Brussels will host top officials from across Central Asia and the Caucasus as the EU aims to use its influence and pocketbook to push back against Beijing and Moscow.
Central Asia is reeling from the effects of Russia's fuel export restrictions triggered by Ukrainian attacks on its oil refineries. While countries like Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan struggle with price hikes and shortages, others like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are attempting to diversify their sources.
A law that bans taking photographs of people in Uzbekistan without their permission is set for adoption, leading to confusion over how it will affect the country's thriving tourism industry.
A 15-year-old girl was forced into marriage with a 28-year-old man in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan, her father says. Social services officials tried to prevent the wedding but it proceeded in August, garnering viral social media coverage.
Neighbors of an Uzbek grain farmer recorded a night-time visit by police, who they say threatened the man, accusing him of falling short of state production quotas. Although Uzbek law guarantees farmers independence, many report they are still harassed and threatened over productivity.
Kazakhstan signed a deal to buy $4.2 billion worth of US locomotives and rail equipment amid a push by President Donald Trump to deepen economic ties with Central Asia.
As attention focused on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the SCO and a military parade last week in China, Beijing inked a slew of new deals worth billions of dollars with Central Asian governments and businesses, particularly those in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The Afghan Taliban’s demolition of a memorial of Alisher Navoi in Mazar-e Sharif sparked outrage among Uzbeks. The move was reversed after backlash, with promises to rebuild. The incident reveals how Taliban's rigid ideology can yield to diplomacy and economic ties, especially with Uzbekistan.
China's Xi Jinping will welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin and other SCO leaders for a two-day summit as China looks to deepen its influence across Eurasia.
In many families in Central Asia, corporal punishment is not only common, it is the norm. Slaps for poor grades, ear-pulls for disobedience, beatings "to instill discipline" -- these all remain embedded in the parenting culture.
Russia continues to recruit Central Asian migrants and convicts to fill the ranks of its depleting armed forces in Ukraine. Russian authorities use various methods -- from enticements to coercion -- to enlist Central Asians to the Kremlin's ongoing war.
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.
Load more
