Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from May, 2024
Azerbaijan's President Aliyev cozies up to authoritarian leaders
In all of these cases, Azerbaijani government and its leadership got away with its dubious financial transactions and deals all the while, building new friendships and cracking down on freedoms.
Riots against foreign students in Kyrgystan undermine its people-to-people ties with South Asia
The Kyrgyz government reacted strongly to the incident, condemning violence, apologizing to the students, and promising that such incidents would not happen again.
Why May 21 is a day of mourning for the Circassian people
Explaining what happened to the residents of the Northwestern Caucasus during the Caucasian War which ended on May 21, 1864. For Circassians, it was a tragedy.
Differences in tea culture in Azerbaijan and Turkey
While geographically close, Azerbaijan and Turkey have very different ways of preparing and drinking tea.
In Russia, a journalist is detained for ‘apology’ for the Taliban
Nadezhda Kevorkova’s pro-Palestinian information and human rights activities could also have been the reason for her arrest.
Turkey joins the ranks of countries considering a foreign agent law
Turkey, is muling to adopt its own version of the foreign agent law, which has been proposed within the scope of the 9th Judicial Package.
Symbolic, but distant in the future: A dam on Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn river
With a projected capacity to generate 5.6 billion kWh, the Kambar-Ata-1 HPP could improve Kyrgyzstan’s energy security and allow for increased exports.
Georgia's ruling party adopts controversial foreign agent bill despite widespread protests
As protests raged in the capital and elsewhere across the country, the ruling Georgian Dream members continued pushing the foreign agent law.
Taliban bids on sports in Afghanistan to gain legitimacy at home and abroad
The calculated strategy of the Taliban to promote specific sports is aimed at projecting a sense of normalcy and asserting their authority.
Uzbekistan’s new vehicle import regulations risk strengthening its most notorious monopoly
A major factor that puts the new restrictions under scrutiny and raises suspicions over attempts to stifle competition is the history of monopoly in Uzbekistan’s automobile industry.
String music performer Tsendsuren Enkhtur bridges Mongolian and Chinese repertoires
One less known trace of Mongolian–Chinese cultural hybridity can be found in music as both nations have a tradition of performing on bowed string instruments.
Azerbaijan, COP29 host, shows disregard for climate action and human rights
In Berlin, president Aliyev touched on recent investigations and arrests leveled against a series of independent and opposition media adding, "these investigations were lawful. Any given country must defend its laws.
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