Arkadag, Turkmenistan’s “Man City”, blitz league in debut season

Backed by the regime, new club signed most of their rivals’ best players and won all of their matches in march to title helped along by some most fortunate refereeing.

Former Kazakh leader Nazarbayev confesses to polygamy with Miss Kazakhstan 1999

Ex-president releases shocking memoir detailing hidden life that led to a second family with two sons. Rumours had swirled for years.

Rising temperature, water scarcity, air pollution: Uzbekistan’s president addresses COP28

Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev added to the voices expressing concern over the looming Climate Crisis in his speech at COP28 December 1.

COP28: Turkmenistan joins Global Methane Pledge

Country’s president announces in Dubai that Turkmens will join world effort to seal “super-emitter” sites. Planet-heating gas pours out of remote Central Asian nation at alarming rate.

Training of “Tajik Taliban” suicide bombers shows threat to Central Asia from Afghanistan is growing, say analysts

Ranks of Jamaat Ansarullah movement based near border with Tajikistan said to be swelling.

Turkey equipping Moscow’s war machine, data shows

While Ankara records show “dual-use” goods going to Central Asia and Caucasus, trade registry discrepancies across region indicate items actually go to Russia.

Uzbekistan’s president urges UN Central Asia summit to “not leave Afghanistan alone with its problems”

Calls for more regional cooperation in address to United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).

Azerbaijan arrests independent journalists amidst claims of foreign espionage

The crackdown follows a state media campaign alleging that there is a "network of U.S. spies" operating in the country that needs to be "cleansed".

Deported Kyrgyz investigative reporter says sources warning of threat to “physical integrity”

Bolot Temirov, living in a secret location in Europe, places copies of obtained sensitive data in a virtual safe managed by Forbidden Stories NGO so other journalists can take up his work if he is killed or incapacitated.

Iran to sign free trade agreement with Eurasian Economic Union in 2 months

Kazakhstan: Authorities to gingerly allow LPG prices to rise

It was a price rise of this fuel that led to nationwide unrest in 2022.

Kyrgyz police accused of nicking imported cars from citizens at customs

One frustrated buyer says: “How do I know that that car is mine? Well, I still have the remote control for it. Look, I press the button, and I unlock the car. Can you imagine?”

Serbia moves away from dependence on Russian gas with new Azerbaijan supply deal

Serbia has agreed to buy 400mn cubic metres of natural gas a year from Azerbaijan from 2024, diversifying away from Russia.

Kazakhstan: Death of ex-official’s wife sparks conversation around domestic abuse

Kuandyk Bishimbayev is said to have had a long history of assaulting his wife.

UK engagement with Central Asia “lacks seriousness” says report by British MPs

Overcoming the “inadequate” approach is “a geopolitical imperative” amid great power competition, while a crackdown is needed on London enabling region’s corrupt elites, it adds.

European Commission recommends EU open accession negotiations with Ukraine

The European Commission has recommended that the European Council open accession negotiations with Ukraine.

Ukraine and Moldova recommended for EU accession talks, Western Balkans urged to speed up reforms

Releasing enlargement report package, Commission also calls for candidate status for Georgia, but criticises stalling in some longstanding Western Balkan candidate countries.

Georgia optimistic about candidate status decision from European Commission

Brussels seen as wanting to move enlargement along as quickly as possible, despite Georgia's backsliding and failure to fulfil all of its recommendations.

Russian troops kill one Georgian and abduct another near South Ossetia occupation line

Incident marks the first death on the de-facto border since the brief war over South Ossetia in 2008.

Uzbekistan: Mass cough syrup poisoning trial nearing denouement

The government blamed its slow reaction to last year's crisis on lack of information from local officials.