Kyrgyzstan

• October 01, 2026

  Kyrgyz Activist Gets 2 Years For Criticizing Growing Chinese Presence

  The Lenin District Court in Bishkek found activist and politician Mavlyan Askarbekov guilty and sentenced to two years in prison on offenses related to a law on incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or interregional hatred, a verdict he called "absurd."

• September 29, 2026

  Kyrgyzstan To Become Spacefaring Nation With Mini Satellite

  Kyrgyzstan is set to send a domestically produced satellite into orbit on October 1, marking the Central Asian state's first feat of spacefaring. Uzbekistan has announced its own plans for a domestic satellite.

• September 24, 2026

  'Million Dollar' Mutton: Kyrgyzstan's New Monster Sheep Breed

  A new Kyrgyz sheep breed is charging to fame in Central Asia for the size of its males and the massive prices being reported for prime specimens of the variety.

• September 19, 2026

  Kyrgyz Families Plead For Return Of Islamic State Fighters' Wives, Relatives From Iraqi Prisons

  Families of dozens of Kyrgyz women imprisoned in Iraq are calling on the government to bring them home. The women -- mostly wives and relatives of Islamic State fighters -- traveled to Iraq and Syria more than a decade ago as the extremist group seized swaths of territory. 

• September 16, 2026

  Central Asia's Hijab Debate Flares Up As Schools Reopen

  The hijab has long been a hot topic in Muslim-majority Central Asia, where many authoritarian governments have suppressed Islamic political and religious groups and any outward signs of religiosity. The debate has been rekindled as the new academic year started this month.

• September 06, 2026

  Armenia Courts Central Asia As TRIPP Corridor Takes Shape

  Armenia is stepping up efforts to pull Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan into an ambitious trade corridor named after US President Donald Trump. While Bishkek has shown enthusiasm and Astana has voiced support, neither has so far committed to the project.

• September 01, 2026

  Pageantry And Politics As World Nomad Games Open In Kyrgyzstan

  An unfinished stadium in Bishkek played host to an Olympic-scale opening of the sixth World Nomad Games as world leaders -- barring one notable exception -- networked in the stands.

• August 31, 2026

  'Shanghai' Grouping At 25: Rifts, Rivalries, And A Show Of Unity

  The Shanghai Cooperation Organization turns 25 at a moment of extraordinary tension embroiling several of the regional security group’s most prominent members. For China, Russia, Iran, and others, it may be less about substance than a show of influence and independence in the face of the West.

• August 31, 2026

  Amid Setbacks, Putin Looks To Restore Russia's Standing At Bishkek SCO Summit

  Facing increasing confrontations with the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin looks eastward to restore his country's standing in the region at a major summit in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital.

• August 30, 2026

  Central Asia Seeks Open Borders, But Security Fears Get In The Way

  Central Asia has lots to attract tourists but it’s difficult getting around. Efforts to make it easier for tourists to cross borders have been proposed -- but there are substantial obstacles.

• August 21, 2026

  Mobilization Migration: Is There An Uptick In Russians Fleeing Amid Fears Of A New Draft?

  Armenia and other countries bordering Russia took in many Russians dodging the draft in 2022-23 and now, amid growing fears of a new mobilization to boost a military depleted by the war on Ukraine, there are some indications that the numbers of Russians coming to Armenia are again rising.

• August 16, 2026

  Russia's Tighter Migrant Rules Could Hit Central Asian Workers, Worsen Shortages

  Russia is proposing an overhaul of its foreign-worker recruitment system in 2027, tying migrants to specific employers, jobs, and regions. Experts warn that tighter rules could worsen labor shortages and push more migrants into informal employment.

Load more