Turkmenistan

• July 15, 2026

  Is Political Opposition Still Possible In Central Asia?

  Across Central Asia, opposition movements have steadily disappeared from public life. Some leaders have been jailed, others forced into exile, while new parties have struggled to gain a foothold. What happened to the region's opposition -- and is there still space for alternative political voices?

• July 09, 2026

  Central Asia's Fuel Crisis: The Cost Of Russian Dependence And Short-Term Thinking

  Ukraine's sustained attacks on Russia's oil refineries immediately plunged Central Asian countries into energy chaos, highlighting years of short-term policy decisions that have left the region without a coordinated energy strategy and sufficient diversification to withstand major disruptions.

• June 19, 2026

  Rare Protest Hits Turkmenistan Amid Power Outages

  Hundreds of people in Turkmenistan staged a protest over power outages in the energy-rich Central Asian country, which is grappling with a deepening economic crisis.

• June 12, 2026

  How Xi Reshaped China's Central Asia Ties -- By The Numbers

  Data compiled by RFE/RL reveals how a surge in high-level diplomacy, economic engagement, and regional initiatives has elevated Beijing from a neighboring power to Central Asia’s leading economic partner.

• June 10, 2026

  Can The Dream Of A Trans-Caspian Pipeline Be Revived?

  With the Iran war disrupting traditional energy supply routes and the West seeking to lessen reliance on Russian transit networks, Trans-Caspian corridors have again emerged as a focus of international diplomacy and investment.

• June 09, 2026

  China Overtakes Russia As Central Asia's Top Foreign Investor

  China has overtaken Russia as the largest source of foreign direct investment in Central Asia, according to the Eurasian Development Bank. China’s accumulated investment in the region exceeded $35 billion in 2025, it said.

• June 02, 2026

  Russia Bets On Education To Sustain Influence In Central Asia

  Russia is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to build schools and universities across Central Asia, reinforcing the use of the Russian language at a time when younger generations in the region are increasingly exposed to Western and Chinese influences.

• May 16, 2026

  Papers, Please: German Military Museum Bars Ukrainians, Russians, And Other Nationalities

  A major military museum in the western German city of Koblenz is denying entry to nationals from 26 countries, causing tense scenes with some visitors who arrive with children.

• May 15, 2026

  Freedom For Foreigners, Limitations For Locals As Turkmenistan Opens To Tourism

  A loosening of rules for tourists entering Turkmenistan has been noticed by travellers and tour agencies but locals say the sudden liberalization is not extending to Turkmen citizens.

• April 30, 2026

  Rooftop Raids: Turkmenistan Cracks Down On Starlink Users

  Arrests and confiscated terminals are being reported in Turkmenistan as locals set up secret Starlink connections to access the internet in the authoritarian country.

• April 20, 2026

  Hormuz Crisis Has Supercharged The Middle Corridor Trade Route

  While diplomatic efforts struggle to stabilize access to the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions between the United States and Iran, Eurasian trade is increasingly being redirected toward overland alternatives, with the Middle Corridor emerging as a key diversification route in Eurasian logistics.

• April 16, 2026

  Dozens Detained During Easter Gatherings in Turkmenistan

  Easter celebrations in the western Turkmen city of Balkanabat were overshadowed by a coordinated security operation near the only Christian church, with dozens of local Turkmen converts detained during Catholic and Orthodox services.

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