Featured stories about Central Asia & Caucasus
Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus
22 July 2017
Mongolian Nomads Say Goodbye to Herding, Hello to Smog
Climate change is forcing many of Mongolia's nomadic herders to abandon their traditional lifestyle and move to Ulaanbaatar. That's making a big smog problem in the city even worse.
Georgian Women March Against Misogyny and Racism
“I’m not too hopeful that the change will come soon, but we will do our part to push for it.”
21 July 2017
Kyrgyzstan Blocks Archive.org on ‘Extremism’ Grounds
Russia also moved to block the website and its popular 'Wayback Machine' two years ago.
19 July 2017
Lost in Translation in Central Asia: Keep it in the Family
'Tuuganchylyk' has already jettisoned two Kyrgyz leaders and their kin into lives of exile. The Trumps clearly weren't paying attention.
18 July 2017
What Will it Take to End Child Marriages in Afghanistan?
Practices such as “baad” and “baadal” were prohibited under a 2009 law, but continue unhindered in the country today.
30 June 2017
The Sad State of Tajikistan's Online Opposition
"While one [fake account] should play the role of an “angry bird” and mercilessly bomb everyone who speaks against you, another one should use softer, more diplomatic language."
25 June 2017
Kazakhs Ridicule ‘Self-Made Man’ Puff Portrait of Presidential Grandson
"While the man toils towards the welfare of Kazakhstan, his policies are something that every prominent person can emulate."
15 June 2017
No Limited Abilities: Meet Georgia's Paralympians
"I feel most proud of the 2017 Tbilisi championships where both olympians and paralympians participated - I managed to get second place."
14 June 2017
Going Postal: Tajikistan Stops DHL, UPS and Pony Express in Their Tracks
"Does this DHL have an owner? Can’t he come to Tajikistan?"
4 June 2017
Kabul Violence: “We Are Dying Every Single Moment!”
"Let Afghanistan heal! Fighting each other and losing precious lives is what the enemy wants! Come to your senses!"
3 June 2017
From Kazakhstan, A Tale of Famine and Flight
"I was six years old. My uncles, my father’s younger brothers, led me by the hand. We walked by night and slept by day."
1 June 2017
Spare a Thought for the Dissidents Living in Fear of the Azerbaijani State's Long Arms
Afghan Mukhtarli thought he had escaped Azerbaijan. He ended up back there, without his passport and facing jail time.
30 May 2017
Kazakhstan Is Preparing to Effectively Ban Political Opposition
The banning of independent candidates at presidential elections is yet another blow to hopes of a democratic future.
28 May 2017
Lost in Translation in Central Asia: My Tokol's Car Is a Toyota
A Kyrgyz or Kazakh man's 'younger wife' is like 'a cow without horns'. She suffers social stigma and enjoys few rights.
24 May 2017
Why Trump's Hostile Handshake Routine Was No Big Deal for Tajikistan's President
Never try to strong-arm the strongman.
23 May 2017
Corruption Fighters Slapped with Corruption Charges in Graft-Prone Central Asia
"Everything turned rotten a long time ago. There is nothing left to save!"
19 May 2017
Azerbaijan Blocks Independent Media (And Actually Admits it)
"This was one thing we had left and they have taken it too. May God punish them. All they think about is how to shut people up."
18 May 2017
Netizen Report: Chelsea Manning and the Power of Transparency
This week, Chelsea Manning was finally released from prison, Ukraine censored Russian web platforms and Thailand threatened legal action against Facebook.
14 May 2017
Activists Say Azerbaijan’s Media Is Spreading Fear and Hate of Queer People
"Sometimes journalists forget their power, and mislead people with their unprofessional manners."
Did Tajikistan’s ‘First Parrot’ Flee Its Gilded Cage?
A media blackout regarding the status of the bird supposedly belonging to a top member of the ruling family failed to stop the jokes.
About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage
Chris Rickleton is the Central Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
