A video narrating the life of the last khan of the Kazakh Khanate, in which the Kyrgyz are portrayed as treacherous and collaborationists, has ruffled some feathers in the Kyrgyz government. Even…
Tag: Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan’s National Leader regional tour
The National Leader of Turkmenistan embarked on a regional tour visiting neighbouring Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan just shortly after the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand. Another indication on who really is the…
A new flag for a ‘New Kyrgyzstan’?
It seems that the current flag of Kyrgyzstan may soon be a thing of the past. The change will not be a drastic one, but the reasons behind the need to alter…
The Emir of Qatar’s Central Asian tour
The Emir of Qatar has travelled to four of the five Central Asian republics as part of a trip that highlights the role the Gulf countries can play in the region. The…
Conscripts in Central Asia, a dangerous obligation
Soldiers in the Central Asian republics have to face worse dangers than enemy bullets or shells. Bullying, hazing, accidents, and psychological pressure are responsible for a large share of deaths and injuries…
The ‘new normal’ along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border
Since the spring 2021 clash between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the situation along the border continues to be unstable and we have now grown accustomed to reports of shootings and casualties. Despite last…
Turkey and Central Asian military cooperation: more than just drones
From arms sales to joint military exercises and cooperation agreements, in the last few years Turkey has stepped up its security links with the Central Asian nations. This has opened new opportunities…
Hard times for Central Asia’s Foreign Ministers
In a matter of days, two of Central Asia’s Foreign Ministers were dismissed. At a time when diplomacy is of utmost importance for the region, with the war in Ukraine far from…
Kyrgyzstan rearms amid its president’s nationalist remarks
Kyrgyzstan has been acquiring new military hardware in the last months. These movements follow the clashes with Tajikistan in spring during which it became evident the Kyrgyz army was lagging behind its…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
What is in a name? The (re)naming of cities in Central Asia
For centuries, London has been London, Paris has been Paris and Rome has been Rome. Despite revolutions, wars and upheavals, the names of those cities have remained the same after evolving naturally…
Graphomania among the Central Asian leaders
It is not uncommon for politicians to write books. Once they have left the reins of power, one can expect them to write their memoirs in which they justify their past deeds…
Atambayev, another power junkie in Kyrgyzstan
On the 8th of August, Kyrgyz security forces detained former president Almazbek Atambayev in his residential complex in the outskirts of Bishkek after failing to do so the previous day. The official…