Latest Articles about Central Asia

PUTIN PLEDGES TO BACK UP KARIMOV IN A CRISIS

Russia and Uzbekistan have formally signed a new military alliance agreement with far-reaching consequences for bilateral relations between the two states and for Central Asia. Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Moscow in order to sign the treaty on November 14.... MORE

NGOs WANT KYRGYZ TO BE THE SOLE STATE LANGUAGE OF KYRGYZSTAN

Several days before Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev presented the draft law "On the Introduction of Changes and Additions to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic" for public discussion, a number of local national movements raised the question of elevating the status of the Kyrgyz language... MORE

AS BAKIYEV LOOSES SUPPORT, KULOV GAINS POPULARITY

A series of contradictory statements about international politics, delayed responses to domestic crises, and awkward jokes about his own political views have visibly harmed Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his political image at home. However, amid growing disappointment with Bakiyev, Prime Minister Felix Kulov is... MORE

ABIZAID PROMISES NO REPEAT OF GREAT GAME IN CENTRAL ASIA

Visiting Kazakhstan on November 3, General John Abizaid, Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), reassured his hosts that Washington has no plans to repeat the mistakes of the 19th century Great Game in the region. His comments were also intended to allay fears in many... MORE

NAZARBAYEV LEADING PRE-ELECTION POLLS IN KAZAKHSTAN

With less than a month remaining before election day, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his advisors are certainly following the November 6 parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. While separated geographically by thousands of miles, the two countries share political systems rooted in nepotism and family clan... MORE

BISHKEK WEIGHS BENEFITS OF U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE

The Kyrgyz government, keen to promote its own financial interests in the continued American military presence in Kyrgyzstan, has strongly pressed for greater revenue from Washington. This not only reflects the strategic value of the Manas air base, but also its increased importance since Tashkent... MORE

WASHINGTON GIVES NOD OF APPROVAL TO NAZARBAYEV REGIME

Critics of the ruling regime in Kazakhstan were visibly disappointed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who paid a two-day visit to Astana on October 12-13. She did not offer them any support ahead of the December 4 presidential election. To the surprise of... MORE