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Turkmenistan Introduces Fuel Limits for Vehicles Leaving the Country

Turkmenistan introduced new rules governing fuel exports at the beginning of April. Under the regulations, the amount of diesel in the tanks of vehicles leaving the country must not exceed 300 liters. If this limit is exceeded, a fee of approximately $1 per additional liter is charged. The new rules primarily affect heavy-duty trucks, which traditionally carry large volumes of fuel. Enforcement has been assigned to the State Border Service, the State Customs Service, and the state-owned company Turkmenneft. Specialists from the General Directorate of Türkmennebitönümleri, the entity responsible for the distribution of petroleum products, are tasked with measuring fuel volumes at border checkpoints. The fuel volume of each vehicle is checked and entered into an electronic system. If the limit is exceeded, the driver is issued two receipts: one remains with the driver, while the other is sent to a bank for payment. All measurements are also recorded in a dedicated logbook. According to the authorities, this system is intended to reduce the risk of fraud and informal payments. The reasons for tightening the regulations are clear. Diesel in Turkmenistan costs around $0.05 per liter. By comparison, in the summer of 2025, it cost about $1 in Uzbekistan, approximately $0.60 in Kazakhstan, and around $0.90 in Russia. This price disparity has long created conditions for black-market activity. Fuel is smuggled abroad and resold, while domestic shortages periodically occur. Drivers face restrictions at filling stations, and additional fuel is often sold at a surcharge that can reach 200% of the official price. As a result, the market has become distorted, with potential state revenue reportedly being diverted through corrupt practices. Another contributing factor is the recent rise in global fuel prices, driven in part by escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments. Similar measures have been introduced elsewhere in the region. Kazakhstan tightened regulations on the export of petroleum products and, in autumn 2025, imposed a full ban that remains in effect until May this year. Russia also restricted fuel exports starting April 1, with the measures expected to remain in place until at least July 31.

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Central Asia Pushes Back on “Not Free” Label as Debate Over Rankings Grows

According to Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2026 report, all five countries in Central Asia are classified as “Not Free.” Nevertheless, governments in the region are increasingly questioning the impartiality of such assessments. At the same time, some regional experts point to ongoing political and economic reforms as signs that the region is making progress. A “Not Free” Region In its report released on March 19, 2026, Freedom House classifies all five Central Asian states as "Not Free." The designation is based on Freedom House’s assessment of political rights and civil liberties. According to the report’s authors, the ranking reflects pressure on independent media, tightening control over civil society, and the absence of genuine political competition. Kazakhstan received 23 points out of 100. The report highlights restrictions on opposition groups and civil society activists, pressure on independent journalism, and tightly managed elections that do not ensure genuine political competition. Kyrgyzstan, long considered the most politically open country in the region, scored 25 out of 100 and was also classified as “Not Free.” The organization says the score fell by one point from the previous year, reflecting continued pressure on independent media, the designation of several outlets as ‘extremist,’ and criminal cases against journalists, alongside concerns about election integrity. Uzbekistan scored 12 out of 100. Freedom House points to the concentration of power in the executive branch, the absence of a genuine parliamentary opposition, and severe restrictions on independent human rights defenders and journalists. Since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in 2016, Uzbekistan has pursued a series of controlled political and economic reforms aimed at opening the country after decades of isolation. These have included currency liberalization, efforts to end the use of forced labor in the cotton sector, and steps to ease restrictions on business and foreign investment. While critics say political liberalization remains limited, supporters argue the reforms mark a significant shift from the policies of the previous era. Tajikistan received just 5 points. The report highlights the long rule of President Emomali Rahmon, the elimination of legal opposition, systematic persecution of its members and their families, and a de facto lack of electoral competition. Turkmenistan recorded one of the lowest scores globally, with just 1 point. The report describes the country as one of the most repressive in the world, citing total state control over political life and the media, the absence of opposition participation in elections, and harsh punishment for dissent. Turkmenistan remains one of the most closed countries in the world, with extremely limited access for foreign media and independent observers. Political life is tightly controlled, and reliable information about internal developments is scarce. While the authorities have signaled gradual generational change following the 2022 transfer of power to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, there has been little visible shift in the country’s political system. Impartiality in Doubt? Trust in international assessments has also been affected by developments in U.S. foreign aid policy and a wider shift in global perceptions about the appropriateness of Western-linked organizations categorising...

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Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines Adds Two Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft

Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines has taken delivery of two new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The planes were delivered directly from Boeing’s facility in Seattle, marking the first time the carrier has added two aircraft of this type to its fleet simultaneously. The fleet expansion is linked to the growth of the airline’s route network and the strengthening of existing flight programs. In 2026, SCAT launched new routes from Shymkent to Karaganda, Kostanay, Bishkek, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, and Tyumen, as well as a direct service from Astana to Ulaanbaatar. The new aircraft will support the development of a hub at Shymkent Airport, which is emerging as a key node in the airline’s network. “It is important for SCAT that the new aircraft will be used to develop the hub in Shymkent and expand the route network,” said company president Vladimir Denisov. The airline’s fleet currently consists of approximately 40 aircraft. In September 2025, the carrier received another Boeing 737 MAX 8, bringing the total number of aircraft of this type in its fleet to eleven. SCAT Airlines was founded in 1997. The company’s structure includes Aulie-Ata International Airport in Taraz, a 70% stake in Yuzhnoye Nebo Airlines, and a 40% stake in the Egyptian carrier Red Sea Airlines. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that SCAT Airlines, in partnership with Boeing, had begun construction of a new maintenance center in Shymkent. The facility will specialize in servicing Boeing aircraft, including the Boeing 737 (Classic, NG, and MAX), Boeing 757 and Boeing 767, as well as the wide-body Boeing 777. During a working visit to the United States, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Boeing executives. He noted that airlines including Air Astana, SCAT, and Vietjet Qazaqstan are interested in expanding joint projects that are important for the development of Kazakhstan’s aviation industry.

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Bishkek Seeks Stable Grain Supplies from Astana for Flour Millers

The Kyrgyz government is considering new measures to support the flour milling industry, including intensified negotiations with Kazakhstan to ensure stable grain supplies. Industry representatives, speaking at a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, said Kyrgyz flour millers are seeking long-term contracts for the supply of Kazakh grain with fixed volumes and prices. Despite an increase in imports, they noted that enterprises continue to face shortages of raw materials. According to industry estimates, processing capacity utilization currently stands at around 50%. Millers also pointed to ongoing problems with illegal grain trade at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. The Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan said it is conducting negotiations with the Kazakh side, including through diplomatic channels, and expects to secure unimpeded transit of grain and direct deliveries to processing enterprises in the near future. Authorities also plan to provide preferential financing for the construction of grain storage facilities. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, flour exports to Kyrgyzstan increased 1.8 times over the past seven months, rising from 194,000 to 354,000 tons. Kazakhstan attributes this growth to improved logistics. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev has said that logistical challenges between the two countries remain unresolved. He stressed the need to accelerate the digitalization of transport and customs procedures to improve transparency and speed up cargo inspections. He also noted that, in some cases, additional control measures are applied at border crossings, including tax assessments and the confiscation of goods.

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Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Coming Sunday

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team looks at clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan and how this affects Central Asian plans for trade routes and export projects. Special guest on the show this week: - C. Christine Fair, professor in the Security Studies Program within the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and an expert in the Pakistani military and Afghan relations.

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Iran Conflict Drives Food Price Pressures Across Central Asia

The war around Iran is beginning to push up food price risks in Central Asia as disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz raise fertilizer and fuel costs, while Tehran’s halt to some food exports adds pressure in regional markets. The impact is not manifesting as shortages, but as rising costs across the systems that produce, move, and sell food. The United Nations has warned that the crisis is disrupting one of the world’s most important trade corridors for energy and agricultural supplies. A large share of global fertilizer trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and reduced shipping traffic is tightening supply and pushing up prices. Higher fuel costs are adding a second layer of pressure on farmers and transport networks. Fertilizer and fuel are among agriculture’s highest costs. Even modest increases can compress margins quickly, forcing farmers to cut usage or pass costs on, with pressure moving through to retail prices. Central Asia is particularly exposed to this shift in costs. The region relies on imported fuel and fertilizers, and depends on long, multi-stage transport routes. When costs increase at any point in that chain, they accumulate before goods reach markets. The second layer of pressure comes from Iran itself. On March 3, Tehran imposed a ban on exports of food products as part of wartime economic measures. Reporting in Tajikistan indicates that the move could affect the availability and pricing of goods such as dairy, sugar, fruit, and spices, particularly in wholesale and lower-cost retail markets. Iran is not a dominant supplier, but plays a role in specific markets. Tajikistan is the clearest example. Tajikistan has also expanded its economic relationship with Iran in recent years, supported by cooperation in industry and transport. Iranian goods are widely present in retail supply chains, and trade between the two countries has grown steadily in recent years. That growth is part of a broader trend. Iran’s economic ties with Central Asia have expanded under new trade arrangements and bilateral initiatives. Kazakhstan and Iran have discussed increasing trade turnover to $3 billion, reflecting the rising use of Caspian routes and port infrastructure, which are now under threat. [caption id="attachment_46480" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Aralsk Bazaar. Rising transport and fertilizer costs are beginning to push up food prices across the region. Image: Michael J. Bland[/caption] Transport adds a third layer of pressure. As risks rise across the Middle East, airlines and freight operators are avoiding large swathes of Iranian airspace and surrounding routes, forcing rerouting and raising costs across supply chains. European aviation safety authorities have issued conflict-zone bulletins warning of heightened risks in the region, and carriers have adjusted accordingly. Rerouting increases fuel use, extends journey times, and raises insurance costs. Those increases affect cargo as well as passengers, and over time, higher logistics costs feed into the price of imported goods, including food. On land, the same pattern is visible. As southern routes become less predictable, more freight is shifting toward the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - the Middle Corridor -...