In Post-Soviet Central Asia, Russian Takes A Backseat
01 October 2011
In the 20 years since the Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union became independent, the influence of the Russian language has been declining in these countries.
Just two decades ago, Russian was a tongue common to Central Asians, but now many young people cannot speak it at all.
"Neither I nor my brothers and sisters know it," says Abdullah, a 20-year-old Uzbek who was born in the same year that his country seceded from the Soviet Union. “There are not many Russian classes left in schools and colleges. In my high school we only had one hour a week.” More on RFE/RL.ORG
As Central Asia Dries Up, States Spar Over Shrinking Resources
08 September 2011
Qubay Ortiqov is a farmer from Karakalpakstan, a remote region in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan.
"We have planted cotton with expectations, but we cannot irrigate it. Right now we're supposed to have finished the second stage of irrigation, but we haven't been able to do it," Ortiqov said, adding that he had lost 20 hectares of cotton. More on RFE/RL...
Exiled Leader Says China's Uyghurs 'Will Liberate Themselves Or Die'
07 August 2011
Kashghar and Hotan, two historic centers of Uyghur and Islamic culture in the south of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, were recently the scene of renewed violencebetween ethnic Uyghurs and Han Chinese. About 20 Uyghurs were killed in separate incidents, and Uyghur activists say their anger is boiling over in response to what they call Chinese repression, which they say is aimed at ... More on RFE/R..
Latest Book
It is a comprehensive study of contemporary political history of Turkmenistan. This book will highlight the complex domestic political and social developments in the country; it’s energy and cross boarder policy as well as its implications on society and the region at large.
Press Highlight
15 October 2011 17:05
Open Central Asia- London-based Magazine reprints my story on potential water crisis in Central Asia, Read More
- 26 July 2011 20:31 Tahir in "Registan"
- 24 June 2011 18:03 Tahir In "Registan"
Latest from my diary
20 July 2011 00:01
RFE/RL has written elsewhere about the disaster in Turkmenistan on July 7, when a series of massive explosions struck a military munitions depot in the town of Abadan, with a population 50,000,...
- 27 June 2011 13:11 Turkmenistan Gas Gets Washington's Attention
- 29 May 2011 17:38 Peace Talks With The Taliban In Turkmenistan?