Russia & Central Asia
China spikes Gazprom gas export plan in Central Asia
China has put an abrupt stop to a Russian proposal to export added volumes of natural gas eastward via Kazakhstan, deepening the financial woes of the erstwhile Russian energy behemoth, Gazprom. The Russian state-controlled entity, once a critical foreign policy instrument of the Kremlin, has been forced to abandon projects in Central Asia and Latin America recently due to a lack of fiscal muscle. Gazprom has been urgently looking east to add export volume after the dramatic loss of market share in Europe. One idea promoted by Gazprom representatives was exporting an additional 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to China via Kazakhstan’s existing pipeline network. Click here to read...
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan Set $1 Billion Trade Goal
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the head of the Turkmen People’s Council (Halk Maslahaty), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, met to discuss energy and transport projects. In an informal meeting held on April 22 in Kazakhstan’s southern Turkestan region, the two leaders emphasized the importance of increasing mutual trade turnover to $1 billion in the coming years, according to Business Turkmenistan. They also addressed ways to strengthen their strategic partnership, with a focus on the gas sector, including Kazakhstan’s potential involvement in developing Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field, one of the world’s largest. Located in Turkmenistan’s southern Mary region, the Galkynysh field is the second-largest gas reserve globally, with 2,800 billion cubic meters of proven commercial reserves. Special attention was given to the implementation of joint projects across key sectors, including the economy, transport, communications, and various industries. President Tokayev highlighted the significant potential of the proposed Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway line, which would follow the Turgundi–Herat–Kandahar–Spin Buldak route. He emphasized its strategic role in diversifying transport corridors and expanding access to export markets. Click here to read...
Tajikistan: Big purge at Interior Ministry
The government personnel carousel keeps spinning in Tajikistan. Ostensibly, President Emomali Rahmon says recent reshuffles at key government ministries are designed to improve professionalism, but many observers believe he is trying to clear the way for his politically inexperienced son, Rustam Emomali, to assume the leadership once he leaves the scene. Since the start of 2025, Rahmon has overhauled Tajikistan’s state security structures, the Ministry of Internal Affairs being the latest agency to undergo personnel make-over. In an April 22 presidential statement, Rahmon announced sweeping changes at both the national and district levels, emphasizing improvements in the training of “young personnel within Interior Ministry structures should be given serious attention.” Click here to read...
Tajikistan Launches Program to Reintegrate Convicted Extremists into Society
Tajik authorities have launched a state-backed program aimed at reintegrating citizens convicted of extremism and terrorism into peaceful civilian life. The initiative, which will run from 2025 to 2029, seeks to reduce the likelihood of re-engagement with radical movements and support the return of these individuals to society. According to official documents, the program is set to receive 38.5 million Tajikistani somoni (approximately $3.6 million) in funding. Nearly half of the funds will come from the state budget, with the remainder provided through international grants and extra-budgetary sources. The initiative includes a comprehensive set of measures: physical and psychological rehabilitation, vocational training, employment support, and involvement in patriotic and cultural activities. These components are designed to assist former prisoners in adjusting to life outside correctional facilities. Upon release, participants will be closely monitored to prevent any return to extremist ideologies. Implementation and oversight will be managed by local authorities and specialized agencies under the Ministry of Justice, which is tasked with submitting regular progress reports to the government. Click here to read...
Tajikistan: Rogun Dam project going under microscope
The World Bank is under fire over allegations of impropriety in financing the Rogun Dam project in Tajikistan. Specifically, bank officials are facing accusations that they failed to comply with procedures to account for potential environmental and socio-economic harms associated with the project. A statement issued April 8 by the World Bank’s Inspection Panel, an independent investigative body, announced the registration of a formal Request for Inspection, in effect a complaint, concerning the bank’s involvement in the Rogun hydropower project (HPP). Bank officials now have three weeks to respond to the allegations raised in the complaint. At that point, the Inspection Panel will decide whether or not to conduct a formal investigation. The complaint was initiated in February by two concerned citizens in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with the assistance of a Kazakhstan-based environmental organization, Rivers without Boundaries. Click here to read...
Kazakhstan and Czech Republic strengthen energy ties with Kazatomprom-ČEZ uranium deal
Kazakhstan’s state-owned uranium producer, Kazatomprom, has entered into a long-term supply agreement with ČEZ, a. s., one of Central Europe’s largest energy companies, enhancing energy cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.Under the seven-year deal, Kazatomprom will supply Kazakh natural uranium concentrates to ČEZ, with volumes sufficient to cover roughly one-third of the uranium requirements for Westinghouse-manufactured fuel assemblies used at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. The agreement reinforces the Czech Republic’s energy security and strengthens efforts toward clean and sustainable power generation. The official signing ceremony was held at ČEZ headquarters in Prague, attended by senior executives from both companies. The deal is part of Kazatomprom’s broader strategy to diversify its sales channels and expand its presence in the European market. Click here to read...
Russia removes Taliban from terrorist list, acknowledging it as legitimate leadership of Afghanistan
Russia has formally removed the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organisations, officially recognising it has the legitimate government of Afghanistan on April 17. The removal of the terrorist label that has been place for two decades is an official recognition of a de facto policy that has been in place shortly after the Taliban seized back frontal of the country following the US chaotic withdrawal in 2021. While formally the government cannot deal with a terrorist organisation, Taliban leaders have been frequent visitors to Moscow and even sent a delegation to last year’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russia’ premier investment forum. The decision was handed down by Russia’s Supreme Court following a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office. It follows a legislative amendment signed into law by President Vladimir Putin in late 2024, which allows for the reclassification of entities if it can be demonstrated that they no longer engage in terrorist activities. Click here to read...
Iran And South Caucasus
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan hold working meeting on defense cooperation in Baku
A working meeting between the defense delegations of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan took place in Baku, reinforcing the growing defense ties between the two countries. According to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, the meeting was held within the framework of the bilateral military cooperation plan for the current year. During the session, the Department of Military Strategy and Defense Planning of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense delivered an in-depth presentation to the Uzbek delegation, highlighting the progress achieved in defense planning and project management within the Azerbaijani Army. This meeting is part of Azerbaijan’s broader efforts to strengthen military partnerships with fellow members of regional organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States, of which both Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are members. Click here to read...
Azerbaijan Hosts Türkiye-Israel Talks to Avoid Conflict in Syria
Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, hosted a meeting between delegations from Türkiye and Israel, continuing its efforts to mediate and help reconcile the two countries’ conflicting interests in Syria. The Times of Israel quoted a senior Israeli official that the meeting took place on Wednesday to discuss plans for deconfliction and prevention of unwanted incidents in Syria. According to The Times of Israel, during the meeting, Israel “made it unequivocally clear that any change in the deployment of foreign forces in Syria, in particular the establishment of Turkish bases in the Palmyra (Tadmor) area, is a red line”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the participation of the delegation led by National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi at the talks in Baku. Click here to read...
Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev to visit China
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev will pay a three-day state visit to China, an official statement from Beijing said on Monday. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Aliyev will visit China starting Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said. Azerbaijan remains China’s top trade partner in the South Caucasus with bilateral trade at $3.7 billion in 2023. Ahead of Aliyev’s trip to Beijing, the two sides held the 10th session of the inter-governmental trade and economic cooperation commission in Baku. Click here to read...
