Uzbekistan

by Vladimir Rozanskij | CENTRAL ASIA

After much hesitation and meetings at the level of individual countries, now in Samarkand the European Union has openly declared its intention to ‘raise relations to the level of strategic partnership’ with the region as a whole. But local leaders, who aim to ‘diversify’ their foreign policy, are waiting to see how many resources Brussels will really put on the table.

The ‘modern’ Ramadan of today's Central Asia

by Vladimir Rozanskij | CENTRAL ASIA

Tbilisi and Tashkent bet on a Central Corridor

by Vladimir Rozanskij | GEORGIA - UZBEKISTAN
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The company Yandex has increased the percentages for taxi drivers, and has stifled all the other players in the market for the transport of people and goods (including Uber) in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The measures launched by the local antitrust agencies have been ineffective.

| 25/02/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The two countries are working on a new mechanism to govern the flow of migrant workers. By passing in Uzbekistan special examinations in Russian language and legislation, they will be able to obtain a ‘licence’ necessary for issuing residence permits. Legalisation is an issue made more urgent by the serious labour shortage caused by the mobilisation in the war in Ukraine

| 10/02/2025
| UZBEKISTAN - RUSSIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

From Kazakhstan to Tajikistan, procedures have been adopted throughout the region to change the spelling of surnames by eliminating the patronymic forms imposed during tsarist and Soviet domination, in order to recover Turkic or other ethnic roots. However, only a few personalities have taken this step, perceived by many as an unnecessary complication.

| 31/01/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

With Russia's doors increasingly closed, many workers from the region have left for South Korea. But Central Asians seeking prospects in Western countries are also increasing, often ending up as victims of unscrupulous exploiters. Turkey as an intermediate destination where they stay for a few years hoping then to reach Europe or America.

| 13/01/2025
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

From Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan former leading politicians are on trial on charges of high treason just because they were identified as possible alternatives to ‘dynastic’ successions. While in Kazakhstan on trial is a group that allegedly ‘menacingly’ planned to storm the presidential palace with a tractor and a cannon loaded with potato fragments.

| 13/12/2024
| CENTRAL ASIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Two high-ranking security officials in prison, dozens of other personalities forced to resign. Accused of opaque relations with businessmen and mafia clans. One of them was known for torturing a blogger critical of President Mirziyoyev.

| 10/12/2024
| UZBEKISTAN
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