Recent Posts
News•Feb 27, 2026
Following Purge, Kyrgyz President Faces Calls to Ease up on Repressive Measures
President Sadyr Japarov orchestrated a sweeping purge in early February, sidelining security chief Kamchybek Tashiev and removing several ministers, regional mayors and parliamentary deputies. He also curbed the power of the GKNB, arresting its Bishkek head and announcing a new Russian‑style Investigative Committee reporting directly to the presidency. While the crackdown has temporarily stabilized the capital, more than 500 complaints against security agents have been lodged, and critics warn that underlying elite tensions could reignite political volatility.
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 26, 2026
Russian Religious Networks and Armenia’s Church-State Confrontation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has intensified a clash with senior Armenian Apostolic Church leaders, accusing them of serving Russian intelligence and undermining sovereignty. The dispute highlights Moscow’s use of religious networks as soft‑power tools across the post‑Soviet space, especially...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 26, 2026
Tactical Agreement Proving Elusive for Central Asian States Grappling with Water Deficit
Central Asian states recognize an urgent water shortage as they pursue water‑intensive projects like nuclear plants, data centers and expanded mining. Upstream nations Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan control most supplies, while downstream Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan depend on irrigation, creating a...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 25, 2026
Georgia Dream Government Strives to Enforce Its Legitimacy
Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party has pushed amendments that criminalize "systematic" non‑recognition of the government, imposing up to three years in prison. The law targets dissent over the contested October 2024 parliamentary elections, which international observers deemed neither free nor fair....
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 25, 2026
Uzbekistan Looks West for Help in Developing Entrepreneurial Spirit
Uzbekistan announced a partnership with Harvard, Stanford and the London School of Economics to launch the "Next Generation Entrepreneurs" program, overseen by the Youth Affairs Agency. The initiative targets at least 40,000 students with business‑management training, while the top 1,000...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 24, 2026
Kazakhstan Managing Uncertainty over Oil Exports
Kazakhstan’s oil export pathway is under heightened risk as Ukrainian drone attacks cripple the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) loading facilities in Novorossiysk, cutting December shipments by roughly 22 percent. The CPC pipeline, which moves over 80 percent of Kazakhstan’s oil,...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 23, 2026
Trade Data Gaps Between China and Central Asian States Point to Pervasive Smuggling
A joint review of Chinese, Kazakh and Kyrgyz customs data reveals massive discrepancies in reported trade values, with China claiming $48.7 billion in exports to Kazakhstan and $27.2 billion to Kyrgyzstan in 2025, while the two neighbours report only $34.1 billion and $5 billion...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 20, 2026
Azerbaijan to Build Baku Tram System
Azerbaijan announced a five‑line tram system for Baku, targeting completion by 2030. The first line will run from the city’s northern outskirts to the May 28 metro station, with an open tender for design and construction expected by the end of...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 20, 2026
Turkmen Leader’s Visit to United States Remains Shrouded in Mystery
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov made a low‑profile trip to the United States from February 16‑18, with reports suggesting a possible meeting at President Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago club. Turkmen state media offered only vague remarks about fostering "mutually beneficial cooperation," while U.S. officials...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 19, 2026
Uzbekistan and United States Create Foundation for Systematic Economic Cooperation
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Washington on February 18, signing a suite of agreements that lay the groundwork for systematic economic cooperation with the United States. The deals target expanded U.S. investment in Uzbek critical minerals, petrochemicals, energy, agriculture, water‑resource management...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 18, 2026
Leaders From Caucasus and Central Asia Converge on Washington for Board of Peace Gathering
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev are returning to Washington for the inaugural Trump‑administered Board of Peace, joining Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and possibly Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev. The gathering will focus on Gaza’s reconstruction while offering a...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 18, 2026
Russia’s Offer to Build a Small Nuclear Reactor in Kyrgyzstan and Its Implications
In late 2025 President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s willingness to build a small modular reactor (SMR) in Kyrgyzstan, aiming to address the country’s chronic electricity shortages. Kyrgyzstan relies on over 90% hydropower, making its grid vulnerable to droughts and aging...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 17, 2026
EU Weighs Sanctions on Georgia’s Kulevi Port over Suspected Russian Oil Links
The European Union is considering adding Georgia’s Black Sea port of Kulevi to its 20th sanctions package, accusing it of facilitating Russian crude shipments that fund the war in Ukraine. The draft targets four ports, marking the bloc’s first move...
By Eurasianet
News•Feb 16, 2026
Tajikistan: Rahmon Resurfaces, Looking Relatively Fit
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon reappeared after a 17‑day disappearance, confirming he had traveled to China’s Hainan Island for medical treatment. The brief silence, during which only sparse updates appeared on his official website, fueled speculation about his health and the...
By Eurasianet