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Latest Articles about Central Asia
KAZAKH GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE OVER CHINESE TAKEOVER DEAL
As protests mount, members of the Kazakh government are finding it harder and harder to hide their bitter disappointment over the backdoor-deal between the Canadian-listed PetroKazakhstan and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). For the last few weeks Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov and Minister of... MORE
LAVROV IN TASHKENT: RUSSIA AND UZBEKISTAN SEARCH FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently visited Central Asia in a round of intensive diplomacy taking him to Ashgabat and Tashkent. In recent years such missions have been stressful affairs raising issues about Moscow's once dominant influence in the region and the need for improved... MORE
ASSASSINATION OF KYRGYZ LAWMAKER REVEALS LINKS BETWEEN POLITICS AND CRIME
On October 20, Kyrgyz parliamentarian Tynychbek Akmatbayev died following a prison riot in the 31st penal colony located 20 kilometers away from the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. He is the third lawmaker to be assassinated since the March 24 Tulip Revolution. Like the other two victims,... MORE
RUSSIA IN CONTROL OF TURKMEN AND UKRAINIAN GAS TRADE
On October 20 in Ashgabat, Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov reassured the visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, on two counts: First, Turkmenistan will continue to under price the gas it sells to Russia; and, second, it would only sign a long-term gas... MORE
RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS DEBATE INTERACTION WITH AMERICA IN GREATER CENTRAL ASIA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's trip to Central Asia on October 20-21 reinvigorated the already lively discussion over the true nature of Russian-U.S. interaction in the strategic region. Most Moscow analysts tend to view Lavrov's quick regional tour as the Kremlin's "asymmetrical response" to U.S.... MORE
REBUFF FROM EU PUSHES KARIMOV FURTHER INTO MOSCOW’S ARMS
Meeting October 3 Luxembourg, the European Union Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs voted to impose sanctions against Uzbekistan. They banned the sale of weapons and military equipment to Tashkent, specifically anything that the army could use for "internal repressions," and sought to also reduce... MORE
ASTANA TAKES NEW DIRECTION FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION
In addition to developing the Aktau seaport on the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan is also putting more emphasis on developing domestic and international rail lines. In recent years the government has made significant strides toward reducing Kazakhstan's dependence on the Russian transport network. A railway line... MORE
DUSHANBE CLAIMS ANTI-DRUG SMUGGLING SUCCESS AS RUSSIA INCREASES MILITARY PRESENCE
Dushanbe's efforts to stem the flow of narcotics through its porous borders have been highlighted by the authorities in an attempt to reassert Tajikistan's domestic security credentials. Yet, despite these moves by the regime itself, security officials continue to seek international help for Tajikistan's security... MORE
WILL RE-PRIVATIZATION OF KYRGYZ MEDIA QUIET OPPOSITION VOICES?
On October 15, KOORT (Kyrgyz public radio and television) was re-privatized as a result of a legal investigation of the previous management on corruption charges. This news came shortly after the highly popular newspaper, Vecherny Bishkek, was returned to its previous owner, Alexander Kim, under... MORE
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FOOTPRINTS FROM THE NORTH IN CENTRAL ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN
Amid politically correct disclaimers of any intent to compete with the United States in Central Asia, Moscow is multiplying its efforts to capitalize on Washington's recent difficulties in the region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and other Russian officials are criticizing U.S. and the... MORE