Latest Articles about Central Asia

BAKIYEV-KULOV POLITICAL UNION ENDANGERED BY CRIMINALS

October's showdowns between various political forces in Kyrgyzstan's government and parliament, as well as between criminals and businessmen, have challenged the credibility of the political union between President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Prime Minister Felix Kulov. Rysbek Akmatbayev, the older brother of assassinated parliamentarian Tynychbek Akmatbayev... MORE

YULDASHEV TESTIMONY PLAYED AT ANDIJAN TRIAL

As the trial of Akramiya members entered its fifth week in Tashkent, the court heard testimony from Akram Yuldashev, the "spiritual force" allegedly behind the May uprising in Andijan. The testimony came via an amateurish videotape with poor sound quality that was reportedly made on... MORE

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

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

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