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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.

2020-05-27

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

2020-05-26

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

2020-05-26

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

2020-05-25

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

2020-05-22

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

2020-05-21

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

2020-05-20

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

2020-05-20

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

2020-05-19

| Security
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.

2020-05-18

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

2020-05-18

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

2020-05-15

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

2020-05-15

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

2020-05-14

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

2020-05-14

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

2020-05-13

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

2020-05-12

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

2020-05-12

| Terrorism
Poland arrests 4 Tajiks accused of militant recruitment
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.

2020-05-11

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

2020-05-11

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

2020-05-08

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

2020-05-07

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

2020-05-07

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

2020-05-07

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

2020-05-06

| Human Rights
Kremlin TV channel's insult of migrant workers angers Kyrgyz citizens
Kremlin TV channel's insult of migrant workers angers Kyrgyz citizens

Ivan Urgant said if the Japanese gave Russia back the rights to a popular cartoon character, the country would return all the waiters from Japanese restaurants in Moscow, a reference to Kyrgyz.

2020-05-06

| Security
Afghan militia takes center stage in Russia-Iran power struggle in Syria
Afghan militia takes center stage in Russia-Iran power struggle in Syria

Moscow appears to be undermining Tehran's control of its prized Afghan militia in Syria, as the nominal allies vie for power and influence now that the bloody civil war is winding down.

2020-05-05

| Health
US adds another $1.7 million in aid to help Kazakhstan fight COVID-19
US adds another $1.7 million in aid to help Kazakhstan fight COVID-19

The funds are part of an overall US pandemic aid package of $6.8 million for coronavirus testing, training for health workers and implementation of clinical protocols in Central Asia.

2020-05-05

| Politics
Tajikistan set to drop Russian endings of surnames
Tajikistan set to drop Russian endings of surnames

The new rules will apply to those receiving identity documents for the first time, particularly children and adolescents, or those who change their surnames in the future.

2020-05-04

| Human Rights
Russian media tap pandemic anxiety to stir enmity toward Central Asian migrants
Russian media tap pandemic anxiety to stir enmity toward Central Asian migrants

The xenophobic rhetoric has gained new momentum amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as pro-government outlets are actively painting Central Asians as villains and criminals.

2020-05-04

| Health
Bejing deliberately destroyed evidence of coronavirus outbreak, report alleges
Bejing deliberately destroyed evidence of coronavirus outbreak, report alleges

The Chinese regime silenced doctors who spoke out, destroyed evidence, and refused to give samples of the virus to those working on a vaccine, say intelligence agencies.

2020-05-01

| Terrorism
Tajik IS terror suspect arrested in Albania for links with German cell
Tajik IS terror suspect arrested in Albania for links with German cell

The terrorist cell was allegedly planning an attack on US forces in Germany. Five other Tajik IS suspects were arrested in Germany earlier.

2020-05-01

| Economy
In photos: the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan
In photos: the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan

Kazakh health teams battle rising coronavirus cases and substandard Chinese equipment, while the government steps in to help citizens in need.