Region

Central Asia

Stories under this heading cover Central Asia – a region of Asia, stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to Mongolia in the east, from Afghanistan in the south to Russia in the north.

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Landmark EU - Central Asia summit held in Samarkand

Landmark EU - Central Asia summit held in Samarkand

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa travelled to Uzbekistan to participate in a landmark EU–Central Asia summit. Held on 3–4 April, the event brings together EU leaders with the heads of state and government of the five Central Asian republics. Alongsidei the host, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the summit was also attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
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Ministers meet in Ashgabat ahead of next week’s EU-Central Asia Summit

Ministers meet in Ashgabat ahead of next week’s EU-Central Asia Summit

On 27 March 2025, the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas held their 20th European Union-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. The ministers discussed the preparations for the organisation of the first EU-Central Asia Summit on 4 April 2025 in Samarkand in Uzbekistan, which will demonstrate their commitment to deepening ties with the EU, at the highest level, materialising closer strategic cooperation, and marking an important step in the intensification of EU-Central Asia relations.

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Kazakhstan holds parliamentary elections

Kazakhstan holds parliamentary elections

Commonspace.eu political editor said in a comment that whilst no dramatic changes are expected in the election, and the ruling party is expected to win comfortably, the elections can contribute to widening the political playing field in the country and add stimulus to the process of reform initiated by president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. 
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Outrage in Kazakhstan after Russian politicians appear to question the country's territorial integrity

Outrage in Kazakhstan after Russian politicians appear to question the country's territorial integrity

Kazakhs are outraged by comments by Russian politicians questioning their country's territorial integrity. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev rejected the assertion that any Kazakh territory was  a "gift from Russia", and said that such "provocative" comments were intended to "spoil" relations between the two neighbours.
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Kazakhstan formally abolishes the death penalty

Kazakhstan formally abolishes the death penalty

The law “On Ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aimed at Abolishing the Death Penalty”, was signed by president Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev  formally ending the use of the death penalty in the country. Kazakhstan declared a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in 2003.
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Improvised oral poetry remains a popular entertainment in Kazakhstan

Improvised oral poetry remains a popular entertainment in Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan,  improvised oral poetry, spoken or sung to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments, has for centuries been a source of entertainment. The Kazakh government has since independence in 1991 been keen to promote the tradition, known in Kazakh as Akyndar Aitysy, since this is seen as a way of consolidating national identity.