Russian Gas Supplies to Uzbekistan Set to Grow

Russian Gas Supplies to Uzbekistan Set to Grow

In October 2023, Uzbekistan began importing gas from Russia via Kazakhstan. The initial volume, intended to cover winter shortages, was cited as 2.8 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year (9 million cubic meters per day). That figure looks set to grow considerably, with TASS reporting on March 5 that materials presented to the board of … Read more

Russian Neo-Imperialist Assertions Spark Pushback in Uzbekistan

Uzbek Journalists and Bloggers Suffer from Mirziyoyev’s Broken Promises on Freedom of Speech

Zakhar Prilepin, a notable Russian public figure, made a startling statement during a press conference in Moscow on December 20, 2023. Advocating for the Soviet Union’s restoration and Russian language imposition in former Soviet states, his remarks have resonated deeply within public discourse in Uzbekistan. Prilepin’s televised remark that Russia could claim territories with significant … Read more

Why the Middle Corridor Is a Double-Edged Sword

Why the Middle Corridor Is a Double-Edged Sword

In late November, the World Bank published an economic analysis on the potential of the Middle Corridor to develop over the next decade. The report estimates that by 2030, travel times between the western border of China and Europe will halve, and freight volumes will triple to 11 million tons. This comes on the heels … Read more

What Fate Awaits Russians Detained in Central Asia, Awaiting Extradition?

What Fate Awaits Russians Detained in Central Asia, Awaiting Extradition?

Advertisement Central Asia remains geopolitically stuck between the East and West amid the Russian war in Ukraine. The cases of Russians detained in the region for various reasons, and facing possible extradition in either direction, are particularly interesting to track. But drawing conclusions about alignment from them is a fool’s game. Russian IT expert Nikita … Read more

Cancel Culture Hits Central Asia’s Concert Scene

Cancel Culture Hits Central Asia’s Concert Scene

Advertisement Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has changed the flow of music performances, sending an increasing number of Russian, Ukrainian, and Western singers to Central Asia. In June, concerts by Russian performers planned in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan were canceled. The range of actors responsible for the concert cancellations and their motivations for … Read more

Uzbekistan-Russia Energy Relations: A Tale of 2 Problems

Uzbekistan-Russia Energy Relations: A Tale of 2 Problems

Advertisement Faced with dwindling gas sales to Europe, Russia has been re-routing its stranded gas reserves to countries like Uzbekistan, where infrastructure for pumping gas is already in place. This renewed cooperation presents both a problem and an opportunity for Tashkent. A flurry of recent bilateral meetings demonstrates that the Kremlin has been encouraging – … Read more