitration case in London and may be required to pay the Kazakh government between $2 billion and $4 billion in compensation. The decision was first reported by Bloomberg. According to the ruling, the arbitration panel upheld Kazakhstan’s argument that the project operators had charged the state under a production sharing agreement (PSA) for unapproved cost overruns and other ineligible expenses. The tribunal found that a significant share of the disputed costs should not have been recovered from the state,...

Criminal justice reform

Uzbekistan Proposes Tougher Penalties for Violence Against Women and Children

Uzbekistan is preparing a comprehensive package of legal reforms aimed at eliminating violence against women and children and establishing a societal culture of zero tolerance toward abuse. The measures are outlined in a draft State Program tied to the implementation of the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy and the national reform agenda for the Year of Mahalla Development and Community Advancement. Under the proposed reforms, criminal penalties for acts of violence against women and minors would be significantly increased. One of the most consequential provisions includes harsher sentencing for sexual crimes against children under 14, including the possibility of life imprisonment. The draft...

Environment

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

Qosh Tepa Canal

Opinion – Qosh Tepa Canal: Transboundary Impacts Without a Transboundary Mechanism

Air Pollution

Bishkek’s Air Pollution Crisis Comes Under Parliamentary Scrutiny

Northern Aral Sea Rescue Project

Astana Accelerates Northern Aral Sea Recovery Plan

Water Resources

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

A long-standing debate over Kyrgyzstan’s water resources resurfaced this week after a member of parliament questioned why Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan do not compensate Kyrgyzstan for irrigation water sourced from its reservoirs, according to a report by Kaktus Media. Speaking at a February 9 meeting of the parliamentary committee on agrarian policy, water resources, ecology, and subsoil use, MP Umbetaly Kydyraliev raised concerns about growing water shortages caused by climate change and the lack of economic return from water exports to neighboring countries. “About 80% of the water in our reservoirs goes to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” said Kydyraliev. “How are we...

Lake Issyk-Kul

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

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 4, Bakyt Torobaev, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, highlighted the growing threat climate change poses to Lake Issyk-Kul, the country’s largest lake, a unique ecological reserve, and one of Central Asia’s leading tourist destinations. Torobaev described Issyk-Kul as a unique ecosystem of regional significance and a vital socioeconomic and environmental resource for Kyrgyzstan. However, in recent decades, the lake has experienced serious climate-related pressures, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. Since the mid-19th century, the lake’s water...

Water Conservation

Kazakhstan’s Water Ministry Approves Roadmap to Eliminate the “Black Market” for Water

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in coordination with the General Prosecutor's Office, has unveiled a comprehensive action plan to combat illegal water abstraction, commonly referred to as the “black market” for water. The roadmap was presented at an interdepartmental meeting earlier this week. The plan outlines systematic measures, including a nationwide audit of water resources, the mapping of regions vulnerable to illegal abstraction, and a review of state funding allocated for water infrastructure development. It also calls for the adoption of water-saving technologies and the implementation of anti-corruption mechanisms. Interdepartmental working groups will be established at both national...

TCA Interviews

Attempting to Build a Litter-Free Kazakhstan: An Interview with Ecologist Kamila Akimbekova

Ten years ago, waste recycling in Almaty was largely the domain of individual enthusiasts. Today, environmental campaigns draw thousands, and conversations about responsible consumption have become part of daily life for many city residents. One of the pioneers of this movement is Kamila Akimbekova, an eco-influencer and co-organizer of environmental initiatives. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, she reflects on the evolution of Almaty’s eco-community, the principles behind the zero waste concept, and how small, consistent changes can reshape a city. TCA: Kamila, you had a successful career in banking. What prompted your transition to environmental activism? ...

Ukrainian Ambassador to Kazakhstan: “The War Will End This Year. I Truly Believe In That.”

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo & Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi

Dr. Eric Rudenshiold

Javier M. Piedra

Anvar Nazirov

Nilaya Magidish

Timur Serikuly

William Cui

Altair Akhmetov

Timur Serikuly

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Andrei Matveev

Mavlon Bobokhonov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Uzbekistan and Islamic Development Bank Sign $164 Million Agreements for Roads and Schools

Kyrgyzstan Launches e-Permit System for Freight Transport to China and Turkic States

EBRD Invested Over $100 Million in Tajikistan’s Economy in 2025

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

Uzbekistan, Pakistan Set $2 Billion Trade Target Following High-Level Talks in Islamabad

Local Politics

Local Politics

Is Kyrgyzstan About to Have a Snap President Election?

Tokayev to Personally Oversee Probe Into Medical Insurance Fund Embezzlement

Kazakh Civil Servants Fined Nearly $100,000 for Poor Public Services

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

Kyrgyzstan Seeks End to Extra Transit Fees for Its Citizens Crossing Uzbekistan

International Affairs

International Affairs

Ukrainian Ambassador to Kazakhstan: “The War Will End This Year. I Truly Believe In That.”

Up to 300 Tajik Women and Children Remain in Syria and Iraq

11-Year-Old Uzbek Girl Killed by School Bus in Brooklyn

Kazakhstan Bets on Pakistan for Central Asian Connectivity

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

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

A Stranger Among His Own: Rejected by Russia, Kazakh Comedian Nurlan Saburov Faces Cold Reception at Home

Uzbekistan Bets on Digital Schools to Turn Demographic Growth into Human Capital

New Rail Tour Launched Across Silk Road Routes in Central Asia

Digital Labeling Uncovers Widespread Violations in Kazakhstan’s Pharma Sector

Uzbek Pianist Delivers “Blazing” Performance with National Symphony Orchestra in DC

Justice

Justice

Kazakhstan Proposes Restrictions on Social Media Access for Minors