News about politics, economics and social trends in the post-Soviet republics of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia

5 days ago · Top Trump Administration officials have set countering China’s growing global influence as a top foreign policy priority. In Central Asia, US officials will face an uphill struggle in trying to reduce Beijing’s expanding economic footprint. Beijing has reinforced its …

Jan 23, 2025 · There is not much to be done to counter Putin’s iron grip on Russian society.

5 days ago · Hopes rise for fast repeal of Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions. Almaz Kumenov Jan 21, 2025. Uzbekistan: Natural resources generating the bulk of state revenue

Dec 27, 2024 · Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze meets with about 100 business leaders on December 23 to discuss the government’s “vision for the future.” (Photo: gov.ge)

Jan 3, 2024 · The family photo taken February 3, 2004, in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the signing of the BTC finance agreements. In the front row (L-R): Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Güler, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Amb.

January 2025 may go down as Armenia’s geopolitical inflection point, a time when Yerevan decisively moved to shun its longtime protector Russia and pin its political and economic future on integration with Western institutions, thus scrambling the strategic balance in …

Jan 10, 2025 · Aliyev speaks during an interview on January 7 where he launched a verbal broadside against Armenia and its leaders. (Photo: president.az) Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev’s surprise rhetorical attack on Armenia is raising doubts that a peace deal between Baku and Yerevan can be reached anytime soon.

Jan 22, 2025 · News and analysis from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and conflict zones in the South Caucasus: Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh.

Feb 14, 2024 · The moment to act on the looming water crisis in Central Asia is now. As Sanat Kushkumbayev explains, there are remedies, but no time to waste.