What began on August 7 as a reckless act of aggression by Georgia to bludgeon South Ossetia into submission, quickly escalated to Russian military intervention in Georgia, and the conflict's transformation into a proxy war between the U.S. and Moscow.

During their face-to-face talks Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev shared their views on the current state and prospects of mutual relations and discussed the international and regional problems of mutual interest.

Analysts and opposition politicians say the high-stakes information war only scratches the surface in revealing the corruption they say is at the heart of the oil-rich country's political system.

Turkmenistan has confirmed that it will directly supply the European Union with 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year...

President Islam Karimov attended the NATO summit in Bucharest on April 2-4, and offered pact members the use of Uzbek territory as an overland route for supplying non-military material to Afghanistan.

But was it a revolution, as so many Kyrgyz people and the government say? Roza Otunbaeva, a former foreign minister and now a leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party, says that there was a revolt against the old order.

The presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are hailing their improved ties following a rare visit to Tashkent this week by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov of Turkmenistan.

Until recently Kazakhstan's ambassador to Austria, Rakhat Aliev, is awaiting possible extradition to his home country to face charges of abduction and, possibly, illegal business activities.

The presidents of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistanv have held talks that both sides hope will lay the basis for close cooperation between their resource-rich Central Asian countries.

It is generally agreed that the road to democracy can be rocky and winding. Kyrgyzstan has had many problems in its attempts to establish democracy.

VLADIMIR CHIZHOV

The outcome of the extraordinary EU summit held on September 1 in Brussels was more or less predictable, both in terms of the views expressed by the EU member states and in terms of the EU Presidency conclusion.

VLADIMIR PARAMONOV, ALEKSEY STROKOV

ANDREY GROZIN

Medvedev’s visit to Kazakhstan was fruitful. Some said it would be a reconnaissance and ceremonial visit. But as a matter of fact, a lot of practical issues were addressed, certain agreements were reached.

ROVSHAN IBRAHIMOV

On April 22, a regular meeting of the representatives of the Caspian countries on determination of the Caspian Sea legal status was over. The next, twenty third meeting is decided to be held in Baku.

VLADIMIR YASINSKIY

Today the EDB is able to bring into life the most challenging initiatives. And as new member states join the Bank’s activity, its potential will boost their economies.

FARID МUKHAMETSHIN

In recent years the relations between Russia and Uzbekistan have reached a high level and have followed a sustainable bilateral development pattern in almost all areas.

VLADIMIR YASINSKIY

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), founded in 2006 by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a unique international financial institution working in the post-Soviet space.

ALEXANDER KNYAZEV

Central Asia is a geographic, rather than a geopolitical entity, which is characterized by the absence of any political or economic uniformity. There are serious political, economic and other differences among the states in the region, which are exacerbated by the border, territorial and resources claims. All of these impede political and military integration.

Eurasian Home with a kind permission of Defence Academy of the United Kingdom publishes an analytical report on Russia's policy in Central Asia, written by Vladimir Paramonov and Aleksey Strokov.

Eurasian Home with a kind permission of Defence Academy of the United Kingdom publishes an analytical report on Chinese politics in Central Asia, written by Vladimir Paramonov and Oleg Stolpovski.

Eurasian Home publishes the analytical report “New Independent States in Central Asia: Security, external affairs and partnerships. A view from Uzbekistan” by Rafik Saifulin, Uzbek political analyst, Tashkent.

Eurasian Home publishes the articel "The Future Supply of Gas from Central Asia to Russia: an Expert Assessment" by  Vladimir Paramonov, Ph.D., Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Georgia has resolutely condemned Russia’s actions in Chechnya. Russia has severely criticized NATO actions towards Serbia. Later on the Georgian authorities tried to do the same thing in South Ossetia as the Russian authorities had done in Chechnya. Moscow decided to treat Georgia in the same way as NATO had treated Serbia.

The Russian foreign policy boringly runs around in circles: the row with Estonia on the historic past, the squabbles between Moscow and Kyiv over the Crimea and Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the confrontation with Georgia because of its breakaway republics etc. After having made a full circle we are back to square one - another conflict with Georgia.

The ill-informed Brit might think that the only thing that Kazakhstan and Britain have in common is Borat, the comedy Kazakh invented by British comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen. But actually, the connection is strong and getting stronger. Never mind the jokes – British businesspeople are making serious money in the oil-rich central Asian republic.

Last week, the Kremlin signed a deal with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan that apparently stymies the mooted Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline, which the EU was hoping would free up some Turkmen gas from the bear hug of the Kremlin. Instead, it looks like for the time being, all Turkmen gas will be exported via Gazprom.  

This month, President Nazarbayev undertakes his first state visit to the US for five years. As he stands on the White House lawn shaking President George Bush’s hand, he may well reflect that his reign, in its seventeenth year, has been a success.