The Latest Breaking News from Central Asia

Ukraine war: Russia only hurts itself with its inflammatory discourse on Kazakhstan

It has been a turbulent year in Russian-Kazakh relations. Russia’s oil rich neighbour, which straddles central Asia and eastern Europe, started the year by asking for Russia’s help in restoring stability after protests erupted in its major cities.

The Conversation · Dec 19, 2022

More foreign workers from Central Asia sought

The government is aiming to bring in more foreign workers from Central Asian countries, partly through the "specified skilled worker program" that allows foreign nationals to do jobs that involve manual work.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Dec 18, 2022

Will Putin’s ‘natural gas union’ fail?

Uzbekistan has poured cold water on a potential alliance in another sign Central Asia is keeping Russia at arm’s length.

Al Jazeera · Dec 13, 2022

'We want respect': Putin's authority tested in Central Asia

Sensing that Russia has been weakened by its war in Ukraine, some of its closest allies in Central Asia are displaying a newly assertive streak.

Reuters · Oct 18, 2022

UN: Ukraine War Pushes 4 Million Children into Poverty

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic fallout have thrown four million children into poverty across eastern Europe and Central Asia, the UN children's agency said Monday. "Children are bearing the heaviest burden of the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine," UNICEF said. The conflict "and rising…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Oct 17, 2022

Russian ‘kamikaze’ drones strike Kyiv, Zelensky says attacks ‘won’t break’ Ukrainians

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky’s chief of staff said Russian “kamikaze drones” hit Kyiv early on Monday. Zelensky said Russia had launched a barrage of drone and missile attacks across the country, but that the strikes would not "break" Ukrainians. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events…

France 24 · Oct 17, 2022

Fighter jet crashes in Russian city near Ukraine; Kyiv says 108 women freed in prisoner swap – as it happened

Fighter plane hits residential building in southern Russian city of Yeysk; Ukraine says it is first all-female exchange with Moscow

The Guardian - AU · Oct 17, 2022

Ding Xuexiang: from Shanghai party cadre to Xi gatekeeper

When Xi Jinping left China for the first time in more than two years to visit Central Asia last month, his entourage included a familiar face from domestic trips.

Reuters · Oct 11, 2022

Could weakened Russian influence in Central Asia be an opportunity for China?

Ukraine's lightning offensive in Kharkiv may have damaged more than just Russia's depleted army — it's also tarnished Russia's status as a regional power in Central Asia.

ABC News · Oct 1, 2022

Uzbekistan says won't deport Russians fleeing conscription

Uzbekistan has no plans to deport Russians who are fleeing en masse to Central Asia to evade conscription amid Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine, the Tashkent government said on Friday.

Reuters · Sep 30, 2022