UZBEKISTAN AND RUSSIA: ALLIANCE AGAINST A MYTHIC THREAT?
By Farkhod Tolipov (1/11/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Uzbekistan’s falling into Russia’s embrace was preceded by a chain of events that, on the one hand, have led to Uzbekistan’s recent isolation from the West, and, on the other hand, reinforced the geopolitical competition of great powers over Central Asia. The main reason behind the Karimov-initiated Uzbek-Russian alliance was undoubtedly the freezing of Uzbekistan’s relationship with the West in general and America in particular in the aftermath of the May 2005 Andijan events. The Uzbek President met western demands on an international investigation of what was called “indiscriminate use of force against an unarmed population” in Andijan painfully and angrily.WINTER FOR THE KYRGYZ REVOLUTION
By Zoya Pylenko (12/14/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Kyrgyzstan’s new, post-revolutionary government has turned out to be less strong or united than people had hoped. After Bakiev’s inauguration in mid-August, cracks have appeared. Some icons of the March revolution – very popular with the people – lost, or were dismissed from, their posts.COULD KAZAKHSTAN MOVE BEYOND ELECTORAL AUTHORITARIANISM?
By Fredrik M. Sjöberg (12/14/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: These elections were of great interest to the entire region, but particularly relevant to the OSCE countries due to Kazakhstan’s ambition to take over the OSCE presidency in 2009, an issue that will be decided in 2006. None of the previous elections, that is the 1999 presidential election or last year’s parliamentary election, were deemed to have fully complied with Kazakhstan’s international commitments to free and fair elections. The electoral campaign was fairly low-key with no major issues dominating the agenda.ELECTIONS IN CHECHNYA: HAVE THEY RETURNED LIFE TO NORMAL?
By Murad Batal Al-Shishani (12/14/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: These elections constitute the last phase in a three-phase \"political process\" designed by the Kremlin to normalize conditions in Chechnya through its loyalist Chechen government. The first phase consisted of holding a constitutional referendum in March 2003, followed by presidential elections held in November 2004 that resulted, as was clear, with the success of the pro-Russian administration, headed by former mufti Ahmad Kadyrov, who was killed only seven months later. The elections were pursued nevertheless and placed Alu Alkhanov at the head of the government.Visit also
Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Greater Central Asia as A Component of U.S. Global Strategy, October 2024.
Analysis Laura Linderman, "Rising Stakes in Tbilisi as Elections Approach," Civil Georgia, September 7, 2024.
Analysis Mamuka Tsereteli, "U.S. Black Sea Strategy: The Georgian Connection", CEPA, February 9, 2024.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, ed., Türkiye's Return to Central Asia and the Caucasus, July 2024.
Book Svante E. Cornell, ed., "The Changing Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus" AFPC Press/Armin LEar, 2023.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell and S. Frederick Starr, Stepping up to the “Agency Challenge”: Central Asian Diplomacy in a Time of Troubles, July 2023.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.