Bruce Pannier

Since Moscow launched its full-scale war in Ukraine, a growing number of people in Central Asia are reassessing the years under Russian and Soviet rule and what the region’s relationship with Russia should be going forward. Bruce Pannier and guests discuss this issue in the latest Majlis podcast.

Trade between Central Asia and Afghanistan has been expanding since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.

In the latest Majlis podcast, Bruce Pannier and guests look at the impact of racialization and ethnic discrimination on Central Asians in Russia.

The world's largest uranium producer, Kazakhstan's state atomic company Kazatomprom, is looking to expand its uranium mining beyond Kazakhstan's borders.

Alisher Kadyrov is 49 years old, the leader of Uzbekistan's Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party, the deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, and a former presidential candidate.

Kazakhs will vote on October 6 in a national referendum to authorize construction of a nuclear power plant. In recent winters, Kazakhstan has suffered power shortages, and officials say nuclear power could help. But Soviet nuclear testing in northeastern Kazakhstan left many leary of the dangers.

The waiting, worrying, and wondering are finally over for four Karakalpak activists who were detained in Kazakhstan some two years ago, and faced possible extradition back to Uzbekistan.

The start of 2024 saw some testy exchanges between Russian and Uzbek officials that then continued at more or less the same level throughout the year until September, when tensions noticeably increased.

The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs has released a report on military and security forces in Tajikistan. The work examines the 30-year history of the Tajik defense forces, their mission and composition, how they are deployed, and the role of foreign countries in training and equipping.

Turkmenistan is reconfiguring its natural gas export options. Despite holding the world’s fourth largest gas reserves, Turkmenistan is exporting less of its