If this is accurate, Central Asia is embracing independence Ukraine was denied...and how ironic it got a jump-start by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Via EurasiaNet.org,
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has reanimated US and EU interest in Central Asia.
China has eclipsed Russia as the region's largest trade partner.
Central Asian trade is diversifying away from Russia and towards the West.
...
I do not think it has anything to do with Ukraine.
China is becoming the leading trading partner almost everywhere.
I get the "stans" confused.
Decades ago USNWR did a few long stories that shocked me. The USSR benefited many of the central asia countries.
At the time I thought it was similar to what the Romans did. Electricity, running water, and reading and writing are good things.
Teaching females to read and write did not go over well.
I got the impression that Russians subsidized central asian development.
One of the stans grew cotton. I read that the USSR held referendums on whether the USSR should remain intact
The results said "yes" but the results were ignored by the leaders. When USSR fell apart here was lots of looting.
Maybe it was easier with no USSR around.
Some places went to hell with no USSR to keep groups from killing each other. Tajikistan?
Speak of the devil. This just came on my YT feed. 90 pct of Tajiks voted to stay in USSR, Ignored. Then civil war.
Mr Bald is on the move again.
https://youtu.be/fBBiFhhY2toThis Country Tried To Ban Me! Find Out Why
465,775 views Apr 27, 2024 TAJIKISTAN
🇹🇯 Five times I applied for a Tajikistan visa and five times I was rejected without reason. Then someone told me they knew a way to 'cheat' the system and so despite the government seemingly not wanting me I managed to get in. Join me in our 13th former-Soviet republic as we see what exactly it was the Tajik government were trying to stop me from seeing...