OSCE To Monitor Parliamentary Elections In Turkmenistan

The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) says it will send five experts to Turkmenistan on December 7 to help monitor the country's parliamentary elections. More

Turkmen Campaign Begins, But Will Anything Change?

Campaigning for parliamentary elections has begun in Turkmenistan set for December 14 -- the first parliamentary polls held with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov as head of state, and some changes are evident. The new parliament will have more powers and more than twice the number of deputies, and international monitors have even been invited to watch the proceedings. More

HRW Urges Germany To Discuss Human Rights With Turkmen President

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to raise human rights issues during her talks with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. More

Obama Victory Sparks Hopes For Change In U.S. Policy In Central Asia

During the Soviet era, America and freedom were synonymous for many in the Soviet Union and elsewhere behind the Iron Curtain. That feeling increased even more after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Central Asians welcomed their independence as mainly the result of the successful standoff between the Free World led by the United States, and the Totalitarian World led by the Soviet Union. But the "pragmatism" of U.S. policy has left many hoping such idealism will return to how Washington approaches Central Asia. More

EU Fights For Nabucco's Future

The EU energy commissioner is set to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan to shore up support for the bloc's flagship Nabucco pipeline project. The EU hopes Nabucco will give it direct access to the huge natural-gas reserves around the Caspian Sea, which could eventually cover 10-15 percent of its total needs. But enticing advances from Russia are causing key potential suppliers such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to waver, while vital transit hub Turkey is haggling for better terms. More