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The US and Central Asia open a critical minerals dialogue in AstanaKazakhstan touts its titanium and pledges $470 million for explorationTajikistan is the EBRD’s fastest-growing regional economy, with one big catchCampaign over, silence begins: what Armenia goes into June 7 with
PoliticsBrief11 Jun

Kazakhstan’s Senate ratifies a border-regime deal with Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan’s Senate ratified the agreement governing the regime along its 2,356-kilometre border with Uzbekistan on 11 June, the last legal step in a demarcation the two finished in 2022.

In one day, Kazakhstan courts Washington, Beijing and Moscow
PoliticsAnalysis11 Jun

In one day, Kazakhstan courts Washington, Beijing and Moscow

On a single day this week Kazakhstan opened a US-led minerals dialogue, banked 6 billion dollars from China for a new city, and offered to pump more Russian gas to its neighbour. That is multi-vector foreign policy as a daily schedule.

PoliticsBrief10 Jun

US House passes a bill on Chinese and Russian influence in Georgia

The US House passed the Countering China’s Control of the Caucasus Act on 8 June, ordering a classified report on Russian and Chinese intelligence activity in Georgia. It is the sharpest sign yet of Washington’s rift with Tbilisi.

Armenia Elections
PoliticsAnalysis8 Jun

Pashinyan wins — and the margin tells the real story

The final results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections have cemented Nikol Pashinyan’s third consecutive term, but the tight mathematical metrics reveal a complex legislative landscape ahead. While his Civil Contract party secured enough seats to form a government single-handedly, it fell short of the constitutional supermajority required to reshape the country's institutional framework. The razor-thin margin shows that while voters backed his westward shift, they refused to hand him absolute domestic power.

Washington Names Moscow's Play in Armenia
PoliticsAnalysis6 Jun

Four days out: Washington names Moscow's play in Armenia

Secretary Rubio told the Senate on Tuesday that Russia wants Pashinyan to lose. The claim lands in the middle of the dirtiest election campaign Armenia has seen in years.

Turkmenistan · European Union · Human rights
PoliticsBrief5 Jun

The EU goes to Ashgabat: what rights groups want from the June 22 dialogue

The 18th annual EU-Turkmenistan Human Rights Dialogue takes place in Ashgabat on June 22. IPHR and TIHR published a briefing this week telling Brussels what to demand.

Armenia's Election: Eleven Days, Three Stories
PoliticsAnalysis27 May

Armenia's Election: Eleven Days, Three Stories

What the polls, the party platforms and the money trails reveal about June 7