To find out whether plans to legislate against lavish spending on weddings and other celebrations will work, Nurlan Abdaliev visited neighbouring Tajikistan, where similar restrictions are already in place.
More than half the population are already classed as poor, and things look set to get worse as incomes and job opportunities are squeezed.
Traditional artists bemoan youngsters’ preference for the likes of Shakira.
After local power-broker dies in firefight, experts say key is to ensure that counter-insurgency drive does not cause further upset.
Desert reservoir will soak up water and money faster than any improvements it may bring, say Turkmen and Uzbek environmentalists.
