Central Asia

Smoking Ban Likely to be Ignored

Tajikistan Seeks Chinese Investment

Access to Defensive Weapons to be Curbed

Local Budgets Forced to Pay for National Assembly

A presidential decision forcing provincial governments to pay for a meeting of the Halk Maslahati – a national congress that has more formal powers than the Turkmen parliament – is yet another drain on their limited resources.

Post-Dictatorship Blues

Muted reactions to the death of an omnipresent figure – and uncertainty about what now awaits the country.

Democratic Parties Multiply by Division

Security Stepped up Ahead of Election

The government of Turkmenistan has imposed tighter security measures in advance of the election of a president to replace Saparmurad Niazov. Surveillance and other means of controlling the population have become tougher than ever.

No Foreign Traders, Please

Second Big Political Alliance Emerges

Promising Start to Iranian Investment