Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus
Last week in Central Asia and the Caucasus, continued violence in Afghanistan ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire deal being reached at the ongoing peace talks. In Kazakhstan, opposition protests continued.…
Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus
28 June-4 July 2020
Last week in Central Asia, clashes between Afghan forces resulted in further civilian fatalities as coronavirus cases increased both in the country and reportedly within the Afghan army. In Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, governments reintroduced coronavirus restrictions, followed by protests by various groups in both countries.…
Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus
31 May – 6 June 2020
Last week in Central Asia and the Caucasus, clashes between Taliban and Afghan forces continued at lower levels in Afghanistan; opposition protests took place all over Kazakhstan; and fresh rounds of violence along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek-Tajik border resulted in casualties.…
Everlasting or Ever-Changing? Violence Along the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border
In the volatile region of the Ferghana valley, where the borders of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan converge (see map below), violent confrontations between locals and state forces have been a longstanding concern.…
Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus
17-30 May 2020
During the past two weeks in Central Asia and the Caucasus, deadly clashes continued in Afghanistan, though an unexpected truce by the Taliban decreased violence significantly. Protests related to coronavirus measures continued in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as new regulations on civil society organizations and public events caused unrest in both countries.…
Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus
3-9 May 2020
Last week in Central Asia and the Caucasus, battles between Afghan security forces and the Taliban resulted in a high number of casualties, calling the US peace deal into question, while a deadly demonstration took place in Ghor province over the distribution of food aid during the coronavirus crisis.…
Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus 19-25 January 2020
Over the past week in Central Asia and the Caucasus, significant developments include: continued fighting in Afghanistan resulting in civilian fatalities; arrests in Tajikistan targeting alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood; and a court decision in Kazakhstan concerning two ethnic Kazakh men who fled from the Xinjiang region of China.…
Regional Overview: Central Asia and the Caucasus 12-18 January 2020
During the past week, key developments in Central Asia and the Caucasus include the establishment of a border protocol between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; protests over a new social aid policy in Kazakhstan; and a drop in the number of conflict events recorded in Afghanistan amid harsh winter conditions, and moves toward a potential new truce.…