Turkmenistan
Russia restarts Turkmen gas imports after 3-year stoppage
Volumes not yet known but news could be substantial boost for Turkmenistan’s embattled economy.
End of an era of USSR dictators (or not?)
Kazakhstan’s ruler of 30 years Nursultan Nazarbayev has gone. Only he’s not gone. And ordinary Kazakhs who’ve lived through three “Soviet-groomed” decades don’t hold out much hope a handpicked successor will change much about their lives.
Suicide of Coca Cola Turkmenistan boss may further demoralise investors
Company facing difficulties amid remote nation’s economic woes. Executive reportedly threw himself from window of top Ashgabat hotel.
Turkmenistan halves oil exports amid Vitol and SOCAR clash
Turkmenistan has halved its oil exports in recent weeks due to a lack of tankers caused by a clash between Swiss trading house Vitol and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR, Reuters reported last week, citing anonymous traders.
Progress in US-Taliban peace talks potentially good news for Central Asia
Uzbek, Turkmen efforts have helped bring the militants to the table. Rewards from pipeline, power transmission projects possibly up for grabs.