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Bitter campaign sours Kyrgyz democratic prospects

Location:

KYRGYZSTAN

The election campaign became unexpectedly acrimonious as the outgoing president, who supported Sooronbay Jeenbekov, launched repeated verbal attacks on Omurbek Babanov. Jeenbekov…

War in Ukraine creates opportunities for Central Asia

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CENTRAL ASIA

The war in Ukraine has changed the dynamics of interaction between Russia and the Central Asian countries, which have been traditionally a source of migrant labour. Despite rising…

Kyrgyz elite pushed aside by nationalist adversaries

Location:

KYRGYZSTAN

The detention is a success for new Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov, not as a strike against organised crime but as the possible removal of a powerful Jeenbekov-era figure. Japarov's…

Weaker parliament will emerge from Kyrgyz election

Location:

KYRGYZSTAN

The election is intended to close off a turbulent year that started with the October 2020 legislative polls, swiftly annulled amid mass protests and allegations of fraud, followed…

Islamic State's Central Asian growth stalled for now

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CENTRAL ASIA

Thousands of Central Asians travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight for IS and other Islamist groups in 2014 and some are returning home. Despite attacks in Central Asia attributable…

Kyrgyz president may be weaker after defeating rival

Location:

KYRGYZSTAN

Jeenbekov seems to be gaining confidence as he defeats his predecessor Almazbek Atambayev's attempts to retain political influence. In what he casts as an impartial campaign…

Early signs of change may wither in Uzbekistan

Location:

UZBEKISTAN

Mirzioyev has spoken about reforms, but the tightly managed choreography of election is the same as under the late Islam Karimov, who died in September. That does not suggest…

Uzbekistan seeks to improve economy through diplomacy

Location:

UZBEKISTAN

Hydroelectric dam projects in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have long been a sticking point in their relations with Uzbekistan. Resolving these disputes will challenge Uzbek President…

Central Asia faces COVID-19 surge and resurgence risks

Location:

CENTRAL ASIA

Like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan took timely action when evidence of COVID-19 emerged. Their governments' claim of effective management may prove justified but is…

Kyrgyzstan will resist pressure to rein in re-exports

Location:

KYRGYZSTAN

Growing US pressure seeks to ensure that Russia's neighbours comply with Western sanctions. Moscow is exploiting trade links with its neighbours in the region to acquire…