SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 13, 2010
Azerbaijan is rife with corruption and comparisons to European feudalism in the Middle Ages are hardly a stretch. But with vast reserves of oil and natural gas at stake, the US is willing to risk the embarrassment that comes with courting the country. By Gregor Peter Schmitz more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 12, 2010
The US is anxious to broaden its influence in Central Asia -- and limit that of Russia. The result, however, are questionable alliances with some of the strangest despots in the world. By Uwe Klussmann and Christian Neef more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- November 05, 2010
International observers consider Tajikistan to be a failed state in the midst of a national crisis. A growing mood of protest there is benefitting the Islamic opposition. Hundreds of new mosques have opened since the beginning of the year, and more women are seen wearing veils on the streets of Dushanbe. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- November 05, 2010
The world's great powers are all vying for influence and access in Central Asian countries, which are important supply hubs in the Afghanistan war and could become pivotal in reducing Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas. Despite the interest, the countries in the region still haven't come up with a vision for a common future. By Erich Follath and Christian Neef more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- October 29, 2010
Uzbekistan is both a nation of terror led by brutal dictator Islam Karimov and a partner of the West that is an important staging ground for NATO's war in Afghanistan. Its story is best told through the eyes of two men -- the flamboyant former British ambassador and the current top German diplomat in the country. By Erich Follath and Christian Neef more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- October 15, 2010
Kazakhstan has oil, coal and uranium -- and a capital full of stunning architecture. President Nursultan Nazarbayev hopes his country can become the region's leading economy, but his heavy-handed cult of personality is not universally welcomed. Others worry about China's growing influence. By Erich Follath and Christian Neef more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- October 08, 2010
In a special series, SPIEGEL explores Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. These countries, once the center of the "Great Game," a bitter struggle over natural resources and strategic bases between the British and Russian colonial powers, are seeing history repeat itself. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- October 08, 2010
In the wake of ethnic violence in June that killed almost 2,000 people, Kyrgyzstan has been plagued by violence and lawlessness. Now the country is to become the first parliamentary republic in Central Asia. But is it ready for democracy? By Erich Follath and Christian Neef in Osh, Kyrgyzstan more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- June 28, 2010
The vast majority of Kyrgyzstan's residents may have voted in favor of the country's interim government and its planned democratic reforms in Sunday's referendum, but the deposed Kyrgyz president is convinced they are harming his homeland. In a SPIEGEL interview, Kurmanbek Bakiyev said the current leaders are "unfit" to govern the country. By Benjamin Bidder in Minsk more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- June 21, 2010
Kyrgyzstan's interim president, Roza Otunbayeva, has been struggling to deal with ethnic violence in her country. In a SPIEGEL interview, she claims that supporters of her predecessor Kurmanbek Bakiyev are deliberately trying to stoke conflict and speaks of her efforts to make Kyrgyzstan into a parliamentary democracy. By Benjamin Bidder more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- June 21, 2010
Kyrgyzstan was once seen as a model of democracy in Central Asia. Now it appears to have become ungovernable, with tens of thousands of residents fleeing the country after deadly ethnic clashes. Is this the end of democracy in the region? By Benjamin Bidder and Matthias Schepp more...
