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| Germany rolls out the red carpet for Berdymukhamedov. (Photo courtesy of REGIERUNGonline) |
Turkmenistan: Germany, Austria Embrace Realpolitik in Their Dealings with Ashgabat
BY JAN-THILO KLIMISCH
The global economic slowdown appears to be giving Turkmenistan’s leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, a boost.
Russia: Bully No More?
Hubris has been a source of woe for many powers throughout history. Just in the last decade, hubris induced the United States to get bogged down in Iraq, and now it looks like it’s pushing Russia into a financial disaster.
Tajikistan: Journalists Concerned over New Legal Obstacles
BY KONSTANTIN PARSHIN
Journalists and human rights experts in Tajikistan have raised concerns about recent amendments to the country’s criminal code that appear to make it easier for officials to launch prosecutions for libel and defamation.
Uzbekistan: Tashkent Has the Power to Influence the Outcome of the Afghan War
The battle for Afghanistan may well be won or lost in Uzbekistan. With the Taliban making it increasingly difficult to re-supply NATO and US troops in Afghanistan via Pakistan, Tashkent offers the easiest solution to a vital logistical dilemma.
Tajikistan: More Woes With the Cotton Harvest
Tajikistan’s cotton crop is lagging far behind government targets, officials say. The crop shortfall could serve as an early warning sign of a humanitarian crisis in the Central Asian nation.
Kazakhstan: IMF Official Praises Kazakhstani Bank Bailout Plan
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is endorsing Kazakhstan’s multi-billion dollar bailout program, which aims to shore up the country’s sagging banking sector.
Taliban’s Spiritual Fathers Denounce Terror. Could Taliban Be Next?
BY JEFFREY DONOVAN, ABUBAKAR SIDDIQUE
What would happen if the Taliban’s spiritual fathers denounced terrorism? That, in effect, is what has taken place in Deoband, the northern Indian hometown of the austere form of Sunni Islam followed by the Taliban.
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL
Kyrgyzstan: Energy Crisis Threatens Country’s Stability
BY ARSLAN MAMATOV
It is the main topic of conversation at every dinner table in the country. After nine months of erratic blackouts and broken government promises, the Kyrgyz are growing restless. Many are even saying the situation is worse than before the Tulip Revolution in 2005.
Cartoon Dispatches from Central Asia
Political cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall has travelled extensively in Central Asia. Here, EurasiaNet features his irreverent take on the region.
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Kyrgyzstan: 1,500 Attend Anti-Government Rally
An anti-government protest in Kyrgyzstan on November 18 drew a crowd of about 1,500. Organizers asserted that in the days leading up to the rally, authorities used violence and intimidation in an attempt to foil the event.
Afghanistan: Refugee Returns Should No Longer Be a Cause for Celebration in Kabul
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY AUNOHITA MOJUMDAR
Afghanistan lately boasts few reasons for optimism. But on the short list that international community representatives and Afghan government officials regularly point to as cause for optimism, one holds pride of place: the fact that 5 million refugees have returned to their homeland since 2001.
Uzbekistan: Islamic Radical Cell Broken Up in Tashkent
The Uzbek Interior Ministry has announced the break-up of an all-female Islamic radical cell that had been operating in Tashkent.
Afghanistan: Can Karzai and the Taliban Make Peace?
A EURASIANET COMMENTARY BY MARK N. KATZ
There have been several news stories recently about talks taking place between the US-backed Karzai government and the Taliban aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan. But can these two parties actually reach such an agreement? If so, what would it look like?
Tajikistan: Dushanbe Implementing Diplomatic Rotation
President Imomali Rahmon’s administration in Tajikistan is shaking up the country’s diplomatic corps. The latest move came on November 18 with the announcement that Zubaydullo Zubaydov, formerly a counselor at the Tajik embassy in Moscow, would become ambassador to Pakistan.
Georgia: A Tiny Village Emerges as a Potential Flashpoint
BY MOLLY CORSO
The tenuous security situation in the Georgian village of Perevi has exposed a conundrum for both Georgia and European Union. Both want Moscow to fully withdraw its forces from the town, but they have been forced to tacitly acknowledge that an abrupt Russian departure could result in a renewal of fighting between Georgians and Ossetians.
Uzbekistan: Moscow Giving Tashkent the Silent Treatment
BY SERGEI BLAGOV
Russian leaders publicly have downplayed the significance of Uzbekistan’s withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Community. Yet, experts in Moscow say that Tashkent’s action delivered a considerable blow to the Kremlin’s strategic economic plans in Central Asia.
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EurasiaNet Special Feature 
EurasiaNet Special Feature 
EurasiaNet Special Feature 
EurasiaNet Special Feature 
EurasiaNet Special Feature 
EurasiaNet Special Feature 
Turkmenistan Project 