Tajikistan has recently become the centre of attention for Eurasian geopolitics. The Central Asian nation stood out in the region for its outspoken criticism of the Taliban takeover, and it will also…
Category: English
Coming to terms with history in Uzbekistan
The rehabilitation of over a hundred people that were repressed by the Soviets during the 1920s and 1930s is the latest episode of Uzbekistan’s historical revision. An important initiative sponsored by the…
Central Asian leaders’ meeting yields results even before taking place
On August 5 and 6 the Central Asian presidents are meeting in the Turkmen resort of Avaza to celebrate the Third Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. A…
The Truth and Progress party, chronicle of a non-registration foretold
As it was expected, the Uzbek authorities have denied registration to an opposition party, paving the way for opposition-free presidential elections this upcoming October. A missed opportunity for president Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s reformist…
Nader Shah’s conquest of Central Asia: the fall of Bukhara and Khiva
The 18th century saw the advent of a military genius who emerged from the ruins of Safavid Persia to conquer an empire that extended from the Caucasus to the Indus. Of Turcoman…
Russia steps up its (uneven) relations with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan following the border crisis
Vladimir Putin has significantly increased his contacts with his Tajik and Kyrgyz counterparts following the border clashes between the Central Asian neighbours. While the Kremlin might favour Dushanbe over Bishkek, its main…
Japarov fails his first major test as president of Kyrgyzstan
Less than five months after becoming Kyrgyzstan’s president, Sadyr Japarov has had to face a crisis with neighbouring Tajikistan. After a series of remarks in March that contributed to tense relations with…
Tajik-Uzbek relations, from fists to handshakes
This summer’s visit of Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Tajikistan is the latest development in the neighbours’ bilateral ties. For years, the Tajik and Uzbek governments had probably the worst relations among all…
Kyrgyzstan’s president consolidates his power, now it’s time to rule
A few months after being elected, Sadyr Japarov scored another important victory when the constitutional referendum granting him more powers passed in the ballots. Having achieved his aims since he rose to…
LGBT rights: Uzbekistan’s self-inflicted PR damage
After years of creating a positive image abroad since the arrival of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to power, Uzbekistan’s ill-treatment of the LGBT community risks bringing down its PR strategy. On March 29, an…
Turkey prioritises Uzbekistan in recent Central Asian tour
The Turkish Foreign Minister’s trip to Central Asia brought him to Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, but it was in the latter where he spent most of his time and where the more…
The tragic fate of the last Khan of Khiva
From puppet khan in his native Khiva to poverty and hunger in Ukraine, the life of Sayid Abdullah, the last ruler of the khanate, is a dramatic story mostly unknown even by…
Uzbek Foreign Minister’s regional tour: the new normal
In a whistle-blow tour, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the neighbouring countries of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and met with their respective presidents. Years ago, when regional cooperation was hard to…
Another step towards dynastic succession in Turkmenistan
The appointment of the president’s son to new positions in the government reinforces the message that Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov wants his offspring to succeed him at the head of the Central Asian nation….
Uzbek president’s praise of the «Barber of Ferghana» raises concerns
During a trip to Ferghana, the Uzbek president excused the behaviour of the region’s controversial former governor and showed his appreciation for his work. The compliments given by Shavkat Mirziyoyev to his…
Kazakhstan’s Latin alphabet, fourth time lucky?
A new Kazakh alphabet using Latin characters will be the fourth attempt at transitioning away from the Cyrillic script. It is a subject in which the authorities have insisted in the last…
Kazakhstan, a safe haven for refugees escaping Xinjiang?
The attack on two ethnic Kazakh that seek refuge in Kazakhstan following their escape from China raises questions about the Kazakh authorities’ real stance with asylum-seekers from Xinjiang. On January 21, two…
Homosexuality in Central Asia: A problem of social mentality?
Members of the LGBTQ community throughout Central Asia suffer unimaginable hardships. Each day they are forced to decide between living openly, which could lead to punishment and death under their oppressive regimes…
The Great Seljuks, rulers of the East and West (part II)
This is a continuation of “The Great Seljuks, rulers of the East and West (part I)” The West: the rule of the amirs The death of Malikshah was followed by the customary…
Japarov’s victory in Kyrgyzstan, a real landslide?
After polls closed on Sunday in Kyrgyzstan, there was one clear winner: Sadyr Japarov. He got a much larger share of the vote than any of his competitors and voters overwhelmingly backed…
The Great Seljuks, rulers of the East and West (part I)
Descending from the steppes, the Seljuks conquered a large empire that stretched from the Mediterranean to the heart of Eastern Turkestan. Despite their nomad origin, they adopted the Perso-Islamic traditions of those…
Uzbekistan’s historical heritage still at risk
News of damage caused to historical structures in Uzbekistan continue to emerge. Despite the central authority’s effort to protect its heritage, destruction and demolition of historical buildings continues to take place in…
New names, a withdrawal and a comeback: Kazakhstan’s elections heat up
In the last weeks, a series of news regarding Kazakhstan’s January parliamentary elections have brought Nur-Sultan back to the centre of Central Asian affairs after weeks dominated by the events unfolding in…
Kyrgyzstan’s presidential casting kicks off
Kyrgyzstan’s electoral show is underway. The first deadline for the presidential elections scheduled for the 10th of January expired on the 14th of November. By that day, the aspiring candidates had to…
The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part I)
At the crossroads of the Silk Road, Turkmenistan has a rich historical heritage that is greatly unknown to the general public. The country’s isolationist policies and the limited number of tourists it…
What is next for ousted Jeenbekov?
Retiring at 61 years of age might be a prospect that many would enjoy. But in Kyrgyzstan there is one man who was forced to leave his job being barely over 60…
Rahmon’s electoral alibi
The upcoming presidential elections in Tajikistan will result in a new term for the country’s long-standing president, Emomali Rahmon. However, to be able to brag about the democratic process, the incumbent president…
Turkmenistan’s new book: a second Ruhnama?
Turkmenistan’s president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, completed his 53rd book on August 5th, and it was subsequently released to the public with a ceremonious exhibition on September 5th. Titled “Türkmeniň döwletlilik ýörelgesi” in Turkmen,…
The Barber of Ferghana changes jobs
The former controversial governor of Fergana will abandon his post in the eastern region for a ministerial office in Tashkent. It is still unclear if his new job as Deputy Prime Minister…
Turkmenistan, the land of the rumours
The lack of reliable and verifiable information is the breeding ground for rumours. This is a phenomenon that is widespread in Turkmenistan due to the opaqueness of the regime. From conspiracy theories…
Reemphasizing everyday traditions in Central Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic
As most of the world has resigned to staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased emphasis on rediscovering traditions, customs, and familial connections. The coronavirus has forced humanity to…
Protesting in a wasteland: Uzbekistan’s new demonstration bill
A draft legislation on the regulation of public demonstrations exemplifies the shortcomings of Uzbekistan’s reforms in the last years. While it seems a positive development that such a law might come into…
Turkmenistan, the Kuwait that never was
Turkmenistan is best known today for its eccentric dictator and a deep economic crisis that has resulted in shortages of basics foodstuffs, large unemployment and an exodus for those that can leave…
China and Tajikistan, an uneven relationship
Tajikistan has become China’s entry point into Central Asia. Not economically, but politically and militarily. Dushanbe has been doing a series of concessions to China in the past decade and now an…