The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

On December 16, a loan agreement was signed in Bishkek to finance the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, an ambitious regional transport project intended to bolster connectivity across Central and South Asia. According to the Kyrgyz government, the agreement was concluded between China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC, a joint venture...

Desertification

Turkmenistan and Spain Eye Regional Center to Combat Desertification in Central Asia

Energy Deficit

Alisher Sultanov Leaves Office After a Decade of Declining Gas Production in Uzbekistan

Digital Development

The Digital Future of Central Asia: Who Is Shaping It, and How?

Digital security is now a key component of most processes in every country. A large share of organizations is moving, or has already moved, their processes online, which requires increased attention and control. Many Central Asian countries are already rolling out AI technologies at the state level. Financial institutions, social...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Available Now

B5+1

Bishkek to Host Second B5+1 Forum of Central Asia and the U.S.

Water Security

Glacier Melt Threatens Central Asia’s Water Security, Experts Warn at Regional Forum

Sunkar Podcast

Central Asia and the Troubled Southern Route

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Opinions

Opinion: Is Uzbekistan Importing a Future Crisis?

William Cui

Opinion: Kazakhstan Bets Big on AI to Power Local and Global Growth

Altair Akhmetov

Opinion: After the UN Gaza Resolution – Kazakhstan’s Potential Role

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Abraham Accords Can Help Kazakhstan Reshape Its Energy Future

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s Electoral Reforms – Why Officials and Experts Are Reconsidering Local Democracy

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Central Asia Is Consolidating Its Role as a Full-Fledged Actor in Global Processes

Mavlon Bobokhonov

Opinion: Multi-Vectorism 2.0 – Kazakhstan Seeks Balance in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: The Integration of Afghanistan into Central Asia

Dr. M. Assem Mayar

Opinion: Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords – More Than a Symbolic Gesture

Uzma Parveen

Opinion: A Trump Visit to Central Asia Would Deliver Results and Anchor a Corridor Strategy

Dr. Robert M. Cutler

Opinion: China’s Diplomatic Power Play Unfolds in Tianjin

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Gas, Geopolitics, and Realism: U.S.–Turkmenistan Talks Signal Shift

Javier M. Piedra

Business & Economy

Oil and Gas

Kazakhstan Boosts Oil Output Despite Export Infrastructure Challenges

Kazakhstan increased its production of oil and gas condensate by 14% in January-November 2025 compared to the same period last year, and exceeded its annual export plan ahead of schedule, despite ongoing disruptions in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). The figures were announced by Deputy Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov. By the end of 2024, Kazakhstan had produced 87.7 million tons of oil and gas condensate, 97.1% of its target of 90.5 million tons. Total oil exports for the year reached 63.2 million tons. In the first 11 months of 2025, production rose to 91.9 million tons, marking a 14.1%...

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

Financing Agreement for China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project Signed in Bishkek

Natural resources

Mirziyoyev: Uzbekistan’s Natural Resources Valued at Up to $79,000 Per Person

Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Kazakhstan Fast-Tracks Delivery of Caspian Pipeline Equipment

Digital Development

The Digital Future of Central Asia: Who Is Shaping It, and How?

Advocacy

Uzbekneftegaz Signs $5 Million Consulting Deal With U.S. Firm Ballard Partners

Uzbekneftegaz has signed a $5 million lobbying and strategic consulting contract with the U.S.-based firm Ballard Partners, according to documents published by the Uzbek Telegram channel Revizor on December 12. The agreement outlines services for “strategic consulting and advocacy before the U.S. government.” The reported monthly fee is $83,334, implying a contract duration of approximately five years. Ballard Partners is often described by U.S. media outlets as having close ties to President Donald Trump. Reuters recently reported that several major companies, including cryptocurrency exchanges Kraken and Blockchain.com, retained Ballard Partners after the November elections for lobbying on digital asset regulation....

Investments

Average Annual Investment in Kyrgyzstan Grows by 140%

Average annual investment in Kyrgyzstan has increased by 140% in recent years, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev announced at an investment forum held in Bishkek. The event brought together representatives from various sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, including construction, tourism, the agro-industrial complex, the jewelry industry, and associations of suppliers and distributors. Heads of development funds offering preferential financing to domestic businesses also participated. Kasymaliyev acknowledged that the state's previous involvement in attracting investment to the private sector had been fragmented. However, this is changing under Kyrgyzstan’s new investment strategy, a comprehensive, state-level framework designed to draw both domestic and foreign...

Cotton

Turkmenistan Considers Cotton Exports to Kyrgyzstan

Turkmenistan is exploring the possibility of exporting cotton to Kyrgyzstan as part of a broader effort to jointly develop the textile industry, according to Danil Ibrayev, a member of the presidium of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Business Council and President of the Kyrgyz Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. He shared the update during an interview with Birinchi Radio. Ibrayev noted that both countries are currently discussing practical mechanisms for supplying Turkmen cotton to Kyrgyz enterprises, where it would be processed into finished textile products. These products could then be sold domestically or exported, including to other EAEU member states....

Automobile Industry

Kazakhstan Sets New Record for Car Sales

Kazakhstan's car market set a new record in the first 11 months of 2025, with more than 207,500 new vehicles sold, surpassing the previous annual record of 205,000 units set in 2024. According to the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAS), 25,804 passenger and commercial vehicles were sold in November 2025 alone, marking a 22.7% year-on-year increase. This figure represents the highest monthly sales volume in the history of official car retail in the country. Between January and November 2025, dealerships sold a total of 207,616 new vehicles, 15.6% more than during the same period in 2024. KAS President Anar Makasheva noted...

Local Politics

Politics

Kazakh MP Sarym Proposes Legal Measures Over Social Media Posts on Pipeline Strike

A Kazakhstani lawmaker has proposed criminal liability for social media posts that express support for attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. During a recent session of the Mazhilis (lower house of parliament), MP Aidos Sarym called for posts endorsing Ukrainian military strikes on oil infrastructure to be examined under existing laws on terrorism and high treason. The proposal follows a November 29 incident in which Ukraine’s armed forces reportedly targeted the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia. The attack damaged the CPC’s VPU-2 offshore loading terminal and temporarily halted operations. Addressing Prosecutor General Berik Asylov and Deputy Prime...

Electricity supply

Rahmon Outlines Measures to Address Tajikistan’s Winter Power Shortages

Media

Nomad TV: Russia’s Latest Media Venture in Kyrgyzstan

Neutrality

Turkmenistan Marks 30 Years of Neutrality

Energy cooperation

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Strengthen Energy Ties as Kambarata-1 Project Advances

Energy Deficit

Alisher Sultanov Leaves Office After a Decade of Declining Gas Production in Uzbekistan

Alisher Sultanov was relieved of his post as presidential representative on energy security on December 16, ending some ten years of dubious performance as one of Uzbekistan’s top energy officials. Under Sultanov’s watch as head of the state oil and gas company and then as a top official in Uzbekistan’s Energy Ministry, the country’s oil and gas production decreased, and Uzbekistan went from being a gas exporter to an importer. A Career in the Gas and Oil Sector Sultanov started working in Uzbekistan’s energy sector in the mid-1990s and gradually made his way through the ranks at the state oil...

Independence Day

The Contested Legacy of Kazakhstan’s Independence Day: From Sovereignty to Unrest and Reinvention

On December 16, 2025, Kazakhstan marks the 34th anniversary of its independence. The story of this national holiday mirrors the nation’s own complex path toward sovereignty and statehood. A Difficult Legacy On December 16, 1991, Kazakhstan adopted the Law “On State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” officially becoming the last Soviet republic to leave the USSR. The date came at the tail end of the so-called “parade of sovereignties,” when other republics had already declared independence. This delay led to a popular saying: “Kazakhstan turned off the lights in the USSR.” In the early years of independence, the holiday...

Diplomacy

Uzbekistan, Paraguay Deepen Ties During First-Ever Presidential Visit

Uzbekistan and Paraguay have agreed to enhance political and economic cooperation following high-level talks in Tashkent, according to the presidential press service. The meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña took place at the Kuksaroy residence, with participation from both countries’ official delegations. Mirziyoyev welcomed his counterpart and highlighted the historical significance of the visit, noting it as the first time a president from a Latin American country has traveled to Uzbekistan. The visit is expected to usher in a new era of bilateral relations. The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation across several sectors. Talks focused...

Digitalization

Face Pay, Palm Scans, and AI Cameras: Inside Kazakhstan’s Digital Transformation

Daily life in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, increasingly resembles scenes from a futuristic film. Subway fares can be paid with a glance, schoolchildren enter campuses by scanning their palms, and traffic flows are monitored by an expansive video surveillance system. With just a smartphone, citizens can apply for a marriage license, open a business, or access official documents within seconds. Kazakhstan has embraced rapid digitalization, positioning itself as a regional leader in GovTech and fintech. Authorities promote this trajectory as a means to create a secure and efficient environment, and the public has largely welcomed it. The country now boasts...

International Affairs

Central Asia + Japan

Japan Steps Out of the Shadows With First Central Asia Leaders’ Summit

On December 19-20, Tokyo will host a landmark summit poised to reshape Eurasian cooperation. For the first time in the 20-year history of the “Central Asia + Japan” format, the dialogue is being elevated to the level of heads of state. For Japan, this represents more than a diplomatic gesture; it signals a shift from what analysts often describe as cautious “silk diplomacy” to a more substantive political and economic partnership with a region increasingly central to global competition over resources and trade routes. The summit will be chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The leaders of all five...

Baikonur

Roscosmos: Damaged Baikonur Launch Pad To Be Ready in Early 2026

Afghanistan

U.S. Transfers Afghan Black Hawk Helicopters From Uzbekistan to Peru

Bilateral Trade

Kazakhstan and Iran Discuss Trade on Pezeshkian’s Visit to Astana

Baikonur

Soyuz Crew Lands Safely in Kazakhstan After Space Mission

Immigration

U.S. Eases Restrictions on Entry of Turkmenistan Nationals

The United States has lifted a suspension on the entry of citizens of Turkmenistan with nonimmigrant visas into the U.S. The suspension had been imposed under an order signed in June by President Donald Trump that banned or curbed the entry of nationals from 19 countries. On Tuesday, Trump issued another order that expanded entry restrictions on people from countries deemed to have what the White House called “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies” in screening and vetting. However, in contrast to other countries that were mentioned, the new order had good things to say about Turkmenistan, one of the most...

B5+1

Bishkek to Host Second B5+1 Forum of Central Asia and the U.S.

Kyrgyzstan is preparing to host the second B5+1 Forum of Central Asia and the United States, scheduled for February 4-5, 2026, in Bishkek. On December 12, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economy and Commerce held a joint briefing for ambassadors from Central Asian countries and the United States to outline preparations for the event. The B5+1 platform serves as the business counterpart to the C5+1 diplomatic initiative, which unites the five countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – with the United States. Launched by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) under...

International Year of Peace and Trust

Ashgabat Hosts Forum Marking International Year of Peace and Trust

An international forum marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality has opened at the Maslahat Köşgi Palace in Ashgabat. The event has drawn high-level delegations and representatives of international organizations. Among those attending are President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, and the presidents of Turkey and Iran, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Masoud Pezeshkian. The forum has also brought together the presidents of the Central Asian states, including President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. Other participants include Prime Minister of Pakistan...

Visa

The Silk Visa Deadlock: The Long Road to a Borderless Central Asia

The year 2025 will likely be remembered as a milestone in Central Asian diplomacy. Regional leaders signed landmark agreements on water and energy cooperation and launched major investment projects. At high-level meetings, Central Asian presidents emphasized a new phase of deeper cooperation and greater unity, highlighting strategic partnership and shared development goals. But at ground level, at border crossings such as Korday between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, or the congested diversion routes replacing the closed Zhibek Zholy checkpoint, the picture is far less seamless. Long queues, heightened scrutiny, and bureaucratic delays remain the norm. While political rhetoric celebrates unity, the reality...

Life & Culture

Society

Tajikistan Remains in 113th Place in Global Social Progress Index

The newly released Global Social Progress Index offers a mixed assessment of Tajikistan, where improvements in water and sanitation have been overshadowed by a sharp decline in civil liberties, limiting the country's overall advancement in global rankings. Tajikistan ranks 113th out of 170 countries in the AlTi 2025 Global Social Progress Index, with a score of 58.15 points, according to the latest report from the international research initiative AlTi Global Social Progress Index. The index evaluates non-economic aspects of quality of life, including healthcare, education, rights, and freedoms. Covering data from 2011 to 2024, the report shows Tajikistan has improved...

Urban development

Kazakhstan Launches Smart City Project in Taldykorgan

TCA Interviews

Kazakhstan’s Independence Day: Plenty to Cheer, More to Consider

Day J

Almaty Hosts Winter Edition of Day J With JingleBendz 2025

Renewable energy

Kazakhstan Launches First Domestic Green Hydrogen Production Station

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Available Now

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, we're unpacking Turkmenistan's Neutrality Summit, a rare moment where a string of big names quietly rolled into Ashgabat, and...

Remote Working

Kyrgyzstan Launches Online Platform for Digital Nomad Applications

Kyrgyzstan has officially launched an online platform allowing foreign citizens to apply for Digital Nomad status, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration announced this week. The service is available via the Government Services portal. The Digital Nomad status grants eligible foreign nationals the legal right to reside in Kyrgyzstan while working remotely. Initially valid for 60 days, the status can be extended for one year and renewed annually for up to 10 years. Applications can now be submitted entirely online, making the process faster, more secure, and user-friendly. The move is part of the government’s broader digitalization and...

Cultural Ties

From Medieval Persia to Modern Kazakhstan: Decolonizing History

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent visit to Kazakhstan might have appeared routine amid a series of diplomatic engagements by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in 2025. Yet one element of the visit stood out for Tokayev, a gift of 27 ancient Persian manuscripts, which were immediately put on public display in Astana’s National Museum. Together, the two presidents opened the exhibition titled The History of the Great Steppe in Iranian Sources, highlighting long-standing historical ties between Persian states and the Kazakh steppe. Speaking at a joint briefing, Tokayev emphasized the significance of the manuscripts, which he said contain historical accounts affirming the...

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi on How the Alash Movement Is Studied in the West

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi is a poet and academic whose work bridges literature and Kazakh intellectual history. Though born and raised in Europe, her writing and scholarship show a deep affinity with the Kazakh people. Her early poetry earned attention and acclaim, and during her university studies she began researching the Alash Movement, work that culminated in a PhD completed in Ireland. We recently spoke with her in a short but insightful interview. TCA: Your academic research focuses on the Alash Party. How did you come to choose this topic while studying in a Western country? Özgecan: Growing up as a Kazakh...

Justice

Ethnic Violence

Tajikistan Condemns Fatal Stabbing of Boy in Russia Citing Ethnic Hatred

Tajikistan has condemned what it called an “ethnic hatred” attack in Russia after a 10-year-old boy from a Tajik family was stabbed to death at a school near Moscow, in a rare public rebuke aimed at a key partner for labor migration and security ties. The killing happened on December 16 in the village of Gorki-2 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee, which said a minor attacked people at an educational institution, killing one child and injuring a school security guard. A video of the attack circulated on Russian social media after the...

Shooting

“I Miss Everything:” Friends, Officials Mourn Uzbek Student Slain in the U.S.

Human rights

Turkmenistan Denies Early Release to Activist Mansur Mingelov Despite Serious Illness

Crypto-mining

Tajikistan Introduces Prison Terms for Crypto Mining Using Stolen Electricity

Freedom of Speech

Information Sovereignty? Central Asia Tightens Control Over Its Information Space

Corruption

In Turkmenistan, Government Offices Charge Citizens for Blank Sheets of Paper

In government offices across Turkmenistan, the provision of routine documents is increasingly accompanied not only by official service fees but also by unofficial, unrecorded charges. While these corrupt schemes are nominally presented as “paper fees,” in practice they have become an expected and often unavoidable part of the process. The practice of bribery is not new to Turkmenistan’s public sector. Citizens seeking almost any type of certificate typically pay not only the state-mandated fee but also an unofficial surcharge, money that is not documented on receipts or in public accounts. A particularly telling example is the issuance of marital status...

Human Trafficking

Dozens of Human Trafficking Attempts Prevented in Kazakhstan

Kazakh law enforcement agencies have disrupted dozens of serious human trafficking attempts during the nationwide STOP-Traffic operational and preventive campaign, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry reported 39 recorded cases of attempted human trafficking, including six involving minors. In Almaty, authorities dismantled a criminal group engaged in the illegal sale of newborns. According to investigators, the suspects exploited vulnerable young women by persuading them to give up their babies in exchange for money. More than 20 criminal cases have been opened, and all suspects have been detained. If convicted, they face up to 18 years in prison...

Shooting

Uzbek Student Among Two Killed in Brown University Shooting

Two students were killed, and nine others were injured in a shooting on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, a tragic event that has drawn international attention. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that one of the deceased was an Uzbek national. The shooting occurred overnight on December 13-14 at the Ivy League institution. The death of Muhammad Aziz Umurzoqov was first reported by family members through a fundraising appeal on the GoFundMe platform and later officially confirmed by the press secretary of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry. In the GoFundMe statement, Umurzoqov was remembered as a kind,...

Saltanat Law

Saltanat Law One Year On: Domestic Violence Crackdown, Hidden Barriers Remain

In the spring of 2024, the world's attention turned to Astana as the trial of former minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev unfolded. Accused of the brutal murder of his common-law wife, Saltanat Nukenova, the proceedings were broadcast live, marking the region’s first live-streamed murder trial, which was widely followed like a reality show. The livestream drew hundreds of thousands across Kazakhstan, with daily clips dissected on TikTok and Telegram channels, a public fixation that turned the courtroom into a national arena Under intense public pressure, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a landmark legislative reform popularly dubbed “Saltanat's Law.” These amendments enhanced protections for...

Environment

Desertification

Turkmenistan and Spain Eye Regional Center to Combat Desertification in Central Asia

Turkmenistan and Spain have discussed closer cooperation to address desertification in Central Asia, including the possible creation of a regional center focused on land degradation. The talks took place in Ashgabat during a meeting between Turkmenistan’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Spain’s ambassador to Russia, Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, who is also accredited in Turkmenistan. The discussions followed Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s proposal at the United Nations General Assembly to establish a specialized regional center to combat desertification in Central Asia. The initiative is intended to strengthen cooperation among regional states and attract international expertise and funding. [caption id="attachment_41076" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]...

Nature

Tajikistan’s Forests on the Brink of Extinction

Environment

Tajikistan Struggles to Fund Cleanup of Soviet-Era Uranium Waste

News Round-Up

Hydropower, Social Media and Climate Change: Some News From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Electric Vehicles

China’s Expanding Electric Bus Footprint in Central Asia

Water Security

Glacier Melt Threatens Central Asia’s Water Security, Experts Warn at Regional Forum

The accelerating retreat of glaciers poses a serious risk to water security across Central and West Asia, scientists and journalists warned during an online media forum jointly hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on December 10, according to Asia-Plus. The forum focused on the growing impact of glacial melt in mountain regions, including the Pamirs, Tien Shan, Hindu Kush, and Himalayas, where shrinking ice reserves are increasingly disrupting water supplies for agriculture, energy, and drinking water. A key highlight was the ADB’s Glacier to Farms (G2F) program, presented by senior...

Water resources

Kazakhstan Proposes Creation of UN Water Agency to Tackle Global Resource Challenges

At a forum marking the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing a specialized United Nations body dedicated to the rational use of water resources. In his address, Tokayev emphasized the urgent need for enhanced global coordination in managing water diplomacy, noting that the current UN framework lacks a dedicated agency focused solely on water-related issues. UN-Water currently functions as a coordination mechanism rather than a specialized agency, bringing together more than 30 UN entities and dozens of international organizations involved in water and sanitation. Unlike bodies...

Wildlife

Kyrgyzstan Adopts Online Tools to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade

Customs and border officers in Kyrgyzstan haven’t traditionally focused on the smuggling of animals and plants, even though conservationists say the country is a transit point in Central Asia’s illegal wildlife trade. Backed by international expertise, Kyrgyzstan’s government is working to change that in a campaign that supporters hope will foster more regional collaboration. “We recognize that this work must be done step by step; we cannot build everything at once,” said Bakytbek Tokubek uulu, Central Asia program manager of TRAFFIC, a Britain-based conservation group. Some species considered to be vulnerable to illegal commerce in Central Asia include Saker falcons,...

Irrigation

South Kazakhstan Braces for Irrigation Water Shortages in 2026

On December 4–5, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, accompanied by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov, visited the southern regions of Turkistan, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl. The delegation met with local farmers to address the growing risks posed by declining transboundary water inflows and to discuss measures to ensure efficient water use during the 2026 irrigation season. Agriculture in these arid regions depends heavily on water from the Syr Darya River, which originates in Kyrgyzstan. According to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector consumed 11.01 billion cubic meters...