Politics

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  Politics

  2021-10-06

  International community demands answers from Russia on Navalny poisoning

  Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned in Russia with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August last year, and the international community has given Russia 10 days to provide answers.

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  Politics

  2021-10-04

  Chinese economic retaliation causes heavy losses for Kazakh companies

  A freeze on the movement of goods along a key trade route is linked to Kazakhstan's criticism of Beijing's Xinjiang policies, say analysts.

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  Politics

  2021-08-06

  Central Asia's leaders meet as Taliban advance in Afghanistan

  Amid increasing Taliban violence, leaders of the five Central Asian countries gathered for talks in Turkmenistan with events in Afghanistan topping their agenda.

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  Politics

  2021-06-22

  Syrian students see foreign language options dwindle as Moscow pushes Russian

  Russia's soft power plan to increase its control over the Middle Eastern country should come as no surprise to people in Central Asia who have been subject to similar plans for decades.

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  Politics

  2021-06-18

  'Extremist'? Central Asians scoff at Kremlin's designation of Navalny

  The blatant political overtone of the designation of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his foundation as 'extremist' is a reflection of the political crisis engulfing Putin.

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  Politics

  2021-06-11

  Kazakhstan splits with Russia on EEU response to Western sanctions

  The Kazakh government has rejected a Russian official's claim that the Eurasian Economic Union was working on a 'unified' response to sanctions against member states.

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  Politics

  2021-06-10

  Russian prison labour initiative draws ire of Central Asian migrant workers

  The Russian authorities say nearly 200,000 Russian prisoners have 'right' to punishment such as forced labour, while observers say new initiative will once again worsen conditions for migrants.

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  Politics

  2021-04-29

  Leaked Zarif audio reveals IRGC's dominance in decision-making

  The Iranian foreign minister levels harsh criticism at Qassem Soleimani and the IRGC's influence on Iran's foreign policy in a leaked audio file that is causing ferocious domestic backlash.

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  Politics

  2021-04-16

  Kazakhs condemn Kremlin's imperial ambitions in street renaming row

  Russian politicians are again undermining Kazakhstan's sovereignty by saying the city of Pavlodar has no right to drop Soviet-era names of 23 streets.

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  Politics

  2021-04-07

  Putin derided for trying to become Russia's 'president for life'

  Observers and concerned citizens in Central Asia and beyond are shaking their heads at the newly signed legislation that opens the possibility for Putin to stay in power until 2036.