The Trump administration’s narrow focus on fighting the Islamic State could see human rights take a back seat as Washington embraces unsavory allies.

Kazakhstan made the front pages of international newspapers last month when it hosted the first round of Syria peace talks. The diplomatic initiative is kicking off a year that will see a major PR push to portray Kazakhstan as a global player.

Editor's note: This is the fourth part of a series of four articles on white collar crime in Central Asian countries. The first article, on Kyrgyzstan, can be read here. The second article, on Tajikistan, can be read here. The third article, on Uzbekistan, can be read here.

Self-immolation has in recent times become a recurrent gesture of ultimate despair in Kazakhstan.

Few people have much time for banks right now but spare a thought for BTA Bank of Kazakhstan. Like many other banks it has lost billions of dollars over the last decade.

A delegation of experts is meeting in Kazakhstan's capital to discuss the cease-fire agreement in Syria.