Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from January, 2025
A small town in Tajikistan continues to live in fear of serial killers
By the end of 2024, a total of 23 people from seven families, including eight children, were killed.
Georgian government continues the purge, setting its sights on universities next
Universities are the latest target of Georgia's ruling party. Earlier in January, the Interior Ministry ordered the expulsion of 25 foreign nationals who had allegedly participated in anti-government protests.
A regional protest erupts in Azerbaijan following fatal car accident
The protest over an accident in which four schoolchildren were struck by a police car was met with a heavy-handed response from authorities.
Kyrgyzstan surrenders its best private schools to Turkey's control
This was a shock to everyone associated with the schools, including leadership, teachers, students, and parents, who were informed of the decision only after it had been made.
Azerbaijan's Gymnastics Federation tainted by abuse accusations
Accusations include physical abuse, including beating, an attempt to strangle one athlete, weight-shaming, verbal abuse, depriving athletes of speaking with their families, and withholding financial awards from athletes.
Meet the Korean artists of Kazakhstan
Because of Central Asia’s isolation from the world during the Soviet era, these artists remain little studied outside the Central Asian region and Korea itself.
Uzbekistan seeks new labor markets
Russia and Kazakhstan remain the favorite destinations for migrant workers from Uzbekistan.
In Azerbaijan authorities remain on track to keep critics silenced and locked up
Azerbaijan's civil society has been rocked by a series of targeted arrests which peaked in 2023 and continued throughout the 2024.