U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sets off later this week on a tour of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia that is likely to be closely watched for how strongly he raises human rights issues.

(SRI) - Kazakhstan's financial police accused the Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) consortium last Friday of illegally earning $708 million in 2008, claiming it profited from oil output that was not approved by the state.

Authorities in Uzbekistan have restricted the country's doctors from freely traveling abroad to international medical conferences, a think tank in the Central Asian nation said Friday.

Awhile ago, I received an email from an old source about some documents that could be had in London. They regarded a well-worn story, he said – the business dealings of the first family in Kazakhstan.

Exiled Banker Alleges Chinese Oil Firm Routed $166 Million to Associate of Top Oil Executive, as Part of 2003 State Sale

Kyrgyzstan's president said Tuesday that Western-style democracy has run its course in the ex-Soviet Central Asian country, prompting fears of a further decline in political freedoms.