The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

An independent audit of Tajikistan’s flagship Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) has flagged serious financial reporting concerns, including a possible understatement of the company’s share capital. The findings, cited by Asia-Plus from the auditor’s conclusion, point to broader risks in the management of one of Central Asia’s most ambitious infrastructure projects....

Orthodox Christians

Orthodox Christmas in Central Asia Highlights Faith, Tradition, and Tolerance

On January 7, Orthodox Christians in Central Asia and around the world celebrate Christmas. In the region, the holiday has become a symbol of religious and ethnic tolerance. Christmas is one of the most significant holidays for believers and is also cherished by many who are not religious. It is...

News Round-Up

Recent Stories From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Nuclear Energy

U.S. and Kazakhstan Expand Civil Nuclear Cooperation With Focus on Small Modular Reactors

Venezuela

The Venezuela Effect: Oil, Sanctions, and Kazakhstan’s Strategic Dilemma

The start of 2026 was marked by political upheaval across two continents: fresh protests in Iran drawing comparisons among some Kazakh analysts to the country’s own Bloody January of 2022, and a U.S. military operation described by Washington as a law-enforcement action in Venezuela. The latter led to the arrest of Venezuelan...

Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Kazakhstan Opens Criminal Probe Over Calls to Attack CPC Oil Pipeline

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

00:00 / 00:00

Opinions

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

Opinion: Multi-Vectorism 2.0 – Kazakhstan Seeks Balance in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: The Integration of Afghanistan into Central Asia

Dr. M. Assem Mayar

Opinion: Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords – More Than a Symbolic Gesture

Uzma Parveen

Opinion: A Trump Visit to Central Asia Would Deliver Results and Anchor a Corridor Strategy

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion: China’s Diplomatic Power Play Unfolds in Tianjin

Andrei Matveev

Business & Economy

Cryptocurrency

Turkmenistan Opens Door to Crypto Mining, Keeps Firm Grip on Exchanges

Turkmenistan has taken a rare step toward opening a tightly controlled economy by legalizing cryptocurrency mining and the operation of crypto exchanges under a new “Law on Virtual Assets”. First reported by The Times of Central Asia in early December 2025, the law came into effect on January 1, 2026, creating a state-run licensing system overseen by the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, while keeping strict limits on how crypto can be used inside the country. The legal change, signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, brings “virtual assets” under civil law, meaning that crypto is treated as property, rather than money. Under...

Renewable energy

Kazakhstan’s Renewable Energy Share Reaches 7% in National Energy Mix

Rogun Hydropower Plant

Independent Audit Raises Concerns Over Financial Reporting at Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant

AI Could Boost Productivity of Kazakhstan’s Workforce, Study Finds

Critical Raw Materials

Kazakh University Joins EU’s TiBeRIUM Project in Landmark Research Partnership

Banking

Uzbekistan to Launch Islamic Finance Services in 2027

Uzbekistan plans to introduce Islamic finance services at a national level, with the first offerings set to launch in 2027. According to the updated draft of the Uzbekistan 2030 development strategy, at least three commercial banks are expected to provide Sharia-compliant financial services by the end of the decade. The strategy outlines the creation of a legal and institutional framework to support Islamic finance, beginning with one commercial bank in 2027 and expanding to three banks by 2029-2030. The initiative will be financed through the banks’ own resources, with the Central Bank designated as the lead regulatory authority. This initiative...

Agriculture

Kyrgyzstan Expands Sales Markets for Agricultural Products

In 2025, Kyrgyzstan significantly broadened the scope of its agricultural exports, entering several new international markets for both raw and processed products. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, efforts are actively underway to boost exports to China. To date, eight bilateral protocols have been signed with Chinese authorities, covering the export of Kyrgyz wool, cashmere, beans, poultry meat and by-products, as well as three protocols related to heat-treated meat and raw hides. Exports of dried fruits have already begun, with the first shipment of 23 tons of dried apricots delivered to China. Preparations are also...

News Round-Up

Recent Stories From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Hydropower strain returns as rationing tightens A dry autumn has translated into a difficult start to winter for Tajikistan’s electricity system, with renewed restrictions tied to low reservoir levels. A recent Reuters report on rationing described a drop in water levels feeding the country’s hydropower fleet, with the reservoir at Nurek, the backbone of generation, reported to be substantially below the same point last year. The measures announced go beyond household inconvenience: restrictions have been accompanied by reduced lighting and tighter electricity allocations for public institutions, while officials explore imports and balancing arrangements with neighbors. Rogun’s mitigation narrative hardens as...

Geological Exploration

Kazakhstan’s New Subsoil Law Opens Underexplored Territories to Investors

Kazakhstan has introduced a new subsoil use law aimed at unlocking the potential of underexplored areas and attracting increased investment in the energy sector. According to the Ministry of Energy, the legislation establishes a special contract type for exploration and production in previously underexplored territories, offering significantly enhanced terms for investors. Under the new framework, companies that independently finance geological exploration will be granted priority rights for subsequent subsurface use. The Ministry expects this provision to dramatically boost geological activity and accelerate the discovery and development of new hydrocarbon reserves. The legislative amendments also streamline operational procedures. Subsoil users are...

Local Politics

Kyrgyz-Tajik Border

Japarov Credits Mirziyoyev’s in Resolving Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border Dispute

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has detailed how the long-standing border conflict with Tajikistan was resolved, citing direct diplomacy, enhanced military capabilities, and crucial regional mediation. His remarks came during the second part of the documentary President, aired on Kyrgyzstan’s Region TV. Japarov recounted that after the deadly clashes along the Kyrgyz, Tajik border in April 2021, he opted to visit Dushanbe for direct talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, despite opposition from some members of his inner circle, including State Committee for National Security Chairman Kamchybek Tashiyev. The negotiations, which lasted ten hours, ended without immediate results. “We talked for...

Reforms

Uzbekistan Has “Only Just Begun” Reforms, Says Saida Mirziyoyeva

Transport

Astana Plans to Launch Driverless Taxis in 2026

IT sector

Kazakhstan’s IT Exports Grew by Almost a Third in 2025

Suicide

Kazakh Authorities Open Investigation After Temir Mayor Found Dead

Kazakh Government Rules Out AI Deputy Ministers

AI will not be occupying senior government posts in Kazakhstan anytime soon. While AI-based tools may serve as advisors and consultants to top officials, there are currently no plans to appoint virtual or digital deputy ministers. This was confirmed by Rostislav Konyashkin, First Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The question arose during a press conference following a cabinet meeting, when journalists referenced Albania’s 2025 decision to appoint a virtual minister for public procurement, the first of its kind globally. They asked whether Kazakhstan was considering a similar initiative. According to Konyashkin, AI systems have not yet reached...

January 2022

From Rupture to Resilience: Kazakhstan’s Political Recalibration After January 2022

The upcoming anniversary of the events that started on 2 January 2022 in Kazakhstan invites a measured reflection rather than simple retrospection. The protests and subsequent violence marked a decisive turning point in the country’s recent history, exposing deep structural challenges and forcing a reassessment of the relationship between state and society. More than merely presenting an occasion to recall a time of crisis, this anniversary should also serve as an opportunity to assess how Kazakhstan has since evolved — specifically, whether the lessons of that rupture have been translated into durable political reforms and have created a more resilient...

Economic Growth

Development Spending in Kyrgyzstan Surpasses Social Spending for the First Time

The Kyrgyz government has reported strong economic performance in 2025, highlighting robust GDP growth and strengthened public finances. At a year-end meeting, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev announced that all state objectives had been met despite challenging conditions. According to Kasymaliev, gross domestic product is expected to grow by more than 10% by year’s end, positioning Kyrgyzstan among the global leaders in economic growth. The country’s GDP reached $20.5 billion, and for the first time in its history, the consolidated budget surpassed $11.5 billion. A budget surplus of $392 million was recorded, which Kasymaliev described as a...

Party Politics

Japarov Signs Decree Stripping Ex-Leader Atambayev of State Honors

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree revoking state awards previously granted to former President Almazbek Atambayev, including the title Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Order of Manas (Second Class), the Order of Danaker, and the Dank medal. The order follows a decision by Bishkek’s Pervomaisky District Court, and authorities have been instructed to confiscate the medals and transfer them to the state awards fund, according to reports citing the presidential press service. Atambayev, who led Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017, has been at the center of long-running criminal and political disputes since leaving office. His fallout with...

International Affairs

Iran

The Trump Factor: Why Central Asia Has Remained Silent on Iran’s Protests

The wave of protests that erupted in Iran in late December and spread to at least 27 of the country’s 31 provinces has become the largest since 2022, when mass demonstrations followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police. The unrest has raised new concerns across the region about political stability, energy markets, and the risk of external intervention. Rights monitors say protests have been reported in hundreds of locations nationwide, with death and detention tolls still contested. Human rights groups and independent monitoring organizations estimate that dozens of people have been killed and...

Aktau Plane Crash

2024 Kazakhstan Plane Crash Still Stirs Tension between Russia and Azerbaijan

Venezuela

The Venezuela Effect: Oil, Sanctions, and Kazakhstan’s Strategic Dilemma

Afghanistan

Taliban Remove Uzbek Language from Samangan University Sign

Azerbaijan

Central Asia Can Depend on Azerbaijan for Path to West, Aliyev Says

Travel

U.S. Adds Turkmenistan to Visa Bond List, Raising Entry Costs for Travelers

The Trump administration has added seven countries, including Turkmenistan, to a list requiring some visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, according to a notice published on the U.S. State Department’s travel website. The measure took effect on January 1. The newly designated countries are Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan. With these additions, the total number of countries subject to the bond requirement has risen to thirteen, most of them in Africa. As reported by the Associated Press, the policy applies to passport holders from the listed...

Nuclear Energy

U.S. and Kazakhstan Expand Civil Nuclear Cooperation With Focus on Small Modular Reactors

The United States and Kazakhstan have expanded cooperation on civil nuclear energy, placing small modular reactors at the center of a new phase in bilateral engagement. In late December 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan announced two initiatives under the U.S. State Department’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology program, known as FIRST. The measures focus on workforce training and technical evaluation as Kazakhstan prepares to reintroduce nuclear power generation. Kazakhstan is the first country in Central Asia to participate in the FIRST program, which was launched by the U.S. State Department in 2021 to help...

Germany

Tajik Citizen Deported from Germany Over Suspected Terror Plot

German authorities have deported a 21-year-old citizen of Tajikistan who was detained on suspicion of planning attacks in crowded areas. Although no criminal case was formally opened, law enforcement officials cited concerns for public safety as sufficient grounds for deportation. The individual was detained in December 2025 in the city of Magdeburg. According to Die Zeit, the arrest was prompted by concerns that the young man posed a potential threat to public safety. Authorities claimed that although there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him under criminal law, his behavior suggested the possibility of radical intentions. Following several weeks of investigation,...

Digital Development

Kazakhstan to Export Earth Observation Satellites, Expand Digital Infrastructure

Kazakhstan plans to manufacture at least five to six remote sensing satellites in the coming years, with some slated for export, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiev announced at a recent government meeting. Satellite production is managed by Kazkosmos JSC (National Space Center) and Ghalam LLP, while the Republican Space Communications Center JSC oversees satellite operations in orbit. According to Madiev, the ministry supervises these entities, and their production capacities are currently being fully utilized. “In the coming years, it is planned to launch at least five or six Earth remote sensing satellites...

Life & Culture

Sports

Turkmenistan’s Arkadag to Face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in AFC Champions League

Turkmenistan’s Arkadag football team has drawn Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, one of the favorites to win the AFC Champions League, in the round of 32. The Riyadh-based club features global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. The play-off stage draw was held on December 30 in Kuala Lumpur. Arkadag could have faced Jordan’s Al-Hussein or the UAE’s Al-Wasl, but the outcome proved more challenging. Al-Nassr, widely considered a top contender for the title, will now travel to Ashgabat for a critical away match. Cristiano Ronaldo has been with the Saudi club for three seasons but has yet to play a match in Central...

Orthodox Christians

Orthodox Christmas in Central Asia Highlights Faith, Tradition, and Tolerance

Food Quality

Nestlé Recalls Batches of Infant Formula in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

Social protection

Turkmen Pensioners Decry Government’s Refusal to Index Payments

Sports

Uzbek Defender Abdukodir Khusanov Named Asia’s Best Young Footballer of 2025

Livestock farming

Kazakhstan Considers Lowering Retirement Age for Shepherds and Herders

Kazakhstan is developing a package of social measures aimed at attracting and retaining personnel in the livestock industry, including a proposal to lower the retirement age for shepherds and herders. The initiative was discussed during a meeting of the Public Council under the Ministry of Agriculture, which reviewed the draft Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Agribusiness in the Livestock Sector for 2026-2030. The plan is designed to increase production, improve productivity, and enhance the sector’s export potential. A key focus of the draft is addressing staffing shortages in rural livestock farming, which the ministry has identified as a systemic...

Healthcare

The Dental Mafia in Kazakhstan: How Pension Funds Were Siphoned Off

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) is continuing its investigation into one of the country’s most high-profile financial crimes in recent years: the large-scale embezzlement of pension savings through fictitious dental services. Authorities allege that millions of dollars were siphoned from the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) via a sprawling criminal scheme involving dozens of dental clinics. According to the FMA, the investigation is ongoing and centers on clinic managers and their accomplices. The alleged scheme involved the withdrawal of pension savings from the UAPF through formal contracts for dental procedures, backed by forged medical documents. “For such ‘assistance,’ the organizers...

Drinking Water

Uzbekistan Targets 85% Drinking Water Access by 2030

Uzbekistan aims to provide 85% of its population with access to drinking water services by 2030, according to a draft strategy prepared by the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan. The proposal forms part of a broader development roadmap focused on sustaining reform momentum and advancing national priorities through the end of the decade. The document outlines a gradual increase in drinking water coverage: 82% by 2026, 83% in 2027, 84% in 2028 and 2029, and reaching 85% by 2030. Officials say the targets reflect a long-term effort to modernize water infrastructure and improve living conditions in...

Urban development

Kyrgyzstan Urged to Shift from Rural Focus to Urban Development

Kyrgyzstan must develop modern urban infrastructure and gradually move away from its predominantly rural development model, according to Nurdan Oruntayev, Director of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction, and Housing and Utilities. Speaking to local media, Oruntayev emphasized the need for a strategic transition toward urbanization to drive economic growth and job creation. Master plans for the development of the towns of Karakol, Manas, and Osh have already been approved. These include the construction of high-rise residential buildings, signaling a broader shift toward urban expansion. “We must develop cities and move toward an urban infrastructure system. We must have megacities....

Justice

Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Kazakhstan Opens Criminal Probe Over Calls to Attack CPC Oil Pipeline

Kazakhstan has opened a criminal investigation into public statements that authorities say encouraged attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), the main export route for the country’s crude oil, after months of disruption at the system’s Black Sea terminal turned a foreign security risk into a domestic legal and political issue. Prosecutor General Berik Asylov confirmed the case in a written reply to a parliamentary inquiry on January 6. "On December 17, 2025, the Astana City Police Department launched a pre-trial investigation under Part 1 of Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (incitement of social,...

Digital Fraud Prevention

Kazakhstan Introduces Mandatory Biometric ID for Mobile Phone Subscribers

AZAL Plane Crash

Russia Closes Criminal Case Into AZAL Plane Crash Near Aktau

Legal Technology

Dushanbe Teen Develops Tajikistan’s First AI Legal Assistant

Shooting

Thousands Donate in Name of Uzbek-American Student Killed at Brown University

Migrant Workers

Uzbek Migrants Face Growing Risks in Russia as Tashkent Seeks Probe Into Alleged Abuse

Russian security forces reportedly carried out a raid on a café in Khabarovsk in mid-December 2025, during which several Central Asian migrants were allegedly beaten. According to information circulated on social media, two Uzbek citizens fell into a coma following the incident, and one of them subsequently died. On January 2, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had sent a diplomatic note to Russia requesting an impartial and lawful investigation. The ministry also said steps were being taken to repatriate the deceased’s body. However, it noted that the cause of death has not been officially confirmed, and reports of...

Anti-Corruption

Tajikistan Expands Asset Disclosure Requirements for Officials

Tajikistan has broadened the scope of officials required to submit income and asset declarations, as part of amendments to its Anti-Corruption Law. The updated legislation now includes employees of the National Bank, other state-run credit and financial institutions, and officials working in Tajikistan’s foreign missions and representative offices abroad. The revised law updates parts 4 and 5 of Article 21 and introduces six new provisions detailing the conditions and procedures for filing declarations. Officials who fail to submit required information or who submit “knowingly false” declarations, face dismissal or removal from office. Under the new rules, declarations must be filed...

Marriage Law

Uzbekistan Proposes Ban on Marriages Between Relatives

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice has drafted legislation that would ban marriages between distant blood relatives, including unions between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and cousins up to the third degree, UzNews.uz reported. The proposed penalties for violating the ban include fines or correctional labor of up to two years. Exceptions would apply only in cases where one of the prospective spouses is an adopted child and no biological relationship exists. Under current law, Uzbekistan’s Family Code prohibits marriages between close blood relatives in a direct ascending or descending line, as well as between full and half-siblings and between adoptive...

Asset Recovery

Kazakhstan Claims Success in Asset Recovery, But Transparency Questions Linger

Kazakhstan’s authorities have presented the results of the campaign to recover illegally acquired or transferred assets as a major success. In September 2025, during his address to the nation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signaled a transition from asset recovery to broader investor-protection priorities. According to Prosecutor General Berik Asylov, recoveries totaling hundreds of billions of tenge have been returned to the state since the launch of the asset-recovery campaign. This includes not only cash and securities, but also land plots, business assets, and luxury property. Overall, official estimates put the total value of assets clawed back under the campaign at around...

Environment

Waste Processing

What’s Really Happening With Waste Processing in Kazakhstan

Official statistics suggest that Kazakhstan is making steady progress in recycling solid municipal waste (SMW), but a closer look reveals a significant technological shortfall. According to an analysis by Energyprom.kz, behind the rising recycling percentages lies a troubling gap between reported sorting and actual reuse. As of December 2025, the share of municipal waste reportedly recycled or reused had reached 28.6%, up from 25.9% at the end of 2024. On paper, this suggests progress toward the Ministry of Ecology’s target of 40% by 2040. However, the real picture is more complex. Only 1.1% of all municipal waste actually results in...

Darvaza Gas Crater

Turkmen Scientists Develop Plan to Extinguish the Darvaza Gas Crater

Solar Energy

Kyrgyzstan Launches Its First Solar Power Plant

Wildlife

Kazakhstan to Permit Limited Saiga Horn Exports Under Strict Controls

Waste Recycling

Kazakhstan Boosts Solid Waste Recycling and Environmental Oversight

Hydropower

Water Shortages Cut Hydropower Output in Uzbekistan

Electricity generation at Uzbekistan’s hydropower plants has declined significantly due to water shortages, Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov told lawmakers during a recent session of the Legislative Chamber of the country's parliament, the Oliy Majlis, according to reports in Uzbek media. Mirzamahmudov said water inflows to major hydropower facilities had fallen by 35%, directly impacting electricity production compared with last year. He was responding to a question from deputy Saydullo Azimov, who inquired about the ongoing decline in hydropower output. “The main reason for the drop in electricity generation at large hydropower plants compared to last year is the reduced water...

Waste-to-Energy

Bishkek Officially Inaugurates Central Asia’s First Waste-to-Energy Plant

Bishkek marked a major environmental milestone on December 27 with the official inauguration of Central Asia’s first waste-to-energy plant. President Sadyr Japarov attended the ceremony, underscoring the project’s strategic and environmental importance. The facility received its first pilot batch of municipal solid waste on November 14 and has since become the region’s first operational plant generating electricity through waste incineration. Located at Bishkek’s primary landfill, the plant was constructed by China’s Hunan Junxin Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., which invested $95 million in the project. Initially, the facility will process 1,000 tons of waste per day, with future expansion plans to...

Water Crisis

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Launch Study to Revise Irrigation Regimes in Syr Darya River Basin

With grant funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have launched a joint initiative to revise irrigation regimes in the Syr Darya River basin. The project, coordinated by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, aims to optimize agricultural water use and improve environmental outcomes, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. In Kazakhstan, the study covers 550,000 hectares of irrigated farmland in the Turkestan Region and 254,000 hectares in the Kyzylorda Region. Ground-level measurements are underway alongside satellite-based remote sensing to collect precise and comprehensive data. The findings will...

Forests

Kyrgyzstan to Launch State Nurseries as Part of National Afforestation Campaign

Four institutions in Kyrgyzstan have been awarded a total of $534,000 in grant funding to establish and develop state-owned nurseries for growing tree saplings, as part of a nationwide effort to restore forests, improve sapling quality, and support environmental sustainability. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, the funding was allocated through a competitive selection process to Osh Forestry, Chon-Kemin State Nature Park, Kara-Kulja Forestry, and the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University. Applicants were required to submit a business plan and have access to at least five hectares of land to qualify. The grants were approved by...

The Trump Factor: Why Central Asia Has Remained Silent on Iran’s Protests

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Timur Serikuly

William Cui

Altair Akhmetov

Timur Serikuly

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Andrei Matveev

Mavlon Bobokhonov

Timur Serikuly

Dr. M. Assem Mayar

Uzma Parveen

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Andrei Matveev

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Turkmenistan Opens Door to Crypto Mining, Keeps Firm Grip on Exchanges

Uzbekistan to Launch Islamic Finance Services in 2027

Kyrgyzstan Expands Sales Markets for Agricultural Products

Recent Stories From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Kazakhstan’s New Subsoil Law Opens Underexplored Territories to Investors

Local Politics

Local Politics

Japarov Credits Mirziyoyev’s in Resolving Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border Dispute

Kazakh Government Rules Out AI Deputy Ministers

From Rupture to Resilience: Kazakhstan’s Political Recalibration After January 2022

Development Spending in Kyrgyzstan Surpasses Social Spending for the First Time

Japarov Signs Decree Stripping Ex-Leader Atambayev of State Honors

International Affairs

International Affairs

The Trump Factor: Why Central Asia Has Remained Silent on Iran’s Protests

U.S. Adds Turkmenistan to Visa Bond List, Raising Entry Costs for Travelers

U.S. and Kazakhstan Expand Civil Nuclear Cooperation With Focus on Small Modular Reactors

Tajik Citizen Deported from Germany Over Suspected Terror Plot

Kazakhstan to Export Earth Observation Satellites, Expand Digital Infrastructure

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Turkmenistan’s Arkadag to Face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in AFC Champions League

Kazakhstan Considers Lowering Retirement Age for Shepherds and Herders

The Dental Mafia in Kazakhstan: How Pension Funds Were Siphoned Off

Uzbekistan Targets 85% Drinking Water Access by 2030

Kyrgyzstan Urged to Shift from Rural Focus to Urban Development

Justice

Justice

Kazakhstan Opens Criminal Probe Over Calls to Attack CPC Oil Pipeline