iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A Georgian jailbird has started to sing, accusing the country’s political impresario, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and other officials of setting him up to take a fall on corruption charges.

eurasianet.org

Georgia: Jailed former prime minister blowing whistle on former colleagues

Allegations indicative of fierce infighting among leadership.

074

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

While the Trump Administration is interested in gaining access to Uzbekistan’s critical minerals, US wholesaler giant Costco is considering placing the Central Asian state’s fruits and vegetables on its store shelves, Uzbek state-aligned media outlets report.

eurasianet.org

Uzbek fruit exporters looking to break into US market

Expanding exports requires improved quality control.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Kazakhstan intends to increase natural gas imports from Russia. The purchase price may be cheap, but the overall cost could turn out to be steep because of pending new US sanctions on Russia.

eurasianet.org

Kazakhstan to boost purchases of Russian gas

Announcement coincides with looming US sanctions on Russian energy sector.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

While the Russian army is on its heels in Ukraine, the Kremlin is engaging in trade wars with fellow members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

eurasianet.org

One war is not enough: Russia instigating trade fights within Eurasian Economic Union

Astana retaliating against Russian protectionism.

011

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

South Korea is going all-in on developing trade ties with Central Asian states, joining the scramble for regional market share in key emerging sectors, including mining, transport and AI/IT.

eurasianet.org

Enter East Asian Tiger: South Korea to boost its economic footprint in Central Asia

First-ever summit in Seoul establishes trade framework.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Just days after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed an intention to reduce the country’s dependence on Russian natural gas imports, Russia’s provider, Gazprom Armenia, has taken the seemingly punitive step of announcing a prolonged cutoff of supplies. 🔗 eurasianet.org/russia-turns...

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

New UN Development Programme research from Moldova, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine and Uzbekistan reveals that care is becoming more essential than ever as societies age and labor shortages deepen.

eurasianet.org

Care: Economic infrastructure we cannot afford to ignore in Europe and Central Asia

Eurasianet commentary.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Kazakhstan, which has major oil reserves, is not in position to help offset a looming energy crisis by expanding production, industry analysts say.

eurasianet.org

Kazakh oil industry struggling amid global energy crisis

Pressure builds on Astana to diversify export options.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Like Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, the global grouping of emerging markets and developing countries, is intent on diminishing Western influence over the world economy.

eurasianet.org

BRICS seeking to diminish US influence over global economy

But China, Russia and Iran cannot assemble broader coalition of willing against US

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Kazakhstan’s dominant position in Central Asia’s wheat and flour market is coming under pressure as Russia, unable to ship large quantities via the Black Sea due to Ukraine’s drone prowess, is dumping its crop at prices that Astana can’t compete with.

eurasianet.org

Russia aiming to take away Central Asian wheat markets from Kazakhstan

With Black Sea export route problematic, Moscow looks towards Central Asia

001

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Kazakhstan and, to a lesser extent, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states are finding themselves caught in the middle of a deepening struggle between the United States and China for dominance of AI architecture and design.

eurasianet.org

News Analysis: Kazakhstan is in pickle created by US-China AI race

Washington is ready to say; ‘you’re either with us, or against us on AI’

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Kyrgyzstan has provided some clarity on the source of the recent blackout that impacted four states in Central Asia, while vigorously denying blame for the cascading outage.

eurasianet.org

Origin of recent Central Asian blackout pinpointed

Outage highlights shortcomings in regional grid.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Under Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s engagement with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) served both practical and ideological purposes.

eurasianet.org

Magyar’s Hungary in the Organization of Turkic States

Partner post from Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Amid a typically slow news cycle during vacation season, an intriguing tidbit appeared August 17 on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official website, a couple of lines about a tête-à-tête with former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko.

eurasianet.org

Azerbaijan and Ukraine working to boost trade ties

Former Ukrainian president appears to act as emissary.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

As the price of gold has hovered around $4,000 an ounce in recent weeks, the men in the small-scale mines north of the village of Soykechar in #Uzbekistan have watched every bounce and slide.

eurasianet.org

High gold prices prove boon for Central Asia, though “fundamentals not changing”

For miners, inflation and debt eats away at rising wages.

011

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

At a recent media forum held in the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Shusha, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev described the country’s #Soviet past as a colonial experience.

eurasianet.org

Inventing “Soviet jazz capital”: State-sponsored myth of Baku jazz

Eurasianet commentary

023

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Representatives of the railway administrations of #Uzbekistan, #Turkmenistan, #Türkiye, #Georgia, #Azerbaijan and #Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement to further develop the CASCA+ corridor (Central Asia–South Caucasus–Anatolia+).

eurasianet.org

Regional connectivity and Central Asia’s need for unified strategy

A partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Top officials from #Kazakhstan, #Kyrgyzstan, #Tajikistan and #Uzbekistan gathered recently in #Shanghai to attend the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping presented an ⁠ambitious vision for the Beijing’s leadership in the global AI race.

eurasianet.org

Central Asian states following China’s lead on AI

China-Central Asia Monitor: July 10-17, 2026.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The results of Armenia’s parliamentary election in June dealt Russia’s bid to reassert its grip on the #SouthCaucasus a serious blow, and the reverberations are not confined to #Moscow, #Washington and #Brussels.

eurasianet.org

News analysis: China & Japan calibrating trans-Caspian trade strategies

All eyes on Pashinyan’s efforts to amend Armenian Constitution.

030

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

#Azerbaijan is working hard this summer to build bridges across the Caspian Sea, announcing a variety of projects to expand Middle Corridor trade with Central Asian states.

eurasianet.org

Azerbaijan keeps building trans-Caspian trade connections

New initiatives with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan revealed.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

What is likely Sen. Steve Daines’ last visit in an official capacity to the #Caspian Basin region may turn out to be his most important. 🔗 eurasianet.org/influential-...

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

#Kazakhstan is growing more possessive of its petroleum products as a gasoline shortage tightens its grip in #Russia and the #US-Iran conflict reignites.

eurasianet.org

Kazakhstan tightens control over petroleum products

020

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

#China has walked away from the #Anaklia Deep Sea Port project, ending speculation over one of #Georgia’s most important infrastructure projects. The Georgian government now says it wants to develop and operate the port on its own.

eurasianet.org

China quietly exits Georgian port deal

Tbilisi doubling down on stronger state role.

021

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

After mounting an unsuccessful campaign to sink #Armenian Prime Minister Nikol #Pashinyan’s reelection chances, #Russia is now telling him that it is time to bury the hatchet. 🔗 eurasianet.org/pashinyan-tr...

030

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

#China is planning to deploy a constellation of over 1,000 remote-sensing satellites to observe #CentralAsia, according to China’s official news outlets Xinhua and The People’s Daily.

eurasianet.org

China to launch satellite constellation to keep eyes on Central Asia

China-Central Asia Monitor: June 26 - July 2, 2026.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The downfall of #Kyrgyzstan’s former state security services boss, Kamchybek Tashiev, has ended with a conviction on a coup conspiracy charge and probation.

eurasianet.org

Kyrgyzstan: Former state security chief gets probation for conspiring against president

Last chapter in political purge.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Boxing legend Evander #Holyfield is making a comeback of sorts. He is mulling plans to open a boxing academy in #Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian nation of #Kyrgyzstan, according to local media reports.

eurasianet.org

Kyrgyzstan lures heavyweight champ to promote Bishkek as boxing hub

President has affinity for pugilism.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

The signs are multiplying that Vladimir #Putin’s powers of coercion are rapidly fading, and his chief instruments of regional leverage are dissolving.

eurasianet.org

Ukrainian pressure causing Russia-led regional security organization to unravel

Eurasian Economic Union also facing legitimacy crisis.

021

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

#China’s state-owned conglomerate Sinopec Engineering Group has reached an agreement with Australia-based Allied Biofuels to conduct engineering, design and construction work on a $6.1 billion biorefinery project in #Uzbekistan.

eurasianet.org

Chinese conglomerate secures multi-billion green-energy deal in Uzbekistan

China-Central Asia Monitor: June 19-25, 2026.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

#Kazakhstan’s Muftiate, the chief administrative body for Muslims in the Central Asian nation, has issued a religious ruling that calls on young people to resist the temptations of modernity and procreate.

eurasianet.org

Kazakh religious leaders tell young people: Go forth and have kids!

Firing broadside against materialism and individualism.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

#Pakistan has approved and operationalized new land routes to connect Central Asian markets to Pakistani ports and beyond, utilizing strategic corridors through #Iran and #China to bypass #Afghanistan entirely.

eurasianet.org

How Pakistan is reshaping Eurasian trade corridors

A partner post from the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.

020

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Fresh off a convincing victory in a fiercely contested parliamentary election, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol #Pashinyan is wasting no time in trying to integrate #Armenia firmly into the West’s security and economic architecture. 🔗 eurasianet.org/armenia-putt...

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Grappling with a severe shortage, #Russia is seeking to purchase a significant volume of gasoline from neighboring #Kazakhstan. Astana appears hesitant to fulfill the request, however, apparently concerned that doing so might entail consequences for the Central Asian nation’s own energy exports.

eurasianet.org

Kazakhstan hesitates to go through with Russian gas-supply request

Astana put in hard place.

020

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Fresh polling data shows a vast divide separating #Georgia’s governing class from the governed when it comes to the future direction of the country.

eurasianet.org

As Georgians back West, their leaders lean East – polling data

US lawmakers push new measures amid concerns over Russian and Chinese influence.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

#Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to #EU’s headquarters in #Brussels has yielded agreements and MoUs potentially valued at over 12 billion dollars. The key deal involves the purchase of 50 Airbus passenger jets for 7.1 billion euros. 🔗 eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-a...

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The governments of #Kazakhstan and #Uzbekistan are pressing ahead with efforts to build rail and road connections through Afghanistan to connect #CentralAsia to South Asian and Persian #Gulf seaports.

eurasianet.org

Top Kazakh official visits Kabul for transit-focused discussions

Uzbekistan also interested in trans-Afghan routes to seaports.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The head of #China’s National Energy Administration, Wang Hongzhi, visited #Kazakhstan to participate in the inaugural meeting of the #Kazakhstan-China Joint Working Group on Cooperation in Civil #Nuclear Energy.

eurasianet.org

Kazakh and Chinese officials sign protocol on nuclear energy cooperation

China-Central Asia Monitor: June 12- June 18, 2026.

010

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

This essay is part of a series by American diplomats sharing their impressions of the dramatic early years of Central Asia’s independence from the Soviet Union. These memoirs were written at the invitation of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.

eurasianet.org

Memoir: Pioneering diplomacy in Astana

Getting to ‘yes’ on moving embassy.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

During a recent trade event in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, #Chinese and #Kazakh officials agreed in principle on 24 different projects to develop Alatau City, a futuristic urban center intended to become a regional hub of finance and digital innovation.

eurasianet.org

Kazakh president’s pet project gets boost from China

China-Central Asia Monitor: June 5-11, 2026.

000

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

The extended disruption caused by the #US-Iran conflict highlights a need for diversifying energy export routes to reduce dependency on shipping via the Strait of #Hormuz.

eurasianet.org

New initiative launched to redirect Gulf energy flows away from Strait toward Mediterranean

Syria envisioned as key cog in new energy distribution network.

001

Eurasianet @eurasianet.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

#Armenia is taking action that has the potential to undermine the credibility of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union #EAEU by seeking redress for recent trade barriers imposed by the Kremlin on Armenian goods.

eurasianet.org

Yerevan appealing Russian bans on Armenian exports

Pashinyan puts EAEU in no-win position.

010