Category: Kyrgyzstan
Talas and its people: life by a Central Asian river affected by climate change
LIFE BY THE RIVER. Three million people in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan live by the Talas River, where there is less and less water every year. This article was originally… [...]
Between nationalist populism and neoliberalism: Kyrgyzstan and global political trends
ANALYSIS. The political landscape of Kyrgyzstan was tumultuous in 2020. Novastan Deutsch’s founder and editorial manager Florian Coppenrath analyses Sadyr Japarov’s path to the top and ventures an outlook on… [...]
A hundred years of Kyrgyz football
The Kyrgyz Football Federation celebrated 100 years on 21 March 2021, but it’s as active as ever. Novastan looks back at the game’s history in the Central Asian nation. This… [...]
Kyrgyzstan: voters approve new constitution in referendum
A new Kyrgyz constitution, proposed by referendum, was approved by 79.3% of voters according to preliminary results. Turnout, however, was low: just over 35%. Voters in Kyrgyzstan have approved a… [...]
Kyrgyzstan: murder of a young woman sparks public anger
In Kyrgyzstan, thousands of young girls and women are abducted every year for forced marriage. Although the practice was outlawed in 2013, bride kidnapping persists, with devastating consequences for society. [...]
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine
By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We're independent and we need your help to stay that way!
Kyrgyzstan: why Bishkek’s air quality is so poor
Out in the foothills near Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, one can observe a dark cloud hanging over the city throughout the year. ЛИВЕНЬ Living Asia looked into how polluted… [...]
Kyrgyzstan to hold constitutional referendum in April
It’s official: Kyrgyzstan will choose whether or not to modify its constitution on 11 April. Parliament approved the bill making provisions for a referendum last week and the president, Sadyr… [...]
More Russian passports, fewer labour migrants: Central Asian migration to Russia in 2020
In 2020, Tajikistan overtook Kazakhstan on the list of countries whose citizens received Russian passports in 2020, coming second behind only Ukraine. Last year, a record number of Tajiks—more… [...]
Fergana News at risk of closing down
Fergana News, the biggest Russian news site dedicated to Central Asia, is experiencing major financial difficulties and is at risk of closing down. This article was originally published on Novastan’s… [...]
Spotify expands to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Spotify is coming to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Local music distributors see the arrival of the Swedish streaming service not as a game changer but rather as another sign of the… [...]
Matraimov’s millions: the story of a Kyrgyz corruption scandal
The Matraimov corruption scandal has had a significant resonance across Kyrgyz society and has been a driver of ongoing protests in Kyrgyzstan. But the question of whether Raimbek Matraimov, a… [...]
Kyrgyzstan: Ulukbek Maripov heads pared-down government
Kyrgyzstan’s new prime minister and his government officially took office last week. Ulukbek Maripov could go down in history as the last prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, as President Sadyr Japarov… [...]