This week we take a look at: - Kazakhstan seizing part of the Russian Space Program - Bank reforms in Kyrgyzstan - A Russian governor seeking refuge in Kyrgyzstan - Mirzioyev announcing a referendum - Earthquakes in Tajikistan - A football tou

Iranian Influence in Central Asia

Mar 10th, 2023 37m 35s

This week we take a look at: - Sec. Blinken's Visit to Central Asia - Parliamentary Elections in Kazakhstan heating up - Kazakhstan's backing of Beijing's "Ukraine Peace Plan" - The women's marches - Constitutional amendments being proposed in

Gendered Violence in Central Asia

Feb 24th, 2023 35m 52s

This week we take a look at: - Nazarbayev being stripped of his immunity - A sanctioned Russian businessman buying up a Kazakh airport - The fight to bring a bank back to Kazakhstan - A Kyrgyz president being released from prison - 6 Kyrgyz pr

A Coup in Turkmenistan: The Return of Gurbanguly?

Feb 9th, 2023 26m 49s

This week we take a look at: - Major policy changes at the Kazakh border. - Russia forging ahead with plans for a gas network across the region. - Astana refusing to punish journalists over their coverage of the War in Ukraine. - Border delimi

27 - How the Recent Influx of Russian Migrants is Impacting Central Asia

Dec 7th, 2022 28m 39s

This week we take a look at a political party being registered in Kazakhstan, politicians pushing back against name changes for Bishkeks administrative districts, a former president's trial devolving, the proposal for a natural gas union betwee

26 - The Kazakh Presidential Elections: A New Kazakhstan?

Nov 23rd, 2022 29m 31s

This week we take a look at a former Security Services Cheif of Kazakhstan on trial for treason, Russian pressure on Astana to lower the price of grain, Kyrgyzstan cracking down on the free press, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan approving a huge wate

25 - Is the CSTO Facing Collapse?

Oct 13th, 2022 33m 29s

This week we take a look at the row between Kazakhstan and Russia over Ukraine, a new report warning of water problems for the region, a significant shake-up in the Kyrgyz cabinet, a new border deal signed between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the

24 - The Fallout from the Conflict in Batken

Sep 29th, 2022 27m 49s

This week we take a look at Kazakhstan pushing back on Russia’s referendum, Kazakhstan is changing the name of its capital, a demilitarisation deal unfolding in the region, Russian troops being pulled out of Tajikistan, persecution of ethnic Ta

23 - US Led Military Drills Unfolding in Central Asia

Sep 1st, 2022 33m 51s

This week we take a look at women’s protests in Kazakhstan, Nur Sultan suspending arms exports, a teenage blogger arrested in Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz health minister resigning, Mirziyoev appointing new leadership in Karakalpakstan, Saudi Arabia

22 - Smuggling Tunnels In Central Asia

Aug 18th, 2022 32m 32s

Another busy week in Central Asia. This episode we take a look at Nazarbayev making a rare appearance, Nur-Sultan putting limits on coal exports ahead of a likely cold winter, smuggler tunnels being discovered in Krygyzstan, Uzbekistan blocking

21 - Why is Kazakhstan Nearly Doubling its Military Budget?

Aug 4th, 2022 31m 21s

This week we take a look at the Kazakh state clawing millions back from associates of former president Nazarbayev, Canada finally stepping aside in the Kumtor Gold mine case, a Kyrgyz kingpin detained on extortion charges, a president daughter

Episode 20 - Indian Influence in Central Asia

Jul 14th, 2022 34m 38s

This week we look at Kazakhstan being represented in Wimbledon for the first time, a Kyrgyz journalist being charged over coverage of the war in Ukraine, the unrest in Karakalpakstan, and Uzbekistan also introducing a 200,000 som banknote to ci

Episode 19 - Why is Putin in Central Asia?

Jun 30th, 2022 26m 13s

This week we take a look at president Tokayev visiting Iran and Turkmenistan, tensions flaring between Nur-Sultan and Moscow, protests in Kyrgyzstan, the Uzbek president seeking constitutional amendments to allow him to seek a third term, US sa

Episode 18 - The Impact of a Trans-Caspian Pipeline

Jun 16th, 2022 37m 13s

This week we take a look at Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan's new dispute on the Chinese border, additional charges for a former president, the OSCE weighing in on the Uzbek presidential election, smuggling tunnels being discovered, bread prices caus

Episode 17 - Press Freedom in Central Asia

Jun 1st, 2022 24m 39s

This week we take a look at Kazakhstan securing agreements with Turkey to produce drones. Workers strikes in Krygyzstan. A US ambassador speaking out against policy in Uzbekistan. Afghanistan looking to Central Asia for electricity. Tensions gr

Episode 16 - Central Asian Fighters in Ukraine

May 14th, 2022 23m 30s

This week we take a look at a new probe into the death of the Kazakh opposition leader in 2005. The Kazakh president stepping down. Nazarbayev being stripped of his titles. A report finally being released on bride kidnapping. A new controversia

Episode 15 - Krygyzstan and Tajikistan's Border Skirmish

Apr 21st, 2022 26m 57s

This week we take a look at Kazakhstan reopening its borders, Nazerbayevs nephew giving away a stake in the country's largest telecom, Kyrgyz citizens taking cash payments to go and fight for Russia in Ukraine, an ex-president in a courtroom fi

Episode 14 - Russian Disinformation in Central Asia

Apr 7th, 2022 23m 2s

This week we take a look at how Russian and Chinese created disinformation permeates through Central Asian groups, a plot to kill the Kazakh president, the Kyrgyz unveiling their new fleet of Turkish attack drones, 2 men shot dead along the Uzb

Episode 13 - Reforms in the Uzbek Cotton Industry

Mar 24th, 2022 24m 8s

This week we take a look at internal troubles inside the Kazakh first family, more turmoil in the Central Asian economies, a prison sentence handed down to a Kyrgyz president, gunfire on the Tajik border, the election results in Turkmenistan, U

Episode 12 - How the Invasion of Ukraine Impact Central Asia?

Mar 10th, 2022 28m 15s

This week we take a look at the Sanctions fears throughout the entire Central Asian region, large rallies unfolding in Kazakhstan, journalists being arrested in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine recalling ambassadors, Germany seizing an Uzbek billionaire’s m

Episode 11 - Snap Elections in Turkmenistan

Feb 23rd, 2022 27m 41s

This week we take a look at the ongoing fallout from the January protests in Kazakhstan. Japarov meeting with President Xi, Cyberattacks in Kyrgyzstan, a former president's daughter having assets seized, more build-up on the Afghan-Tajik border

Episode 10 - The Future of Sino-Tajik Relations

Feb 2nd, 2022 25m 10s

This week we take a look at new fighting on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, power blackouts throughout the region, A Turkmen activist being deported back to Turkmenistan from Russia, an explosion in the Turkmen plant, more crackdowns in Uzbekistan, an

Episode 9 - The Fallout from the Kazakh Protests: A New Kazakhstan?

Jan 19th, 2022 33m 16s

This week we take a look at the aftermath of recent unrest in Kazakhstan, key figures from the Nazarbayev regime being forced out, a Russian withdrawal, Uzbekistan cutting gas to China, Tahskents new deal with the Taliban, talk of closing Turkm

Episode 8 - The Collapsing Central Asian Energy Grid, and Protests in Kazakhstan

Jan 5th, 2022 37m 10s

This week we take a look at the continuing fallout from the nationalisation of the Kumtor Gold mine, Russia’s increasing military build-up in Tajikistan, new energy deals being signed in the region, Turkish courts acquitting Turkmen activists,

Episode 7 - 30 Years of Kazakh Independence

Dec 22nd, 2021 27m 27s

This week we take a look at Uzbeks calls for aid in Afghanistan, the continuing fallout from the Kyrgyz elections, Turkmenistan's new gas deal with Azerbaijan, Russia's new project on the Caspian sea, and Tajikistan's leaders family taking even