Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus
Despite promises, Azerbaijani people continue to face water shortages
Meanwhile, as experts voice concerns over the state’s failure to address the country’s water shortage problem, it is the local population and village residents who are paying a heavy price.
Azerbaijan clears out critics ahead of COP29
Azerbaijan has had one of the lowest international rankings on citizens’ rights and freedoms. Even so, Azerbaijani President Aliyev has insisted persecutions against civil society are justified.
Top officials in Kazakhstan dodge independent journalists
Their attitude toward the media shows their attitude not only towards journalism, but also towards the citizens of the country.
Central Asians display unprecedented regional solidarity at the Paris Olympics
This level of solidarity showcased that Central Asians have developed a common regional identity and view each other as more than just adjacent nations.
‘Buddha is with us!’ How the war in Ukraine has changed Russian Buddhism
While some Buddhists are making anti-war statements and emigrating abroad, others are going to the front lines, despite Buddhist values.
Expectations ahead of parliamentary election in Azerbaijan are grim: Interview with an independent candidate
The last parliamentary election took place in 2020, with reports of irregularities and electoral violations. It is hard to say this election will be any different.
Meet the US boxer who laid the foundation of boxing in Uzbekistan
Thousands of children went through his boxing school, and some of them went on to become world and Olympic champions, not to mention dozens of boxers who won national championships.
Interview with Korean-Ukrainian podcaster Oleksandr Shyn about Taiwan's linguistic landscape
Taiwan is an extremely diverse society when it comes to languages. Global Voices interviewed Oleksandr Shyn, a Korean-Ukrainian podcaster who focuses on the island's linguistic landscape.
US diplomats’ memoirs offer candid tales of Central Asian history
A recurring theme in them is Karimov’s loathsome attitude and lack of respect towards his regional colleagues.
Azerbaijan: Continued arrests and allegations of mass torture ahead of COP29
The forms of ill-treatment and torture documented by the committee — slaps, punches, kicks and truncheon or wooden stick blows to the person’s head and/or body — are widespread.
Turkey and Armenia resume talks, marking historic diplomatic breakthrough
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 during the first Karabakh war in a show of solidarity with its long-time ally Azerbaijan. Since then, ties between Turkey and Armenia have remained strained.
Erdoğan threatens to intervene in Israel, though pundits call it an empty threat
Since October 2023, Turkey went from trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas to recalling its ambassador to Tel Aviv and announcing total restrictions on all trade with Israel until the war on Gaza ends.
Azerbaijan cancels weddings during COP29
Several wedding halls confirmed that they were told to decline bookings before and during COP29 (Nov 8–22) for the comfort of the incoming international guests and to avoid traffic jams.
Russian courts often deny asylum to Afghans trying to escape from Taliban
The research included 59 court decisions issued from August 2021 to early June 2024. "Holod" found 18 positive and 41 negative decisions regarding the granting of political asylum.
In Azerbaijan it isn't just the president for life, but the parliament too
Regardless of whether old faces will remain in the parliament, or will be replaced by their children, the upcoming snap parliamentary vote will have little impact on the country's future.
The pros and cons of Chinese investment in Tajikistan's gold mining sector
China controls over 75 percent of Tajikistan’s output of gold, which, on the one hand generates significant money for the Tajik government, but also harms local citizens and the ecosystem.
Mongolia’s olympic uniforms draw praise abroad and criticism at home
Mongolians criticised Michel&Amazonka designers for lack of creativity and blamed it for replicating Manchu clothing of Manchu people, an ethnic minority from China.
Attack on pro-Palestinian activist in Taiwan undermines Israel's image on the island
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Taiwan has seen several civic initiatives calling for an alternative discussion of events in Gaza.
Azerbaijan ahead of COP29: Price hikes and construction works
Some experts estimate the indirect expenses for COP29 to exceed 1billionUSD, including expenditures on infrastructure, hotel, transport, logistics, communication, security, and other expenses.
A year after environmental protests rocked Azerbaijan's village of Soyudlu, it is business as usual
A year since the protest, it seems the company, the ministry, and the government of Azerbaijan are back to business as usual, with no new monitoring reports or investigations.
In Georgia, a series of legal amendments are putting the country's EU aspirations on hold
A foreign agent bill, a ban on gender election quotas, and most recently an LGBTQ+ propaganda bill are just the latest legal amendments proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
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