Blogs

• January 20, 2025

  Trump Inauguration As It Happened

  Donald Trump becomes the 47th U.S. president.

• March 27, 2022

  Majlis Podcast: How Central Asians End Up Fighting In Russia's War In Ukraine

  This week's episode features a discussion on how people from Central Asia are ending up as part of Russia's war in Ukraine, and the attempts to recruit migrant laborers from Central Asia as well.

• March 13, 2022

  Majlis Podcast: The Spillover In Central Asia From Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

  On this week’s edition of the Majlis podcast, we discuss how Russian aggression in Ukraine is impacting everyday life in Central Asia.

• February 06, 2022

  Majlis Podcast: The Temirov Case And The State Of Kyrgyz Media

  After investigative journalist reported allegations of corruption against a powerful official, his office was raided and a young employee entrapped in a blackmail scheme. What does this say about the current state of Kyrgyz media?

• January 25, 2022

  After Kazakhstan's 'Bloody January,' Can Toqaev Ever Gain The People's Support?

  Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev seems firmly in power now after nationwide unrest threatened his rule. But the decisions he made to keep himself in power will likely discredit him in the eyes of the people.

• January 23, 2022

  Majlis Podcast: What Will Follow Kazakhstan's Harsh Crackdown On Protests?

  Order has been restored in Kazakhstan after days of unrest during which the president gave police and the army orders to shoot to kill. The consequences of that order, and of the heavy hand Kazakh law enforcement used to quell the unrest, are starting to become clear.

• January 06, 2022

  The Consequences Of Inviting Russian-Led CSTO Troops Into Kazakhstan

  As anti-government protests spread throughout Kazakhstan with reports of security officials joining the demonstrators or being disarmed, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev declared that “terrorist groups” with foreign training were behind the unrest. He used this pretext to request help from the CSTO.

• December 24, 2021

  Central Asia: Getting Pulled From All Directions At The Crossroads Of Eurasia

  Turkey from the west, China from the east, Russia from the north, and the Islamic world from the south -- what effect do they have on Central Asia today?

• December 11, 2021

  Water Under The Bridge? Kyrgyzstan's Liquid Transfer To Kazakhstan Causes Controversy Amid Major Shortages

  A kind gesture to a neighbor-in-need has irked many Kyrgyz who wonder why their government gave extra water to Kazakhstan when there wasn't enough in Kyrgyzstan.

• December 05, 2021

  Majlis Podcast: The Growing Ties Between Turkey And Central Asia

  Turkey's role in Central Asia has been waxing lately after recent visits by top officials. Turkey's global role is also growing, so it is little wonder that Ankara is putting a new focus on Central Asia and that the Turkic states of Central Asia welcome an upgrade in ties with an ascendant Turkey.

• December 04, 2021

  'First Brother': Bolat Nazarbaev Goes From Plumber To President's Spoiled Sibling

  The family of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, is well-known for living extravagantly and acquiring expensive property abroad. This has often been noted in international media concerning Nazarbaev's three daughters, but his brother Bolat might be the wildest example of them all.

• November 29, 2021

  Democratic 'Blackout'? Latest Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections Can't Escape Controversy

  Low turnout in the Kyrgyz elections did not prevent controversy from breaking out after the official vote-tabulation monitor went black. When it returned, cries of cheating rung out, as there were noticeably different vote counts and questions as to why so many ballots were ruled invalid.

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