https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:51:56 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As expected, the launching of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran -- and retaliatory strikes by Tehran on targets in the Mideast -- has hit the economies of the region. But the shockwaves are arguably being felt just as much in Central Asian nations who rely on goods flowing through Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-fallout-gulf-war-iran-us/33731180.html https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-fallout-gulf-war-iran-us/33731180.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:37:56 +0200 IranNewsFeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown Stories Nearly four years after Iran unveiled a drone factory in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, its operations -- and even its existence -- remain shrouded in uncertainty. Experts and officials question whether the facility ever produced drones or served more as a symbolic gesture of Iranian military influence. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tajikistan-drone-factory-mystery-/33719984.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tajikistan-drone-factory-mystery-/33719984.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:36:44 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaTajikistanThe Rundown Stories Months after Russia’s language and registration rules took effect, thousands of Central Asian children remain shut out of schools, forcing families to return home and leaving education gaps behind. https://www.rferl.org/a/migrant-children-return-central-asia-russia-school-rules/33682251.html https://www.rferl.org/a/migrant-children-return-central-asia-russia-school-rules/33682251.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:54:27 +0100 FeaturesKyrgyzstanRussiaTajikistanUzbekistanThe Rundown Stories China’s active economic presence in Tajikistan that has increased in recent years has encountered workers' protests, environmental tensions, and security fears. https://www.rferl.org/a/labor-disputes-security-fears-china-tajikistan-zarafshon-gold-mines/33647889.html https://www.rferl.org/a/labor-disputes-security-fears-china-tajikistan-zarafshon-gold-mines/33647889.html Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:59:28 +0100 TajikistanFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina Iranians leaving their country spoke to RFE/RL about the scale of the deadly crackdown on protests. The death toll is at more than 2,600 demonstrators, according to the US-based human rights monitor HRANA. But many groups fear the number is far higher. https://www.rferl.org/a/they-ve-killed-a-mountain-of-people-iranians-leaving-country-describe-scale-of-crackdown-protests/33649787.html https://www.rferl.org/a/they-ve-killed-a-mountain-of-people-iranians-leaving-country-describe-scale-of-crackdown-protests/33649787.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:44:40 +0100 VideosArmeniaIranTajikistanVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories More than a month after five Chinese nationals were killed in two cross-border attacks, no group has claimed responsibility, raising concerns in Beijing. https://www.rferl.org/a/chinese-workers-killed-tajikistan-afghanistan-border-investgiation/33634252.html https://www.rferl.org/a/chinese-workers-killed-tajikistan-afghanistan-border-investgiation/33634252.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:30:47 +0100 TajikistanFeaturesAfghanistanThe Rundown StoriesChina Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry has refuted claims about ongoing talks with Russia regarding border security along Afghanistan, following a deadly attack on Chinese nationals in the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-china-worker-killed-russia-troops-mining-taliban/33611762.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-china-worker-killed-russia-troops-mining-taliban/33611762.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:04:25 +0100 TajikistanNewsKazakhstanThe Rundown HeadlineChina Three Chinese citizens working for a gold-extraction company in southern Tajikistan have been killed in an attack -- the second in a year -- that Tajik authorities say was carried out from across the border with Afghanistan. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-afghanistan-border-attack-chinese-nationals-death-gold-mining-taliban/33607228.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-afghanistan-border-attack-chinese-nationals-death-gold-mining-taliban/33607228.html Thu, 27 Nov 2025 20:13:08 +0100 NewsAfghanistanTajikistanThe Rundown StoriesChina A bus driver, believed to be a Central Asian migrant, faced investigation in Russia after passengers accused him of leaving commuters waiting while he prayed at a bus terminal. The incident has sparked debate over public religious practices by Muslim migrants in Russia. https://www.rferl.org/a/islam-prayers-muslim-migrants-russia-tajikistan-khabarovsk-religion-mosque/33583254.html https://www.rferl.org/a/islam-prayers-muslim-migrants-russia-tajikistan-khabarovsk-religion-mosque/33583254.html Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:18:52 +0100 FeaturesRussiaTajikistanThe Rundown Headline Thousands of teachers, health workers, and other civil servants have been mobilized to pick cotton across Central Asia, despite official pledges to end forced labor. https://www.rferl.org/a/forced-labor-central-asia-cotton-harvest/33578833.html https://www.rferl.org/a/forced-labor-central-asia-cotton-harvest/33578833.html Sun, 02 Nov 2025 13:22:50 +0100 FeaturesTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown Stories A 29-year-old Tajik man has died in custody after he was detained at Dushanbe airport. Authorities accused of Islamic extremism, an allegation that his family vehemently denies. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-death-in-custody-saidazam-rahmonov-islam-beard-hijab/33562793.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-death-in-custody-saidazam-rahmonov-islam-beard-hijab/33562793.html Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:07:29 +0200 TajikistanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories The children of Central Asians working in Russia are in the crosshairs as Moscow clamps down on migrants. Some children have been barred from studying in Russian schools, while others have been denied reentry into Russia. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-migrants-central-asia-kyrgyzstan-crackdown/33526827.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-migrants-central-asia-kyrgyzstan-crackdown/33526827.html Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:05:04 +0200 RussiaFeaturesKyrgyzstanTajikistanThe Rundown Stories Central Asian migrants in Russia face a new wave of crackdown, entry denials, and deportation as Moscow reported a 20 percent increase in the number of expulsions in comparison to 2024. https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asians-wave-crackdown-russia/33508446.html https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asians-wave-crackdown-russia/33508446.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:03:29 +0200 RussiaFeaturesTajikistanThe Rundown Stories RFE/RL received video showing dozens of Tajik migrants stuck at Moscow’s Zhukovsky Airport. They say they were deported but prevented from leaving. Since the Crocus Hall attack in March 2024, Russia has tightened entry rules, with hundreds of Tajiks reporting unexplained refusals at airports. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajik-migrants-stranded-at-moscow-airport-amid-deportations-border-crackdown/33508567.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajik-migrants-stranded-at-moscow-airport-amid-deportations-border-crackdown/33508567.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:01:47 +0200 VideosRussiaTajikistanVideo Archive RFE/RL spotlights five Central Asian athletes who have turned adversity into triumph. From a paralyzed man turned ultramarathoner to a blind Paralympian and a Premier League soccer pioneer, these remarkable sportspeople have shown how resilience and courage can transcend barriers and inspire others. https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-sports-athletes-overcome-adversity-inspiration/33487419.html https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-sports-athletes-overcome-adversity-inspiration/33487419.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:28:41 +0200 KyrgyzstanFeaturesKazakhstanTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown Stories Living next to the Chinese-owned Zijin mines, villagers near Bor in eastern Serbia and Panjakent in western Tajikistan face the same threat: poisoned air, degraded farmland, and no recourse. At the same time their governments deepen ties with Beijing. https://www.rferl.org/a/enviroment-pollution-zijin-serbia-tajikistan-china/33432904.html https://www.rferl.org/a/enviroment-pollution-zijin-serbia-tajikistan-china/33432904.html Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:04:22 +0200 FeaturesTajikistanSerbiaThe Rundown StoriesChina Villages near Bor in Serbia and Panjakent in Tajikistan share a growing concern: pollution from Chinese-owned mines. While Belgrade and Dushanbe welcome Beijing’s investment, locals fear for their land and air -- while the mines' owner, Zijin, denies harming the environment. https://www.rferl.org/a/environment-pollution-zijin/33432693.html https://www.rferl.org/a/environment-pollution-zijin/33432693.html Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:50 +0200 VideosTajikistanSerbiaVideo Archive