President Emomali Rakhmon recently awarded his daughter Ozoda the honorary title of ‘Exemplary Worker of Tajikistan’. This is yet another example of the habit of Central Asian satraps to generously bestow high honours, medals and awards of all kinds on members of their own families.

The case of a 15-year-old boy who died in Tajikistan as a result of “exemplary corporal punishment” inflicted by his father has reignited the spotlight on the issue of domestic violence. According to some data, 60% of children under the age of 14 in the country are victims of domestic violence. And despite the prohibitions introduced by law, the problem is exacerbated today by ‘demonstration videos’ sent to relatives or uploaded to social networks in search of social approval.

Of the five countries, only Turkmenistan is not a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in keeping with its traditional international neutrality, but President Serdar Berdymukhamedov was nevertheless present at the parade in Beijing. Trade between the region and China grew by 5% last year and will soon exceed 0 billion. Russia is now forced to play a secondary role.

The President of Kazakhstan claims to have brought about a “great change” in the country's politics and society. And although the former president's clan remains a sort of shadow power, the Astana government continually reports the recovery of assets they took abroad. But according to sociologists Bejsembaev and Tlegenova, there has been no division of powers and the country is ruled by a new generation of autocracy.

The exhibition opened in early August with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. It was organised by the Sovereign Order of Malta and the charity foundation Kirche im Not. Minister Balaeva: ‘A testimony to the spiritual growth of humanity as a whole.’ A unique relic that has attracted interest since ancient times.

It is increasingly difficult for residents to move, with central streets cleared waiting for the motorcades to pass, while cars are lined up in columns on the side streets. Citizens are forced to walk in the scorching heat. In Tashkent, the ‘clean-up’ of the city center can take ‘extreme’ forms, with armored vehicles opening fire on cars that block the way.