Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from December, 2024
Kusturizatsiya: One word that explains Kyrgyzstan’s fight against economic crimes
The term is a combination of the Kyrgyz word “kusturuu” (to induce vomit) and the Russian suffix “-zatsiya,” which is used at the end of words to describe a process.
Closed borders in Azerbaijan: Security measure or a violation of human rights?
The authorities changed their narrative around closed borders for the first time following a deadly terrorist attack in Moscow in March 2024.
Mongolia's free trade deal with the Eurasian Economic Union gets postponed after backlash from businesses
The consequences could be catastrophic with hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs and sources of income.
The cult of personality is alive and kicking in Azerbaijan
The phenomenon is not only present in Azerbaijan. From Mexico City to other capitals across the world, there are parks and statues named after the late President Heydar Aliyev.
In Azerbaijan, authorities are again targeting journalists, in a new wave of arrests
The authorities in Baku insist none of the criticisms are true, instead accusing those critical of the regime of double standards, bias and meddling in the country's internal matters.
Kazakhstan's best film of 2024 explores harms of its unique and centuries-old adoption tradition
It is customary for young parents to give away their eldest or youngest child to their grandparents or older relatives.
Protests continue in Georgia despite police crackdown
In response to ongoing protests and the ruling Georgia Dream government's disproportionate and violent response, several countries have issued sanctions against high ranking government officials.
Children of the border: Uncovering the crisis of child labor and sexual exploitation at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border
At Torkham, a busy Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing, young children navigate heavy traffic, carrying burdensome loads. Their presence amid bustling trade highlights stark issues of exploitation, survival, and a precarious shadow economy.
Journalist and human rights activist Murat Temirov, an ethnic Circassian from Russia, talks about Circassians
How Circassians maintain connections despite being scattered across the world, whether there is a unified Circassian national movement, and what its goals are.
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