A dark horse has emerged ahead of Tajikistan's national elections that could add some excitement to an otherwise predictable poll.
Following considerable effort to transform its image, Central Asia's only religiously based political party, Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance Party, enters the gate determined to change the status quo.
Orozbek's daughters are making green tea. As my eyes adjust to the darkness inside his family's yurt, the little girls fuss with plastic cauldrons of water around a small tin stove stuffed with yak dung.
Turkish authorities on February 24 jailed 12 senior military officers, both active-duty and retired, on suspicion of plotting a coup. The jailings offer the clearest sign yet of the rapidly declining political influence of the Turkish military, which has overthrown four governments since 1960.
A reticent Richard Holbrooke completed a lightning tour of Central Asia on February 21, a trip designed to bolster regional support for NATO efforts in Afghanistan. Publicly, the Obama administration's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan received vague promises of support from Central Asian leaders.
Richard Holbrooke, Washington's point man for Afghanistan, met with Georgian soldiers on February 22 and praised Tbilisi's decision to contribute to the US-led stabilization mission in Afghanistan.
Turkish film "Bal" (Honey) was the surprise winner of the Golden Bear -- the top prize at the 60th Berlin Film Festival -- and Roman Polanski was crowned best director for his political thriller "The Ghost Writer."
The May 30 vote will be the first time that Tbilisi residents vote directly for their mayor, who until now has been an appointee of the City Council. Figuring prominently in public discussion about the vote is a series of costly social-services programs being implemented by incumbent Mayor Gigi Ugulava, one of Georgia's key power brokers.
The United States is stepping up its role in brokering reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey, aiming to reinvigorate the stalled process. The impending debate over a US Congressional resolution to formally recognize the Armenian genocide, however, is shaping up as a wild card in the delicate process.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev's administration in Kazakhstan has received a diplomatic boost from Russia, as Astana strives to convene a summit of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe member states.
