Latest Articles about Central Asia

KYRGYZ POLITICIANS BEGIN TO BREAK TIES TO CRIMINAL WORLD

Organized criminal groups in Kyrgyzstan have significantly weakened since the death of criminal kingpin Rysbek Akmatbayev on May 10. According to Deputy Minister of Interior Omurbek Suvanaliyev, today Kyrgyz law-enforcement agencies are able to curb criminal organizations and thwart the merger of the political and... MORE

KARIMOV GAMBLES ON RUSSIA, CHINA, AND GERMANY

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov has staked much on his efforts to strengthen and sustain relations with both Russia and China. He predictably talked up Uzbekistan's ties with China during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Shanghai on June 15-16. Nonetheless, behind the scenes Karimov... MORE

KAZAKHSTAN SEEKS IRAN’S RECONCILIATION WITH THE WEST

During his June 6 visit to Tehran Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev extended a message of friendship from President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In the letter the Kazakh leader emphasized that the Iranian nuclear crisis goes beyond Tehran's long-standing confrontation with Washington... MORE

KYRGYZ DEFENSE MINISTER CALLS FOR MORE FOREIGN AID

Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ismail Isakov has called for an increase in the levels of foreign assistance to help the beleaguered Kyrgyz armed forces. These appeals are rooted in his conviction that the Kyrgyz economy cannot afford the type of armed forces and security structures necessary... MORE

RUSSIA EYES CENTRAL ASIA URANIUM DEPOSITS

Officials in Russia’s nuclear sector have long eyed Central Asia’s uranium deposits. Now Russia appears prepared to invest in the uranium-mining sector in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in order to supplement domestic production. In May representatives from the Russian nuclear agency, Rosatom, and Kazakhstan's nuclear company,... MORE

KYRGYZSTAN RELENTING ON U.S. AIR BASE

On May 31-June 2 in Bishkek, American and Kyrgyz negotiators made some progress toward a possible agreement to prolong the use of the Manas air base by U.S. and allied forces. Kyrgyzstan no longer seeks a “hundredfold” increase in U.S. annual rent payments, as President... MORE