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Defense Agreements

Russia–Azerbaijan Military Cooperation Expands Amid Baku–Ankara Tensions

Russia and Azerbaijan have signed a program to build and modernize facilities for repairing armored vehicles used by the Azerbaijani military. The agreement was announced on November 1, two days after the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit in Ankara, which Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not attend amid growing tensions with Turkey. "An entire program has been signed that provides for the modernization and construction of facilities to repair armored vehicles in service with the Azerbaijani army," Dmitry Shugayev, director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told Zvezda television. Shugayev also mentioned the possibility of future deliveries of Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. Arms Supplies and the Karabakh Wars Russian defense companies have long supplied equipment to Azerbaijan’s armed forces. Azerbaijan has purchased T-90S tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, artillery, and air defense systems. Maintaining this equipment requires spare parts, specialized facilities, and technical documentation. Russia supplied weapons to both sides of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russian equipment accounted for approximately 60% of Azerbaijan’s imports of major weapons and 94% of Armenia’s between 2011 and 2020. Deliveries became more difficult after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In December 2024, Aliyev spoke about delays in fulfilling existing contracts because Russian defense manufacturers were occupied with orders for their own armed forces. Baku nevertheless intended to continue purchasing Russian weapons. Weapons from other suppliers played a significant role in Azerbaijan’s military operations during the 2020 war. Turkey supplied Bayraktar TB2 armed drones as well as TRG-300 guided missiles. Israel provided Hermes drones and Harop loitering munitions, which are designed to crash into targets. It also supplied Spike anti-tank missiles, LORA (Long-Range Artillery) ballistic missiles, and Barak-8 air defense systems. Drones were used for reconnaissance and strikes against Armenian military equipment, artillery, and air defense positions. According to SIPRI, Israel accounted for approximately 69% of Azerbaijan’s imports of major weapons between 2016 and 2020. Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey expanded following Baku’s victory in the 2020 war. In September 2023, Azerbaijan established control over the entire territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Following the military operation, almost the entire ethnic Armenian population of the region, approximately 100,000 people, fled to Armenia. In February 2024, Aliyev visited an airbase where Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı heavy combat drones were displayed. These aircraft can carry heavier weapons than the TB2. Why Baku and Ankara Are at Odds In October, a dispute erupted between Baku and Ankara over school uniform rules introduced in Azerbaijan in September. Restrictions on wearing hijabs drew criticism from Turkish politicians and public figures. Azerbaijani authorities regarded the criticism as interference in domestic affairs and barred 31 Turkish citizens from entering the country. In comments on X reported by The National on October 17, Vasif Huseynov of Azerbaijan’s state-run Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism said the restrictions on religious clothing reflected Baku’s efforts to protect the state’s secular character and counter external ideological influence, particularly from Iran. In...

Organization of Turkic States (OTS)

Tokayev Proposes Russian Role in OTS as Aliyev Skips Ankara Summit

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed inviting Russia to cooperate with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) or granting it observer status. He made the proposal on October 30 at the summit in Ankara, where Türkiye assumed the organization's rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not attend, despite a personal invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The participants adopted the Ankara Declaration and appointed Uzbekistan's Mirvokhid Azimov as the new OTS secretary-general. Azerbaijan was represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Has Russia Expressed Interest in the OTS? Tokayev proposed two options for Russia's participation: cooperation through the "OTS+" format or observer status. "To enhance the standing of our Organization, it would be a right and fair decision to respond positively to Russia's intention and invite it to join this format or participate in OTS activities as an observer," the Kazakh president said. Tokayev referred to Moscow's intentions, although Russia itself has made no public announcement of plans to participate in the OTS. The Kazakh president justified the initiative by citing Russia's historical ties with Turkic peoples, its Turkic-speaking population, and the "Altai – Cradle of Turkic Civilization" project. The OTS comprises Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan participates as an observer. Russia is not a member, but its population includes Tatars, Bashkirs, Yakuts, and other Turkic peoples. The proposed arrangements differ. OTS+ provides a framework for cooperation with external partners, while observer status allows more regular participation in the organization's activities without the decision-making rights of full members. In the same speech, Tokayev stressed once again that the OTS should not become a military alliance. Among its members, Türkiye belongs to NATO, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and Uzbekistan maintains a policy of nonparticipation in military blocs. Aliyev's Absence: Scheduling Conflict or Political Signal? Erdoğan had invited Aliyev to the summit during a telephone conversation on October 21. The Azerbaijani president, however, remained in Baku. Citing sources, an Azerbaijani news agency report attributed his absence to a previously scheduled appearance at an awards ceremony for finalists in an international FIFA U-15 football tournament. Public disagreements have emerged between the two allies in recent months. In Türkiye, critics have raised objections to restrictions on religious clothing in Azerbaijani schools. Baku regarded the criticism as interference in its domestic affairs and barred more than 30 Turkish citizens from entering the country. Another source of disagreement is Azerbaijan's relationship with Israel. Ankara strongly criticizes the Israeli government's actions, while Baku continues to cooperate with Israel in the energy and defense sectors. Azerbaijani political analyst Ilgar Velizade told Daily Europe Online that Turkish efforts to ease tensions had not resolved the disagreements. He cited the dismissal of Erdoğan adviser Oktay Saral following remarks critical of Azerbaijan. In Velizade's assessment, Baku may have regarded the move as a temporary concession ahead of the summit. The analyst also emphasized that Azerbaijan does not intend to change its relationship with Israel because of Türkiye's position....

Migration

Uzbek Labor Migration to Russia Falls 13.2% in First Half of 2026

Uzbek citizens accounted for more work-related arrivals in Russia than any other nationality in the first half of 2026, despite a 13.2% decline compared with a year earlier. According to data published by TASS on October 26, Uzbek citizens listed employment as the purpose of entry on 1,178,609 occasions. Tajikistan ranked second with 494,518 entries, followed by Kyrgyzstan with 289,061, Kazakhstan and China. The statistics count border entries rather than individual people: a single worker may have crossed the Russian border several times. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan reported approximately 1.358 million such trips in the first half of 2025, nearly 180,000 more than a year later. Russia remains Uzbekistan's largest overseas labor market, but the number of Uzbek citizens working in other countries is growing. In 2025, the number of Uzbek workers in the European Union increased by 13.2%, while the figure for Turkey rose by 10.7%. As of July 1, 2026, approximately 70,000 Uzbek citizens were in Turkey, and 102,200 were in South Korea, both increases from a year earlier. These figures reflect the number of citizens present in the respective countries and do not necessarily correspond to employment statistics. Despite the decline in work-related trips, remittances from Russia to Uzbekistan increased by 8.8% in the first half of 2026. For Uzbekistan, remittances are a significant source of household income. The Central Bank has warned that declining labor migration could eventually reduce household incomes and consumer spending. Meanwhile, the number of advertised vacancies in Uzbekistan fell by 9.8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, while competition for jobs intensified. Unpaid wages are another persistent problem. During the first nine months of 2026, Uzbekistan's Migration Agency handled complaints from 817 citizens concerning unpaid wages and compensation, recovering a total of $850,000 from foreign employers. Of these complaints, 533 came from Russia, 155 from Turkey, and 92 from South Korea. The agency also helped 532 Uzbek citizens recover identity documents withheld by intermediaries or employers. Russia accounted for 331 such cases and Turkey for 185. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Russia accounted for 72.4% of remittances received by Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2026, despite its declining share.

Labor Migration

New Tajikistan Migration Law Aims to Improve Overseas Recruitment

Tajikistan has adopted a new migration law that introduces a system for rating foreign employers and provides for assistance to citizens returning from work abroad. The legislation also seeks to make it easier for Tajik citizens to find jobs overseas through official recruitment channels. President Emomali Rahmon signed the law on October 21, and the full text was published on October 23 by the parliamentary newspaper Sadoi Mardum. It replaces legislation dating back to 1999. According to the World Bank, approximately one-quarter of Tajikistan's labor force works outside the country. Between 2022 and 2025, migrant remittances averaged nearly half of the country's gross domestic product. Russia remains the main destination for labor migration. What the New Law Changes Under the new law, Tajikistan's migration authorities will establish a register of foreign employers, with ratings based on their treatment of workers, including wages and working conditions. Migrants will be able to submit complaints, which will be considered when employers are assessed. The authorities will also have the power to restrict cooperation with companies that violate workers' rights. The legislation also provides for online platforms where migrants can find vacancies and sign employment contracts electronically. Citizens who arrange their own employment abroad, rather than using recruitment agencies, are entitled to free advice from migration officials about vacancies and working conditions in their destination country. Another provision requires the authorities to set quotas for workers going to different countries and determine how the system will operate. The law also establishes a unified information system to improve migration records and data exchange between government agencies. Many of these measures focus on organized recruitment, which currently accounts for only a small proportion of Tajikistan's labor migration. In 2025, a total of 35,747 Tajik citizens found jobs abroad through 30 licensed organizations, including more than 31,000 in Russia. According to official figures from Dushanbe, more than 702,000 people left the country to work abroad that year. Although the figures are not directly comparable, placements through licensed agencies amounted to only around 5% of reported departures. Russia and the Search for Alternatives Following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall near Moscow in March 2024, Russian authorities tightened migration controls. A register of foreign nationals without legal grounds to remain in Russia has been in operation since February 2025. Those listed face restrictions on financial transactions and property registration. In July 2026, Tajikistan's Deputy Minister of Labor, Migration, and Employment of the Population Sharif Norzoda reported that approximately 160,000 Tajik citizens were on the register, including about 25,000 minors. During discussions of the new legislation, Labor Minister Soleha Kholmahmadzoda stressed the need to expand the range of countries where Tajik citizens can find work. Dushanbe is holding talks on employment opportunities in Kazakhstan, the Gulf states, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom. However, Russia's labor market remains considerably larger than those of these alternative destinations. Jobs for Returning Migrants The new law provides for assistance to citizens returning home, including vocational training and help finding employment....

Foreign Trade

Kyrgyzstan Exports Recover After Sharp Fall in Gold Sales

Kyrgyzstan's exports have begun to recover after a sharp decline in 2025, when the value of its gold exports plunged by nearly three-quarters. In the first eight months of 2026, exports rose by nearly 20%. Even so, for every dollar earned from selling goods overseas, Kyrgyzstan spent more than four dollars on imports. According to a report by the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, exports fell by 41.2% in 2025 to $3 billion. Imports, meanwhile, continued to grow, reaching $13.7 billion. As a result, the country spent $10.6 billion more on foreign goods than it earned from selling its own products abroad. A year earlier, the gap stood at $7.3 billion. The main reason for the decline was a sharp drop in overseas sales of gold, one of Kyrgyzstan's principal sources of export revenue. Their value fell from approximately $2.5 billion in 2024 to $683 million in 2025. Exports of other goods also fell 11.2%. Trade was also affected by weaker demand from Russia and Kazakhstan, two major markets for Kyrgyz producers, as well as temporary restrictions on exports of certain goods, including scrap metal and livestock. Kyrgyzstan's trade is closely tied to neighboring countries. It belongs to the Eurasian Economic Union, alongside Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia. Members trade with one another without standard customs duties on most goods. Russia and Kazakhstan remain the largest buyers of Kyrgyz products and, together with China, supply most imports. The imbalance is particularly pronounced in trade with China. Chinese goods account for more than a third of Kyrgyzstan's total imports, while China receives only around 5% of its exports. Uzbekistan also remains an important market for Kyrgyz products. Outside the region, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are significant destinations. The downturn continued in the first half of 2026, when exports fell another 11.1% compared with the same period a year earlier. By the end of August, however, the picture had changed. Figures for the first eight months showed exports rising 19.5% to $2.3 billion. Gold exports also rebounded sharply, reaching $770.6 million, more than in the whole of 2025. Over half of that amount was exported in August alone. Imports also increased, reaching $9.7 billion. The recovery in overseas sales has therefore not yet significantly narrowed the gap between exports and imports. A trade deficit does not mean Kyrgyzstan is losing the equivalent amount from its government budget. It measures the difference between the value of goods imported into the country and those sold abroad. Imports are paid for by businesses and consumers, with funds coming from various sources, including remittances from migrant workers and investment. Services have become one of the fastest-growing areas of Kyrgyzstan's international trade, providing another source of funds for imports. According to preliminary figures, in 2025 the country earned $3.55 billion from services exports, up 20% from the previous year. Revenue from foreign visitors rose 36.9% to $1.19 billion. In international statistics, this category includes travelers' spending on accommodation, food, shopping, and other services during...

Labor Migration

Kyrgyzstan Expands Foreign Worker Quotas While Citizens Work Abroad

Kyrgyzstan plans to allow up to 120,000 foreign nationals to work in the country in 2027, even as more than 700,000 of its own citizens have worked abroad this year. Although official estimates are lower than four years ago, the country remains heavily dependent on money sent home by migrant workers, particularly those in Russia. According to the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan received approximately $3.5 billion in transfers from abroad in 2025, more than 90% of which came from Russia. The Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration reported that 736,600 citizens had worked abroad so far in 2026, compared with 798,400 in 2025. The largest group, more than 472,000 people, was reported to be in Russia in March. Approximately 70,000 were working in Kazakhstan, 60,000 in the United States, 35,000 in Turkey, and 20,000 in Germany. In 2022, the authorities estimated that 1.118 million Kyrgyz citizens were working abroad, including more than one million in Russia. However, the figures do not establish exactly how many people have returned home and how many have moved to other countries for work. Russia has tightened its migration requirements and stepped up enforcement of residency regulations. In a report covering the second half of 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) found that 94% of emigrants surveyed had left to find employment or better economic opportunities. Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev discussed these changes in labor migration during a parliamentary committee meeting on October 13. According to Kulubaev, more Kyrgyz citizens are choosing Turkey and the U.S. for employment, while demand for workers from Kyrgyzstan remains strong in South Korea and Japan. He said representatives from some European countries had offered to accept workers from Kyrgyzstan on the condition that the country accommodate migrants from Afghanistan and African nations. Kulubaev did not disclose which countries had made the offer, saying only that Bishkek rejected the proposal. There has been no public confirmation of the arrangement from the European participants in the negotiations. Within Kyrgyzstan, the unemployment rate fell from 5.8% in 2020 to 3.2% in 2025. The decline coincided with growth in construction, trade, and services, although employment figures alone do not show how much wages have increased or how many former migrants have found jobs at home. During a recent visit to the Batken region, President Sadyr Japarov again urged citizens working abroad to return home. The initial quota for foreign nationals arriving to work in Kyrgyzstan for 2025 was 25,000 people. The limit was raised to 100,000 for 2026. Expanding the quota allows businesses to recruit more employees from abroad, particularly for construction, manufacturing, and other industries where employers face staffing needs. According to the Ministry of Labor, by December 2025, approximately 18,900 Chinese, 11,700 Bangladeshis, and 8,300 Pakistanis had received work permits. An IOM study conducted in the first half of 2025 found a substantial presence of workers from Uzbekistan, approximately 10,800 people. The largest numbers of foreign workers covered by the survey were in the Jalal-Abad region,...