What are the risks and opportunities for Central Asia from the Iran war? How is the region navigating Trump’s volatility? Listen to the latest Carnegie Politika podcast episode with @alexgabuev.bsky.social and @tumarov.bsky.social here:

How Is Central Asia Weathering the Iran War?

Podcast host Alex Gabuev is joined by Temur Umarov, a fellow at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, to discuss how the countries of Central Asia are being affected by the war in neighboring Iran and how t...

carnegieendowment.org

By refusing to extradite Russian opposition activists in the first years of the war in Ukraine, Kazakhstan built a reputation as the region’s most pro-Western nation. In the Trump era, it has no need for such a reputation. @ceip-politika.bsky.social: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

While Moscow and Beijing benefit from a distracted U.S., their support for Tehran has clear ceilings. @alexgabuev.bsky.social @ceip-politika.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Really enjoyed this episode of Turan Tales by @aga-pik.bsky.social with @skhashimov.bsky.social about Dushanbe.

Agnieszka Pikulicka@aga-pik.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Dushanbe has been on a path toward modernisation. New buildings, many of them Chinese-funded, have dotted the city, transforming its traditional architecture. Will Dushanbe become a new AI hub as the government wants? Listen to the new episode of Turan Tales turantales.substack.com/p/episode-30...

Central Asia has seen a significant increase in a covert system of re-export flows back to Russia. Much of this trade is lawful, but investigative reporting & trade data patterns indicate that certain categories of tech have transited the region before reaching RUS open.substack.com/pub/thesarat...

From Dubai to Donetsk: The Kyrgyzstan–UAE Transit Nexus in Russia’s Clandestine Starlink Supply Chain

by Sergey Sukhankin

open.substack.com

Had a great conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social: Central Asia's transition puzzle: A quiet coup, constitution-tinkering, and a vanishing leader. open.substack.com/pub/havli/p/...

Central Asia's transition puzzle: A quiet coup, constitution-tinkering, and a vanishing leader

A high-level dismissal in Kyrgyzstan, rushed constitutional reform in Kazakhstan, and the Tajik president's lengthy absence reveal transition pressures beneath the surface.

open.substack.com

Sadyr Japarov appears to be on the brink of achieving what none of his predecessors managed: making Kyrgyzstan a personalist autocracy. My latest for @ceip-politika.bsky.social: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Where Does the Split in the Ruling Tandem Leave Kyrgyzstan?

Despite its reputation as an island of democracy in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan appears to be on the brink of becoming a personalist autocracy.

carnegieendowment.org

A BIG thank you to Catherine Putz, editor at @thediplomat.com & @tumarov.bsky.social of @carnegierussia.bsky.social for being on Spotlight on Central Asia to review regional cooperation in 2025.(open.spotify.com/episode/1Sye...) And thanks to our sponsors @timesca.com the Oxus Society!

Retaliation, Raids and Regional Integration,

open.spotify.com

Ahead of President Putin's arrival in Kyrgyzstan for high-level talks and the CSTO summit, a colossal welcome billboard was erected in Bishkek. This display was positioned with deliberate precision, effectively obscuring the Ukrainian Embassy from view...

Former Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev comes out with a scathing public statement against the current authoritarian regime under Sadyr Japarov. Lots of people will roll their eyes because Atambayev contributed to the undermining of democratic institutions kaktus.media/doc/535418_a...

Алмазбек Атамбаев раскритиковал деятельность Садыра Жапарова и вспомнил друзей президента

Бывший президент Алмазбек Атамбаев сделал открытое обращение к президенту Садыру Жапарову и раскритиковал его работу не только на посту главы государства, но и ранее. Он надеется, что в стране снова б...

kaktus.media

Central Asia is adapting its entire ideological agenda to impress one man: Donald Trump. The recent C5+1 summit was a new high point in US-Central Asian ties. But is this rapprochement real, or just risk? 🧵🧵🧵

(1/4) #CentralAsia is among the world's most vulnerable regions to #climatechange. And while some countries are heavily reliant on #fossilfuels, there is potential for #renewables across this entire part of the world. Let's take a closer look...

While the active presence of China and Russia in Central Asia is nothing new, the current level of attention from the U.S. is unusual for a region located far from the major global crises. @tumarov.bsky.social explains why Central Asia remains in Trump's focus: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Why Is Central Asia Buying Trump’s Attention?

The current U.S. administration is the easiest one so far for Central Asia to work with. Business interests can be used to attract Washington’s attention, and there is no longer any need for demonstra...

carnegieendowment.org

The current US administration is the easiest one so far for Central Asia to work with. Business interests can be used to attract attention & there's no need for demonstrative distancing from Russia or commitment to democratic reforms. @ceip-politika.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Why Is Central Asia Buying Trump’s Attention?

The current U.S. administration is the easiest one so far for Central Asia to work with. Business interests can be used to attract Washington’s attention, and there is no longer any need for demonstra...

carnegieendowment.org

While the West is using customs duties to try to head off an influx of Chinese electric cars, the countries of Central Asia are doing everything they can to welcome them. Temur Umarov and Roman Vakulchuk assess the consequences for the region: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

China Has Flooded Central Asia With Electric Cars—the Impact Will Be Long-Lasting

By entering this new stage of development of the automotive industry via Chinese electric cars, Central Asia will eventually be forced to adopt Chinese standards for the industry’s development, integr...

carnegieendowment.org

Negotiations over the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline are bogged down in discussions over price, flexibility, and timeframe—and Russia’s lack of alternative buyers means China can take its time, argues Sergey Vakulenko: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Why Can’t Russia and China Agree on the Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline?

Negotiations are bogged down in discussions over price, flexibility, and timeframe—and Russia’s lack of alternative buyers means China can take its time.

carnegieendowment.org

Water shortages in Central Asia will worsen significantly when Afghanistan completes a canal diverting substantial volumes of water from the Amu Darya River. And it could escalate regional tensions, writes Galiya Ibragimova. carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal Could Trigger a Central Asian Water Crisis

The ambitious irrigation project is becoming a source of growing tension in Central Asia, but none of the region’s countries have been able to come up with an alternative solution.

carnegieendowment.org

Moscow’s anti-immigrant campaign at home is proving increasingly costly abroad. For the first time in years, Central Asian countries are reassessing their relations with Moscow, writes Galiya Ibragimova: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Moscow’s Xenophobic Migration Policy Is Impacting Relations With Central Asia

By stirring up anti-migrant sentiment to distract Russian society from the war in Ukraine, Moscow is alienating its allies in Central Asia. Following Azerbaijan’s example, Central Asian countries are ...

carnegieendowment.org

Why is Beijing opening a flurry of technical training centers known as Luban Workshops in Central Asia, and what is their significance? Edward Lemon and Bradley Jardine explain.

China Is Using Vocational Training Centers to Rebuild Its Image in Central Asia

In Central Asia, Beijing is learning to adapt. The era of raw economic assertiveness is giving way to a more nuanced strategy that fuses investment with education, infrastructure with human capital, a...

carnegieendowment.org

Props to @tumarov.bsky.social for very skillfully describing the cult of raw power being created by Tashiev, the Sopranos-esque head of Kyrgyzstan’s rapidly expanding security services youtu.be/cQeb5cdHs1I?...

Могу и «отлупить»: культ силы Ташиева

YouTube video by Kloop на русском

youtu.be

Beyond the much-discussed trade figures, new projects, & investments, the China+Central Asia summit holds another dimension. W/ @peterleonard1.bsky.social @capsunlock.bsky.social we delved into the visibility of local agency operating behind the scenes: pod.link/1781868199

Great interview by @tumarov.bsky.social where he meticulously outlines the rapid authoritarian consolidation underway in Kyrgyzstan. Japarov is very diligently speed-running his way to authoritarianism in attempt to catch up with neighboring states storage.googleapis.com/qurium/kloop...

«Учебник автократа». Темур Умаров — о том, как из Кыргызстана делают диктатуру

Президент Кыргызстана ускоренными темпами превращает страну в классический авторитарный режим — с подавлением СМИ, зачисткой оппозиции, устрашением элит и культом «своего парня у власти». Эксперт по Ц...

storage.googleapis.com

For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, none of the five Central Asian governments have any grievances against one another. Had a great conversation on Central Asia with LRT: www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-e...

Expert: Russia and China will not clash in Central Asia – interview

A notable shift is taking place among the five Central Asian countries — instead of clashing, they are working to consol...

lrt.lt

It was an honor to be the guest of the final episode of THE podcast on Central Asia, the Majlis Podcast, hosted by the one&only @pannierb.bsky.social. Together w/ Bakyt Beshimov & @nargiskassenova.bsky.social, we've discussed Central Asia's position in global politics: www.rferl.org/a/majlis-rus...

Central Asia's New Position In Global Politics

A lot has changed in Central Asia in the more than three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As countries in the region seek to loosen Moscow and Beijing's grip on the region, how far...

rferl.org

Had a great conversation with Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska for her new media Turan Tales on China-Central Asia: Subscribe to her podcast on any platform you use: plinkhq.com/i/1799753984...

From our spring issue: @tumarov.bsky.social on the de-risking dilemma. ip-quarterly.com/en/de-riskin...

Kyrgyzstan arrests four people in the city of Osh for allegedly recruiting mercenaries to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Among those arrested is a representative of the Russian House in Osh and a member of the mayor’s communications team www.currenttime.tv/a/kyrgyzstan...

Сотрудницу Русского дома в Кыргызстане и еще троих человек арестовали по делу о вербовке наемников в армию РФ

В Кыргызстане задержали четырех человек по делу о вербовке наемников. Об этом сообщает кыргызская служба Радио Свобода/Азаттык. Пресс-служба Первомайского районного суда Бишкека в пресс-релизах указал...

currenttime.tv

The Central Asia gang in the Hague ☀️ @irnahofman.bsky.social @plovism.bsky.social

Future problems cannot be ruled out, but for the first time since the Soviet collapse, none of the five Central Asian governments have any political grievances against each other. Why now and what's next for Central Asia: carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Central Asian States Have Put Aside Their Territorial Disputes. Why Now?

Future problems cannot be ruled out, but for the first time since the Soviet collapse, none of the five Central Asian governments have any political grievances against each other.

carnegieendowment.org