The Kyrgyz government is preparing for a major electricity shortage in the coming winter months, with a deficit reported at 1.5 billion kilowatt hours. To stave off massive blackouts, they have been preparing several contingencies to keep the already energy-starved country supplied with electricity. Agreements with Kazakhstan to provide between 500 million and 1 billion…
Russian authorities, in an escalating war of economic sanctions, have instituted a ban on importations of food and agricultural products from Europe and the United States, as well as some of their allies who supported sanctions against Russia. Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev announced that all beef, pork, fish, fruit, vegetable, and dairy products from the…
US Major General Harold Greene was shot and killed in an insider attack yesterday morning in Kabul. The attack occurred at Marshal Fahim National Defense University, despite earlier reports that the shooting had happened at Camp Qargha. The attack was carried out by a shooter wearing an Afghan military uniform, and the Taliban claimed responsibility…
As the Ukrainian army has begun to encircle the separatist-held stronghold of Donetsk, separatists have begun to fortify the city and renewed calls to Russia to send troops to their aid. The 72 hour ceasefire agreed to on Friday has broken down, after accusations on both sides that neither kept their word. Separatist fighters have…
Days after a reportedly devastating terror attack in Xinjiang province on Monday, where dozens were said to have been killed or wounded with axes and knives, questions are emerging about what exactly happened. Official state news agency Xinhua did not provide an exact number, saying only that “a gang armed with knives and axes attacked…
Just 10 days after an agreement was reached to perform a full audit of Afghan ballots cast in the runoff election last month, Abdullah Abduallh walked out for a third time, claiming that audit criteria was not being adhered to. The main issue of dispute is deciding how to handle ballots from polling stations that…
In July, we sat down with Dr. Thomas Barfield, currently a Professor in Boston University’s Department of Anthropology, with research primarily focused on political development in Afghanistan. He is the author of several books, the most recent of which is Afghanistan: A Political and Cultural History. Currently President of the American Institute for Afghanistan Studies, Dr.…
Tajik researcher and academic Aleksandr Sodiqov has been released by Tajik government authorities after nearly 40 days in captivity in Dushanbe. Sodiqov had been investigating unrest in Tajikistan’s restive Badakhshan province, was detained with little explanation, and charges of treason had been levied against him for speaking to members of opposition there. Sodiqov had been…
The Foreign Ministers of the European Union, in addition to debating the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, have been considering taking a stronger stance on the deteriorating diplomatic relations with Russia. The debate has mostly been over imposing punitive measures such as sanctions versus ensuring that an independent search of the crash site is undertaken…
Yesterday, a Malaysian airlines passenger jet crashed in rebel-controlled part of eastern Ukraine near Donetsk. Responses have been numerous and contradictory, some Ukrainian officials immediately pointed fingers at separatists, some at Russia itself, and others at “terrorists.” The plane was a Boeing 777, and according to statements released by US officials, the plane was shot…
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