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 those with...
Read More
5 Minutes
3 Minutes
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 come by,...
Read More
3 Minutes
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. In mid-February,...
Read More
5 Minutes
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 notorious official...
Read More
5 Minutes
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 decades but...
Read More
2 Minutes
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 refugees temporarily...
Read More
6 Minutes
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 or hiding...
Read More
6 Minutes
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 war of...
Read More
3 Minutes
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 his proposal...
Read More
8 Minutes
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 they subdued...
Read More
5 Minutes
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 the country....
Read More
3 Minutes
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. The...
Read More
3 Minutes
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 submit their...
Read More
8 Minutes
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 receives contributes...
Read More
3 Minutes
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 that would...
Read More
2 Minutes
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 needs other...
Read More
5 Minutes
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, it has...
Read More
3 Minutes
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 is a...
Read More
7 Minutes
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 involving a...
Read More
6 Minutes
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 contemplate what...
Read More
3 Minutes
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 effect, it...
Read More
5 Minutes
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 the country....
Read More
5 Minutes
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 article published...
Read More
4 Minutes
In the fields of wheat: an authoritarian obsession
The Central Asian republics have been shaped by the personality of their leaders since their independence from the Soviet Union. From Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev to Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev, they all have developed different leadership...
Read More
3 Minutes
Samarkand University, the latest victim of Uzbekistan’s Timurid craze
Samarkand State University in Uzbekistan will soon celebrate its 600th anniversary despite not being even a century old. The higher education institution is the latest example of Uzbekistan’s efforts to identify with Timur (better...
Read More
4 Minutes
Prime Minister in Kyrgyzstan, a temporary job
On June 17 the Kyrgyz parliament confirmed Kubatbek Boronov as the country’s new prime minister. As a result, Boronov has become Kyrgyzstan’s 21st prime minister, a surprising high number of heads of government for...
Read More
5 Minutes
Border disputes: old and new reactions
As recent border clashes in Central Asia have shown, the old-fashioned blame game is still being used by the parties involved in such events. However, a proactive diplomatic approach spearheaded by Uzbekistan is opening...
Read More
4 Minutes
What lies behind Dariga Nazarbayeva’s dismissal?
The removal on May 2 of Dariga Nazarbayeva, daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev, by president Tokayev from her roles as senator and chair of the Senate came as a surprise. As many things that happen...
Read More
2 Minutes
Surnames and individual freedoms in Tajikistan
On April 29, the Tajik lower chamber, the Assembly of Representatives, passed a bill banning bans Russified family names and patronymics for newborns. This can be interpreted as a nationalistic move but what is...
Read More
3 Minutes
Imposing the state language through fines in Uzbekistan
A draft bill in Uzbekistan that introduces fines for those civil servants not using Uzbek is the latest development involving language and nationalism in Central Asia, a region that is still coming to terms...
Read More
8 Minutes
Tajik and Turkmen migrant workers susceptible to ISIS
Coronavirus has introduced mass instability worldwide and can have especially dangerous political effects in regimes that do not acknowledge the presence or threat of the pandemic. Undoubtedly, coronavirus has had a significant impact on...
Read More
3 Minutes
Presidential elections next for Tajik president’s son?
Tajikistan is making the headlines these days for coronavirus-related news. Or lack of to be more accurate. The country is one of the few in the world that claims it has no cases and...
Read More
Uzbekistan’s coronavirus measures disproportionately affecting its at-risk populations
Most of the countries in Central Asia have taken strict and swift measures to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Uzbekistan reported its first cases of the virus on March 15th and responded with particularly intense...
Read More
4 Minutes
Football in times of coronavirus
Sports, like many other aspects of everyday life, have come to a standstill in the world as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Football junkies have no other option but to re-watch matches and...
Read More