The state is establishing specialised research institutes, funding research and restoring monuments from the era of the Ulus Džoči – the Tatar-Mongol period of its history, which was marginalised by former Soviet historiography. Meanwhile, neighbouring Uzbekistan has for decades been constructing a national historical narrative centred on Tamerlane.
New data from the International Labour Organisation and UNICEF indicate a drop of 22 million child workers in four years. However, 138 million children remain trapped in this scourge, particularly in agriculture and the informal economy. Expert Insaf Nizam, who spoke to AsiaNews, highlighted the role of economic growth, warning of the dangers of inequality and family responsibilities.
A seminar organised recently by the European Union delegation and the Tajik government brought together politicians, law enforcement specialists and representatives of civil society to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation in response to the growing threat of violent acts motivated by extremism.
The Berdymukhamedov government is mobilising to counter “foreign centres of ideological sabotage” which, in its view, are fuelling protests. Public officials will have to go door to door in villages to gather stories about how well people live in the country. They will be accompanied by artists who will demonstrate their skills by singing or playing traditional instruments.
At a meeting on relations between Central Asia and China, the Astana government praised the rapprochement between the ‘two lungs of Asia’, which is advancing in step with the internal transformations initiated by Tokaev. Despite protests from some opponents and activists, the president wants to project an image of ‘inclusive democracy’ by leaving the limelight to some of his collaborators.
Ermek Tursunov, whose films have made it to the Oscars shortlist, has left Kazakhstan, denouncing the “degeneration of cultural policy.” His producer’s home was recently searched. To those labelling him a “dangerous dissident,” he replied: “I’m no Solzhenitsyn, but I won’t stay silent.”
Two months after the reopening of the border, both countries are still waiting for cross-border customers to return to their local markets in frontier areas. Mutual distrust and suspicion remain palpable, but both some traders and local authorities believe that the economy will soon take a turn for the better.
Several of the country’s major business groups have formed a network to promote the idea that collaboration is more productive than competition, and they are now working together to find common paths to strengthen the national economy. Their efforts begin with social projects such as supporting low-income families, schools, and student hostels.
Mirziyoyev plans to build a large shopping centre on the site where, in 2005, hundreds of protesters—who had occupied a high-security prison in protest against a wave of arrests—were killed in a military crackdown. For years, the authorities claimed that the demonstrators were “slaughtered by Islamic terrorists.”
The breakdown in relations with Europe was portrayed by Russian propaganda as a bright new horizon for the Eurasian space. But sanctions have enabled Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to grow in their role as intermediaries in trade with third countries. And today, many migrants are looking more to the West than to Moscow.
The region holds vast reserves of these minerals, now highly sought after by the high-tech industry. Kazakhstan speaks of “unparalleled deposits”. The European Union is working to foster suitable partnerships as a possible alternative to China for supplies. However, these efforts are hindered by underdeveloped technological infrastructure, which slows down the region’s real prospects for growth.
The country holds vast potential for the development of solar energy, yet it is still in the early stages of this journey. As a result, to heat water for tea, people often have to light a coal fire while waiting for a bit of electricity to arrive — electricity that is still rationed to just a few hours a day, especially during the winter.
Since the collapse of the USSR, the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia have been debating whether to abandon the Cyrillic alphabet in favour of Latin script. Some argue it more closely reflects the phonetics of Turkic languages, but the issue is entangled with broader calls for “de-Russification” in the context of the war in Ukraine. Even in Kazakhstan—where Nazarbayev launched the transition with the aim of completing it by 2031—serious doubts remain.
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