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Catherine Putz

Catherine Putz

The Diplomat

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Uzbekistan Eyes March 2026 Accession to the WTO

Tashkent’s progress with the WTO accelerated in 2023 and the finish line is in sight.

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The Diplomat

Catherine Putz

Uzbekistan Reimposes Gas Station Restrictions

For the second time in a month, Uzbek authorities have restricted hours at methane filling stations due to a drop in gas pipeline pressure.

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Catherine Putz

Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Suggests a Review of Visa-Free Scheme for Americans

Following the imposition of visa bonds for Kyrgyz travelers to the United States, a Kyrgyz politician has suggested Bishkek reassess its visa-free...

08.01.2026 5

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Catherine Putz

Violence in Northern Afghanistan Pits Locals Against Gold Mining Operators and the Taliban

At least four were killed in a recent outbreak of violence between locals and a gold mining company allegedly backed by the Taliban.

08.01.2026 6

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Catherine Putz

US Expands Visa Bond List to Include Bangladesh, Tonga, and Kyrgyzstan, Among Other Asian Countries

While the pilot program largely targets countries in Africa, the latest expansion includes countries in Central Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. 

07.01.2026 4

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Catherine Putz

Sure, Turkmen Can Get Visas to Visit the US Again. It May Cost $15,000.

The visa bond pilot program mandates that otherwise eligible applicants for business or tourism visas from select countries, now including...

06.01.2026 4

The Diplomat

Catherine Putz

Kazakhstan Takes Up Chairmanship of EAEU for 2026

Tokayev proposed that the EAEU focus on artificial intelligence, logistics, digitalization, free trade, and global dialogue.

05.01.2026 8

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Catherine Putz

Ukraine: Reacting to ‘Russian Fakes’ Beneath the Dignity of Central Asian States

In the aftermath of an alleged attack on one of Putin's residences, the Central Asian governments came out quickly with calls and condemnations,...

02.01.2026 4

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Catherine Putz

Does It Matter That Trump Invited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the 2026 G20 Summit?

As non-members, the G-20 has not been particularly relevant for either Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. What’s relevant is the U.S. president’s attention.

31.12.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Kazakh Senate Approves Law Banning ‘LGBTQ’ Propaganda”

The law goes to President Tokayev next for signature.

18.12.2025 3

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Catherine Putz

Even as US Travel Bans Expand, Turkmenistan Gets Good News

Unique among those countries subject to travel bans by the U.S. earlier this year, restrictions on the issuance of nonimmigrant visas to Turkmen...

17.12.2025 7

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Catherine Putz

What’s Behind China’s Trouble on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border?

An interview with Edward Lemon on the recent attacks targeting Chinese workers near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

10.12.2025 6

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Catherine Putz

Petition Against Kazakhstan’s Proposed ‘LGBTQ Propaganda’ Law Rejected

The law is set for consideration in the Senate next week.

10.12.2025 5

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Catherine Putz

Death Penalty Reinstatement ‘Legally Impossible,’ Kyrgyz Constitutional Court Says

Kyrgyzstan abolished capital punishment in 2007; President Japarov has suggested reinstating it as a way to confront horrific crimes against women and...

10.12.2025 3

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Catherine Putz

Kambarata-1 to See Joint Financing From Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan in 2026

2026 looks to be a pivotal year in which the trilateral hydropower project will either make serious steps forward or languish, as previous efforts...

10.12.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

Kyrgyz Election Commission Tosses Results From District With Highest Turnout, Citing Violations

The commission says all 14 candidates won’t be permitted to run again for the seat, but a court could reverse that decision.

05.12.2025 5

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Catherine Putz

Kazakhstan’s Orda.kz Raided, Editor Placed Under House Arrest

Pressure has allegedly been mounting for months on the popular outlet.

04.12.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

5 Chinese Workers Killed in 2 Attacks in Tajikistan Along Afghan Border

In one of the attacks, a drone was reportedly used to drop grenades on Chinese workers.

03.12.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Voters Favor Presidential Allies Amid ‘Stifled’ Political Scene in Kyrgyzstan

A quiet campaign resulted in low turnout for the election of a diminished parliament.

02.12.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

Kyrgyz Authorities Arrest Alleged Protest Plotters Ahead of Election

Once again, the Kyrgyz government has cried wolf as an election approached.

25.11.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

In Kazakhstan, Both Pro- and Anti-Russian Voice Are Urged Toward Silence

A pro-Russian blogger was sentenced to nearly four years; meanwhile, an activist urging the boycotting of Russian artists was called in for a...

20.11.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

Uzbekistan Agrees to Continue Supplying Afghanistan With Electricity

Meanwhile, Taliban officials said earlier this year that the CASA-1000 project would be completed in the next one to two years.

19.11.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

Asia’s Women on the Frontlines of Climate Change

"Despite its importance, women’s work is frequently undervalued and rendered invisible by government, private sector and donor-driven programs."

19.11.2025 5

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Catherine Putz

Destruction in the Heart of Old Samarkand

Forced evictions began in the spring in the neighborhood adjacent to the modest al-Maturidi mausoleum. Then the demolition began. 

13.11.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Uzbekistan: A Silk Mirage

An interview with Joanna Lillis on the contrasts between "new" and "old" Uzbekistan.

13.11.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

A C5+1 or 5 C1+1s: The New Math of US Central Asia Policy

The focus of the C5 1 has narrowed to the economic realm, yielding big deals and sidelining big challenges. 

11.11.2025 7

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Catherine Putz

When Central Asia Came to Washington

The Trump administration’s transactional style was on fully display, with savvy Central Asian businessmen just as keen to get in on a deal.

08.11.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

Growing Trust – and Trade – Between the US and Uzbekistan

An interview with Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov on U.S.-Uzbekistan economic relations.

05.11.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Uzbekistan to Introduce Visa-Free Entry for US Citizens From January 1

Meanwhile, Uzbek citizens face one of the highest visa-refusal rates in the United States.

05.11.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

Inside China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia

For Beijing, Central Asia is a testing ground for its foreign policy innovations – and a challenge. 

01.11.2025 2

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Catherine Putz

Kyrgyz Court Declares Temirov Live and Kloop Extremist

Another dark turn for journalism in Kyrgyzstan.

29.10.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

Indian Revolutionaries in America and the Fight to Overthrow the British Raj

In his new book, Scott Miller explores a bit of overlooked history.

28.10.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

Washington to Host Central Asian Leaders on November 6

Presumably U.S. President Donald Trump will join them.

28.10.2025 3

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Catherine Putz

Under New Leadership, What’s Next for Japan?

It’s a been crazy few months in Japanese politics.

25.10.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

More Central Asian Banks Sanctioned by the EU

Central Asia's banking and crypto sectors have been increasingly targeted by the EU, U.K., and the United States for sanctions.

24.10.2025 5

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Catherine Putz

Afghan Allies File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration’s Barring of Their Families

The travel ban policy specifically states that it does not apply to asylees or refugees, and yet the families of asylee Afghans, who fought alongside...

23.10.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

For the First Time, Central Asia’s Defense Ministers Meet

Security cooperation at the military level is a further step down the regional cooperative road.

23.10.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

US Congressional Representatives Urge Trump to Host a C5+1 Leaders Summit, Soon

With little more than two months left in the year, time is running out to mark the C5 1’s 10th anniversary with a summit.

21.10.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Will Reinstating the Death Penalty Protect Kyrgyz Women?

“[T]he death penalty is not the solution” to Kyrgyzstan’s gender-based violence problem, a group of human rights organizations argue.

16.10.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

Uzbek Ambassador Furqat Sidikov on the US-Uzbekistan Relationship

“Uzbekistan remains firmly committed to strengthening its strategic partnership with the United States, recognizing substantial potential for...

08.10.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Kazakhstan Aligns Itself With Trump, Calling Climate Change ‘Fraud’

Kazakhstan's leaders once characterized climate change as an existential crisis. Now they're quoting Donald Trump and calling it a "fraud."

08.10.2025 8

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Catherine Putz

Kyrgyz Parliament Dissolves Itself, Early Elections on the Horizon

The Jogorku Kenesh voted to dissolve itself, setting the stage for elections in late November.

26.09.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

Central Asia Shows Up at the UN: What Did the Region’s Leaders Say?

Once again, all five Central Asian presidents attended the U.N. General Assembly to lay out their perspectives on an increasingly conflicted world.

25.09.2025 3

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Catherine Putz

Trains and Planes: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Sign $12.2 Billion in Deals With US Companies

Kazakhstan has agreed to purchase 300 freight locomotives to the tune of $4.2 billion; Uzbekistan will buy at least 14 Boeing jets, in a deal said to...

24.09.2025 3

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Catherine Putz

First Direct Akim Election on the Horizon for Kazakhstan’s Semey

Semey, the center of Kazakhstan’s Abai Region, will hold it’s first ever direct election for akim on October 12.

23.09.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

In Early 2026, Uzbekistan Aims to Conduct First Census Since 1989

It would be independent Uzbekistan’s first full general census, if it happens.

18.09.2025 4

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Catherine Putz

Kloop Cameramen Sentenced to 5 Years For Videos They Didn’t Make

An thus ends a bizarre trial that serves to illustrate a distressing pattern of Kyrgyz authorities targeting media whose work focuses on government...

18.09.2025 3

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Catherine Putz

Did Kazakhstan Import a Commercialized Version of China’s Great Firewall?

Geedge Networks has commercialized China’s Great Firewall for export, and Astana was an ideal customer.

16.09.2025 20

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Catherine Putz

Closed-door Embezzlement Trial of Former Uzbek Agriculture Minister Ends

Aziz Voitov was found guilty but won't serve prison time, reportedly on account of having paid "full compensation."

16.09.2025 10

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Catherine Putz

Looking Back at a Hot Railroad Summer for Central Asia and Afghanistan

In July, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan all signed agreements with Afghanistan related to the development of railways. 

12.09.2025 10

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Catherine Putz