The mirrored cities of Astara, on Iran's border with Azerbaijan, have been divided since 1828 when the Russian and Persian empires signed a peace treaty to end a two-year war. The Astara River separates the current Iranian and Azerbajani cities.
Turkmen authorities have ordered public-sector workers to enroll their children in state kindergartens that were left almost empty after a fee increase.
Iran has amended its tough drug laws to eliminate the death penalty for some drug offenses.
Thousands of people spent a second night in makeshift tents or out in the open as authorities downplayed hope for finding more survivors of a powerful earthquake near the Iran-Iraq border that killed hundreds of people.
Rescue workers and desperate relatives dug through debris in a search for survivors after a powerful earthquake near the Iran-Iraq border killed more than 340 people in both countries.
A sister of New York City terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov has told RFE/RL from their native Uzbekistan that her family believes the 29-year-old was "brainwashed" and has pleaded with U.S. authorities to give him "time" and a "fair trial."
The Uzbek man accused of killing eight people in the New York City terror attack first came to the United States in 2010 under the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program. Designed to provide permanent residency status to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, the program is now under fire from President Donald Trump.
Family neighbors in Uzbekistan and acquaintances talk about Sayfullo Saipov, the suspect in the New York City truck attack that killed 11 people.
When it comes to Central Asians and terrorism, why are Uzbeks so often suspected of involvement? (The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.)
Following a new report by Human Rights Watch, Steve Swerdlow joins the Majlis for a discussion of recent changes in Uzbekistan and how encouraging they are, and the likelihood of further reforms.
India has launched a new trade route to landlocked Afghanistan by sea through Iran's strategic Chabahar port, a move that bypasses Pakistan and could have significant geopolitical ramifications in the region.
Polygamy is a hard fact of life for some Tajik women despite an official ban.
Load more
