by spotlightoncentralasia
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/)
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
9/23/2021
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June 21, 2026
<p>This week, we're covering a major political merger in Kazakhstan, new counter-terrorism raids in southern Kyrgyzstan, a shock resignation inside the Kyrgyz government, security and military forces being placed on high alert across the country, and Uzbekistan making its historic debut at the FIFA World Cup, as the rest of Central Asia reacts to a rare bit of good regional news. Before then turning to our main story this week, where a major new European Union report has examined foreign information manipulation, narrative shaping, and how Russia and China are trying to influence the media and messaging ecosystem across Central Asia.</p> <p>- Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (Managing Director of the European Neighbourhood Council)</p> <p>- Link to report (<a href= "https://encouncil.org/2026/05/18/information-under-pressure-research-on-foreign-information-manipulation-and-interference-in-kazakhstan-and-uzbekistan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">INFORMATION UNDER PRESSURE FOREIGN INFORMATION MANIPULATION AND INTEREFERENCE (FIMI) IN KAZAKHSTAN AND UZBEKISTAN</a>)</p> <p>Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard</p> <p>Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.</p> <p>For more info, please visit:</p> <p>-The Times of Central Asia (<a href= "https://timesca.com/">https://timesca.com/</a>)<br /> - The Oxus Society (<a href= "https://oxussociety.org/">https://oxussociety.org/)</a></p> <p>Follow us on Twitter on</p> <p>- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia)<br /> - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier)<br /> - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus)<br /> - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA)<br /> - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety) </p>
June 7, 2026
<p dir="ltr">This week, we're covering the latest Eurasian Economic Union talks, a new defence deal between Moscow and a very unlikely ally, Kazakhstan putting itself forward to play a major role in the Iran nuclear talks, Turkmenistan once again conscripting public servants into forced labour, new developments in the Tashiev trial, and a major crackdown on madrasas and religious institutions in southern Kyrgyzstan. Before then turning to our main story this week, where Kyrgyzstan has just won itself a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a major diplomatic breakthrough for the country, and a massive development for Central Asia more broadly.<br /> <br /> - Kadyr Toktogul (Fmr. Kyrgyz Ambassador to the United States and Canada)<br /> <br /> Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard</p> <p dir="ltr">Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.</p> <p dir="ltr">For more info, please visit:</p> <p dir="ltr">-The Times of Central Asia (<a href= "https://timesca.com/)">https://timesca.com/)</a><br /> - The Oxus Society (<a href= "https://oxussociety.org/">https://oxussociety.org/</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow us on Twitter on</p> <p dir="ltr">- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia)<br /> - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier)<br /> - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus)<br /> - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA)<br /> - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety) <strong id= "docs-internal-guid-dd406f24-7fff-b60a-b1b8-d51ee067c5cd"><br /> <br /></strong></p>
May 17, 2026
<p dir="ltr">This week, we're covering the highly successful OTS summit in Turkistan, alongside Putin's notably bad day at the Moscow Victory Day parade. We'll also break down the new ships launching in the Caspian Sea and what they signal for cross-Caspian trade, a long-awaited move from Kyrgyzstan's Prosecutor General that we've been tracking for months, another serious shootout involving counter-narcotics forces in Afghanistan, and Emomali Rahmon's trip to Beijing for talks with the Chinese leadership. And for our main story, we turn to Tajikistan's heir apparent, Rustam Emomali, the man widely tipped to become the country's next president<br /> <br /> On the show this week:<br /> <br /> - Salim Ayoubzod (Radio Free Liberty)<br /> - Edward Lemon (The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs)<br /> <br /> Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard</p> <p dir="ltr">Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.</p> <p dir="ltr">For more info, please visit:</p> <p dir="ltr">-The Times of Central Asia (<a href= "https://timesca.com/)">https://timesca.com/)</a><br /> - The Oxus Society (<a href= "https://oxussociety.org/">https://oxussociety.org/</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow us on Twitter on</p> <p dir="ltr">- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia)<br /> - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier)<br /> - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus)<br /> - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA)<br /> - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety) <strong id= "docs-internal-guid-18792bf1-7fff-c1a9-8922-7ad4ccc73260"><br /></strong></p>
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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:
This podcast updates daily.
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