The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Samarkand Declaration Paves the Way for a Stronger Central Asia–EU Partnership

EU’s Kaja Kallas: Russia Must Not Use Central Asia to Bypass Sanctions

Features

Water Access

Central Asia’s Looming Water Crisis: A Ticking Time Bomb

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy Project in Uzbekistan Enters Construction Phase

Uzbekistan has entered a new phase in its energy strategy as construction begins on the country’s first small-capacity nuclear power plant. The announcement was made during the INNOPROM. Central Asia industrial exhibition, held on April 28 in Tashkent, according to the presidential press service. The event, hosted at the Central...

Environment

Kazakhstan and France Join Forces to Save Lake Balkhash

Work has begun in Almaty on the development of a master plan to preserve Lake Balkhash, one of Central Asia’s largest bodies of water. Experts from Kazakhstan and France will collaborate on the project, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Master Plan...

Water Supply

Money Seized from Corrupt Kazakh Officials to Fund Water Pipelines

In Kazakhstan's Akmola region, water supply systems will be built in the towns of Kosshy and Makinsk using funds seized from corrupt officials. The government of Kazakhstan reported that more than 1 billion KZT (approximately $2 million) from the Special State Fund has been allocated for this purpose. Water Supply...

Foreign Affairs

China and Central Asia Deepen Ties at Almaty Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The sixth meeting of foreign ministers in the “Central Asia-China” format was held in Almaty, attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan (Murat Nurtleu), China (Wang Yi), Kyrgyzstan (Jeenbek Kulubaev), Tajikistan (Sirojiddin Muhriddin), Uzbekistan (Bakhtiyor Saidov), and a representative of Turkmenistan. The main topics of discussion included strengthening political dialogue,...

Visa

Visa-Free Deal Under Review After Arrests of Uzbek Citizens in Dubai

The visa-free arrangement between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates could be in jeopardy because of the increase in alleged violations by Uzbek citizens in the emirates, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The leadership of the Dubai Criminal Investigation Department told Uzbek diplomats in a meeting that 15...

Disinformation

Kazakhstan Targets Anonymous Telegram Channels Over Disinformation Concerns

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information has launched a vocal campaign against anonymous Telegram channels, accusing them of fueling misinformation and destabilizing public discourse. Minister Aida Balayeva has called for stricter controls and accountability from both platform administrators and users. Breeding Grounds for Misinformation Minister Aida Balayeva described anonymous Telegram...

Ecology

Ecologists Warn Central Asian Dams May Threaten UNESCO Heritage Site

A coalition of international environmentalists is sounding the alarm over the impact of large-scale dam construction in Central Asia, warning that it could cause irreversible harm to the Western Tien Shan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site jointly shared by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Dam Projects Multiply Across Region According to...

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Repatriating Islamic State Fighters and Families: Balancing Security and Humanity

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Opinions

Business & Economy

Railway

Kazakhstan Boosts Rail Transit of Grain and Coal Through Russia

Kazakhstan has significantly increased the volume of grain and coal transported via rail through Russia, particularly along the eastern route of the North-South transport corridor. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway operator, container traffic along this corridor rose by 63% in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The North-South corridor links Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, with an annual cargo capacity of 10 million tons. Its eastern route, which passes through Kazakhstan, is emerging as a vital artery for regional trade. Grain and Container Exports on the Rise Between September 2024...

Agriculture

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Seek to Increase Agricultural Trade

Justice

Uzbekistan Wins Arbitration Case Against Turkish Textile Company

Banking

Kyrgyz Bank Launches Loan Self-Limitation to Fight Fraud and Boost Cybersecurity

Banking

Kazakhstan’s Central Bank Governor: Navigating the “New Global Map”

Business

UAE Firm Plans to Build Sugar Factory in Kazakhstan

Al Khaleej Sugar, one of the world's leading sugar producers, intends to build a sugar factory near the city of Konaev, in Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Almaty Region Akim Marat Sultangaziev and the company’s managing director, Sheikh Jamal Al Gurair. Key topics on the agenda included the selection of a suitable land plot, the organization of sugar beet cultivation, access to water for raw material production, and power supply infrastructure for the future facility. A site near Konaev, just 56 kilometers from Almaty, is currently considered the most promising due to its logistical...

Construction

Kyrgyzstan Simplifies Process for Obtaining Construction Licenses

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Construction has streamlined the process of issuing licenses to construction companies, eliminating intermediaries and making it possible to obtain a license directly for a fixed fee and within a short time frame. Minister of Construction Nurdan Oruntaev announced the changes via his official Facebook page. All documents can now be submitted, and construction licenses obtained, through the Ministry of Construction’s official website. According to the ministry, the number of documents required to obtain a construction license has been reduced significantly, from 23 to just 6. However, the cost of obtaining a construction license has increased substantially,...

Oil Market

Kazakhstan Weighs OPEC+ Exit, Raising Fears of Global Oil Price War

Kazakhstan is reportedly considering a reassessment of its participation in the OPEC+ alliance, raising concerns among major global oil market players, according to Reuters. Reuters columnist Ron Bousso Thomson noted that recent statements from Kazakhstan’s new Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov, emphasized prioritizing national interests over adhering to the cartel's production quotas. In an interview with Reuters, Akkenzhenov said, "Kazakhstan will proceed from its own interests in determining production volumes". Such rhetoric may signal Kazakhstan's de facto refusal to comply with OPEC+ quotas and could mark the first step toward a formal withdrawal from the alliance, which is led by...

Mining

Kazakhstan Begins Mineral Exploration in Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province

Kazakhstani geologists have begun prospecting potential mining sites in Afghanistan, starting with the resource-rich Nuristan Province. The initiative reflects Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to expand its mining interests and strengthen economic ties with Afghanistan. In mid-April, a group of geologists and engineers from Kazakhstan traveled to Afghanistan, according to the Ministry of National Economy. During their visit, specialists collected 130 kilograms of ore samples from prospective deposits in Nuristan Province, targeting beryllium, lead, and zinc resources. The samples will now be sent to Kazakhstan for laboratory analysis. Depending on the results, Kazakhstan may move to a more in-depth phase of negotiations...

Local Politics

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Fund Health Insurance for Over A Million Unemployed Citizens

Beginning in 2026, more than one million unemployed and vulnerable citizens in Kazakhstan will be covered by the country’s compulsory medical insurance system (CMIS). Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced that local and regional budgets will assume responsibility for insurance contributions on their behalf. Expanding Access to Medical Coverage Kazakhstan’s current health insurance model requires employed citizens to contribute 2% of their monthly salary, capped at 17,000 KZT (approximately $33), to the Fund for Social Medical Insurance (FSMI). Employers pay an additional 3% of each employee’s salary, while individual entrepreneurs contribute 5% of their income. However, unemployed citizens, even if officially...

Water Supply

Money Seized from Corrupt Kazakh Officials to Fund Water Pipelines

Disinformation

Kazakhstan Targets Anonymous Telegram Channels Over Disinformation Concerns

Extremism

Tokayev Warns of Rising Extremism and Erosion of Global Norms at Assembly Speech

Nationalism

Ultra-Nationalist Russian Lawmaker Sets Sights on Uzbek Community Leader

Kyrgyz-Tajik Border

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of Border Fence with Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan has launched construction of a border fence along its frontier with Tajikistan in the Batken region, according to a report by 24.kg. The project commenced near the village of Koshmolo in the Tort-Gul area, a strategically significant location where the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan converge. An official ceremony marking the start of the project was held at a nearby border marker. Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister and head of the State Committee for National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, addressed the event via video link. Other senior officials in attendance included Director of the Border Guard Service Major General Abdikarim...

Water

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Reach Deal to Share Chashma Water Spring

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have reached an agreement to jointly use the Chashma water spring, located along their shared border. According to Uzbekistan’s government portal, both countries have confirmed the main terms of the agreement, ensuring that Uzbek citizens can access the spring freely. They also agreed not to undertake any actions that would hinder full use of the spring by citizens of either side. The agreement was reached during a meeting held in Tashkent on April 24, led by Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Kamchybek Tashiev. During the meeting, the delegations also approved a protocol...

Resettlement

Kandas Resettlement Rises as Kazakhstan Boosts Integration Efforts

Since the beginning of 2025, 3,203 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to their historical homeland and officially received received the status of Kandas. In total, since gaining independence in 1991, more than 1.15 million ethnic Kazakhs have resettled in Kazakhstan for permanent residence. The Times of Central Asia examines who today’s Kandas are and how their integration and resettlement are being managed. Geography of Return According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, nearly half (48.1%) of all Kandas arriving in Kazakhstan in 2025 have come from China. This is followed by ethnic Kazakhs from Uzbekistan (39.5%), Turkmenistan (5.8%), Mongolia...

Military

Kyrgyz Special Forces Showcase Combat Drone Capabilities in Anti-Terror Exercise

Kyrgyzstan’s elite State Committee for National Security (GKNB) special forces unit, Alpha, demonstrated advanced combat capabilities during the Asman Kozomolu 2025 anti-terrorist exercises, held to enhance operational readiness in modern warfare scenarios. According to the GKNB, the drills featured the use of cutting-edge weaponry, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), first-person view (FPV) drones, and robotic ground systems. The exercises aimed to sharpen the operational skills of personnel in deploying modern combat technologies under conditions simulating real combat. “In conditions close to combat, critical capabilities of modern combat robotics and UAVs were demonstrated, along with the process of manufacturing FPV drones,”...

International Affairs

Drone production

Uzbekistan and Russia to Launch Joint Drone Production Plant by End of 2025

A new drone manufacturing facility is set to open in Uzbekistan by the end of 2025, as part of a joint project with the Russian company “Transport of the Future,” a developer of unmanned aerial systems. The announcement was made by the company’s Director General, Yuri Kozarenko, during the INNOPROM Central Asia industrial exhibition in Tashkent on April 28, according to TASS. Kozarenko stated that his company had conducted a market analysis and identified robust demand for civilian drones across the region. “We believe that tens of thousands of drones can already be used effectively in the market,” he said....

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy Project in Uzbekistan Enters Construction Phase

Foreign Affairs

China and Central Asia Deepen Ties at Almaty Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Foreign Affairs

Lavrov in Uzbekistan: Criticism, Controversy, and Clashing Narratives

Multi-vector Foreign Policy

How Tokayev’s Kazakhstan Bridges Global Powers

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

Kyrgyzstan Breaks Ground on First Tunnel of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

Construction of a 12-kilometer tunnel has commenced in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region, marking a significant milestone in the development of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a strategically important transport corridor aimed at linking East and West. At the groundbreaking ceremony on April 29, Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobayev emphasized the railway's broader significance. “This project is not only of infrastructural importance. It opens the way to improving the quality of life, economic growth, and strengthening ties between regions and peoples. It will create new opportunities for trade, investment, industrial development and logistics, provide thousands of jobs, and give...

International Diplomacy

Breaking Old Ties: Central Asia’s Delicate Dance Between Russia and the West

Central Asian countries are increasingly asserting their independence in foreign policy, distancing themselves from traditional centers of global influence. Recent developments highlight a nuanced balancing act as states in the region navigate growing tensions between Russia and the West. Kyrgyzstan Pushes Back In Kyrgyzstan, the recent arrest of Natalya Sekerina, an employee of the Russian House in Osh, marked a notable assertion of sovereignty. Sekerina was detained under Part 1 of Article 416 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, which pertains to the recruitment, financing, and training of mercenaries for armed conflict or attempts to overthrow state authority....

Nationalism

Leonid Slutsky: Scandals, Nationalism, and the Migrant Blame Game

The leader of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), Leonid Slutsky has long been a figure surrounded by controversy. A hardline nationalist, Slutsky’s career has been marked by allegations of corruption and harassment. Recently, his intensified rhetoric against labor migrants – including proposed restrictions on labor migrants bringing their families into the country, a requirement for foreign workers to learn Russian, and attacks on the former head of the Uzbek National and Cultural Autonomy Council in Moscow - have further spotlighted his controversial political career. “Our people... should not suffer from boors and criminals who consider themselves masters here, gather in...

Railway Development

Uzbekistan and Russia Advance Trans-Afghan Railway Project to Pakistan

Uzbekistan and Russia have taken a significant step toward the practical implementation of the long-envisioned Trans-Afghan railway project, which aims to connect Central Asia to Pakistan via Afghanistan. The transport ministries of both countries, along with Russian Railways and the Uzbek national railway company, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari, have signed documents formalizing the start of the project’s development phase. According to Russia’s Ministry of Transport, the two countries will jointly develop a feasibility study in 2025, assessing freight traffic forecasts and economic viability. Two potential routes have been proposed: Route 1: Mazar-e-Sharif - Herat - Dilaram - Kandahar (Afghanistan) - Chaman...

Life & Culture

Healthcare

Kyrgyzstan Triples Blood Donation Compensation to Boost Supplies

The Kyrgyz government has tripled financial compensation for blood donors in a move aimed at securing adequate blood supplies for hospitals nationwide. The decision marks the first increase in donor payments since 2009. According to a government statement, the new policy is designed to promote blood donation, enhance the quality of medical care, and ensure consistent availability of blood and its components for hospitalized patients. “Despite technological advances, donated blood and its components remain an indispensable national resource,” officials noted. Under the updated compensation scheme, blood donors will now receive 800 Kyrgyz som, or approximately $9-10, in addition to a...

Education

Unlocking Potential: Education Reform Necessary for Central Asia’s Economic Rise

Kyrgyz Art

Altynai Osmo’s New Show in New York: Restoring Female Narratives

Vaccination

Meet the Kyrgyz Woman Behind the Vaccine Revolution

Science

Kazakhstan’s Institute of Nuclear Physics Launches Advances in Nuclear Science and Applications Journal

Higher Education

Korean Universities Expand Cooperation with Kazakhstan

South Korea’s Woosong University is set to open its branch in Turkestan, Kazakhstan, before the start of the new academic year, according to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek. The announcement came during a meeting with South Korea’s Vice Minister of Education, Oh Seok Hwan, on April 28 in Almaty. Construction of the university premises is currently underway. For the initial intake, Woosong University has allocated 110 scholarships, which will supplement academic grants provided by the Kazakh government. Strengthening Educational Ties During the meeting, Minister Nurbek highlighted several ongoing joint educational and scientific projects between Korean and...

Sport

Kyrgyzstan Prepares for First-Ever Ultramarathon Around Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan is set to host its first-ever ultramarathon around Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the world’s largest high-altitude lakes, between May 5 and 10. The event, titled the 1st Issyk Kul Six-Day Challenge, is billed as the world’s longest six-stage foot race, covering a total distance of 460 kilometers. The ultramarathon will take place over six days and six grueling stages: 90 km, 74 km, 87 km, 85 km, 79 km, and 45 km. Participants will race on a mix of asphalt, gravel roads, and dirt trails at elevations reaching up to 2,000 meters above sea level. Participation is capped at...

Cinema

Kazakhstan’s Cinema Sees Record Growth in Attendance and Revenue

Cinema attendance in Kazakhstan grew by 11% in 2024, reaching a record 23 million viewers, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. This surpasses the previous year’s record of 21 million, reflecting a sustained recovery and growth in the country’s film industry. Of the total visits, foreign films accounted for 53%, approximately 12.2 million admissions, while domestic films drew 43% of the audience. Co-produced films made up the remaining 4%. Revenues from cinema screenings also hit a new high, reaching 43.9 billion tenge ($84.1 million) in 2024, up from 37.3 billion tenge ($71.5 million) the previous year. Domestic productions contributed...

Art and Literature

Adventures of the Spirit of Time: Exploring History and Imagination Through Silk Road Legends

Uzbek author Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova's four-part children’s book series, Adventures of the Spirit of Time, explores themes of history, legend, and imagination. Published in Russian between 2021 and 2022, the series gained popularity in Uzbekistan and received the Hertfordshire Press Award for Best Adaptation for Children in 2024. This recognition highlighted its creative storytelling, emphasis on cultural heritage, and educational value. The series is now available worldwide in English through Hertfordshire Press. The narrative follows four characters, Amir, Salma, Tohir, and Zuhra, as they uncover a magical well and awaken a mystical entity called the Spirit of Time. Guided by this spirit,...

Justice

Human rights

Turkmenistan Denies Torture Allegations in Case of Activist Mansur Mingelov

At the 82nd session of the UN Committee Against Torture, held on April 23-24 in Geneva, Turkmenistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vepa Hajiyev, rejected allegations that human rights activist Mansur Mingelov was tortured while in detention. Speaking in Geneva, Hajiyev stated that a domestic investigation found “no facts confirming such violations during criminal proceedings and during Mansur Mingelov's stay in places of detention.” He also provided an official medical diagnosis for Mingelov, tuberculous arthritis in both knees, and denied claims that Mingelov was not informed of his medical status. Background: Arrest and Allegations of Abuse Mansur Mingelov, a member...

Visa

Visa-Free Deal Under Review After Arrests of Uzbek Citizens in Dubai

Counterterrorism

Tajikistan Launches Program to Reintegrate Convicted Extremists into Society

Journalists

Tajik Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova Transferred to Prison After Closed Treason Trial

Assassination Attempt

Deputy Akim of Shymkent Shot and Wounded

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Equip Emergency Medical Workers with Body Cameras in Security Push

The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan plans to introduce body cameras for emergency medical personnel by the end of 2025, in a move aimed at increasing their protection amid rising incidents of violence. Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced the initiative during a government briefing. “As for protection, we will introduce video badges that will record everything that happens. We have issued a corresponding order. Local authorities will have to allocate funds. I think we will carry out this work in stages by the end of this year,” said Alnazarova, as quoted by Zakon.kz. According to the minister, the pilot initiative...

Assassination Attempt

Shadows of Power: Assassination Attempt Exposes Kazakhstan’s Turbulent Past

The assassination attempt on the deputy akim (head of the local government) in Shymkent, Kazakhstan’s third-largest city with a population exceeding one million, has drawn intense public attention. Shymkent, designated a city of republican significance, rarely sees violence of this nature targeting high-ranking officials. Ruslan Berdenov, the official in question, was wounded by shotgun fire from a smoothbore weapon on the steps of the city administration building, which struck him in the thigh and the shoulder. The attack appears less like a calculated contract killing and more like an act of personal retribution. Despite its entrenched presence in Russian criminal...

UAE

Lawyers Challenge Death Sentences of Uzbeks Convicted of UAE Rabbi Murder

Three Uzbek citizens sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates are at the center of growing international concern over the fairness of their trial and the potential political influences behind the case. On March 30, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal handed down death sentences to Olimboy Tohirovich (29), Mahmudjon Abdurahim (29), and Azizbek Komilovich (34), after convicting them of the murder of Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan dual national whose body was discovered in the Emirati city of Al Ain in November 2024. A fourth individual received a life sentence for aiding the accused. UAE authorities have linked...

Oil and Gas

Opinion – Tokayev Moves to Reclaim Kazakhstan’s Energy Future

In January 2025, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government to seek revisions to the nation’s production-sharing agreements (PSAs). The first known result of that directive has now surfaced, with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) publishing a report regarding a confidential interim ruling in an arbitration case. According to this information, Kazakhstan is pursuing a $160 billion claim against the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), the consortium managing the Kashagan oil field. The ruling states that after royalty payments, NCOC receives 98% of remaining revenue from Kashagan’s output. The document concerns a narrower environmental dispute, but the 98%...

Environment

Water Access

Central Asia’s Looming Water Crisis: A Ticking Time Bomb

When people think of Central Asia, they often picture vast deserts, ancient Silk Road cities, and oil pipelines stretching to distant markets. Yet the region’s most urgent and combustible resource is not buried underground — it flows above it. Water, or more precisely the lack of it, is rapidly becoming the defining fault line of Central Asia’s future. For decades, the five Central Asian republics have tiptoed around a growing water crisis. The two major rivers that sustain life in this arid region, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, are now so contested and depleted that what was once...

Environment

Kazakhstan and France Join Forces to Save Lake Balkhash

Ecology

Ecologists Warn Central Asian Dams May Threaten UNESCO Heritage Site

Art and Culture

Kyrgyzstan’s UN Mission Opens Environmental Art Exhibition in New York

Ecology

South Korea Backs Forest Restoration in Kazakhstan’s Fire-Ravaged Abay Region

Environment

UN Adopts Uzbekistan’s Initiative on Global Forest Restoration

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution put forward by Uzbekistan to declare 2027-2036 as the Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation. The announcement was made in a statement by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Titled “The Decade of Action for Sustainable Forest Management, Afforestation, and Reforestation”, the resolution was passed during a session in New York and garnered the support of over 80 co-sponsoring nations. Among them were all Central Asian countries, as well as Azerbaijan, Russia, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Finland, Portugal, India, Iran, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain. According to the Foreign Ministry, the...

Water

Water Level in Lake Balkhash Steadily Rising

Over the past year, the water level in Lake Balkhash has risen by 0.12 meters, and the volume of water has increased by 2 billion cubic meters, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. Located 175 miles northwest of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, Lake Balkhash is the world’s fifteenth-largest lake. In May 2024, reports indicated that Balkhash’s water level had risen by 0.23 meters since the start of the year, largely due to increased rainfall and snowmelt floods during spring. Since the beginning of 2025, 3.8 billion cubic meters of water have been released from the Kapchagay reservoir...

Water Conservation

EDB Chief Economist Outlines Central Asia’s Water Challenges and Proposes Solutions

Evgeny Vinokurov, Vice-Chairman and Chief Economist of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), presented a sobering assessment of Central Asia’s water and energy challenges at the Annual Meetings of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) on April 23. The event, held in Muscat, Oman, featured a plenary session dedicated to sustainable water management and practical strategies for addressing mounting environmental pressures in the region. Shrinking Glaciers and Growing Demand Vinokurov unveiled findings from the EDB’s think tank research, which paint a stark picture: Central Asia’s glaciers have shrunk by 30% over the past 50 years,...

Rogun Dam

World Bank to Investigate Regional Risks of Rogun Dam Project

The World Bank’s Inspection Panel has agreed to review a formal complaint filed by residents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan concerning the environmental and social risks associated with the Rogun Hydropower Project (HPP) in Tajikistan. The complaint, submitted by the regional environmental coalition Rivers Without Boundaries, targets a $350 million World Bank loan and related technical assistance used to revise the project’s 2014 environmental and social impact assessments. The complainants argue that the current studies are outdated and inadequate, relying on assumptions that are more than a decade old. They contend the assessments fail to account for the downstream effects of...

Breaking Old Ties: Central Asia’s Delicate Dance Between Russia and the West

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Features

Features

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Sunkar Podcast

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Opinions

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Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Boosts Rail Transit of Grain and Coal Through Russia

UAE Firm Plans to Build Sugar Factory in Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan Simplifies Process for Obtaining Construction Licenses

Kazakhstan Weighs OPEC+ Exit, Raising Fears of Global Oil Price War

Kazakhstan Begins Mineral Exploration in Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province

Local Politics

Local Politics

Kazakhstan to Fund Health Insurance for Over A Million Unemployed Citizens

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of Border Fence with Tajikistan

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Reach Deal to Share Chashma Water Spring

Kandas Resettlement Rises as Kazakhstan Boosts Integration Efforts

Kyrgyz Special Forces Showcase Combat Drone Capabilities in Anti-Terror Exercise

International Affairs

International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Russia to Launch Joint Drone Production Plant by End of 2025

Kyrgyzstan Breaks Ground on First Tunnel of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

Breaking Old Ties: Central Asia’s Delicate Dance Between Russia and the West

Leonid Slutsky: Scandals, Nationalism, and the Migrant Blame Game

Uzbekistan and Russia Advance Trans-Afghan Railway Project to Pakistan