Central Eurasia Week in Review — August 8, 2014

08/08/14
Sammie Ibrahim
Central Eurasia
Conflict, Civil Society, Human Rights, Security

Conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia escalated sharply this week, while Azerbaijan continued its crackdown on civil society groups. Read these and other top stories in Central Eurasia below.

  • Cross-border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out earlier this week, resulting in over 30 casualties. This most recent clash over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is the worst outbreak of violence in the region since the two sides signed a ceasefire in 1994.
  • Shahin Abbasov of EurasiaNet highlighted Azerbaijan’s accelerated crackdown on human rights defenders, civil society groups, and government critics in recent weeks. Abbasov cited President Aliyev’s fears of an Azerbaijani EuroMaidan—and the subsequent overthrow of Ukrainian President Alexander Yanukovich in February—as the reason behind the government’s desire to clamp down on dissent. In response to the crackdown, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar commented in a July 24 address:

“We know that the paramount concern of the Government is to preserve stability… That said, we strongly believe Azerbaijan will be more stable over the long term if society is more open, and if people are allowed more freedom to expressthemselves.”

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan andAzerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Sochi on August 8-9 with the hope of de-escalating the violence. 
  • The Collective Security Organization Treaty (CSTO), comprised of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, announced it will hold joint military exercises in Kazakhstan later this month.
  • Uzbekistan publicly denied rumors that the US was planning to reopen a military base in the country. The U.S. also denied it: “Gen. Austin has no knowledge of any plans for a possible U.S. base in Uzbekistan,” a CENTCOM spokesman told the Army Times. “He did not discuss any such options with the Uzbeks during his trip.”
  • Central Asia specialist Bruce Pannier discussed in a recent blog post the security measures Central Asian governments are taking with the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan next year. The withdrawal will likely force governments in the region to cooperate on addressing regional security threats with the help of U.S. and Russian military aid.