Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from January, 2024
Uzbekistan’s repression survivors tell their harrowing stories in a new documentary
This is one of the first attempts to tell the story of more than 18,000 people who were jailed on trumped-up charges and labelled “extremists” by Uzbekistan's Karimov government.
Serbian media blame Armenian ‘betrayal’ of Russia for the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh
Serbian pro-government and pro-Russia media systematically promoted a narrative that the Western-oriented Armenian authorities gave up Nagorno-Karabakh by turning their foreign and security policy against Russia.
Why are Afghans still seeking out the ‘weakest’ passport in the world?
Acquiring the Afghan passport — the world’s weakest passport — demands substantial patience and skill in navigating bureaucratic hurdles.
Council of Europe members vote to suspend Azerbaijan
The credentials of Azerbaijan's delegation at PACE were challenged on the grounds the country failed to meet "major commitments" as part of its membership to the Council of Europe.
Uzbekistan is finally starting to address its air pollution problem
In December 2023, Tashkent recorded the second-highest air pollution levels, coming behind only India’s Delhi.
In Azerbaijan, the stakes are always high for political activists
A few weeks after the announcement of a new social activism platform, its founder, Aliyev went missing on December 23.
Terrorists from Tajikistan have become a global menace
Over the last decade, Tajikistan’s foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) have brought their homeland under a negative limelight on numerous occasions.
Azerbaijan ‘successfully’ uncovers another spy network
Pundits link the recent diplomatic tensions between Azerbaijan and France to the latter’s support for Armenia.
Kyrgyzstan’s self-proclaimed ‘new God’ and former presidential candidate found dead in prison
Abdyldaev’s death is another incident of the alarming trend that has been unfolding under the rule of the current president Sadyr Japarov.
In Georgia, controversy over a Stalin icon makes headlines at home and abroad
Georgia was thrown into controversy when worshipers found a painting of Saint Matrona of Moscow, a 20th-century Russian Orthodox Church saint, with a man who appears to be Joseph Stalin.
Georgia's infamous former Prime Minister returns to politics
Pundits say, Ivanishvili has been pulling Georgia's political strings from behind the scenes and his appointment as the "honorary chair" of the ruling Georgian Dream party is just temporary.
The descendants of Buryat migrants in Mongolia have no feelings towards Russia
The Buryats left the Soviet Union for Mongolia in three waves in the beginning of the 20th century.
Kazakhstan’s national identity is deeply connected to its food culture
Kazakhstan's modern cuisine has been significantly influenced by the eating habits of the peoples who were deported or moved to Kazakhstan.
What did Central Asian presidents talk about in their New Year's addresses?
These New Year's addresses provided a glimpse into Central Asian governments' perspectives on their countries' achievements and challenges.
‘Eternal president’ and transitionary motive in Azerbaijan’s snap election
Alongside repressions, or as a result of it, Azerbaijani leadership has over the past thirty years managed to acquire the passive acquiescence of different generations of the population.
In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev's family takes on farming as a new lucrative business venture
Among the companies engaged in farming in Karabakh are companies owned by the president's daughters, the head of the State Security Service, and the head of the president's security service.
Between four walls: The suppressed voices of peace in Azerbaijan
It’s a landscape where the very act of speaking out often comes at a steep cost, both in terms of personal sacrifice and the relentless pressure they face.
About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage
