George Voloshin
George Voloshin is an international affairs expert widely published on issues related to Eurasian politics, with a special focus on Central Asia. More information about him can be found on his personal website gevoloshin.com.
Contact George Voloshin
Articles by George Voloshin
Kazakhstan to Let Russia Do the Heavy Lifting on Afghanistan
The recent fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban took many a government by surprise. Kazakhstan—Central Asia’s biggest economy, which has no shared border with Afghanistan but is nonetheless actively involved
Kyrgyzstan Preparing for Constitutional Reform in Search for Stability
On January 11, the leader of Kyrgyzstan’s most recent revolution, Sadyr Zhaparov, won the presidency in what turned out to be a largely uncontested election. He obtained nearly 80 percent
Year 2020 in Review: Kazakhstan Struggling With Structural Reform Amid COVID-19 Crisis
As in much of the rest of the world, the year 2020 in Kazakhstan was dominated by the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which to date has claimed the lives
Third Regime Change in Fifteen Years Upends Kyrgyzstani Politics (Part Two)
*To read Part One, please click here. Since his election by Kyrgyzstan’s parliament to the post of caretaker prime minister on October 10 and subsequent accession to the presidency on
Third Regime Change in Fifteen Years Upends Kyrgyzstani Politics (Part One)
The October 4 parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan set off a new protracted cycle of political instability in Central Asia’s second-poorest republic. Though the impact of the ongoing crisis has so
Covid-19 Shines New Light on Kazakhstani-Chinese Tensions
Kazakhstan was the first country in Central Asia to enact a state of emergency, effective March 16, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was followed, on March 25, by
Kazakhstani President Tokayev Embarks on a Turbulent Second Year in Office
On March 19, 2019, Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned as president of Kazakhstan and was constitutionally succeeded the following day by the speaker of the Senate, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev. Less than three months
A Year in Review: Nazarbayev Steps Down From Kazakhstani Presidency but Retains Control
Unlike previous periods, 2019 was a single-issue year for Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy and the second-biggest exporter of hydrocarbons in the former Soviet space behind Russia. The country is
Succession Appears Less Clear as Kazakhstan’s Former President Nazarbayev Formally Takes on Vast Powers
On October 21, the Kazakhstani media space went into a frenzy following the publication of a presidential decree that endows the now-former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, with extensive executive responsibilities. More
Former Kyrgyz President’s Arrest: A Litmus Test for Succession Politics
The month of August was unusually busy for Kyrgyzstan. In particular, the country’s domestic political scene devolved into a full-blown political crisis on August 8, with the arrest of former
Rumors Targeting Kazakhstani Politicians Point to Overregulated Media Landscape
Kazakhstan’s political life has entered a somnolent mood after both chambers of parliament wrapped up their legislative work on July 5 until September and President Kassym-ZhomartTokayev subsequently took his first
Kazakhstan’s New President Faces Street Protests, Tough Choices Ahead
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev was inaugurated as the second president of post-Soviet Kazakhstan, on June 12, following his confident victory a few days before. Though the results were as unsurprising as in
Kazakhstan Reaffirms Ties to Russia as It Enters the Final Stage of Leadership Succession
On April 9, Kazakhstani acting president Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, who assumed office on March 20, after the resignation of his predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev (see EDM, March 27), delivered his first address
Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev Steps Down but Remains the Power Behind the Throne
The Nursultan Nazarbayev administration has been—progressively since 2010 and, more recently, since 2017—laying the basis for a smooth presidential succession. And based on those developments, Nazarbayev’s replacement by a handpicked
Kazakhstan Draws Closer to Presidential Succession
Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev will turn 79 in July, and talk of an impending succession has significantly intensified since the end of last year. Numerous local experts noted the harsh
Kazatomprom IPO to Test-Drive Kazakhstan’s Privatization Plan
Kazakhstan’s national uranium company Kazatomprom said, on October 15, that it was ready to go public by selling a portion of its issued shares on the London Stock Exchange and
Western Sanctions Against Russia Leave Kazakhstan Exposed
Relations between the United States and Russia have continued to deteriorate in 2017 and 2018. In August 2017, US President Donald Trump signed into law a new bill called Countering
Kyrgyz Authorities Clash With Owners of Massive Kumtor Gold Mine
In mid-July, Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek hosted a roundtable dedicated to the future of the Kumtor Gold Mine, one of the largest gold deposits in the world. According to Kumtor
Bigger Role for Kazakhstani President at National Security Council to Ensure Smooth Transition
On May 31, the Kazakhstani Senate approved a bill on reforming the National Security Council (NSC) of Kazakhstan. This move marked the official end of a months-long legislative process, to
Kazakhstan’s Neutrality Irks Russia and Strains Bilateral Ties
Recent developments in Armenia, where a former president–turned–prime minister, Serzh Sargsyan, hastily stepped down in the face of vigorous street protests on April 23, underscored the potential vulnerability of Russia’s
New Sanctions Against Russia Weigh on Its Closest Trade Partners
The United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), whose responsibility is to enforce US sanctions against foreign countries and nationals, rolled out a new package of economic restrictions
Economic Diversification Key to Kazakhstan’s Future Stability
In January, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of National Economy reported that oil production in the country had risen from 78 million to 86.2 million metric tons year-on-year, whereas only six months earlier,
A Year in Review: Kazakhstan Pursues Domestic Reforms, Foreign Direct Investment in 2017
The year 2017 proved to be an eventful one for Kazakhstan, even as its long-time president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who turned 77 last July, has yet to designate a potential successor
Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Dispute on Track for Resolution, but Risks Remain
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are the only two countries of Central Asia that participate in regional economic integration as members of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). While bilateral relations have
Kazakhstan’s Fuel Crisis Sparks Anxiety About National Energy Security
Despite being the second-largest oil producer and exporter in the former Soviet Union, only behind Russia, Kazakhstan has been historically plagued by chronic deficits of fuel for domestic consumption. National
Closer Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Ties Not Enough to Resolve Broader Regional Woes
The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, paid an official visit to Uzbekistan in mid-September, highlighting improving relations between Central Asia’s two largest states. There, he met with his Uzbekistani counterpart,
Russia Aims to Return to Baikonur Cosmodrome Amid Vostochny Problems
The Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) made a surprise announcement on June 2. The head of the agency, Igor Komarov, told the media that the first launch of a brand new
Central Asia Ready to Follow China’s Lead despite Russian Ties
China hosted a major international gathering on May 14 and 15. Over a thousand delegates from 110 countries, including 29 world leaders, flocked to Beijing to attend the so-called One
Kazakhstan Seeks to Reduce Russian Media Influence Amid Moscow-West Spat
The annual anniversary of Victory Day on May 9, 1945 (Moscow time), which marked the surrender of Nazi Germany, should have been the least controversial of public holidays throughout the
Nazarbayev’s Call for Latin Alphabet for Kazakh Worries Russia
Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev authored an article, on April 12, in the government-owned newspaper Egemen Kazakhstan (in Kazakh: Independent Kazakhstan) under the intriguing title “Looking Into the Future: Modernization of
With Tensions High, Kazakhstan Plays Mediator in Syria Peace Talks
As the Syrian civil war enters its seventh year (the conflict officially started on March 15, 2011, with mainly peaceful protesters in Damascus coming out into the streets to demand
Kazakhstan Embarks on Constitutional Reform Amid Uncertain Times
Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev surprised his fellow citizens and international observers alike when he announced, on January 11, the establishment of a special commission to elaborate wide-ranging constitutional reform. It
Strategic Assessment: Central Asia’s Political Ground Continues to Shift
The following political landscape piece is a part of Eurasia Daily Monitor’s special quarterly series of strategic assessments of developments across Eurasia. These pieces examine recent important developments and trends
Oil Strike in West Kazakhstan Highlights Limits of Energy-Based Growth
The latest meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algeria, on September 28, brought some relief to producers, with the price of oil finally trading above $50
Nazarbayev Shakes up Government Amid Weak Economy and Worries of Insecurity
Following a month of lull in August, when the parliament was in recess and the majority of cabinet ministers took a short break from meetings and press briefings, Kazakhstani President
Terrorist Attacks in West Kazakhstan Call for Urgent Reforms
Kazakhstan has traditionally been considered the most stable and prosperous country of Central Asia and was even dubbed by external observers an “island of stability” in a chronically volatile region.
Land Protests Testify to Kazakhstan’s Internal Vulnerability
Less than five years have passed since Kazakhstan experienced what may have been its most serious post-independence test of stability to date when, in December 2011, hundreds of people took
Gas-Rich Turkmenistan Looks to Export Diversification
In January 2016, the Russian media reported that Russia’s gas giant, Gazprom, had discontinued all purchases of natural gas from Turkmenistan and was not planning to resume imports any time
Kazakhstan Faces Militarization of the Caspian
In late February, Russian TV channel Zvezda, which is wholly owned by the Ministry of Defense, broadcast a video about a new type of assault boat that will be commissioned
Russian Nationalist Discourse Reemerges Ahead of Elections
Kazakhstan is taking final steps in preparation for the upcoming early parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 20. According to the Central Election Commission, as of March 4, the government has
Looming Long-Term Economic Problems Stem From Kyrgyzstan’s EEU Membership
It has been half a year since Kyrgyzstan officially joined the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia. Its accession treaty took effect on August 12,
President Nazarbayev Announces Early Parliamentary Elections Amid Crisis
On January 20, the official website of Kazakhstan’s presidency published Nursultan Nazarbayev’s address to the nation in which he announced snap parliamentary elections. Earlier, on January 13, the lower chamber
Hard Choice for Kazakhstan as Russia-Turkey Spat Deepens
On November 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared economic sanctions against Turkey. Four days earlier, the latter had downed a Russian Su-24 fighter jet near the border with Syria after
Kazakhstan Walking Tightrope Amid Russia-Ukraine Divide
At a time when relations between Russia and the West are at an all-time low because of Moscow’s meddling in Ukraine and Syria, Kazakhstan is finding it increasingly complicated to
Parliamentary Elections Confirm Kyrgyzstan’s Pro-Russian Orientation
On October 4, Kyrgyzstan held parliamentary elections—the first in the country’s history in which the authorities used voters’ biometrics to obtain quick and reliable polling data. While the definitive results
Russia’s Import Substitution Plan Faces Harsh Reality
On August 4, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev decreed the establishment of a state commission on import substitution. This new entity within Russia’s executive branch aims to alleviate the country’s
Kazakhstan’s Oil Dependence Jeopardizes Domestic Stability
On August 20, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) came forward with a surprise announcement. The central bank’s chairman, Kairat Kelimbetov, made official the immediate shift to a floating exchange
Kyrgyzstan’s Relations With the US Suffer Amid Moscow-Bishkek Rapprochement
On July 21, the prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, Temir Sariyev, issued a decree abrogating the Kyrgyz Republic’s bilateral aid and assistance agreement with the United States, which was initially signed
India Covets Comprehensive Reengagement With Central Asia
On July 6, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his eight-day tour of Central Asia, visiting the region for the first time since taking office last May. The first
‘Land Grab’ Case Lays Bare the Frailty of Russian-Chinese Relationship
At a time when Moscow’s relations with the West are continuing to deteriorate, and with the unresolved Ukrainian crisis looming large in the background, Russia is seeking to strengthen its
Russia’s Space Cooperation with Central Asia on Uncertain Path
On April 27, Turkmenistan launched its first telecommunications satellite into space. The launch was hailed as a breakthrough by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who watched the ceremony at Cape Canaveral in
New Kyrgyz Prime Minister Faces Tough Balancing Act
On May 2, Kyrgyzstan’s President Almazbek Atambayev appointed a new prime minister—the Central Asian republic’s 27th since it became a sovereign state in 1991—Temir Sariyev, who had previously served as
Nazarbayev Reelected, but Challenges Lie Ahead
On April 26, Kazakhstan held an early presidential election, the fifth presidential election in its modern history since gaining independence in late 1991. Unsurprisingly, the incumbent, Nursultan Nazarbayev, won the
China Strengthens Clout in Kazakhstan Amid Russian Weakness
On March 26–28, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Karim Massimov paid a working visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), first to discuss bilateral issues in Beijing and then to attend
Central Asians Fighting in Ukraine May Lead to Tensions With Russia
On March 17, the Russian and Kyrgyzstani services of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) published a long interview with a citizen of Kyrgyzstan identified as Manas (not his real name),
Power Struggles in Moscow Prompt Corruption Scandals in Russian Far East
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unexplained ten-day disappearance from public view naturally drew much attention from Moscow-watchers as his regime is rumored to be in the midst of power struggles between
Nazarbayev Calls Snap Presidential Vote
On February 25, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev made a televised address to the nation to announce an early presidential election that will take place on April 26. The head of
Kazakhstan’s Military Reform Faces Many Headwinds
It has been a little over 100 days since Imangali Tasmagambetov’s appointment as the new defense minister of Kazakhstan last October. Born in the oil-rich Mangistau province, in the country’s
Kyrgyzstan Draws Closer to Eurasian Union Amid Crisis in Russia
On January 1, 2015, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, along with Armenia, co-launched the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The founding treaty of this economic bloc?whose genesis is widely attributed to Kazakhstani
Uzbekistan Seeks to Shore up Strategic Alliance With Kazakhstan
On November 24 and 25, Uzbekistan’s president, Islam Karimov, paid an official visit to neighboring Kazakhstan, where he spent long hours with his local counterpart, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The last time
Kazakhstan Announces New Economic Policy to Avoid Another Crisis
On November 11, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev made a pre-announced televised address to the nation. Since 1997, the president annually addresses the two chambers of parliament at the beginning of
Moscow’s Empty Promises on Far East Could Undermine Government Credibility
As more people die in eastern Ukraine in the fighting between government forces and Russia-backed rebels, Moscow seems determined to pursue its internal economic goals despite the damage already caused
Macroeconomic Problems Overshadow Foreign Policy Agenda—A Net Assessment of the Situation in Kazakhstan Since the Start of 2014
The past nine and a half months of 2014 have been dominated in Kazakhstan by the worsening macroeconomic situation, which has prompted the government to move forward with some unpopular
Russian Banks Face Dim Prospects as Ukraine Crisis Lingers
With the diplomatic standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine still far from reaching a resolution, and as Moscow continues to support the separatist movements in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk
Iran Courts Kazakhstan to Reengage With Central Asia
On September 9, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani paid his first official visit to Kazakhstan since taking office last August, when he succeeded the much abrasive Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This visit took
Russia and China Set to Clash Over Kyrgyzstan’s Energy
On the eve of a new round of anti-Russian sanctions unveiled by the European Union on September 9, Gazprom’s CEO, Alexei Miller, kicked off a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan. The
Kazakhstani Cossacks in Media Spotlight Because of Ukraine Crisis
On August 4, the Ukrainian media widely reported on the arrest of Vladimir Mukhtarov, the major-general of Ukraine’s Cossack community. According to a statement by the prosecutor’s office of Luhansk
US Downsizes Military Ties With Central Asia
In June 2014, Central Asian media (centrasia.ru, June 19; avesta.tj, kursiv.kz, June 20) widely republished a June 18 article by EurasiaNet that analyzed the United States Defense Department’s latest biannual
Kazakhstani-Russian Space Cooperation Set to Shrink in 2015
Apart from closer economic and trade ties, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which its three founding members—Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus—expect to launch as early as next January, also foresees increased
Kazakhstan Prepares to Sign Eurasian Union Treaty Despite Lingering Problems
On April 28, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid a working visit to Russia’s capital, where he delivered a lecture at the Moscow State University, twenty years after his first similar
Kazakhstan’s New Prime Minister to Fix Economic Problems
On April 2, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov who had headed the country’s government since September 2012. On the same day, the president
Kazakhstan’s Pro-Russian Course May Alienate Ukraine
On March 25, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev completed his three-day visit to the Netherlands, where he met with the Dutch authorities and attended the World Nuclear Summit in The Hague.
Russian-Kazakhstani Relations: A Return of Moscow’s Neo-Imperialist Rhetoric
As the eyes of the world were riveted to the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, where weeks of violent street protests recently brought down the corrupt regime of former president Viktor
Kazakhstan Looking to the West to Ease Dependence on Russia
On January 22, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev arrived in Davos to attend the 44th session of the World Economic Forum and held a number of bilateral meetings. These included, among
Re-Privatization of Kazakhstani Banks to Ensure Protection From Customs Union Competition
On January 17, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev made his traditional address to the nation, unveiling the key aspects of this year’s government agenda. While most of his speech was dedicated
Kazakhstan to Pursue Key Socioeconomic Reforms in 2014
Following the publication of the “Kazakhstan-2050” strategy late in 2012, Central Asia’s biggest country carried out a series of structural reforms in 2013 aimed at modernizing its economic and social
Kazakhstan Offers to Dispose of Syrian Chemical Weapons
On November 28, the deputy head of the Department for Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Anuar Tanalinov, said that his country was considering the possibility
Kazakh Nationalists as a Wild Card in Kazakhstan’s Domestic Politics
Following the recent inter-ethnic clashes in Moscow’s Biryulyovo suburb in mid-October, a growing number of Russia-watchers have been predicting the forthcoming establishment of a new nationalist political party. As Russia’s
Russia’s Eurasian Integration Projects Threatened by Internal Dissent
On October 24 and 25, Belarus hosted two high-level meetings of heads of state of the Supreme Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEc) and the Commonwealth of Independent
India Looses out to China in Central Asia’s Uranium Competition
During the first week of October 2013, a high-level delegation of India’s Department of Atomic Energy visited Uzbekistan to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. According to
Kazakhstani-Russian Space Cooperation Further at Risk
On September 25, the deputy chairman of Kazakhstan’s national space agency Kazkosmos, Erkin Shaimagambetov, officially announced his administration’s decision to allow Russia to carry out a new launch of its
China Strengthens Its Hand in Kazakhstan After Xi Jinping’s Visit
On September 6–8, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid an official visit to Kazakhstan, amid his ten-day journey across Central Asia that had previously taken him to Turkmenistan where gas production
Economic Slowdown Reveals Structural Problems in Zhanaozen-style Towns
One and a half years after the tragic events in western Kazakhstan’s Zhanaozen, where 16 striking oil workers died and over 110 were wounded in bloody clashes with riot police,
Russia and Tajikistan Settle Differences Before Crucial Deadlines
On August 1, Tajikistan’s President Emomalii Rahmon paid a working visit to Moscow where he met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Their meeting took place less than a year
Central Asia’s Unresolved Bilateral Disputes as a Challenge to Fruitful Security Cooperation
On July 23, a new border incident took place between two groups of border guards from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the former’s Aksay district of Jalalabad province. According to Kyrgyzstan’s
The North Caucasus Trail of the Boston Bombers: A Militant Leadership Monitor Special Report
The horrible tragedy in Boston on April 15 has refocused Western attention on Russia’s troubled North Caucasus, which has already experienced more than a decade of turmoil and upheaval. Many
EDM analysts cited in Eurasia Review article
Jamestown analysts Roger McDermott, Vladimir Socor, Pavel Felgenhauer, Georgiy Voloshin, Richard Weitz, and Dumitru Minzarari were cited in an article by Ariel Cohen in Eurasia Review.
Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Endorse Further Integration, but Obstacles Remain
On May 29, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine met in Astana to participate in a scheduled meeting of the Supreme Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic
Kazakhstan Proposes to Expand its Transit Facilities on the Caspian to Facilitate NATO’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan
On April 26, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev opened the third ministerial meeting of the so-called Istanbul process, an international initiative for reconstructing and stabilizing Afghanistan in view of the International
China Claims a Share in Kashagan, Kazakhstan Confirms
On April 16, Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev made a statement that drew much attention from both domestic and international media and should certainly have been widely commented
Kazakhstan Continues to Upgrade its Military Presence on the Caspian in the Face of Growing Uncertainty
In early April, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov told the local press that the legal status of the Caspian Sea was still being debated by the littoral states (Azerbaijan
Accession to the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Threatens Kyrgyzstan’s Domestic Stability
On April 3, Kyrgyzstan’s President Almazbek Atambayev made a speech before the students of the Kyrgyz State Technical University in Bishkek. While he addressed a number of issues related to
Russian-Kazakhstani Energy Spat Favors China
On March 7, Kazakhstan’s parliament ratified the bilateral agreement with Russia on the duty-free import of Russian oil into Kazakhstani territory. The initial agreement on Kazakhstani-Russian cooperation in the field
Russian-US Military Competition in Central Asia Threatens to Compromise Regional Security
Following his recent visit to Brussels, the secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Nikolai Bordyuzha, told the Russian press that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had
Kumtor’s Legal Controversy Creating Dangerous Precedent for Kyrgyzstan’s Investment Opportunities
On December 25, 2012, the state commission tasked by the government of Kyrgyzstan to analyze the legal situation around the Kumtor gold mine unveiled its official conclusions. This commission was
Kazakhstan’s Border Protection Service Rocked by a New Wave of Incidents
On the last day of January, Kazakhstani media reported that Major-General Talgat Yessetov, the director of the Border Service Academy under the National Security Committee, had committed suicide in his
President Nazarbayev Announces a String of Optimization Measures to Tackle Social and Economic Issues
Just two weeks into 2013, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the reorganization of the country’s government. On January 16, he ordered the establishment of a new ministry in charge of
Russia Threatens to Suspend Space Cooperation with Kazakhstan over Baikonur Dispute
Hours before Kazakhstan’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov started his first official visit to the Russian Federation, one of Russia’s daily newspapers reported that the country’s foreign ministry had
Domestic Stability to Remain Kazakhstan’s Main Priority in 2013
The year 2012 was certainly rich in events for Kazakhstan. In mid-January, the early parliamentary elections brought two more parties to the country’s legislative body, although none of them gained
Central Asia Prepares for Post-2014 Afghanistan
On December 4, Kazakhstan’s parliament and the Kazakhstan Institute of Strategic Studies held a joint conference on the future of Central Asia–Afghanistan relations. This conference was attended by representatives of
ConocoPhillips’ Exit from Kashagan Revives Rivalries in Kazakhstan’s Oil Sector
On November 26, Kazakh media reported that the US oil company ConocoPhillips was planning to sell its 8.4-percent stake in Kazakhstan’s Kashagan oil field on the Caspian Sea. In the
Russia-Uzbekistan Dispute Jeopardizes Bilateral Relationship
In late June 2012, when Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially declared Tashkent’s decision to suspend its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the country’s National Communications Inspectorate published
Central Asia’s Stability Increasingly Compromised by Ongoing Grain Crisis
In early September, the United Nations once again warned of the growing risks of another global food crisis, following particularly bad harvests in the United States, Russia, Ukraine and other
Crackdown on Russia’s Opposition Reveals Systemic Problems in Kaliningrad Region
In early October, Russia’s state-run TV channel NTV (its current owner is Gazprom Media) broadcast a sequel of its investigation into the Russian opposition. The film known as “The Anatomy
Farewell to Baikonur? Russia Confirms Intention to Move Away from Space Cooperation with Kazakhstan
On the day preceding Nursultan Nazarbayev’s latest visit to Moscow (see EDM, October 19), the widely-read Russian daily newspaper Izvestia published an interview previously obtained from an unidentified high-level official
Russia and Kazakhstan Pledge to Renew Strategic Partnership amid Growing Dissatisfaction with Customs Union
On October 9 and 10, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an official visit to Moscow to celebrate 20 years of good-neighborly relations with its northern neighbor. Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin,
Kazakhstan Aims to Modernize its Energy Sector
On October 2 and 3, Kazakhstan’s capital hosted an annual gathering of the Kazenergy Association, which is comprised of 50 of the biggest players in the oil and gas sectors
South Korea and Kazakhstan Consolidate Bilateral Cooperation
On September 13, the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. It was his seventh visit to this Central Asian republic during the last four years.
Kazakhstan Set to Become Major Source of Rare Earths in CIS
On August 9, China launched the world’s first rare earth exchange in an apparent bid to formalize its global leadership in the production of rare earth elements (REE). This move
CSTO Launches War Games amid Growing Regional Uncertainty
On Monday, August 6, the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (in Russian – KSOR) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) launched this year’s military exercise at the Chebarkul training site