Caravanserai
  2. Protests

    2023-03-17

    Underground resistance movement builds in Crimea as Ukrainian forces approach

    With Ukrainian forces inching closer to the peninsula's borders, analysts and Ukrainian authorities are seeing more and more subversion and covert protests.

  3. Politics

    2023-03-17

    Chinese firms blacklisted for supplying drone parts to Iran

    The US Treasury has indirectly tied a network of Chinese companies to Russian attacks in Ukraine and Iranian attacks on oil tankers in Gulf region.

  4. Security

    2023-03-16

    Kazakh activists condemn Russian asylum for Uralsk separatist

    Propaganda broadcast every day on Kremlin-backed television channels in northern Kazakhstan is shaping local pro-Russia sentiment, observers warn.

How have firewalls and state-backed restrictions changed internet usage in Central Asia?

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Spotlight

Cargo 200: Russia's war in Ukraine taking bloody toll on Uzbekistan

Coffins are arriving in Uzbekistan as Russian authorities force jailed Central Asian migrants to fight in Ukraine. More migrants will likely die, observers say.

Cargo 200: Russia's war in Ukraine taking bloody toll on Uzbekistan
  1. Security

    2023-03-15

    Repression in Belarus severely degrades ties with Poland

    Relations between NATO member Poland and Russia's only remaining satellite in Europe were never warm. Now they are at their worst since the Soviet breakup.

  2. Security

    2023-03-15

    Russia's 'reckless' collision with US drone consistent with past behaviour

    The incident in international airspace over the Black Sea follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots ever since Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015.

  3. Politics

    2023-03-14

    'We must do everything for Ukraine to win': Tashkent continues support for Kyiv

    Ukraine's victory is the only way for Central Asian states to gain real independence from Russia, say local analysts.

  1. Human Rights

    2023-03-13

    Russian slide toward authoritarianism quickens amid stalled invasion

    Analysts are drawing comparisons to North Korea's repressive government and society, and warning that the Kremlin's growing authoritarianism will spur an exodus of progressive young Russians.

  2. Human Rights

    2023-03-10

    Recent protests point to 'sense of deprivation' gripping China

    The Chinese people, who had been afraid to speak out since the 1989 crackdown, have become increasingly accustomed to expressing their dissatisfaction publicly.

  3. Human Rights

    2023-03-10

    New UN chief pushes China to address 'grave concerns' on human rights in Xinjiang

    Reports, investigations and revelations have detailed widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights of Muslims in China's troubled western region.

  4. Media

    2023-03-09

    'Kremlin paranoia': Central Asia rejects Moscow's accusations of anti-Russia bias

    Moscow has been accusing regional NGOs, media and thought leaders of turning their citizens against Russia -- the reality is the Kremlin's aggressive policies have changed public opinion.

  5. Security

    2023-03-08

    Russian forces face rout at Vuhledar in largest tank battle of invasion

    A battle near Vuhledar, a small mining town, reportedly cost the Russians at least 130 armoured vehicles in just a few days. It is the largest tank battle of the entire invasion, according to analysts.

  6. Diplomacy

    2023-03-07

    Blinken's visit to Central Asia prompts more calls for co-operation with West

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Central Asia came at a pivotal time for the region as relations with Russia become more toxic as each day passes, say observers.

  7. Security

    2023-03-06

    Kremlin's long-term plan to absorb Belarus alarms Kazakhstan

    Wary observers in Kazakhstan are voicing concerns that their country could become Moscow's next target, as Putin is using it to prop up the Russian economy and surmount Western sanctions.

  8. Science & Technology

    2023-03-03

    Spy balloon fiasco puts renewed focus on Huawei, a tool of Chinese surveillance

    Huawei, which outwardly is a benign cell phone and consumer product manufacturer, in reality is supported heavily by the Chinese government and has deep links to the People's Liberation Army.

  9. Human Rights

    2023-03-02

    Cargo 200: Russia's war in Ukraine taking bloody toll on Uzbekistan

    Coffins are arriving in Uzbekistan as Russian authorities force jailed Central Asian migrants to fight in Ukraine. More migrants will likely die, observers say.

  10. Media

    2023-03-01

    African youth urged to disarm Russia's disinformation campaign

    The best way to counter suffocating lies is by overwhelming it with truth and facts, observers say, urging more vigilance against the Kremlin's propaganda about the war in Ukraine.

  11. Energy

    2023-02-28

    Gazprom CEO's visit to Ashgabat heralds yet another attempt to evade sanctions

    Russia has been trying to strong arm Turkmenistan into helping it skirt sanctions, and is colluding with Iran to pressure the country into a gas swapping scheme.

  12. Diplomacy

    2023-02-28

    Blinken in Astana reiterates US support for Kazakhstan's sovereignty

    Russian officials and lawmakers have increasingly made veiled threats against Kazakhstan, which has refused to support Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

  13. Security

    2023-02-27

    Despite grueling fight, analysts expect Ukrainian victory over Russia

    Ukrainian forces are preparing a hard-hitting counteroffensive that is expected to be the primary development of the second year of the war.

  14. Protests

    2023-02-27

    Tens of thousands rally around the world in solidarity with Ukraine

    With disgust at the Russian invasion of Ukraine greater than ever a year after the war began, protesters across the globe rallied over the weekend demanding peace in Ukraine.

  15. Diplomacy

    2023-02-27

    Russia's relations with 'allies' remain cool a year after Ukraine invasion

    Moscow's ties with its many of its neighbours and former close allies have deteriorated significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- another consequence of Putin's misadventure.

  16. Society

    2023-02-27

    Uzbek boxing fans clear on boycott of World Championships: Kremlin to blame

    The Kremlin's policies and Russia's invasion of Ukraine are specifically to blame for the criticism and boycott of the prestigious international tournament, say boxing fans in Uzbekistan.

  17. Human Rights

    2023-02-27

    One year on, Ukrainians weather chaos of Russian invasion

    Since the beginning of the war more than 8 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes and the country, while more than 5.3 million have been internally displaced.

  18. Diplomacy

    2023-02-24

    China's attempt to portray itself as 'neutral' mediator in Ukraine war draws rebuke

    China's failure to condemn the conflict and reports suggesting it plans to sell suicide drones to Russia undermine what little credibility Beijing had left as it touts a new 'peace plan'.

  19. Security

    2023-02-22

    A failure of epic proportions: Putin's blunders pockmark year of invasion

    The Kremlin planned to take Kyiv in 3 days. Instead, over the course of a year, it has lost thousands of soldiers and demonstrated major failures on the battlefield.

  20. Crime & Justice

    2023-02-22

    Russian prisoners refusing to become cannon fodder in Ukraine

    The Wagner Group and Russian authorities rapidly switched from blandishments to threats after Russian prison inmates stopped signing up en masse to be killed in Ukraine.

  21. Security

    2023-02-21

    Tashkent looks to boost defence industry, modernise armed forces

    Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Central Asian states have been strengthening their self-defence capabilities.