Central Asia

Uzbek Government Tightens Grip on Web

WTO Membership Could Obstruct Kyrgyz Regional Integration

Will Private Enterprise Improve Power Industry?

Kyrgyz Opposition Rally Looms

Failure of government and opposition to hold crisis talks may lead to civil unrest.

Civilian Auxiliaries to Back Police

Kazakstan Heads for Single-Party Rule

Tax Amnesty Proves Damp Squib

UK Gold Firm Runs into Trouble

Turkmen Teachers Sweep the Streets

The Soviet “subbotnik” and “voskresnik” – weekend days when people had to turn out for voluntary work – are alive and well in Turkmenistan. Nowadays, though, the practice has evolved into an absurd system where everyone seems to be doing someone else’s jo

Population Held Down by Total Surveillance

In Turkmenistan, anyone who uses the internet, travels abroad or does anything else that could be construed as suspicious is subject to surveillance by the ever-watchful National Security Ministry.