Spotlight on Central Asia

This week we take a look at: - Kazakhstan seizing part of the Russian Space Program - Bank reforms in Kyrgyzstan - A Russian governor seeking refuge in Kyrgyzstan - Mirzioyev announcing a referendum - Earthquakes in Tajikistan - A football tournament coming to Central Asia - Turkmenistan announces snap election - Ashgabat placing even more restrictions on Exit Visas. And our deep dive into - Analysing the Results of the Kazakh Parliamentary Elections Joining us this week: -  Aigerim Toleukhavona (Eurasianet) Follow the show on @SLonCentralAsia Follow Oxus on @OxusSociety Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAusFor more info please visit - www.oxussociety.org

This week we take a look at: - Sec. Blinken's Visit to Central Asia - Parliamentary Elections in Kazakhstan heating up - Kazakhstan's backing of Beijing's "Ukraine Peace Plan" - The women's marches - Constitutional amendments being proposed in Uzbekistan - The son of a Tajik opposition leader being arrested - Tajikistan infrastructure under scrutiny - Isreal to open a new mission in Turkmenistan - Russia is pushing closer energy ties with Ashgabat And our deep dive into - Iranian Influence in Central Asia Joining us this week: -  Alex Vatanka (Middle East Institute) Follow the show on @SLonCentralAsia Follow Oxus on @OxusSociety Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAusFor more info please visit - www.oxussociety.org

This week we take a look at: - Nazarbayev being stripped of his immunity - A sanctioned Russian businessman buying up a Kazakh airport - The fight to bring a bank back to Kazakhstan - A Kyrgyz president being released from prison - 6 Kyrgyz presidents meeting in Dubai - Uzbekistan resuming work on the UZB-AFG trainline - Criminal arrested with radioactive material in UZB - An avalanche in Tajikistan - Record numbers of Tajik's applying for Russian citizenship - The increasing exodus from Turkmenistan  And our deep dive into - Gendered Violence in Central Asia Joining us this week: -  Tamar Dekanosidze (Equality Now) Follow the show on @SLonCentralAsia Follow Oxus on @OxusSociety Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus

This week we take a look at: - Major policy changes at the Kazakh border. - Russia forging ahead with plans for a gas network across the region. - Astana refusing to punish journalists over their coverage of the War in Ukraine. - Border delimitation progress between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. - Bishkek taking ownership of a new set of Turkish drones. - Uzbekistan bracing for a series of floods. - Karakalpak activists being jailed. - Problems worsening for the Tajik internet infrastructure. - The cost of living crisis worsening throughout Turkmenistan And our deep dive into - The Coup in Ashgabat, the Return of Gurbanguly. Joining us this week: - Luca Ancheschi (Uni of Glasgow) Follow the show on @SLofCentralAsia Follow Oxus on @OxusSociety Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus

This week we take a look at a political party being registered in Kazakhstan, politicians pushing back against name changes for Bishkeks administrative districts, a former president's trial devolving, the proposal for a natural gas union between three states, trials beginning for anti-regime protesters, big developments in the Tajik banking sector, further accusations of Turkmenistan sanction busting, and we take a deep dive into how the Russian migrants fleeing the draft at home into Central Asia are impacting the stability of the region.   Joining us this week: - Yan Matusevich (The Graduate Centre) Follow the show on @SLofCentralAsia Follow Oxus on @OxusSociety Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus