Kyrgyzstan
Perspectives | Russia’s (not so free) trade agenda
Recurring import bans by the Russian agricultural watchdog attest to a problem with Moscow’s idea of free trade.
London Bullion Market Association suspends Kyrgyz gold refiner’s accreditation for missing gold bars
Kyrgyz investigation, meanwhile, adds former Centerra Gold leading executives to wanted list.
Iran cements ties with East as it becomes full member of SCO
“The world has entered a new era,” says Iranian president. “Hegemony and unilateralism are failing. The international balance is moving toward multilateralism and redistribution of power to the benefit of independent countries.”
Kyrgyz consumer prices up 14% y/y in August
High inflation continued amid a visible path to economic recovery.
Chinese geneticists link Kyrgyz to Pakistanis, while raising thorny ethical questions
The DNA was collected in western China’s police state, Xinjiang. Could the subjects have said no without fearing retribution?
Memoir | 9/11 shifted the world. In Central Asia, diplomatic frenzy ensued
Behind the scenes with an American negotiator who helped forge a radical new level of US engagement in Central Asia after 9/11.
Process to admit Iran into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ‘set to begin’
Islamic Republic applied to join as far back as 2008 but sanctions have hindered its path. Move to obtain membership may still meet additional obstacles.
Unpacking Eurasia’s role in the Afghanistan evacuation
Most of the countries Eurasianet covers were involved in the airlift. Some even contributed troops during the 20-year war.
State managers of Kyrgyzstan’s seized Kumtor gold mine ‘risk flooding catastrophe’
Canadian miner Centerra Gold claims evidence of irregular water flows down pit walls. Officials respond that an attempt is under way to undermine their reputation.
The crushing weight of China’s debt burden on Eurasia
Emerging European economies were already facing heavy debt burdens before the pandemic. Now it’s worse. Several countries in Eurasia and Emerging Europe are struggling to pay off huge loans they took from China.
Kyrgyzstan: Activists complain of mass wiretapping campaign
Police say their court-approved snooping was wholly justified.
Only tough options for Afghans looking to escape north or west
The UNHCR has estimated half a million could attempt to flee Taliban rule by year-end, but Central Asia, Iran and Turkey will prove far from welcoming.
As Taliban regime takes shape, Central Asia and Iran assess fate of Afghanistan investments
The future of plans for a gas pipeline, trade links to South Asian ports, power transmission lines and railways will remain up in the air until the direction of the new Afghan regime is clear.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Nato training for Afghans in Turkey gives off a “Syria” odour
Fresh wave of migrants from Afghanistan crossing Turkish border will, meanwhile, only add grist to the mill of Europe’s populists.
Kyrgyz security services claim enough evidence to press on with removal of Centerra from Kumtor gold mine
Canadian miner maintains seizure of mine illegal and unjustified, but Bishkek maintains there is a corruption case to investigate.
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Bellingcat finds climate change may have played role in triggering Tajik-Kyrgyz border clashes
Satellite imagery shows seasonal rains “slowed to a trickle”, with time-lapse imaging showing “thick, dense fields in 2019 followed by sparse, patchy land in 2020”.
Climate change is shortening Central Asia’s growing season – study
It’s bad news for plans to expand farming, but even worse for herders.
