Askar Akayev was once lauded by Western countries as a democratic outlier in a region of despots and strongmen.

The illicit business has boomed as bicycles become a market increasingly being filled with high-end models costing thousands of Euros.

The government of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is on a non-stop effort to totally overhaul the economy and image of Central Asia’s largest country.

Periodic shootouts have increased along the border, where a kilometre here or a metre there apparently is enough reason to unleash heavy calibre weaponry

Until now Russia was dependent on pipelines crossing Ukraine to pump natural gas to Europe, earning Kyiv $2 billion a year.

The need to ensure women are given the tools to fulfil their potential is not just the key to a healthy society, Kozinchenko argues, but to economic success. While most Western countries, however imperfectly, offer women some chance to balance career and family life, it is an area in which emerging economies fall far behind.

The Caspian delicacy is known worldwide and supplied to Europe’s royal courts and Michelin-starred restaurants. But overfishing, and lack of regulation, brought it to the brink of disappearing.