It seems that the region continues to act as a platform for battles of interests between the EU and Russia. So far, this competition is favouring the Stans.

From bloody conflicts to becoming the cenrte of attention - 2022 was a controversial year for another three Stans of Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan saw fights for democracy and investor attention, Tajikistan faced some of the harshest challenges in recent times, while Turkmenistan went through a political transition to a dual government.

Despite the increasingly obvious political mismatch, the region had no intention to jeopardize relations this week.

Central Asia’s aim of improving regional connectivity and greater integration of Afghanistan are being challenged by tensions between the neighbours and the cocktail molotov that is US-Afghan relations.

With the first week of January behind us, we are all in anticipation of what is to come, and there are a few things brewing in Central Asia.

Half-sitting at the confetti-covered table, we scavenge over the remains of Olivier salad, while trying to sober up and recover the memory of what just happened, and prepare for what’s going to come next? In this two-part issue, we share our 20 notes from 2020, and try to extrapolate what is in store in 2021.

Eager to unlock new development avenues, and less bothered by the woes posed by the pandemic in the West, the Central Asian states are ready to go big.

While the ping pong match of who will raise more before the year is out continues, the onlookers adopt a precautious approach.

Things seem to be going back to a regular pace, more together and focused in light of potential discords and worries over the looming second wave of the pandemic.

Decisive measures lead to more friction, and new power sharing, as alliances are reshaped, re-evaluated and reformed in the Stans.