Vladimir Rozanskij

The Mishustin government is attempting to build a sovereign economy based on technology platforms. But even sellers on Wildberries, Ozon and Yandex Market are discovering that even huge turnover can sometimes, surprisingly, turn into a “negative profit”. Because Moscow no longer needs a complex and autonomous economic fabric.

Despite a ban under Islamic law and doctrine, amulets and exorcism performed by mullahs or shaman are widespread in Tajikistan. According to a well-known legend, 40 inseparable spirits rule the world, believed to be able to ward off all human misfortunes.

Several comedians have been persecuted for jokes relating to military operations and mobilisation, as well as about the Orthodox Church and Putin. Irony and sarcasm were the only weapons for resisting the oppression of Soviet totalitarianism; today, even those are now banned.

In recent years, alongside conventional loans and deposits, this sector has grown significantly in the country and is no longer a niche market: the volume of financing based on Islamic principles has reached 21.1 billion som, an increase of almost sixfold.

In Grozny, men’s attitudes have become increasingly harsh in public debates in recent years, whilst the boundaries of what is acceptable for women are becoming ever more restricted. A paradoxical situation has arisen following the story of a sea rescue of some girls who were drowning, which was criticised on social media because ‘in Islam, touching a woman is forbidden’.

At the CAU Arch Summit 2026, architects, urban planners, and designers discussed the future of the urban environment, the role of technology, and the region’s cultural heritage. Star architect Bjarke Ingels: “This region preserves a centuries-old conception of space: the challenge for the new generation is not whether to modernize, but how to develop this heritage without destroying it.”

According to pro-government sources, the crackdown on a dozen local Islamic leaders was triggered by statements calling for action against Putin in Moscow. Among those targeted were several associates of Gajnutdin, the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims, which represents Islam at official events at the Kremlin.

The Tajik president’s trip has confirmed just how strategic a region Central Asia is for China today, a strategic importance made all the more vital by the various geopolitical fault lines. Beijing is banking on the gas pipeline running through the region, but also on its significance for the security of its own borders. And in relations with local governments, its proximity – not just geographical – gives it an advantage over its Western rivals.

The foundation stone for a Centre for Turkic Civilisation was recently laid in Astana. It is a symbolic site of integration that responds to Moscow’s century-long attempt to erase this identity within its own “backyard”. And which has now, instead, discovered its own power as the guardian of the main energy and logistics arteries between East and West.

The icon of the Mother of God Neupivaemaja Čaša, the “Inexhaustible Chalice” which presents Christ as the “drink of salvation”, is increasingly invoked by Russian Orthodox Christians to seek deliverance from alcohol and drug addiction. Alongside 80 “saints of sobriety” chosen from among the “new martyrs” of the last century.

The Chamber of Commerce, which brings together local businesses, is pushing for an integration programme for the region through logistics hubs, industrial parks, processing facilities, export platforms and joint investment projects. It is looking at a wider area than just the former Soviet republics, also including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia.

Since May, data on the grounds for court rulings relating to political and social repression, cases against military personnel, and those concerning defendants and convicts who are being sent to fight in the war in Ukraine have become inaccessible in Russia. In recent years, the figures had revealed an exponential rise in convictions for treason, espionage and collusion with foreign powers.