Eurasianet
@eurasianet.bsky.social
Critical perspectives and on-the-ground reporting from the #Caucasus and #CentralAsia, with analyses you won't find elsewhere: 🔗 https://eurasianet.org/
As the price of gold has hovered around $4,000 an ounce in recent weeks, the men in the small-scale mines north of the village of Soykechar in #Uzbekistan have watched every bounce and slide.
High gold prices prove boon for Central Asia, though “fundamentals not changing”
For miners, inflation and debt eats away at rising wages.
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At a recent media forum held in the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Shusha, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev described the country’s #Soviet past as a colonial experience.
Inventing “Soviet jazz capital”: State-sponsored myth of Baku jazz
Eurasianet commentary
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Representatives of the railway administrations of #Uzbekistan, #Turkmenistan, #Türkiye, #Georgia, #Azerbaijan and #Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement to further develop the CASCA+ corridor (Central Asia–South Caucasus–Anatolia+).
Regional connectivity and Central Asia’s need for unified strategy
A partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.
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Top officials from #Kazakhstan, #Kyrgyzstan, #Tajikistan and #Uzbekistan gathered recently in #Shanghai to attend the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping presented an ambitious vision for the Beijing’s leadership in the global AI race.
Central Asian states following China’s lead on AI
China-Central Asia Monitor: July 10-17, 2026.
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The results of Armenia’s parliamentary election in June dealt Russia’s bid to reassert its grip on the #SouthCaucasus a serious blow, and the reverberations are not confined to #Moscow, #Washington and #Brussels.
News analysis: China & Japan calibrating trans-Caspian trade strategies
All eyes on Pashinyan’s efforts to amend Armenian Constitution.
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#Azerbaijan is working hard this summer to build bridges across the Caspian Sea, announcing a variety of projects to expand Middle Corridor trade with Central Asian states.
Azerbaijan keeps building trans-Caspian trade connections
New initiatives with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan revealed.
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What is likely Sen. Steve Daines’ last visit in an official capacity to the #Caspian Basin region may turn out to be his most important. 🔗 eurasianet.org/influential-...
#Kazakhstan is growing more possessive of its petroleum products as a gasoline shortage tightens its grip in #Russia and the #US-Iran conflict reignites.
Kazakhstan tightens control over petroleum products
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#Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to #Kyrgyzstan produced lots of hopeful rhetoric but no substantive trade deals.
Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan commit to developing strategic partnership
Making progress on gaining access to seaport.
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#China has walked away from the #Anaklia Deep Sea Port project, ending speculation over one of #Georgia’s most important infrastructure projects. The Georgian government now says it wants to develop and operate the port on its own.
China quietly exits Georgian port deal
Tbilisi doubling down on stronger state role.
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After mounting an unsuccessful campaign to sink #Armenian Prime Minister Nikol #Pashinyan’s reelection chances, #Russia is now telling him that it is time to bury the hatchet. 🔗 eurasianet.org/pashinyan-tr...
#China is planning to deploy a constellation of over 1,000 remote-sensing satellites to observe #CentralAsia, according to China’s official news outlets Xinhua and The People’s Daily.
China to launch satellite constellation to keep eyes on Central Asia
China-Central Asia Monitor: June 26 - July 2, 2026.
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The downfall of #Kyrgyzstan’s former state security services boss, Kamchybek Tashiev, has ended with a conviction on a coup conspiracy charge and probation.
Kyrgyzstan: Former state security chief gets probation for conspiring against president
Last chapter in political purge.
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Despite lingering tension between the #UnitedStates and #Iran, #Kazakhstan is planning to build a terminal at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas to facilitate exports.
Kazakhstan looks to open trade outpost at Iranian port
A roundup of developments relevant for the Silk Seven-Plus initiative.
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#Kyrgyzstan is the leader in #CentralAsia in making progress toward sustainable development goals, according to a #UN report.
UN report gives Kyrgyzstan and Armenia strong marks for sustainable development
Progress made, but targets won’t be met by 2030.
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Boxing legend Evander #Holyfield is making a comeback of sorts. He is mulling plans to open a boxing academy in #Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian nation of #Kyrgyzstan, according to local media reports.
Kyrgyzstan lures heavyweight champ to promote Bishkek as boxing hub
President has affinity for pugilism.
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The ripple effect from a severe gas shortage in #Russia caused by #Ukrainian drone strikes is being felt in #CentralAsia, where seasonal demand is rising.
Ukraine’s drone offensive against Russia causing collateral damage in Central Asia
Fuel shortage fears rising in region.
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The signs are multiplying that Vladimir #Putin’s powers of coercion are rapidly fading, and his chief instruments of regional leverage are dissolving.
Ukrainian pressure causing Russia-led regional security organization to unravel
Eurasian Economic Union also facing legitimacy crisis.
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#China’s state-owned conglomerate Sinopec Engineering Group has reached an agreement with Australia-based Allied Biofuels to conduct engineering, design and construction work on a $6.1 billion biorefinery project in #Uzbekistan.
Chinese conglomerate secures multi-billion green-energy deal in Uzbekistan
China-Central Asia Monitor: June 19-25, 2026.
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#Kazakhstan’s Muftiate, the chief administrative body for Muslims in the Central Asian nation, has issued a religious ruling that calls on young people to resist the temptations of modernity and procreate.
Kazakh religious leaders tell young people: Go forth and have kids!
Firing broadside against materialism and individualism.
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#Pakistan has approved and operationalized new land routes to connect Central Asian markets to Pakistani ports and beyond, utilizing strategic corridors through #Iran and #China to bypass #Afghanistan entirely.
How Pakistan is reshaping Eurasian trade corridors
A partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.
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Fresh off a convincing victory in a fiercely contested parliamentary election, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol #Pashinyan is wasting no time in trying to integrate #Armenia firmly into the West’s security and economic architecture. 🔗 eurasianet.org/armenia-putt...
Grappling with a severe shortage, #Russia is seeking to purchase a significant volume of gasoline from neighboring #Kazakhstan. Astana appears hesitant to fulfill the request, however, apparently concerned that doing so might entail consequences for the Central Asian nation’s own energy exports.
Kazakhstan hesitates to go through with Russian gas-supply request
Astana put in hard place.
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Fresh polling data shows a vast divide separating #Georgia’s governing class from the governed when it comes to the future direction of the country.
As Georgians back West, their leaders lean East – polling data
US lawmakers push new measures amid concerns over Russian and Chinese influence.
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#Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to #EU’s headquarters in #Brussels has yielded agreements and MoUs potentially valued at over 12 billion dollars. The key deal involves the purchase of 50 Airbus passenger jets for 7.1 billion euros. 🔗 eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-a...
#Azerbaijan is working hard to coax #Turkmenistan out of its shell and integrate Ashgabat into trans- #Caspian trade routes.
Turkmenistan signs bevy of trade agreements with Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev (right) and his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdymukhamedov shake hands after signing a variety of agreements on June 22. (Photo: president.az)
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A partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.
Pashinyan’s victory and Armenia’s geopolitical choice
A partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.
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The governments of #Kazakhstan and #Uzbekistan are pressing ahead with efforts to build rail and road connections through Afghanistan to connect #CentralAsia to South Asian and Persian #Gulf seaports.
Top Kazakh official visits Kabul for transit-focused discussions
Uzbekistan also interested in trans-Afghan routes to seaports.
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The head of #China’s National Energy Administration, Wang Hongzhi, visited #Kazakhstan to participate in the inaugural meeting of the #Kazakhstan-China Joint Working Group on Cooperation in Civil #Nuclear Energy.
Kazakh and Chinese officials sign protocol on nuclear energy cooperation
China-Central Asia Monitor: June 12- June 18, 2026.
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The problem of water scarcity is becoming one of the main challenges for the sustainable development of #CentralAsia.
Expert views: Addressing water-management challenges in Central Asia
A Eurasianet partner post
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