First there was New #Uzbekistan and New #Kazakhstan, now Mirziyoyev is talking of a "New Central Asia" - he has a point, in that historic border conflict resolution makes for a new era of cooperation which looks unusual in today's polarised world president.uz/ru/lists/vie...

#CentralAsia leaders fairly outspoken on #Gaza at UNGA, more reticent on #Ukraine. Speaking out over Palestine plays well domestically + chimes w international mood, speaking out on Ukraine more risky for Russian allies (though Tokayev met Zelensky in NY) tengrinews.kz/usa/nevozmoj...

Mirziyoyev + Trump continue lovefest with meeting on UNGA sidelines, after recent aircraft deal. Mirziyoyev declared Trump worthy of Nobel Prize for conflict resolution efforts, Trump suggested Mirziyoyev's long rule is because he is "progressive" #Uzbekistan #USA www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/09/2...

Tokayev at UNGA again speaks of moving #Kazakhstan to unicameral parliament. Reasoning remains vague as he talks of improving "transparency, effectiveness" - unclear how removing a check and balance, however ineffectual it may be, will do this www.akorda.kz/ru/vystuplen...

Tokayev at UNGA backs reform of UN, calls for restoration of "reliable global security architecture", efforts to rid world of "bellicose mentality" #Kazakhstan www.akorda.kz/ru/vystuplen...

President of Russian-allied #Kazakhstan Tokayev meets Zelensky on sidelines of UN GA in New York, calls for diplomatic solution to war between #Russia and #Ukraine www.akorda.kz/ru/glava-gos...

#Kazakhstan and #Uzbekistan agree multimillion-dollar deals with US to buy locomotives and aircraft www.rferl.org/a/us-kazakhs...

#Kazakhstan plans foray into "panda bonds", yuan-dominated sovereign debt, to fund a raft of joint projects with #China www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Interesting BBC story about a Kazakh photographer who covered the pandemic from a covid ward, though strange it's only accompanied by ond photo #Kazakhstan www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Adeeb Khalid presenting his magnum opus on the history of Central Asia in a new Kazakh translation sponsored by @capsunlock.bsky.social - a must-read for #CentralAsia lovers

Save the date: please join me and Ibrat Safo at Pushkin House in London with the GB Russia Society to talk about Silk Mirage and all things #Uzbekistan on 18 November - more in-person tickets are now available, or you can register to tune in online www.pushkinhouse.org/whats-on/eve...

What's happening with the long touted #Turkmenistan #Iraq #Iran gas swap deal that has yet to materialise? Anonymous sources say the US is blocking it, according to this report www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/858...

#Kazakhstan's per capita GDP has topped both #Russia and #China, according to the IMF - v @thetimesoca timesca.com/kazakhstan-t...

Delighted to have in my hands the new architectural guide to Almaty, a labour of love by Edda Schlager, with brilliant text and sumptuous photos - a must-read for all #Almaty lovers. #architecture #photography #Kazakhstan

#Poland has reportedly arrested a military official from the embassy of #Kazakhstan on suspicion of espionage tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_n...

Fascinating and touching listen on the rare striped hyena in #Tajikistan www.bbc.com/audio/play/p... www.bbc.com/audio/play/p...

In fact, yesterday I was crossing on a green light and two kids two up on a scooter came at speed on the wrong side of the road and went through a red light, nearly knocking me over - that's an impressive four violations of the law in one! #scooters #Kazakhstan

@tengrinewskz looks at whether new laws on scooters are working in #Kazakhstan - short answer: no. I can attest that you take your life in your hands every time you walk along the pavement. As two interviewees say, you see violations 50 times a day tengrinews.kz/article/samo...

I'll be at Pushkin House in London talking about my forthcoming book on #Uzbekistan Silk Mirage on November 18 - register now to tune in - in person tickets already sold out! www.gbrussia.org/silk-mirage-...

Activists up in arms as plans to build at Bozzhyra in west #Kazakhstan resurface (company linked to Azeri ruling family, controversially given construction contract at Charvak in #Uzbekistan). Development at Kok Zhaylau near Almaty also back on agenda vlast.kz/obsshestvo/6...

In the new episode of Turan Tales, @joannalillis.bsky.social and I delve into the mixed legacy of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's first president, who ruled the country for almost 30 years. turantales.substack.com/p/episode-12...

Our @nikolamikovic.bsky.social observes that Ukraine intensifies diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, seeking support amid war with Russia, but faces economic and logistical challenges timesca.com/ukraine-eyes... #Ukraine #CentralAsia #Diplomacy #Geopolitics

Tune in to Turan Tales, where I talked to @aga-pik.bsky.social about the long shadow Nazarbayev casts over #Kazakhstan even six years after he stepped down as president after 30 years in power substack.com/@turantales/no…

Wild horses galloping back from the brink of extinction in #Mongolia - and #Kazakhstan is also joining the conservation efforts - my piece for @TheEconomist from Mongolia on saving the takhi (Przewalski’s horse), a very fun story to report! www.economist.com/asia/2025/07...

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev turns 68 today - and is eligible to rule until he's 80. Read about his rise to power and rejigs of the constitution to cling to power in my new book Silk Mirage, out in November and available to pre-order at a discount here www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira...

Journalist Anora Sodiqova wins rare court victory (on appeal) against blogger who slandered her #Uzbekistan www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/07/2...

This possible reduction of protected area of Shahrisabz comes years after the authorities bulldozed the mediaeval old town in the name of progress. More on destruction of architectural heritage in #Uzbekistan in my new book Silk Mirage, out in November www.gazeta.uz/en/2025/07/2...

The cost of bribing to get bail in a drugs case in #Uzbekistan was an eye-popping $18,000 in this case - it didn't even work, and the senior officer who took the bribe was arrested returning the cash www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/07/1...

#Azerbaijani developer seeks to allay public concerns over development at Charvak reservoir outside Tashkent in #Uzbekistan - it's already become very developed over recent years, but this involves massive resort that people will fear will ruin the ecology www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/07/1...

New structure of presidential administration under recently-appointed head Saida Mirziyoyeva, the president's daughter and a rising political star, gives her five deputies, in charge of five priority sectors - quite a fiefdom #Uzbekistan www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/07/1...

As Pakistan and Iran ratchet up their mass deportation of Afghans, Tajikistan orders Afghan refugees to leave the country within a 15-day period Tajikistan hosts more than 10K refugees from Afghanistan who are banned from living in Dushanbe & face discrimination www.khaama.com/tajikistan-o...

My latest with @joannalillis.bsky.social for #eurasianet Central Asia: Bringing Afghanistan in from the cold | Eurasianet share.google/xDgtYrry5BRS...

Documentary from Azattyk on Nazarbayev (in Kazakh) and his legacy for Kazakhstan as he celebrated his 85th birthday this weekend, with some comments from me www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jOv...

As Nazarbayev celebrated his 85th birthday last week, Azattyk asked if the Nazarbayev era is over for Kazakhstan or not. As I said in my comments, his legacy will loom over Kazakhstan for a long time to come. rus.azattyq.org/a/tihiy-yubi...

#CentralAsia is bringing #Afghanistan in from the cold, as @pashab05.bsky.social and I report for @eurasianet.bsky.social in this piece eurasianet.org/central-asia...

Out on the shelves and online today, my piece for The Economist on relations between #Russia and #CentralAsia after a Lenin statue was toppled in #Kyrgyzstan. A case of goodbye Lenin, hello Putin? www.economist.com/asia/2025/07...

Out on the shelves and online today, my piece for the on relations between #Russia and #CentralAsia after a Lenin statue was toppled in #Kyrgyzstan. A case of goodbye Lenin, hello Putin? www.economist.com/asia/2025/07...

Does the toppling of a Lenin statue in #Kyrgyzstan mean #CentralAsia is moving out of #Russia's orbit? Spoiler - not really. My piece for The Economist www.economist.com/asia/2025/07...

#Karakalpakstan 2022: relatives outside police station seeking missing people. 3rd anniversary of deadly violence passing in virtual silence in #Uzbekistan. For fullest account in English, read my book Silk Mirage, out in November - pre-order here www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira...

For #Karakalpakstan + #Uzbekistan early July is third anniversary of turmoil that left at least 21 dead in 2022. My book #SilkMirage contains full account based on my reporting as only foreign journalist to gain access - out in November, pre-order at a discount www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira...

Upper house approves bill granting parliamentary "opposition" in #Uzbekistan new rights - but since opposition parties can't function, the "opposition" in this case means the largest government-loyal party in parliament www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/06/2...

Ulanbaatar flying the #Uzbekistan flag for Mirziyoyev’s state visit to #Mongolia, which began today - latest sign of a push for closer ties with #CentralAsia

Source says Komil Allamjonov appointed as aide to Saida Mirziyoyeva, just appointed as head of presidential administration in #Uzbekistan www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/06/2...

Wild Przhevalsk horses brought back from brink of extinction in #Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar gearing up to wecome Mirziyoyev on state visit this week #Uzbekistan #Mongolia

Talking trade and transport routes at #CAMCA2025Mongolia

A great pleasure to take part in lively discussions about the media landscape in the Central Asia Mongolia Caucasus Afghanistan region at CAMCA Regional Forum in Ulanbaatar #CAMCA2025Mongolia

Day 2 of #CAMCA2025Mongolia kicks off with a deep dive into the geopolitics of this strategic region: #CentralAsia #Mongolia #Caucasus #Afghanistan. Looking forward to speaking on the media panel later

A timely listen from the @capsunlock.bsky.social podcast hosted by @peterleonard1.bsky.social and @tlegen.bsky.social on relations between #CentralAsia and #Mongolia as the CAMCA regional forum meets in Ulanbaatar #CAMCA2025Mongolia open.substack.com/pub/havli/p/...

Lots of interesting discussions going on at #CAMCA2025Mongolia - this one is about women driving change in the region