Central Asia

The fallout of the Trump presidency on the region's balances, the return of opportunities for Gazprom and Rosatom in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the stalemate in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the political clash in Georgia: analysts' predictions on the most important issues of 2025 in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

For the past few years, the Christmas symbol has been installed in the central part of the capital of Turkmenistan on New Year's Eve, drawing more and more street kids, a sign of the contradictions of a country that fails to take care of some of its children.

To allay Putin's ill-will, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Moscow has published an article in an authoritative Russian daily in which he defends the transformations taking place in the country. He hoped that ‘the de-globalisation underway’ would not lead to ‘new opposing blocs’.

The former president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, despite having handed over the office to his son Serdar, still glories in the title of ‘father of the fatherland’ and in his honour, a brand new smart-city is being built under the name Arkadag. And he has called for the construction time to be shortened so as to settle a greater share of new inhabitants and attract more investment

After lengthy debates, the Žogorku Keneš has approved at first reading a measure that, in the name of the fight against extremism, has aroused not a few perplexities within the religious communities. Among the new provisions is a ban on missionaries of any denomination going around preaching in homes according to their own inspiration. And in religious training institutes, students who have not completed 11 classes of compulsory schooling may not be accepted.

In the city of Idlib alone, there are around 400 Tajiks, as well as an unknown number of Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and Kazakhs. Beyond the ‘moderate’ cover of who will form the new government, there is widespread fear in the Central Asian capitals that,Damascus could become the new centre of attraction for all forms of radical Islamism.

A group of Kazakh parliamentarians is calling for measures against ‘Furry Fandom’, a phenomenon in which groups of young people go around dressed as animals theorising that this is the true expression of their personality. In an investigation by Currentime their stories and the accusations of those who claim they are ‘a problem for society’.

From Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan former leading politicians are on trial on charges of high treason just because they were identified as possible alternatives to ‘dynastic’ successions. While in Kazakhstan on trial is a group that allegedly ‘menacingly’ planned to storm the presidential palace with a tractor and a cannon loaded with potato fragments.

On the bitter clash triggered by President Yoon's attempt to proclaim martial law, Radio Azattyk has gathered the opinions of Kazakhs who (with or without papers) are lacorating in the Korean capital. In their voices the hope that a change in the country's leadership will make life easier for them too.

Two high-ranking security officials in prison, dozens of other personalities forced to resign. Accused of opaque relations with businessmen and mafia clans. One of them was known for torturing a blogger critical of President Mirziyoyev.

Ašgabat possesses natural gas reserves of 17.5 trillion cubic metres, ranking 4th after Russia, Iran and Qatar. Today it can no longer sell it to Moscow on the agreed terms, and this could open up new possibilities for Uzbek neighbours living in the cold. But it would require a political choice that is anything but simple.

In spite of distancing itself from the invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan continues to cooperate intensively with Moscow, but also intensifies agreements with Western countries. Today it is ‘closer than Europe’ for Russia, and at the same time ‘brings Europe closer to China’. And precisely the meeting of different worlds could be the great opportunity for the heirs of the nomads of Central Asia.