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Silk Roads (plural!)

Silk Roads (plural!)

I wish I had uploaded this back in mid-November, but here it is. S. Frederick Starr, Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University, presented his advice for American leadership in Central Asia.His presentation is a overview of US strategy and possibilities in a time of constrained resources …

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Uzbekistan draws unauthorized power from Kazakh grid, says Kazakh official…again.

Uzbekistan draws unauthorized power from Kazakh grid, says Kazakh official…again.

Uzbekistan is systematically sneaking electricity from Kazakhstan’s power grid beyond amounts agreed between the two parties, the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) claims. Kazakhstan has had tensions with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan off and on for the last ten years on electricity. Basically, there isn’t enough electricity for …

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A sliver of hope for Tajikistan

A sizeable amount of natural gas has been found in Tajikistan- 60 billion cubic meters of gas, enough to supply Tajikistan for 50 years. Some of this gas may be available this year to Tajik households, freeing the country from Uzbekistan’s stranglehold on energy supplies. With a few …

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Kyrgyzstan's parliamentary elections

Kyrgyzstan's parliamentary elections

Ata-Jurt leader Kamchybek Tashiev
Yesterday, on October 10, Kyrgyz voters cast their ballots for a new parliament. Overall, there were not a lot of new faces chosen, casting doubt on a fresh start after June’s riots and killings, when over 400 people reportedly died and more than 400,000 were forced out of their …

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Understanding what happened in Kyrgyzstan

I have struggled to try to understand what happened in Kyrgyzstan this summer, specifically the “interethnic” clashes in June. My graduate studies focus on Central Asia in the 19th century, and frankly, much has changed. I am sometimes ill-equipped to fully explain whats happening now with my knowledge of the …

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Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan

First of all, a shout-out to the folks at registan.net, for doing everything well. Here is a great post on how sudden and unexpected the violence was for journalists and scholars of the region, as the region is known for for relative peace. Poverty, but peace. What is …

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Ethnic violence is getting worse in Kyrgyzstan's south

Ethnic violence is getting worse in Kyrgyzstan's south

At least 77 people have died in clashes in the south of Kyrgyzstan, according to Al-Jazeera. It seems that thousands of ethnic Uzbeks, mostly women and children, are fleeing for safety to Uzbekistan. They claim that they have been attacked by militias and by the Kyrgyz military and …

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Instability continues in Kyrgyzstan

The BBC reports that Friday May 14th, there were clashes in the southern city of Jalalabad between supporters of ousted president Bakiyev and supporters of the interim government. 2 people were killed and 60 injured as nearly 2,000 of Bakiyev’s supporters attempted to re-gain control of government buildings. …

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Where to go for Kyrgyz updates

The recent events in Kyrgyzstan have not only raised the question of what actually happened there, but how we can understand it? The NYTimes and CNN have mostly been awful, with some exceptions: This opinion piece being the major one.
On the other hand, Registan.net has been extraordinary. This …

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Kyrgyzstan in turmoil

Kyrgyzstan in turmoil

A state of emergency has been declared in response to massive protests over a spike in utility costs. Kurmanbek Bakiyev seems to have stepped down, left the country, and the opposition has claimed control over the government. 100 people have been killed, the police are firing live rounds …

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Not so bad news.

Not so bad news.

Happy Novruz everyone. I am full on plov from the Seattle-Tashkent sister city celebration. Mmm.

Kazakh Oil Company leaders have met with striking workers in Zhanaozen. Since March 4, several thousand workers have been striking over various issues relating to wages and leadership. As head of the OSCE, Kazakhstan is …

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The Uranium Market in Kazakhstan

The Uranium Market in Kazakhstan

The Washington Post has a fascinating article on the uranium market in Kazakhstan, complete with extensive photo galleries. The most illuminating aspect was the arrest of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, the former chief executive of the state nuclear firm Kazatomprom. According to the Post, “the KNB, local successor to …

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Nabucco update

Nabucco, the gas pipeline that will transport energy to Europe without Gazprom, has always been tentative. Turkmenistan, the main supplier, seems to have

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Are Central Asian governments creating extremism?

Are Central Asian governments creating extremism?

Danish journalist Michael Andersen argues yes. His new documentary, available via youtube, here: Documentary
His interview can be found on ferghana.ru’s website, http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=2604
Radio Liberty comments here on official Islam.
Overall, I agree with Andersen. He can be reached at michaelandersencentralasia@yahoo.com

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Russia and Turkmenistan mend their relationship

Russia and Turkmenistan mend their relationship

At the end of December, leaders of Russia and Turkmenistan met to discuss the future of their relationship. First, on December 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met in Ashgabat and signed an agreement to expand bilateral “strategic” energy cooperation. Then the heads …

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About the Author

Elina Galperin
Elina Galperin

Elina Galperin was born in Minsk, Belarus and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating from Stuyvesant High School in 2004, she attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she majored in History and Russian Studies. After finishing her senior thesis on the politics of education among the Kazakhs in the late Imperial period, she graduated in February 2008. In September 2010, she received a Masters of Arts Degree in History, having passed qualifying exams on the Russian and Ottoman empires in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Fall 2011, she advanced to doctoral candidacy, having passed exams in four fields: Russian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Soviet Union, Mongol Empire, focusing on administrative practices and empire-building.

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