Kyrgyzstan
Winter landscape
Ala-Kul Lake in the north of Kyrgyzstan lies at an altitude of 3560 meters – no wonder that the surrounding area forms a fairy-tale snowy landscape several months a… [...]
Kyrgyzstan struggling to meet electricity demand this winter
With low water levels in its main reservoir, Kyrgyzstan is struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for electricity this winter. Deputy Prime Minister Ravshan Sabirov warned this increase… [...]
Kyrgyzstan: voters face choice of 18 candidates in January election
Kyrgyzstan is holding a snap presidential election on 10 January. Candidates include well-known politicians, businessmen and even a self-proclaimed god. The country will also be voting on a constitutional reform… [...]
Landscape of magical lakes
In southern Kyrgyzstan, where the Pamir mountain range begins, there is a magical landscape around the Tulpar-Kul lakes. Credit: Josephine Kjaer (Denmark) Find… [...]
Central Asian rap in 10 tracks
Hip hop, which appeared in America in the 1970s, has long since become a worldwide phenomenon adapting and evolving in each new environment. Central Asia is no exception, as a… [...]
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!Can Sadyr Japarov fulfil his promises?
Sadyr Japarov went from prisoner to prime minister and interim president of Kyrgyzstan. It’s still too early to say whether he will be able to fulfil his many promises. Sadyr… [...]
Russia tries new diplomatic approach with “Central Asia + Russia” format
Russia wants to intensify cooperation with Central Asia. During a video conference on 15 October, the foreign ministers of Russia and the Central Asian states adopted a declaration on cooperation. [...]
Kyrgyzstan: President Sooronbay Jeenbekov steps down
Kyrgyzstan’s president Sooronbay Jeenbekov announced his resignation in a desire to avoid further violence. The prime minister, Sadyr Japarov, declared himself interim president. This article was originally published on… [...]
From prison to high office: Sadyr Japarov is Kyrgyzstan’s new prime minister
Kyrgyzstan’s lawmakers gathered on 10 October to elect a new prime minister. They chose Sadyr Japarov, known for advocating the nationalisation of the country’s main gold mine, and until recently… [...]
Russia commits to railroad corridor China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan
Prior to his resignation as president of Kyrgyzstan on 15 October, Sooronbay Jeenbekov had announced an agreement with Russia on the railroad project between China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. This article… [...]
Kyrgyzstan: governing party wins “dirty” parliamentary elections
A new parliament was elected in Kyrgyzstan on 4 October. Almost all election winners are parties loyal to the government. As of the following day, several parties do not recognize… [...]
Engraved in the rock
For more than 40 years, the founder of the Soviet Union has been overlooking the Kirov reservoir in Kyrgyzstan, 15 kilometres from the Kazakh border. And it doesn’t look… [...]