Through tax breaks and the commissioning of new small hydroelectric power plants, the government in Bishkek is resolutely pursuing a path of ecological transition. This will bring significant benefits for businesses, but doubts remain about the impact on the behaviour of individual citizens.

The ‘patriarchal’ traditions of the region seem to be increasingly shifting towards the female faces of the local ‘dynasties’. This is confirmed by the sudden emergence from the shadows of Oguldžakhan Atabaeva, sister of theTurkmen President, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, and daughter of the President-father Gurbanguly.

A proposal to modify the voting regulations is causing controversy in Bishkek. It would impose registration fees three times higher than the current ones on aspiring members of parliament in order to be able to present their candidacy. ‘Only the rich will be able to stand for election’.

After much hesitation and meetings at the level of individual countries, now in Samarkand the European Union has openly declared its intention to ‘raise relations to the level of strategic partnership’ with the region as a whole. But local leaders, who aim to ‘diversify’ their foreign policy, are waiting to see how many resources Brussels will really put on the table.

With the border agreement, after four years of deadlock, air links have been re-established and trade routes re-opened. The agreement could usher in a period of strong economic growth, especially for Tajikistan, the most underdeveloped country in all of Central Asia.

The Eurasian military alliance has presented new guidelines for law enforcement operations to be applied in all member states to prevent ‘terrorist infiltration’. Last year 420 illegal organisations were identified, but there were also many summary actions against Tajiks after the attack on Krokus City Hall. Dushanbe is insisting that its citizens fully legalise their residence status in Russia by the end of April.