Kyrgyzstan

Beijing reportedly shelves construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway

bne IntelIiNews September 28, 2023

Another big blow for ‘CKU’ proponents who have been trying to get the infrastructure project moving for a quarter of a century. Financing said to be a big and unresolved difficulty.

Tajikistan hands control over border airports to armed forces

Eurasianet September 28, 2023

The airports have lain largely idle since the fall of the Soviet Union.

EBRD projects slowdown in Central Europe, robust growth in Eurasia

bne IntelliNews September 27, 2023

High gas prices, China slowdown and shifts in industrial production contribute to slower growth in Central Europe.

PANNIER: Climate change brings neverending energy crisis to Kyrgyzstan

Bruce Pannier September 27, 2023

Drought and melted glaciers mean a lack of water for hydro-electricity generation and the last-resort use of more dirty coal to provide power.

PANNIER: How ‘C5+1’ set the stage for a new era in US-Central Asia relations

Bruce Pannier September 22, 2023

Focus shifts from security to energy security, renewable energy and transportation infrastructure, while there are no illusions about delivering democracy.

Kyrgyzstan has ‘the balls’ to send Russia parts crucial to making tanks, trade data suggests

bne IntelIiNews September 21, 2023

Analyst notes Chinese ball bearing exports to Central Asian country are up around 2,550%. Suggests many of the ‘dual-use’ goods are simply passed on to the Russian defence industry.

Masked Turkish intelligence agents accused of abducting businessman in Tajikistan

bne IntelIiNews September 18, 2023

Koray Vural snatched while on his way to work. Incident follows grabbing of Orhan Inandi in Kyrgyzstan two years ago. Like Inandi, Vural is linked to Gulen movement that denies Ankara’s claims it plotted coup attempt.

Plight of Kyrgyzstan’s ‘canary in coal mine’ news service Kloop worsens

bne IntelIiNews September 13, 2023

Internet providers block media outlet’s website as country’s authoritarian populist regime steps up clampdown on free press and civil society.

Francis Fukuyama says a weakened Russia will present opportunities for Central Asia

bne IntelIiNews September 5, 2023

While in Almaty for a book launch, US political scientist suggests that if Moscow comes out of Ukraine war diminished, the ‘Stans’ will have room to set their own policies without worrying about the Russian response.

Latvian exports of sanctioned goods soar to Russia's neighbours

Linas Jegelevicius in Vilnius September 4, 2023

In mechanical and electrical equipment, where Latvian exports to Russia fell by a quarter last year, growth in Kazakhstan, KyrgyzstanArmenia was between five and 12 times.

Kyrgyzstan: Barcelona soccer tie-up raises conflict of interest questions

Ayzirek Imanaliyeva for Eurasianet September 3, 2023

Investment into costly and potentially lucrative soccer academies has come from figures close to the national leadership.

‘Meh-hem’ as crowd storm pitch at Kyrgyzstan’s ‘goat carcass’ cup final

bne IntelIiNews September 2, 2023

With president in attendance, angry spectators chase match officials, throwing stones and plastic bottles.

COMMENT: The water and energy nexus in Central Asia

Nikolai Podguzov Chairman of Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) September 1, 2023

Climate change is real, and it calls for action at the global, regional, and national levels. One of its impacts is additional water stress in addition to what many countries experience already. Effective counteraction requires joint action.

Kyrgyzstan moves to ban TikTok over child welfare concerns

Eurasianet August 31, 2023

Officials say young minds are susceptible to addiction and dangerous behaviours encouraged by the app.

Perspectives: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan building up for another potential round of fighting

Svenja Petersen for Eurasianet August 29, 2023

An unusual constellation of outside players taking shape.

Kyrgyz officials demand shutdown of Kloop Media for critical coverage of government

bne IntelIiNews August 28, 2023

Move heightens fears that Kyrgyzstan’s days as a relative “island of democracy” in Central Asia are drawing to a close.

bneGREEN: Water shortages alarm sounded in southern Kazakhstan and Istanbul

bne IntelIiNews August 23, 2023

Amid drought, Kyrgyzstan stops irrigation water transfers to its neighbour. Mayor of Turkey’s largest city urges heatwave-struck residents to save "every precious water drop flowing from the tap".

Orban invites illiberal allies to Budapest on national holiday celebrating Hungary’s Western orientation

Tamas Csonka in Budapest August 21, 2023

Unprecedented showcasing of power by Hungary’s strongman alongside World Athletics Championships.

Exports from the West to Central Asia boom as sanctions on Russia remake global trade routes

bne IntelliNews August 18, 2023

Extreme sanctions on Russia have dramatically remade global trade flows Russia turns to its friends to act as transit countries for banned goods. And most have cooperated, both because of pressure placed on them by Moscow and the money they can make.

Central Asia: Low water levels on Irtysh River create quandary for Kazakhstan

Eurasianet August 15, 2023

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

Dismiss