IWPR Central Asia

Stories by the Author

Karlygash Muratova, 90, casts her ballot in Kazakhstan's eastern city of Karaganda. On June 5, Kazakhs overwhelmingly voted in favour of constitutional amendments that de-centralise the decision-making in the oil-and-gas rich Central Asian nation. © IWPR

Kazakstan’s Referendum Unlikely to Bring Change

Citizens said yes to the proposed constitutional amendments, but few believe the state’s hold on power will ease.

8 Jun 22

Uzbekistan, like the other former Soviet states in Central Asia, has been reluctant to criticise Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fearing repercussions on trade, security assistance, and labor markets. There are over 3,4 million Uzbek citizens registered in Russia, and about 90 per cent of them migrated in search of work. © Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Russian Invasion Divides Uzbek Society

Moscow’s war in Ukraine is polarising public opinion in the Central Asian country.

28 May 22

Sessions during the May13-15 event touched upon how to manage hate speech online, setting up businesses, monetising creative work and designing business plans. © CABAR

Go Viral Festival Gathers Thousands in Dushanbe

IWPR’s cross-regional project provides a unique platform for journalists, entrepreneurs, filmmakers and artists to connect.

26 May 22

Tajik Society Divided Over Russian Invasion of Ukraine

With authorities remaining tight-lipped, emotions run high in Tajikistan as citizens argue over the ongoing conflict.

28 Apr 22

Rustam Zarifulin was reportedly killed on March 14 while fighting with the Russian army in the town of Izium, in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. He moved to the Russian region of Sverdlovsk in 2016, where he served in the army and then became a contract soldier. He was buried in Chui, Kyrgyzstan's northernmost region, on March 27. © Kloop.kg

Central Asians Fight in Ukraine Eyeing Russian Citizenship

To bolster its troops, Moscow is tempting foreign nationals with the offer of a passport.

19 Apr 22

Central Asian Migrants Leave Russia

Millions from all over the region have historically travelled there to work, with their remittances playing a significant part in many countries’ economies.

25 Mar 22

A refugee camp in Poland. © IWPR

Central Asia Countries Evacuate Citizens from Ukraine

Thousands have left on specially chartered flights or made their own way to the borders.

10 Mar 22

Smoke is seen rising from buildings on February 26, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Explosions and gunfire were reported around Kyiv on the second night of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. © Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Ukraine: Impact of War on Central Asia

With the region’s fortunes deeply linked to the Russian Federation, analysts assess how Russia’s invasion is likely to affect economic and geopolitical realities.

1 Mar 22

Nursultan Nazarbayev ruled Kazakstan between 1991 and 2019. Over three decades the former president and his inner circle, accused of corruption and nepotism, have built a cult of personality around him. © elbasy.kz

Kazakstan: Nazarbayev’s Fading Personality Cult

Since 1991, the ex-leader has become identified with the state itself, but his status is now crumbling.

11 Feb 22

Rubbish pile up on the side of the village’s muddy, unpaved streets. Residents complain that when it is dry, the roads are dusty and when it rains, they are muddy. Taxi drivers are unwilling to take passengers here. © CABAR

Kazak Villages Struggle with Poverty

In Nur-Sultan, glitzy shopping malls and swanky hotels mirror Kazakstan's vast natural resources. In the outskirts, villages with no running water and basic services tell a different story of poverty and inequality.

26 Jan 22

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