Spotlight on Central Asia

spotlightoncentralasia
  • 4.4 (8)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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/)

  1. Referendums, Rockets, and the Rogun Dam

    MAR 22

    Referendums, Rockets, and the Rogun Dam

    This week, we examine a series of major developments across Central Asia, from the results of Kazakhstan's constitutional referendum to the announcement of new Chinese-funded border outposts and fortifications along Tajikistan's frontier. We also look at the continuing fallout from the security shake-up in Kyrgyzstan, with further arrests and resignations, as well as the increasingly strange foreign movements of Turkmenistan's senior leadership while war continues to rage just across the border in Iran, alongside Tehran's threats to strike Turkmen infrastructure. The episode then turns to the escalating conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where some of the heaviest fighting in months is raising fresh questions about border stability, regional security, and the risk of wider spillover. Finally, for our main story, we bring on a panel of experts to discuss the growing issues surrounding the Rogun Dam and its resettlement project, and how both are likely to affect the states downstream. On the show this week: - Eugene Simonov (Rivers Without Boundaries Coalition) - Mark Fodor (Coalition for Human Rights in Development) 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)

    28 min
  2. Iran, Air Strikes and Central Asia's Strategic Dilemma

    MAR 8

    Iran, Air Strikes and Central Asia's Strategic Dilemma

    This week, we examine a series of major developments across the region, from unusual trade figures linking Afghanistan and Central Asia, to the expansion of border fencing and fortifications between two Central Asian states. We also look at the arrest of one country's anti-corruption chief on corruption charges, the suspicious death in custody of a man accused of attempted assassination, and Kazakhstan's shifting position on peacekeeper commitments in the Middle East. The episode also explores Turkmenistan's growing role in assisting foreign evacuations out of Iran, before turning to the main story: the war in Iran and the implications it may have for Central Asia, alongside renewed fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan in some of the heaviest clashes seen since the US withdrawal. On the show this week: - Stephen M. Bland (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)

    28 min
  3. Coups, Crackdowns and a Border Build-up

    FEB 22

    Coups, Crackdowns and a Border Build-up

    This week, we'll be covering Kazakhstan announcing the date for its upcoming constitutional referendum, controversial polling decisions in Kazakhstan, a new fighting force forming that could make the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border even more volatile, one leader returning from an unexplained absence, and several others travelling to the United States for talks that are raising eyebrows. We'll also cover a major government reshuffle in Turkmenistan, before turning to our main story: the removal of one of Kyrgyzstan's most powerful figures, and the political and geopolitical aftershocks likely to follow.  On the show this week: - Emil Dzhuraev (Political Expert) 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)

    31 min
  4. Sales, Sanctions, and a New Kazakh Constitution

    FEB 8

    Sales, Sanctions, and a New Kazakh Constitution

    This week, we'll be covering the B5+1 summit in Bishkek, the prospect of new EU sanctions targeting Kyrgyzstan, fresh complications around Rosatom's nuclear plans in Uzbekistan, shake-ups inside Uzbekistan's internal security services, and some genuinely surprising new drug-use statistics coming out of Tajikistan. We'll also look at the latest shootout on the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border. And then, for our main story, we will be diving into Kazakhstan's newly released draft constitution and what it signals about where the political system is heading next. On the show this week: - Yevgeny Zhovtis (Human Rights Activist) - Aiman Umarova (Kazakh Lawyer) 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)

    31 min
  5. Astana's Military Shake-Up and Brussels' Big Bet in Central Asia

    JAN 25

    Astana's Military Shake-Up and Brussels' Big Bet in Central Asia

    This week, we're tracking a string of developments that could reshape the region's security and political landscape, from a soldier's death in Kazakhstan triggering major shake-ups at the top of the military chain of command, to Russian TV hosts openly talking about invading Central Asia, and Tokayev changing the rules in ways that could make a future Russian intervention easier to justify. We'll also cover an Uzbek citizen being charged in Russia over their alleged role in an attack on a senior Russian military official, and more fighting along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. But the main story this week is our interview with the EU's Special Representative for Central Asia, who joins us to explain how Brussels is viewing the region right now and which projects the EU is putting real weight behind across the five republics. And to round things out, we'll finish on Kazakhstan's latest reforms and what they might mean for how the country is positioning itself going forward. On the show this week: Eduards Stiprais (EU Special Representative for 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)

    28 min
  6. Central Asian Workers Under Attack in Russia

    JAN 11

    Central Asian Workers Under Attack in Russia

    This week, we're taking a look at crackdowns on the Uzbek language in northern Afghanistan, a U.S. drone going down in Afghanistan, and the latest political aftershocks in Kyrgyzstan after a former president was stripped of state titles and honours. We'll then turn back to Washington, where new payments and a fresh round of visa changes are reshaping the rules for three Central Asian countries. From there, we'll break down proposals coming out of Tashkent for new border and transit arrangements, before bringing in our special guest to dig into the worsening climate for Central Asian migrants in Russia following brutal attacks in Khabarovsk targeting Uzbek workers. On the show this week: Tolkun Umaraliev (RFE/RL) 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 min
  7. Retaliation, Raids and Regional Integration,

    12/28/2025

    Retaliation, Raids and Regional Integration,

    This week, we're tracking a packed slate of stories across Central Asia, starting with Trump's invitations for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to join the G20, while the rest of the region is left out in the cold. We'll also break down Washington's shift in visa rules for one of the Central Asian republics, before cutting through the latest reporting from the Tajik–Afghan border, where fresh fighting is colliding with longer-running security pressures. From there, we'll take a close look at a recent decision out of Kabul and what it's likely to mean for regional stability going forward, before turning to the arrest of the head of KazTAG in Kazakhstan and the surveillance scandal now unfolding in Uzbekistan, with reports that the personal details of thousands of citizens may have been left exposed. And to wrap it up, we'll examine what actually came out of the latest C5+1 summit in Japan, before then bringing in our two special guests to break down how regional integration accelerated through 2025, and what that trajectory is on the table for 2026. On the show this week: Catherine Putz (The Diplomat) Temur Umarov (Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center) 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)

    30 min
  8. Gas, Grids and Gendered Violence

    12/14/2025

    Gas, Grids and Gendered Violence

    This week, we're unpacking Turkmenistan's Neutrality Summit, a rare moment where a string of big names quietly rolled into Ashgabat, and where the public messaging mattered just as much as the backroom deals. We'll also cut through the noise on the latest reporting from the Tajik–Afghan border, where misinformation is colliding with real security developments on the ground. From there, we'll take a hard look at the results of Kyrgyzstan's elections, what they actually tell us about where Bishkek is heading next, and what they don't, before examining the looming power rationing now shaping daily life and political pressure in two Central Asian states. And to wrap it up, we're joined by two outstanding experts for a frank conversation on gendered violence in Central Asia: what's changing, what isn't, and why the official statistics may only capture a fraction of the reality. On the show this week: Daryana Gryaznova (Equality Now) Svetlana Dzardanova (Human Rights and Corruption Researcher) 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)

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

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/)

Information

  • Creator
    spotlightoncentralasia
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © spotlightoncentralasia
  • Show Website
    Spotlight on Central Asia

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