https://central.asia-news.com/en_GB

2020-05-27

| Security
Moscow caught red-handed sending camouflaged fighter jets to Libya
Moscow caught red-handed sending camouflaged fighter jets to Libya

Russian fighter aircraft arrived in Libya from an airbase in Russia, after transiting Syria where they were painted to camouflage their Russian origin, the US military says.

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Repeated Russian violations threaten future of landmark Open Skies Treaty

2020-05-27

| Security
Repeated Russian violations threaten future of landmark Open Skies Treaty

The United States has declared that it may reconsider its withdrawal from this key international security treaty -- if Russia returns to full compliance.
Russian mercenaries flee front lines after being routed in Libya

2020-05-26

| Security
Russian mercenaries flee front lines after being routed in Libya

The newest setbacks for the Kremlin-backed operation come amid reports of a growing rift between the mercenaries and the Libyan strongman over an unpaid $150 million debt.
Kazakhstan taps NGOs for rehabilitation in new anti-extremism tactic

2020-05-26

| Terrorism
Kazakhstan taps NGOs for rehabilitation in new anti-extremism tactic

The government initiative is aimed at spurring civil society to play a larger role in decreasing radicalisation.
Libyan strongman loses ground as rift widens with Kremlin-backed mercenaries

Khalifa Haftar is reportedly withholding $150 million from Wagner Group mercenaries over ineffective 'rookie fighters' sent from Syria to prop up his attempts to take over the country.
Libyan strongman loses ground as rift widens with Kremlin-backed mercenaries
Kazakhstan enacts law ensuring rehabilitation for children returned from war zones

2020-05-25

| Terrorism
Kazakhstan enacts law ensuring rehabilitation for children returned from war zones

Under the new law, the Ministry of Education and Science will manage the social rehabilitation of these children and determine what social measures to undertake.
Kazakhstan eases citizenship process for ethnic Kazakhs immigrating from China

2020-05-22

| Human Rights
Kazakhstan eases citizenship process for ethnic Kazakhs immigrating from China

While the confinement of Muslims in the Xinjiang re-education camps has been a main issue under scrutiny, a new problem has arisen in the last year: forced labour.
Putin's mercenary army using 'Islamic State' playbook to hook recruits

2020-05-21

| Security
Putin's mercenary army using 'Islamic State' playbook to hook recruits

Amid the worsening global socioeconomic situation, Russia's Wagner Group is exploiting youths' desperation to recruit mercenaries to fight on various front lines.
As Tajikistan faces virus outbreak, neighbors and allies step up support

2020-05-20

| Health
As Tajikistan faces virus outbreak, neighbors and allies step up support

With a lack of available physicians and medical facilities to tackle the growing outbreak of COVID-19, outside aid is crucial, officials say.
Britain, US denounce Russia's role in Libya conflict

2020-05-20

| Politics
Britain, US denounce Russia's role in Libya conflict

'Wagner Group activities continue to exacerbate the conflict and prolong the suffering of the Libyan people,' the British ambassador says.
Libyan strongman loses ground as rift widens with Kremlin-backed mercenaries

2020-05-19

| Security
Libyan strongman loses ground as rift widens with Kremlin-backed mercenaries

Khalifa Haftar is reportedly withholding $150 million from Wagner Group mercenaries over ineffective 'rookie fighters' sent from Syria to prop up his attempts to take over the country.
Russia abandons agreement to help fund key Kyrgyz economic sector

2020-05-18

| Economy
Russia abandons agreement to help fund key Kyrgyz economic sector

The $260 million was part of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund meant to help struggling Kyrgyz farmers. Moscow instead is investing the money into securities inside Russia.
Kazakh police intensify efforts to combat drug crimes, trafficking

2020-05-18

| Crime & Justice
Kazakh police intensify efforts to combat drug crimes, trafficking

The National Security Committee has warned of a steady increase in home production and sale of synthetic drugs.
Russians outraged as Kremlin employs disinformation on own healthcare system

2020-05-15

| Health
Russians outraged as Kremlin employs disinformation on own healthcare system

The Russian president promised large bonuses for medical personnel who deal with COVID-19 patients to inspire hard work and reward risk. For most, nothing ever came.
Merkel: cyber-disorientation, distortion of facts part of Kremlin's strategy

2020-05-15

| Crime & Justice
Merkel: cyber-disorientation, distortion of facts part of Kremlin's strategy

The hacking and disinformation campaigns waged by Kremlin-backed actors against world leaders and societies are nothing new, the German chancellor sadly noted.
Chinese hackers caught trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research

2020-05-14

| Science & Technology
Chinese hackers caught trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research

Agencies are raising the alarm over government-backed hackers from China trying to steal intellectual property amid ongoing disinformation efforts by Beijing to shape the virus outbreak.
Deadly naval accident highlights lack of professionalism of Iranian military

2020-05-14

| Security
Deadly naval accident highlights lack of professionalism of Iranian military

The accidental killing of 19 Iranian sailors is the latest in a series of mishaps, blunders and dubious claims by the Iranian military that stem from the systematic misplaced priorities of Tehran.
Persecution and fraud add to migrants' woes in Russia during pandemic

2020-05-13

| Human Rights
Persecution and fraud add to migrants' woes in Russia during pandemic

Trapped in Russia by closed borders and flight cancellations, vulnerable workers from Central Asia are falling victim to police and fraudsters.
Catastrophic floods in Uzbekistan revive concerns over Russian-backed nuclear project

2020-05-12

| Energy
Catastrophic floods in Uzbekistan revive concerns over Russian-backed nuclear project

Lake Aydarkul, where Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant is set to be built with Russia's Rosatom, is at high risk of flooding, and the quality of reactor's construction is also under question.
Poland arrests 4 Tajiks accused of militant recruitment

2020-05-12

| Terrorism
Poland arrests 4 Tajiks accused of militant recruitment

All four were inspired by 'Islamic State' and trying to recruit Poles who had converted to Islam.
China, Russia step up co-operation on spreading coronavirus disinformation

2020-05-11

| Media
China, Russia step up co-operation on spreading coronavirus disinformation

A convergence of interests between the two regimes with the goal of shaping public understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic for their own purposes has become evident.
Moscow-backed forces launch deadly attack on Libyan capital

2020-05-11

| Security
Moscow-backed forces launch deadly attack on Libyan capital

Military strongman Khalifa Haftar, backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's mercenary Wagner Group, indiscriminately fired hundreds of rockets on residential areas and the airport.
US sees ramp-up of COVID-19 aid to Central Asia as 'investment in whole world'

2020-05-08

| Health
US sees ramp-up of COVID-19 aid to Central Asia as 'investment in whole world'

US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention offices in the region are working with the countries' health ministries to help protect their citizens from COVID-19.
UN confirms Putin's mercenaries propping up Libyan warlord

2020-05-07

| Security
UN confirms Putin's mercenaries propping up Libyan warlord

It was the first time the UN has confirmed claims that the Wagner Group, which carries out the agenda of the Russian president, is supporting military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Facebook purges hundreds of disinformation accounts linked to Russia, Iran

2020-05-07

| Media
Facebook purges hundreds of disinformation accounts linked to Russia, Iran

While all the networks were created before the pandemic, Facebook said it found people behind the campaigns had opportunistically used coronavirus-related posts to build an audience.
European bank continues uranium remediation work in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan

2020-05-07

| Environment
European bank continues uranium remediation work in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan

Efforts to clean up the mess that the Soviet Union left behind are continuing despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Libyan strongman loses ground as rift widens with Kremlin-backed mercenaries
Libyan strongman loses ground as rift widens with Kremlin-backed mercenaries

Khalifa Haftar is reportedly withholding $150 million from Wagner Group mercenaries over ineffective 'rookie fighters' sent from Syria to prop up his attempts to take over the country.

What do you think your government should do to protect its citizens in Russia?

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