Without compromise

Navigating Kyrgyzstan's mining sector and the story of the Kumtor mine

In this episode, our business intelligence and investigations experts for Russia and the FSU region review the volatile landscape of the Kyrgyz mining sector. For decades, the Kumtor gold mine stood as the ultimate symbol of foreign investment in Central Asia. Today, following its dramatic nationalisation in 2022, it serves as a stark cautionary tale of "resource nationalism." We trace the meteoric rise of President Sadyr Japarov—from a prison cell to the presidency—and explore how his populist campaign turned a multi-billion dollar mine into a personal and political score to be settled.

IWD 2026 Special | Lifting as we climb: Rita Mitchell on WWCDA's 'Give to Gain' philosophy

In this special episode for International Women's Day on Sunday, 8th March, we spoke with Rita Mitchell, Co-Chair of the London Chapter of the Women in White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA). Rita shares her perspective on this year's theme, 'Give to Gain,' and explores why the WWCDA has been so successful in empowering women in the white-collar space. We dive into how the association's commitment to mentorship is fostering a culture of support, advancement, and collective success.

Bangladesh 2026: The reset vote

On 12 February 2026, Bangladesh faces its most consequential election in decades. In this episode, we analyse the first national vote since the 2024 "Monsoon Revolution" and the ouster of the Awami League. We take a closer look at whether Bangladesh is truly securing a "new beginning" or risking a return to the cycles of the past.

The planned nationalisation of Electric Networks of Armenia

In our debut episode of 'Without compromise', we unpack one of the most significant developments shaping Armenia's political and investment landscape: the government's move to nationalise the country's electricity distribution monopoly, the Electric Networks of Armenia. This episode explores the deepening rift between Armenia's government and the influential Armenian Apostolic Church, the criminal proceedings against Karapetyan, the looming 2026 elections, and the geopolitical tug-of-war between Russia and the West. With insights from Dr. Ara Marjanyan, Armenia's national energy expert at the United Nations Development Programme, we examine whether this nationalisation signals a broader policy shift, or simply an isolated clash at the intersection of politics, energy security, and foreign investment.