The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

There has been a significant growth in tech events in Central Eurasia throughout the last few years. Several years back you would only see these on a national level, it is hard to find something that isn’t regional these days. There is the Central Eurasian Venture Forum, the largest regional...

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov

L’Étranger: Paris Hosts the Reclusive Leader of Turkmenistan

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan’s longtime ruler, no longer holds the title of president; that has been passed, along with much of the public burden, to his son. He now reigns from the shadows as Hero-Arkadag (“Hero-Protector”), but he retains the ability to open doors. Nearly 14 years after his last official...

Politics

India and Pakistan: A Central Asian Perspective on Two Military Giants

The new round of heavy clashes involving India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir – then settled by a bilateral adherence to a “full-scale ceasefire” – has also been a confrontation involving the players surrounding the two Asian giants. The involvement of some of them took place in...

Healthcare

Top Kyrgyz Heart Surgeon Warns of Critical Infrastructure Shortfalls Costing Lives

Prominent heart surgeon Kaldarbek Abdramanov has issued a stark warning about the dire state of cardiac care in Kyrgyzstan, stating that thousands of lives are being lost due to the lack of adequate medical infrastructure. His urgent appeal, posted on Facebook, has sparked widespread public concern. Abdramanov emphasized that while...

Soviet-Era Spacecraft

Mysteries Remain Over Soviet Spacecraft That Reentered Earth’s Atmosphere

Water

Video: Meet Marziya Aitzhanova, the Woman Helping To Bring Purified Water to Shymkent

The Times of Central Asia spoke to Marziya Aitzhanova, who is helping to bring purified water to Shymkent as part of the growing number of women in management positions in New Kazakhstan. “We purify two kinds of water,” she told TCA, “one desalinated and the other chemically purified. The first...

Sunkar Podcast

Repatriating Islamic State Fighters and Families: Balancing Security and Humanity

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Opinions

Slippery Slope: How Falling Oil Prices Threaten Kazakhstan’s Energy Giant

Andrei Matveev

Victory Day Diplomacy: Central Asia’s Balancing Act and Putin’s Diminished Spotlight

Stephen M. Bland

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

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Tokayev Moves to Reclaim Kazakhstan’s Energy Future

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion – The Great Convergence: Central Asia and the EU in a New Geopolitical Landscape

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Opinion: In Central Asia, the EU Defies Its “Geopolitical Dwarf” Label

Nikola Mikovic

Opinion: What the Loss of RFE/RL Would Mean for Central Asia

Bruce Pannier

Kazakhstan’s Geoeconomic Rise and Why the U.S. Must Act Now – Opinion

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Afghanistan: Rentier State or Hostage to Foreign Aid?

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: Washington Needs a Stronger Policy for the Middle Corridor

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Does the European Parliament Judge Central Asia Fairly?

Stephen M. Bland

Kazakhstan Ends Era of Cheap Fuel: Price Controls Set for Abolition

Olzhas Baidildinov

Business & Economy

Oil Market

Slippery Slope: How Falling Oil Prices Threaten Kazakhstan’s Energy Giant

With global oil markets in flux and prices dipping below $70 per barrel, Kazakhstan’s state oil company faces mounting financial strain. If KazMunayGas (KMG) fails to adapt, it risks edging toward a fiscal cliff. Yet, political constraints, exacerbated by the ongoing specter of potential social unrest, have hindered the company’s ability to implement reforms. OPEC+ Fuels Market Uncertainty The global oil market is entering a new period of turbulence reminiscent of the pandemic era. Despite prolonged efforts by OPEC+ to manage output and stabilize prices, the alliance’s fragile consensus unraveled this April, when Saudi Arabia and Russia led an unexpected...

Start-ups

Central Asia Startup Cup: A Call for Regional Unity Through Innovation

Trans-Caspian Corridor

Kazakhstan Launches Dredging Project to Expand Aktau Port on Key Trans-Caspian Corridor

Agriculture Business

Kazakhstan Attracts British Agricultural Technologies

Tourism

Kazakhstan’s Tourism Revival Attracts International Visitors and $1.8 Billion in Investment

Construction

Rising Cement Prices in Kyrgyzstan Slow Economic Growth

In a bid to stabilize the construction market, the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has lifted a temporary ban on cement imports. The decision is aimed at addressing soaring prices and growing demand for construction materials amid an ongoing nationwide building boom. According to government officials, the move is intended to support market competition, prevent material shortages, and reduce pressure on prices. “The lifting of the temporary ban on cement imports will support healthy competition in the market, prevent shortages, and stabilize prices for construction materials,” the cabinet stated. The ban had been introduced approximately one month earlier, following a...

ADB

Uzbekistan to Chair ADB Board, Host 2026 Annual Meeting in Samarkand

Uzbekistan is poised to assume a greater leadership role within the Asian Development Bank (ADB) following key announcements at the institution’s 58th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, held on May 6-7 in Milan, Italy. Uzbekistan’s delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, participated in the high-level event. According to the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, the meeting concluded with the formal announcement that Uzbekistan will chair the ADB Board of Governors for the 2025-2026 term. Khodjaev was confirmed as the board’s next chair, a move widely seen as a reflection of the growing trust...

Labor Market

Kazakhstan’s Young Workforce Grows, But Sectoral Gaps Persist

The youth labor market in Kazakhstan remains a vital topic amid the country’s ongoing economic transformation. According to analysts from Finprom.kz, approximately 1.8 million young people aged 15 to 28 were employed across the country in 2024, an increase of 0.6% compared to the previous year. Regional Distribution of Youth Employment The highest concentration of young workers is in Almaty, where 243,200 young people are employed, up 5% from 2023. Almaty is followed by the Turkestan region. In contrast, the Ulytau, North Kazakhstan, and Zhetysu regions recorded the lowest figures for youth employment. Of the total number of employed youth,...

Airports

Vietnam’s Sovico Group Tapped to Manage Airport in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region

Vietnam's Sovico Group, owner of Kazakh airline Qazaq Air, soon to be rebranded as VietJet Kazakhstan, has been offered the opportunity to manage one of the airports in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region. This week, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, confirmed Sovico’s interest in acquiring or taking over the management of an airport in the country, though he did not specify which facility was under consideration. On Thursday, during a session of the Senate (the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakaev clarified that the proposal concerned an airport in the Kyzylorda region....

Local Politics

Victory Day

Victory Day in Central Asia: Honoring Sacrifice Amid Shifting Narratives

For the countries of Central Asia, Victory Day holds a deep significance. Although debates over the nature of the May 9 commemorations have intensified in recent years, the importance of the holiday remains unchallenged. A War That Touched Every Family Attitudes toward the celebration marking the defeat of Nazi Germany are largely shaped by each nation's level of participation in the war effort. Kazakhstan mobilized over 1.2 million people, nearly 20% of its pre-war population of 6.5 million. Of these, more than 600,000 perished at the front, with an additional 300,000 dying in the rear due to malnutrition, forced labor,...

Women's Rights

Almaty University Criticized After Female Students Told to Bow to Men

Cyberattacks

Ongoing DDoS Attack Disrupts Kazakhstan’s Digital Infrastructure

Culture

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Closure of All Rural Libraries

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Fund Health Insurance for Over A Million Unemployed Citizens

Traffic regulations

Issyk-Kul Authorities Launch Campaign to Improve Traffic Rule Awareness

Law enforcement authorities in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region have launched a campaign to improve public knowledge of traffic regulations. As part of the initiative, information boards explaining the meaning of road signs have been installed along major roads. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the campaign aims to promote better understanding and adherence to traffic laws among both drivers and pedestrians. In addition to roadside boards, educational content is being disseminated via LED screens and billboards across the region. “The main objective of the campaign is to help citizens better understand and follow traffic rules. These materials will be useful...

Military

Kyrgyzstan to Unveil New Air Defense Systems at Military Parade

During recent rehearsals in the town of Tokmok, local residents spotted modern Tor-M2KM air defense systems mounted on KamAZ trucks, marking the first public appearance of these advanced missile systems in Kyrgyzstan’s arsenal. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan, the country's Victory Day military parade will be held on May 8 in Ala-Too Square in Bishkek. More than 120 military and special-purpose vehicles, including artillery, armored vehicles, and air defense systems, will participate in the event, alongside 8,000 service personnel. The aerial portion of the parade will feature flyovers by both Kyrgyz and Russian aircraft,...

Tourism

Tourist Season Officially Opens in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul

An international fair of craftsmen and folk art opened in Cholpon-Ata, marking the official start of the tourist season in Issyk-Kul. The highlight of the event was a lively and competitive display of yurt assembly, drawing large crowds and showcasing Kyrgyz traditions. Such fairs have become a key platform for Kyrgyz travel companies to promote their services and forge partnerships with tour operators from abroad. “Today, Kyrgyzstan offers more than just a destination, we offer a tourism philosophy based on sustainability, respect for nature, and cultural diversity,” said Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, reflecting the country’s broader tourism goals. [caption id="attachment_31469"...

Human Rights

Turkmen Cultural Workers Fired Over Refusal to Fund Presidential TV Monitor

Another case of forced financial contributions among civil servants has emerged in Turkmenistan. In early April, four employees of the Kerki district's cultural department were dismissed after protesting salary deductions. The funds were intended to finance the purchase of a television monitor designated to display images of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Salary Deductions Without Consent According to an order from local authorities, 230 Turkmenistan Manat (TMT) was deducted from the March salaries of employees at urban and rural cultural centers to pay for a large monitor at the Kerki Palace of Culture. Given that average monthly salaries range between 1,800-2,100 TMT...

International Affairs

Agricultural cooperation

Uzbekistan Sends Over 26 Tons of Free Seed to Afghan Farmers

Uzbekistan has delivered more than 26 tons of certified agricultural seeds to Afghan farmers and agricultural organizations, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture. The donation is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen regional cooperation and reflects President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s foreign policy priority of fostering close relations with neighboring countries. The seed shipment, provided by Uzbekistan’s Center for Seed Development, includes 5 tons of cotton seeds (sufficient for 200 hectares), 20 tons of rice seeds (for 100 hectares), 500 kilograms of mung beans (25 hectares), 187 kilograms of vegetable seeds, and 600 kilograms of melon seeds. All varieties are...

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov

L’Étranger: Paris Hosts the Reclusive Leader of Turkmenistan

Politics

India and Pakistan: A Central Asian Perspective on Two Military Giants

Astana International Forum

Kazakhstan’s Astana Forum Offers Global South a New Multi-Vector Platform

Asylum

As War Rages at Home, Sudanese Student Leaves Kazakhstan for Uncertain Future

Green card lottery

Uzbekistan Ranks First Globally for Number of U.S. Green Card Lottery Winners

More than 5,500 Uzbek citizens have been selected in the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery for 2025, according to results announced on May 3. With 5,564 winners, Uzbekistan is the leading nation globally, just ahead of Algeria (5,526) and Russia (5,519). The DV program, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, is administered annually by the U.S. State Department under the 1990 Immigration Act. It offers up to 55,000 permanent residency visas each year to individuals from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States. For the DV-2025 cycle, approximately 131,000 applicants worldwide were selected, more than...

Infrastructure

ADB Finances 90% of Road Projects in Tajikistan’s Regions

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has financed the construction and reconstruction of 90% of all roads in Tajikistan outside the capital, Dushanbe. This was announced by Evgeny Zhukov, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, during the 58th Annual Meeting of the Bank’s Board of Governors in Milan. Tajikistan’s Largest Transport Infrastructure Investor According to Zhukov, Tajikistan has long been a key partner for the ADB. Since the start of cooperation, the bank has invested approximately $2.7 billion in the country, with the majority of funds directed toward public sector development. “If you travel outside Dushanbe, there is a...

Victory Day

Victory Day Diplomacy: Central Asia’s Balancing Act and Putin’s Diminished Spotlight

Every year, Moscow’s Red Square transforms into a stage for one of Russia's most celebrated traditions: Victory Day, an event which marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. Yet, as tanks roll through the cobblestone streets and military bands echo under the Kremlin walls, the occasion feels more heavily laden with geopolitical undertones than historical reminiscence these days. Against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and shifting alliances, the presence of Central Asian leaders at this year’s event speaks to the region’s delicate relationship with the Russian Federation. But the question remains: amidst the pomp and...

Victory Day

Drone Attacks Intensify Security Worries Over Moscow Anniversary Event

Concerns about the security of dignitaries are circulating ahead of Russia’s plans for May 9 celebrations in Moscow of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, an event that leaders from Central Asia are expected to attend as the Russo-Ukrainian war continues. The unease relates to Ukraine’s growing capacity in drone warfare, a dominant feature of the battlefield after years of war between Ukrainian troops and invading Russian forces. On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defense forces in the urban area of Podolsk, on the outskirts of Moscow, “repelled an attack” by four drones flying toward...

Life & Culture

Mountain Climbing

Asel Baibagysheva Becomes First Kyrgyz Woman to Climb Everest

Asel Baibagysheva has made history as the first Kyrgyz woman to reach the top of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. She reached the 8,849-meter summit on May 11, and safely descended to base camp the following day, planting the Kyrgyz national flag at the top of the world. Baibagysheva’s achievement was swiftly recognized by Kyrgyzstan’s leadership. On May 12, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliyev personally congratulated her via video link. “On behalf of the President, the Cabinet of Ministers, and myself, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this historic ascent,” he said. “Your success is an...

Healthcare

Top Kyrgyz Heart Surgeon Warns of Critical Infrastructure Shortfalls Costing Lives

Water

Video: Meet Marziya Aitzhanova, the Woman Helping To Bring Purified Water to Shymkent

History

Marking Victory Day: When Kazakh WWII Snipers Made the News in Australia

Central Asian Art

Central Asian Perspectives Take Center Stage in Milan

HPV Vaccination

Kazakh Lawmakers Advocate HPV Vaccination for Boys

Kazakh lawmakers are urging the government to expand its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program to include boys, arguing that the virus poses serious health risks to both sexes. Askhat Aimagambetov, a deputy of the Mazhilis (the lower house of parliament), announced the initiative on his Telegram channel, stating that the proposal reflects the concerns of Kazakhstani parents. Along with fellow parliamentarians, Aimagambetov has formally appealed to the Ministry of Health. “Currently, girls in Kazakhstan can receive free HPV vaccinations. This is a major achievement and a decision that saves thousands of lives. But HPV is not a ‘female virus.’ It...

Soviet-Era Spacecraft

Mysteries Remain Over Soviet Spacecraft That Reentered Earth’s Atmosphere

The saga of a Venus-bound lander probe that launched from Soviet-run Kazakhstan in 1972 and made an uncontrolled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday had triggered wide international interest, partly because there was so much uncertainty about its return. Would the spacecraft make it through the atmosphere intact? Where exactly would it end up? One thing is for sure: the Cosmos 482 spacecraft is down (and no one has to worry anymore about the very remote possibility of an encounter with flying spacecraft debris). But the answers to some of the mysteries about the lander still appear to elude scientists,...

World War II

Kazakh Partisans Honored for Role in French Resistance

On May 8, 2025, a solemn ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France was held in Astana at the monument to General Charles de Gaulle. During the event, French diplomats posthumously awarded medals to three Kazakh partisans, Kadem Dzhumaniyazov, Kabysh Omarov, and Ashimbek Istybayev, for their contributions to the French Resistance during World War II. The awards were presented by Sylvain Guillemot, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Kazakhstan. According to the French Embassy’s press service, the medals were signed personally by Sébastien Lecornu, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, who also took part in the...

Space Exploration

Soviet-Era Spacecraft May Crash to Earth This Week, Uzbekistan Among Monitored Zones

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a Soviet spacecraft launched from Baikonur more than five decades ago is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere between May 9 and 11, 2025. Known as Kosmos-482, the probe was part of the Soviet Union’s Venera program aimed at exploring Venus. However, due to a launch failure in 1972, it never escaped Earth’s orbit and has been circling the planet ever since. Kosmos-482 was engineered to endure the extreme conditions of Venus, making it significantly more robust than typical satellites. Its descent module, weighing around 495 kilograms (approximately 1,100 pounds), features a...

Justice

Corruption

Former Head of Astana Metro Project Detained in Turkey

Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (KNB) has confirmed the detention of Talgat Ardan, the former head of the Astana Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, in Turkey. Ardan, who had been placed on an international wanted list, is accused of embezzling significant budgetary funds allocated for the capital’s metro system. Legal proceedings against Ardan stem from a major corruption case that surfaced in 2020. A criminal trial launched in Astana that autumn revealed the alleged embezzlement of billions of tenge earmarked for the LRT’s construction. In May 2021, seven individuals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to ten years. Two...

Gas Explosion

Samarkand Issues Safety Warnings after Gas Explosion Kills Seven in Home

Trump Administration

U.S. Offers $1,000 Incentive for Voluntary Self-Deportation

Media Freedom

OSCE, European Embassies Concerned About Media Freedom in Tajikistan

Migrants

Uzbekistan and Russia Hold First Meeting on Labor Migration and Migrant Rights

Espionage

Bulgarian Spy Ring Sentenced: Questions Linger Over Possible Unprosecuted Crimes and Future Threats

On March 7, 2025, six Bulgarian nationals living in the UK were convicted under the Official Secrets Act 1911 for espionage and the Identity Documents Act 2010 for possessing false identity documents. Following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, the Crown Prosecution Service secured sentencing on May 12. Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC argued that lengthy sentences were justified for several defendants, stating that their actions had put lives at risk and compromised national security. Ultimately, Orlin Roussev (47) received ten years and eight months, Biser Dzhambazov (44) ten years and two months, Ivan Stoyanov (33) five years...

Economy

Tajikistan Has the Harshest Fines Relative to Income in Central Asia

Tajikistan ranks first among Central Asian countries in the ratio of maximum fines to average salaries, a disparity that has sparked growing dissatisfaction among the population. Structure and Scale of Fines Fines in Tajikistan fall into two categories: administrative and criminal. Administrative fines apply to less serious infractions, such as traffic violations, breaches of sanitary rules, and disorderly conduct. Criminal fines, by contrast, target serious offenses including fraud, tax evasion, and property crimes. Administrative penalties are more common and tend to disproportionately impact ordinary citizens. As of January 1, 2025, the minimum administrative fine for individuals and sole proprietors is...

Rukhshona Khakimova

Parents of Imprisoned Tajik Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova Urge Rahmon to Intervene

The parents of Rukhshona Khakimova, a Tajik journalist sentenced in February 2025 to eight years in prison on charges of treason, have issued an open letter to President Emomali Rahmon, urging him to reconsider their daughter’s case and facilitate her release. Family Appeals for Clemency A copy of the letter, signed by Khakimova’s parents, Zokir Khakimov and Makhsuda Sharopova, was published on social media on May 3. In the letter, the couple described their daughter’s upbringing in a family of educators committed to national values, patriotism, and humanism. Khakimov, a former school director in Kanibadam, and Sharopova, a retired teacher,...

Racial Discrimination

Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan Speaks Out Against Racial Discrimination

Deputy Chair of the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan, Nurgul Bakirova, presented a report during the 115th session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, held in Switzerland. In response to committee questions, Bakirova affirmed that Kyrgyz law prohibits discrimination on any grounds, racial, ethnic, or national. She emphasized that the Supreme Court ensures effective legal protection for all individuals, regardless of origin. Kyrgyz courts apply both domestic and international legal standards, and a mechanism exists to challenge legislation that violates anti-discrimination principles. Since 2019, over 400 Kyrgyz judges have undergone training in human rights protection and compliance...

Environment

Two Key Environmental Initiatives Completed in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has marked the successful completion of two major agro-environmental initiatives aimed at enhancing natural resource management and climate change adaptation. These efforts represent significant progress in addressing environmental challenges both nationally and across the broader Central Asian region. Regional Project on Natural Resource Management The first project concluded was the second phase of the regional program titled “Integrated Natural Resource Management in Drought-Prone and Salinized Agricultural Production Landscapes of Central Asia and Turkey,” which commenced in 2018. This initiative focused on pilot sites in the Karakum Desert, the mountain village of Nokhur, and the Turkmen sector of the Aral...

Reforestation

Kazakhstan Plants Over 1 Billion Trees as Reforestation Drive Extends to 2027

Green Future

Central Asia’s Green Energy Dream: Too Big to Achieve?

Remembrance Day

UN Backs Earthquake Victims Day, Highlighting Uzbekistan’s Seismic History

Environment

UN Adopts Uzbekistan’s Initiative on Global Forest Restoration

Clean Energy

As China Cuts Gas Demand, Uzbekistan Eyes Renewables Opportunity

China’s rapid transition to clean energy is beginning to reshape global energy markets, with significant implications for Central Asia. While the shift poses challenges for major natural gas exporters such as Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, it may create new opportunities for Uzbekistan, according to a recent analysis by Eurasianet. A report by BloombergNEF, titled Energy Transition Supply Chains 2025, highlights China’s dominant position in clean energy manufacturing. The country controls over 70% of global production in sectors such as solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, falling short only in the area of hydrogen electrolyzers. China is also leading in investment....

Water

Underground Tunnel Proposed to Channel Water from Black Sea to Caspian Sea

Azerbaijan’s ADOG company, in partnership with Zira Sea Port, has proposed an ambitious plan to construct an underground tunnel linking the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. The goal is to counteract the rapid decline in the Caspian’s water level, which presents mounting environmental, economic, and infrastructural risks for the five littoral states. According to the analytical portal Minval Politika, the project envisions a 10-meter diameter tunnel connecting the Black Sea, either from the Georgian or Russian coastline, to the Caspian Sea. Engineers propose using the natural elevation difference between the two bodies of water to enable gravity-fed flow from...

Wildlife Restoration

Despite USAID Funding Cuts, Kyrgyzstan Plans to Reintroduce Goitered Gazelle at Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan has launched an ambitious project to restore the population and natural habitat of the goitered gazelle on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, a region once home to these graceful creatures. Led by the Argali Public Fund, Ilbirs Fund, and the Gulistan farm, the reintroduction effort marks a significant step toward reversing the species' decline and restoring balance to the local ecosystem. Reviving a Lost Species The goitered gazelle, an elegant herbivore from the bovid family, was once abundant in the Issyk-Kul region. However, its population collapsed after the 1930s due to widespread poaching and the conversion of natural...

Water Access

Opinion – 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...

Slippery Slope: How Falling Oil Prices Threaten Kazakhstan’s Energy Giant

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Andrei Matveev

Stephen M. Bland

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Nikola Mikovic

Bruce Pannier

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Aidar Borangaziyev

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Stephen M. Bland

Olzhas Baidildinov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

Slippery Slope: How Falling Oil Prices Threaten Kazakhstan’s Energy Giant

Rising Cement Prices in Kyrgyzstan Slow Economic Growth

Uzbekistan to Chair ADB Board, Host 2026 Annual Meeting in Samarkand

Kazakhstan’s Young Workforce Grows, But Sectoral Gaps Persist

Vietnam’s Sovico Group Tapped to Manage Airport in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda Region

Local Politics

Local Politics

Victory Day in Central Asia: Honoring Sacrifice Amid Shifting Narratives

Issyk-Kul Authorities Launch Campaign to Improve Traffic Rule Awareness

Kyrgyzstan to Unveil New Air Defense Systems at Military Parade

Tourist Season Officially Opens in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul

Turkmen Cultural Workers Fired Over Refusal to Fund Presidential TV Monitor

International Affairs

International Affairs

Uzbekistan Sends Over 26 Tons of Free Seed to Afghan Farmers

Uzbekistan Ranks First Globally for Number of U.S. Green Card Lottery Winners

ADB Finances 90% of Road Projects in Tajikistan’s Regions

Victory Day Diplomacy: Central Asia’s Balancing Act and Putin’s Diminished Spotlight

Drone Attacks Intensify Security Worries Over Moscow Anniversary Event

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Asel Baibagysheva Becomes First Kyrgyz Woman to Climb Everest

Kazakh Lawmakers Advocate HPV Vaccination for Boys

Mysteries Remain Over Soviet Spacecraft That Reentered Earth’s Atmosphere

Kazakh Partisans Honored for Role in French Resistance

Soviet-Era Spacecraft May Crash to Earth This Week, Uzbekistan Among Monitored Zones

Justice

Justice

Former Head of Astana Metro Project Detained in Turkey