Joanna Lillis
Friday, July 10, 2015 - 06:29
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the middle of a five-nation tour of Central Asia designed to ramp up New Delhi’s regional influence.
Thursday, July 2, 2015 - 05:56
The US government wants to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in allegedly illicit funds that American prosecutors contend enriched a “close relative” of Uzbekistan’s strongman president, Islam Karimov.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - 05:54
There is a bleak mood hanging over the editorial office of the Nakanune.kz website these days. The news site, which has won plaudits for its hard-hitting coverage in Kazakhstan’s beleaguered media environment.
Thursday, June 18, 2015 - 06:38
Astana places severe restrictions on civil liberties, including freedom of expression, conscience, and assembly, a United Nations rapporteur says in a report published following a visit to Kazakhstan earlier this year.
Monday, June 15, 2015 - 06:05
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has finished a weeklong tour of the five Central Asian states by appealing for them to improve their dismal human rights records.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 - 06:18
Nursultan Nazarbayev suggested that Kazakhstan must transition from its super-presidential system to a more balanced one with greater checks and balances.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 07:07
Incumbent strongman Islam Karimov has won a universally predicted landslide with over 90 percent of the vote in Uzbekistan’s competition-free presidential election, according to preliminary results released by the Central Electoral Commission the day after the vote.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 - 06:55
The actual threat posed by Islamic State to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states is disputed, but skeptics believe the administration of Islam Karimov has an interest in hyping the dangers—especially just after it benefited from US military largess in the form of the donation of 300 armored vehicles to counter terrorism.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 - 06:19
A UN rapporteur has issued some damning findings on civil liberties in Kazakhstan, following a visit to monitor how Astana is upholding its commitments to freedom of assembly.
Thursday, December 18, 2014 - 05:24
Uzbekistan's parliamentary elections on December 21 will offer voters a choice, but no hope for change. Only four staunchly pro-regime parties – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, as well as the National Revival and the Justice parties – can field candidates for the elections to fill the 150-seat lower house, or the Legislative Chamber.