Central Asia

Uzbeks Pressured to Take Up Farming

Kazak Police Threaten Dissidents With Psychiatric Confinement

Image-conscious government avoids labelling critics as mentally unstable, but police in provinces still use forcible committal as threat.

Deep Rifts Remain in Conflict-Torn Kyrgyzstan

Tajik Government has Islamic Party in its Sights

Kazak Rights Defenders to Raise Uzbek Refugee Concerns

Uzbekistan's Economic Dilemma

Authorities want to boost private sector to offset raw materials dependence – but will the strategy work?

Turkmen Leader Tries Common Touch

Tajikistan Tightens Marriage Rules

Move appears designed to stop foreign nationals marrying Tajiks to get passports.

Killing Sparks Unrest in Kyrgyz South

Police regain control after protest gets out of hand, but incident highlights simmering ethnic tensions.

Independent Media Under Threat in Tajikistan