Vladimir Rozanskij

According to an analysis by the Eurasian Development Bank, it will take another thirty years for the poorest of the Central Asian countries to stop the exodus of its young people in search of work. But even in Dushanbe, demographic changes and xenophobic tensions in Russia are beginning to slow down the phenomenon, with changes that could begin to be seen within a decade.

Former ambassador to Moscow Eremek Košerbaev appointed as new foreign minister, with the aim of “recovering” relations with Russia after opening up to the West. The Kazakh ambassador to the United States, Eražan Ašikbaev, who was very close to the previous minister Murat Nurtleu, has also been dismissed. However, the decision was also influenced by the excessive number of assistants and advisers, which are to be cut as part of the fight against corruption.

The military supply sector is growing and thriving with a continuous flow of resources, raw materials, finance and technology. Small and medium-sized enterprises and the consumer sector are having to contend with restrictions due to sanctions, tax increases and limited access to capital. Moscow's economy has already taken root in a model that will not be easy to change in the future.

At the session marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, all five heads of state emphasised in their speeches how this region, torn apart by border conflicts for centuries, is now one of the most peaceful in the world, with growing economic cooperation. There was also a common position on Afghanistan, calling for an end to its isolation through pragmatism without official recognition of the Taliban.

Perfect posture, white smile, smooth face paired with thick grey or shiny black hair: from Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, heads of state always appear in perfect shape and full of vitality in official images. Some even use Photoshop to add a few centimetres so as not to look out of place next to Donald Trump's stature.

Although more than half of Central Asia's water resources come from the mountains of Tajikistan, most of the country's residents still do not have access to drinking water. Now the government in Dushanbe has launched a programme to provide it to 72% of the population by 2029. But the question remains as to which international donors will actually be able to finance this plan.

Despite announcements, Beijing continues to delay the construction of the gas pipeline that would represent a lifeline for Gazprom. Political and financial considerations are complicating the agreement on the terms of the contract to be concluded. Meanwhile, China is also looking to other suppliers to meet its needs, which are set to grow after 2030.

As part of a five-year plan to increase the country's ‘food security’, the Uzbek government has issued new regulations requiring citizens and businesses to take ambitious steps to reduce the enormous accumulation of food waste. But as everywhere in Central Asia, the effective implementation of this “revolution” imposed from above remains to be seen.

The Live Arena in Moscow hosted the latest edition of “Intervidenie”, the singing competition that brought together the countries of the Eastern Bloc during the Soviet era. Revived after Russian singers were excluded from the Western event due to the invasion of Ukraine, it brought together artists from 22 ‘friendly’ nations, with Dyk Fuk, a rapper from Hanoi, ultimately winning.

President Emomali Rakhmon recently awarded his daughter Ozoda the honorary title of ‘Exemplary Worker of Tajikistan’. This is yet another example of the habit of Central Asian satraps to generously bestow high honours, medals and awards of all kinds on members of their own families.

The latest data from the International Energy Agency confirm the sharp decline in Moscow's revenues from gas and oil sales, due to the effect of heavy discounts imposed by China and India. According to economist Michael Bernstam, ‘the market is proving more effective than sanctions’.

This year, China became Tajikistan's main trading partner for the first time, with a balance exceeding $3 billion. At the recent SCO summit held in Tianjin, there was also talk of establishing a centre for combating drug trafficking in Dushanbe, and bilateral agreements were signed on the digital economy, renewable energy and transport.