A fortnightly podcast offering analysis of Central Asia and its role in the wider world, featuring regional news, insights, and expert perspectives.
Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard.
Proudly presented by The Times of Central Asia, The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs and the European Neighbourhood Council.
For more info and stories, please visit:
- The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/)
- The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)
Religious Regulations, Russian Rehearsals, and the TCTC's Regional Roadblocks
This week, we'll be looking at Kyrgyzstan unveiling plans that would require religious bloggers to be licensed and subjected to greater state oversight; further changes to the country's regional security leadership; one of the Central Asian states launching its first satellite into space; and a new round of CSTO military exercises in Russia that could have some troubling implications for the region. We'll also be looking at Turkmenistan marking 35 years of independence with a massive military parade showcasing a range of new weapons systems, as well as a week of blackouts hitting one of Central Asia's key cities. From there, we turn to our main story this week, where we'll be joined by two experts from the World Bank to discuss a major new report examining some of the biggest economic bottlenecks facing Central Asia, where those constraints are emerging, and what governments across the region will need to do to overcome them.
- Muneeza Alam (World Bank)
- Luis Blancas (World Bank)
Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard
Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.
For more info, please visit:
-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/)
- The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)
Follow us on Twitter on
- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia)
- Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier)
- Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus)
- The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA)
- The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)
27 Sept 2026
Caspian Catastrophe, Opposition Overhaul, and Turkmenistan at 35
This week, we'll be looking at how a military tragedy on the Caspian is creating political shockwaves across Kazakhstan; a whole series of military exercises taking place across the region; a major leadership change inside one of Central Asia's opposition movements after nearly two decades under the same figure; and all five Central Asian leaders travelling to Seoul for the latest C5+1 meeting, with only one of them then continuing on to Washington for the UN meetings. We'll also be looking at a new military pact between Azerbaijan and one of the Central Asian states, an agreement that could have serious implications for Russia's role in the region. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking back at 35 years of Turkmen independence, how the country has changed over that period, and why there are growing signs that those changes may now be accelerating.
- Luca Anceschi (Uni of Glasgow)
Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard
Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.
For more info, please visit:
-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/)
- The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)
Follow us on Twitter on
- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia)
- Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier)
- Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus)
- The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA)
- The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)
13 Sept 2026
Martial Moves, Peculiar Procurement, and the Sixth Nomad Games
This week, we're covering world leaders arriving in Bishkek for the SCO summit, one Central Asian state proposing new martial-law amendments that could concentrate enormous power in just a handful of institutions during a national crisis, Tashiev's charges being amended yet again as questions continue to grow over his political future, a Central Asian state striking an unusual military deal with a European partner, the Turkmen Border Service holding talks with its Afghan counterparts, the completion of a major new railway line in Kazakhstan, and plans to build what could become the tallest tower in the region. Before then turning to our main story this week, where we look at the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan and what the event tells us about the country, the region, and the way Central Asia is presenting itself to the wider world.
- Jonathan Campion (British Alysh Competitor)
- Stephen M. Bland (The Times of Central Asia)
- K Krombie (The Times of Central Asia)
Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard
Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.
For more info, please visit:
-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/)
- The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)
Follow us on Twitter on
- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia)
- Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier)
- Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus)
- The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA)
- The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)
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