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Chris Rickleton

Chris Rickleton is a journalist living in Almaty. Before joining RFE/RL he was Central Asia bureau chief for Agence France-Presse, where his reports were regularly republished by major outlets such as MSN, Euronews, Yahoo News, and The Guardian. He is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Also by Chris Rickleton

November 21, 2024
Kazakhstan's 'Eco-Entrepreneurs' Battle Indifference To Promote Sustainability

Despite being Central Asia’s richest economy, environmentally damaging landfills are still the norm when it comes to waste management. But Kazakh activists and eco-entrepreneurs are doing what they can to create alternatives.
November 19, 2024
Central Asia's 'Island Of Democracy' Endangered As Kyrgyz Opposition Fades Away

The arrest of opposition politicians on the eve of local elections continues a trend in which even the hint of political competition to President Sadyr Japarov’s regime is being discouraged.
November 14, 2024
Amid Ukraine Fallout, China Pushes Ahead With Bold Kyrgyzstan Trade Vision

October came and went without promised construction work beginning on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, but Kyrgyzstan broke ground on several other significant Chinese investments.
October 31, 2024
The Warning Shots Of A Power Struggle In Uzbekistan?

An unsuccessful gun attack on the car of an ally of President Shavkat Mirziyoev's daughter has given rise to speculation that the country's family-dominated political scene might not be as peaceful as it looks from the outside.
October 26, 2024
Uzbekistan's Parliamentary Elections And The Pretense Of Change

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has predicted “strong competition” in parliamentary elections but, for the last 15 years, the same pro-government political factions have been winning, with opposition-minded political parties repeatedly denied registration.
October 24, 2024
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Resist Russia's Coalition-Building In 'Sovereignty Test'

There were two setbacks for Russia last week in a region it has long regarded as a sphere of influence as both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan rejected opportunities to join blocs close to Moscow's heart. Analysts say the Kremlin is already making its displeasure known.
October 20, 2024
Journalists In Kyrgyzstan Pay Heavy Price For Uncovering 'Family Clan' Nepotism

The two Kyrgyz journalists handed harsh jail sentences last week were part of a media collective that has gone further than any other in exposing the nepotism of the ruling Japarov regime. But Japarov and his allies have shown that they will exert just as much effort trying to stop them.
October 17, 2024
How Does Central Asia Fit Into Russia's Nuclear Energy Diplomacy?

After the Kremlin's isolation following its invasion of Ukraine, Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom has become an even more important part of Moscow's strategy to retain prestige on the world stage. Tightly tied to Russia, Central Asia has been getting the hard sell on nuclear power.
October 08, 2024
Mass Exit Of Migrant Workers Is Changing The Face Of Russia's Taxi Scene

A general crackdown on migrants in Russia following the Crocus terror attack in March and burdensome new rules for taxi drivers are pushing up fares in Russia. But the transport sector is just one of several areas of the Russian economy that is suffering from growing labor shortages.
October 05, 2024
Kazakhstan's Nuclear Power Vote: Many Questions, But Just One On The Ballot

Authorities in Kazakhstan are widely expected to get their way in a referendum on nuclear power. But the question of which countries will be involved in building the future nuclear facility will have to wait until after the vote.
October 01, 2024
Central Asian State Media Largely Silent About Russia's War In Ukraine

Central Asia's state television stations have mostly ignored Russia's war in Ukraine, with viewers having to rely on private media to get any information on it.
September 28, 2024
When It Comes To Russia Problems, 'Uzbekistan's Zhirinovsky' Does The Talking

Uzbek lawmaker Alisher Qodirov has drawn comparisons to the infamous late nationalist Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky due to his propensity to make outlandish statements and his seeming capacity to say things about Russia that other officials -- particularly foreign ministers -- will not.
September 28, 2024
Kyrgyzstan's Femicide Trend Continues Amid Social And Political Indifference

The cases of three Kyrgyz women who suffered horrific deaths at the hands of their partners are being tried in court. As the country's appalling femicide trend continues, the political will to stop it is lacking, while civil society no longer has the same space to campaign against domestic violence.
September 23, 2024
Kazakhstan Says Second-Largest Lender Is Compliant With Sanctions Despite Critical Report

Kazakhstan has defended the country’s second-largest lender as being “fully” compliant with sanctions against Russia after a scathing report saw around 20 percent wiped off the Nasdaq-listed Kaspi.kz’s stock price.
September 23, 2024
The West Cautiously Extends Migrant Worker Options For Central Asia

As the Russian political environment creates problems for Central Asian jobseekers, Western governments have a chance to expand their clout in the region with deals for legal migration. But with the political right’s heft growing in Europe and the United Kingdom, there are limits to cooperation.
September 15, 2024
Kyrgyzstan And Kazakhstan: Rival Superpowers In The Game Of Goat-Grabbing

Kok-boru and kokpar are full-blooded equestrian sports played by around a dozen countries, including, for the last eight years, the United States. But the two countries that meet in the final are always the same.
September 12, 2024
The Making Of The World Nomad Games

The fifth World Nomad Games is currently being held in Kazakhstan's Astana. But the celebration of nomadic culture showcasing competitors nearly 90 different countries originated in Kyrgyzstan, proving that "a small country without resources can do something global."
September 10, 2024
Why Kazakh Activists Struggle To Live Normal Lives After 'Extremism' Convictions

After Kazakh activists convicted of violating vague "extremism" laws are released from jail, they often find it impossible to live normal lives. Their struggles to find work and access basic services are due to being on a "financing extremism" list. Rights watchdog Human Rights Watch has called on the government to lift these "arbitrary" restrictions.
September 08, 2024
Olympic Boxing Dispute Leaves Russia-Tied Central Asia In A Tight Corner

Having starred at the Summer Olympics in Paris, Central Asia’s boxers find themselves caught between the embrace of a Russian-led governing body kicked out of the Olympic movement and their own potential exclusion from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
August 31, 2024
Kazakh Activists Say Facebook Accounts Blocked For Opposing Recycling Fees

Members of a Facebook group that opposes expensive recycling fees imposed by the Kazakh government, especially those on cars and other vehicles, have had their accounts on the platform either removed or restricted, the group said, attributing the moves to government pressure.

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