March for Women’s Rights in Bishkek: Kyrgyz Voices Demand Change
The annual March for Women's Rights in Bishkek on March 8 drew around 500 participants, reaffirming Kyrgyzstan’s status as the only country in Central Asia where such demonstrations take place every year, despite persistent pressure and resistance. The march began at noon in front of the former Ministry of Foreign...
Kyrgyzstan’s Economic Boom or Bust? Calls for Inclusive Growth Persist
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov declared late last year that the country’s economic growth had reached historic milestones, with GDP maintaining positive momentum. However, local economists remain skeptical about the broader impact of this growth. In 2020, Kyrgyzstan’s GDP stood at 639 billion KGS ($7.3 billion), according to official data. By...
Kazakhstan and Italy to Strengthen Military Cooperation
Kazakhstan and Italy are set to take their bilateral relations to a new level by enhancing military cooperation through targeted collaborations and strategic agreements. This partnership represents a significant step in bolstering the defense capabilities of Kazakhstan while strengthening ties between the Central Asian power and a key European Union...
Kyrgyz Orthodox Bishop Urges Osh Authorities to Preserve Historic Cemetery
The head of the Orthodox Church in Kyrgyzstan has appealed to the mayor of Osh, the country's second city, to halt the planned demolition of an old cemetery as part of a large-scale urban reconstruction project. According to the bishop, the site is not only a burial ground but also...
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Implement Free Trade Agreement
On February 25, 2025, the free trade agreement between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan officially came into effect, eliminating customs duties on most goods produced in both countries, with certain exceptions. This landmark move aims to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two neighbors. The announcement was made by Uzbekistan’s Ministry...
Videos Show Man Tackling Hostage-Taker at Almaty Airport
A Kazakh man who disarmed a hostage-taker by grabbing the knife from his hand at Almaty International Airport is being celebrated internationally for his courage. Several videos and accounts of the dramatic scene in the airport on Friday are circulating widely on the internet. The videos show the assailant holding...
Opinion: Balancing Rights and Realities – Engaging Afghanistan for Change
The attention of the international community has once again turned to human rights in Afghanistan following the latest report by Richard Bennett, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. In his report, Bennett recommended that member states consider the concept of gender apartheid and support its codification,...
One Military Alliance (CSTO) Monitors Woes of Another (NATO)
A “zombie” alliance, one Western analysis said. A “paper tiger,” said another. The Collective Security Treaty Organization, a regional group of post-Soviet states that includes Russia and several countries in Central Asia, has come in for some harsh criticism over the years because of perceptions that it is ineffective. Now,...
Sunkar Podcast
Repatriating Islamic State Fighters and Families: Balancing Security and Humanity
