The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

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...

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...

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...

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

Sanctions

Iran Sanctions and European Energy Security: Compliance Considerations for Caspian Trade

On February 6, 2026, the United States announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iranian petroleum shipping networks, designating 15 entities, two individuals, and 14 vessels involved in transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products in circumvention of existing restrictions. Taken pursuant to existing executive authorities and aligned with National Security...

Central Asian Startups

Where Motherhood Meets Innovation: The Kyrgyz Startup Mama Space

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

00:00 / 00:00

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

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

State Visit

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

Personal Data

Uzbekistan Eases Data Localization Rules to Support Global Payment Platforms

B5+1

B5+1 Forum Opens as U.S. Companies Expand Economic Footprint in Central Asia

Healthcare technology

Kazakh Scientists Launch Medical Exoskeleton for Stroke Rehabilitation

Researchers at Nazarbayev University have completed development and secured state registration for a medical exoskeleton designed to aid stroke rehabilitation. The device is now ready for clinical use and mass production, according to the university’s press service. Named the Astana Gait Exoskeleton Assisted Rehabilitation (A.GEAR), the system is intended to help restore motor function in stroke survivors and individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. It received official certification following a positive evaluation from the National Center for Expertise of Medicines and Medical Devices. Nazarbayev University stated that this is one of the few high-tech medical solutions developed domestically that has received full...

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

When Kazakh AI startup Higgsfield announced an $80 million funding round this month, its valuation soared past $1.3 billion, officially granting it “unicorn” status. For Silicon Valley observers, it marked another chapter in the ongoing boom in AI. But for Kazakhstan, a country seldom spotlighted in global tech circles, the milestone carries broader significance: the emergence of a homegrown company with global reach and competitiveness. Higgsfield was co-founded by 29-year-olds Erzat Dulat and Alex Mashrabov. The startup focuses on AI-generated video tools tailored for marketing and social media use and currently reports annual revenue of $200 million. Remarkably, the company...

Central Asian Startups

Where Motherhood Meets Innovation: The Kyrgyz Startup Mama Space

Female tech founders face a lot more challenges globally, and Kyrgyzstan's startup ecosystem is unfortunately no exception. Being a nascent stage ecosystem makes things even worse: according to IFC, in emerging markets, only 11% of seed funding goes to startups with women on their founding team. Despite such significant barriers, there is a generation of female founders with global ambitions. One of them is Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, who is using technology to make pregnancy and motherhood more peaceful. Mama Space provides an ecosystem for pregnancy and motherhood. Its pregnancy tracker covers every stage, providing an entire library of up-to-date, medically approved articles...

public transport

Kazakhstan’s Falcon EuroBus to Supply 600 Electric Buses to Pakistan

Falcon EuroBus, founded in 2018 in Almaty, has signed an agreement with Pakistan to supply 600 electric buses. The deal is one of the largest export contracts for Kazakhstan’s engineering industry in the public transport sector. Falcon EuroBus produces a range of buses that meet European quality standards. The company’s current production capacity stands at 1,500 buses per year, with plans to expand it to 3,000 units. Uzbekistan and Mongolia have already expressed interest in its products, and Pakistan has now joined that list. A memorandum on the supply of electric buses was signed between Falcon EuroBus and Pakistani carrier...

Local Politics

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 increasingly ambivalent. Officially, military service is presented as an honorable civic duty, with promises of educational preferences and social benefits upon completion. In practice, many young Kazakhs seek ways to avoid conscription, motivated not just by the disruption of a year out of civilian life, but by fears of hazing...

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

Nipah Virus

Kyrgyzstan Bans Animal Imports from India to Prevent Nipah Virus Spread

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...

Corruption

Uzbekistan Uncovers Large-Scale Corruption, Files Charges Against Senior Interior Officials

Uzbekistan has launched criminal proceedings against senior officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as part of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has exposed extensive financial violations across the country. At a government meeting on January 27, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that investigations had uncovered 53 trillion Uzbekistani som ($4.38 billion) in financial irregularities and misappropriated funds. Of that, damage linked directly to corruption schemes totaled 4.2 trillion som ($347.3 million), according to a statement from the president’s press secretary. Authorities reported that 1.3 trillion som ($107.5 million) in damages has already been recovered, and 55 individuals have been arrested...

International Affairs

Trump Administration

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

The United States plans to host a meeting this month of the “Board of Peace” that President Donald Trump set up. The attendance list is still in the works, and there is no word yet on whether the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which are among more than two-dozen member countries, will attend the gathering in Washington on February 19. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev traveled to Davos, Switzerland, last month to join Trump for the signing ceremony of the board, which supporters say is aimed at resolving Gaza and other conflicts around the world....

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.

EU Sanctions

Kyrgyzstan’s Sanctions Dilemma: Drifting from the Central Asian Consensus?

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...

U.S.-Kazakhstan Relations

Tokayev Praises Trump’s ‘Common-Sense’ Governance, Backs U.S.-Led Peace Initiatives

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has offered rare and explicit praise for the domestic and foreign policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, describing him as a strong leader whose governance model prioritizes national interests, law and order, and pragmatic diplomacy. In an exclusive interview with The News International during his visit to Islamabad, President Tokayev described President Trump’s leadership as “forward-looking,” pointing to what he characterized as strong economic performance and ongoing transformative reforms in the social sphere in the United States. “President Trump is a strong and forward-looking leader who puts the national interests of his country first,” Tokayev said,...

Life & Culture

TCA Interviews

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

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 a blogger and is developing her own beauty business in the American market. She spoke with The Times of Central Asia about adapting to life abroad, navigating the U.S. blogging scene, and the challenges and rewards of launching a business as a Kazakhstani immigrant. TCA: Inna, how long have you...

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

Air Transport

From Alatau to Almaty by Air: How Kazakhstan’s First Air Taxi Service Will Operate

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...

Road Safety

Kyrgyzstan Tightens Traffic Enforcement, Mandates Retesting for Repeat Offenders

Kyrgyzstan has implemented stricter traffic enforcement measures aimed at curbing repeat violations and improving road safety. Under the new rules, drivers who commit three serious traffic violations within a 12-month period will be required to retake the traffic rules exam. Offenses triggering mandatory retesting include driving without license plates, failing to stop at the request of traffic police, exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h, failing to yield to emergency vehicles, entering the oncoming lane while overtaking, damaging road infrastructure, causing injury, and permitting an intoxicated or unlicensed individual to drive. The initiative is part of a broader...

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

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...

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

Environment

Public Hearing Set for Sea Breeze Uzbekistan Project Near Charvak Lake

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? ...

Waste

Tajikistan Is Drowning in Plastic: Inside a Waste System Under Strain

According to domestic sector-specific sources, more than nine million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated annually in Tajikistan, of which around 322,000 tonnes is plastic. The key feature of plastic waste is its extreme resistance to decomposition; it can persist in natural environments for decades or even centuries, accumulating in soil and water bodies. However, estimates of total waste generation vary widely depending on the source, with international organizations offering more conservative figures. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), for instance, reports approximately two million tonnes of formally collected municipal waste generated annually in Tajikistan. This discrepancy is...

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

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

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

Kazakh Scientists Launch Medical Exoskeleton for Stroke Rehabilitation

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

Where Motherhood Meets Innovation: The Kyrgyz Startup Mama Space

Kazakhstan’s Falcon EuroBus to Supply 600 Electric Buses to Pakistan

Local Politics

Local Politics

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

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

Uzbekistan Uncovers Large-Scale Corruption, Files Charges Against Senior Interior Officials

International Affairs

International Affairs

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

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

Tokayev Praises Trump’s ‘Common-Sense’ Governance, Backs U.S.-Led Peace Initiatives

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

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

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

Kyrgyzstan Tightens Traffic Enforcement, Mandates Retesting for Repeat Offenders

Justice

Justice

Kazakhstan Proposes Restrictions on Social Media Access for Minors