
Kyrgyzstan’s Protests Won’t Keep Corrupt Criminals Out of Politics
Members of the criminal underworld have long turned to politics to avoid prosecution. Ousting one set of corrupt leaders in favor of another won’t end the country’s crisis.

Is a Vice President Who Doesn’t Know Much About Foreign Policy a National Security Risk?
Pence and Harris talked about international politics at the debate, but their performances will leave voters asking if they would be ready to act as commander in chief.

Indians and Central Asians Are the New Face of the Islamic State
Terrorists from India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan were never at the forefront of global jihad before—now they are.

Is This the Beginning of Kyrgyzstan’s Next Revolution?
The Central Asian state is the latest post-Soviet republic jolted by an electoral crisis. But the ongoing protests are driven by internal dynamics, not international ones.

Putin Is Ruling Russia Like a Central Asian Dictator
The Kremlin didn’t invent term limit resets and constitutional referendums. The autocratic leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan blazed the trail.

Kyrgyz Students Vanish Into Xinjiang’s Maw
Musicians, folklorists, and storytellers disappear after being forced back to China.

Central Asia Struggles With Fallout From China’s Internment of Minorities
Kazakh case draws attention to plight of hundreds of thousands detained in Xinjiang

Scenes From Central Asia’s Forever War
In Kyrgyzstan’s Fergana Valley, ethnic strife, corruption, and poverty collide in the country’s ongoing fight against extremism.

Hawk Hunting, Goat Carcass Chasing, and Steven Seagal at World Nomad Games, in Photos
Goat carcasses, hawk hunting, bone throwing, and Steven Seagal: The World Nomad Games in photos.

Questions of Responsibility Loom After Attack on Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan
Chinese and Kyrgyz officials are investigating who launched a suicide bomb attack on the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek.

NGOs Avert Russian-Inspired Restrictions in Central Asia’s Only Democracy
After a grassroots campaign, Kyrgyzstan’s lawmakers struck down a controversial “foreign agents” law.

A Perfect Storm in Central Asia
For years, the five ex-Soviet republics have enjoyed surprising stability. But Russia’s economic crisis is shaking their foundations.

Note to Self: Don’t Make Horse Penis Jokes in Kyrgyzstan
A Scottish gold miner may have been arrested for mocking a traditional Kyrgyz dish on Facebook.

Central Asia’s Island of Democracy is Sinking
Next week’s elections lay bare the failure of Kyrgyzstan’s revolutionary dream.

Dashcams For Freedom
How Central Asians are fighting for their rights, one YouTube clip at a time.

Putin’s Eurasian Dream Is Over Before It Began
The Eurasian Union that came into effect on Jan. 1 isn’t a sign of Moscow’s growing regional influence. It’s a sign of its decline.