Region
Central Asia
The Failed Plot to ‘Destroy’ Uzbek Officials Using US Sanctions
By Catherine Putz
Letters obtained by The Diplomat suggest a failed effort to manipulate the U.S. sanctions system on the part of a well-connected Uzbek businessman.
Tajikistan and the Russian Scheme to Pay Taliban to Target Americans in Afghanistan
By Catherine Putz
The GRU spent tens of millions of dollars funding terrorist groups in Afghanistan to target U.S. and NATO forces, and routed funds and weapons through Tajikistan to accomplish its aims.
Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek Prime Ministers Meet at Trilateral Junction
By Catherine Putz
The meeting heralded the significant progress made in the last year on the three countries’ once-tense borders.
Could Afghanistan’s Qoshtepa Canal Worsen Water Scarcity in Central Asia?
By Andrew Kuchins and Elvira Aidarkhanova
The canal's completion could exacerbate regional conflict, but also presents an opportunity for regional cooperation.
More than 750 Central Asians Were Deported from the US in FY2024
By Catherine Putz
Although Central Asians represent a tiny fraction of those removed from the U.S., the numbers have exploded over the last year.
Leftover Shell Explodes in Kyrgyz Village
By Catherine Putz
Unexploded ordnance left over from the 2022 conflict pose risks to populations in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, even as the two governments finalize a border deal.
China vs India: Economic Outreach to Central Asia
By Daniel Balazs
Despite similar interests and ambitions, China’s economic presence in the region outweighs India’s.
3 Years on: Kazakhstan’s Kafkaesque System Fails Bloody January Torture Victims
By Alva Omarova
While over 30 security and law enforcement officials have been convicted for abuse during Bloody January, the number remains low compared to the scale of violations.
Uzbek Driver Punished for ‘Petty Hooliganism’ Following Gas Station Outburst
By Catherine Putz
After waiting six hours, Gayrat Dustov couldn’t fill his tank. His anger landed him in jail for 15 days but engendered sympathy among the public.
The Chechen Connection: Kadyrov Weighs in on Allamjonov Case in Uzbekistan
By Catherine Putz
In trying to dissuade anyone from noting a “Chechen trace” in the events in Uzbekistan, Kadyrov made the connection even more difficult to set aside.
A Ceremonial Start to Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway
By Catherine Putz
A Chinese statement noted that construction of the Kyrgyz section of the CKU Railway is scheduled to begin in July 2025 and last for six years.
A Look Back at 2024 in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
How did I do on my outlook for Central Asia 2024?