Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus
Failed assassination attempt sparks speculations of power struggle in Uzbekistan
The timing of the incident stirred discussions of a possible power struggle unfolding among different groups close to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to solidify their position as his future successor.
China's impact on the Rogun Dam Project in Tajikistan
Tajikistan's Rogun Dam Project is one of the most ambitious hydroelectric projects in the world. Do the ballooning costs, environmental concerns, and human rights abuses outweigh the potential benefits?
China's investment in agriculture in Tajikistan: A focus on growth and pesticide use
Beginning in 2012, Tajikistan leased around 18,000 hectares of arable land to China for agricultural cultivation. Over ten years later, how has this turned out for the Tajik economy and its farmers?
Torture, abuse, and degredation are rampant in Azerbaijani prisons
In Azerbaijani prisons, torture and ill-treatment are common. But for queer inmates, the persecution is much worse. The existing legislation offers no legal remedies.
Nuclear referendum disheartens Kazakhstan’s opposition
A few days before the referendum, police detained about 40 activists across the country.
First the flag and now the anthem: How Kyrgyzstan's leadership is changing its national symbols
“Why don't we now write an anthem for future generations about the fact that our people have a five-thousand-year history?” concluded Japarov.
Why child and forced marriages persist in Central Asia
Comprehensive data and readily available data can guide the development of policies, targeted interventions, funding, and impact assessments.
The Azerbaijani government throws support behind Georgian Dream Party amid election inconsistencies
While the opposition and President of Georgia refused to accept election results, which showed ruling Georgian Dream winning with 54 percent, due to electoral inconsistencies, Azerbaijan rushed to congratulate the ruling government.
A cinematic lens into Turkmenistan’s culture: An interview with Oguljamal Yazliyeva
Turkmen cinema, with its rich storytelling and cultural depth, plays a vital role in bridging the gap between Turkmenistan and the rest of the world.
In Azerbaijan, the government takes treason seriously — or does it?
What constitutes treason according to local legislation and is it being used fairly in Azerbaijan? The answer is in the details of the legislation and its implementation according to the lawyers.
In Azerbaijan, owning and operating drones is no easy feat
In Azerbaijan, drones are placed in the same category as weapons, explosive devices, and money-printing equipment, making it nearly impossible for citizens to access them.
How the news goes viral in Uzbekistan
People often turn to bloggers for help with social issues or unjust circumstances when government agencies fail to provide solutions.
The Dungan gastronomical footprint in Central Asia
When Dungan food landed in Central Asia, it had to adapt to new palates and to a more restricted set of ingredients.
Inside the wardrobe: Women’s clothing increasingly policed in Tajikistan
Now, in Tajikistan women can be fined between USD 750–6,000 for wearing, selling or distributing foreign clothing which is perceived as being “inconsistent with national culture and traditions.”
Georgian-British author Leo Vardiashvili paints the country's unhealed scars with dark humor in first novel
Global Voices interviewed Leo Vardiashvili, a Georgian-British author who just released his first English-language novel "Hard by a Great Forest" in which he explores Georgia's tumultuous past.
Is this the end of forced labor for Uzbekistan’s cotton industry?
"We had a quota of 50 kilograms a day. I would mix soil with the cotton in my sack just to make sure I wasn’t under."
Seeking independence from Chinese exports, Brazil enters bid to explore rare earths
Rare earths are essential for the green energy transition, however, they are also difficult to mine and harmful to the environment, leading to the “rare earth paradox.”
What is behind the Kremlin’s increasingly anti-immigration line?
Anti-immigration rhetoric is meant to introduce into the official nationalism the idea that “Russian civilization” must be protected not only from the West but also from the south.
Fueling China's EV expansion: The green revolution and its environmental demands in Central Asia
China is looking to increase its electric vehicle exports in Central Asia, however, the region's coal-based energy grid and increasing EV-related mining projects could stunt the benefits of this green vehicle transition.
Chinese electric car production kicks off in Uzbekistan
The Uzbek government says it will give incentives for both consumers and producers of electric and hybrid cars until 2030.
Armenia's path out of Russia's orbit
A series of decisions taken by the government of Armenia in recent years signals the country moving further out of Russia's orbit of influence.
About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage
