Energy and Economy 

Akhalkalaki-Kars Railway Open for Armenian Trade 

In another step towards normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway will now be open for import and export operations involving Armenia. The railway, starting in Türkiye heading north to Georgia and around Armenia to reach Baku, will allow for significant expansion and link Armenia more closely to regional markets. Pashinyan also said to expect new rail connections: Türkiye-Armenia-Azerbaijan and Armenia-Iran. 

Source: Azernews 

Eurasian Development Bank to Finance Highway Section in Gorno-Badakhshan 

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) signed an agreement with Tajikistan to provide $18.5M for the development of the Labidjar-Kalai Khumb highway in the country’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The section of highway under development will include 10 miles of newly constructed road, as well as three bridges. The project aims to enhance transit through the region’s mountainous terrain, improve safety measures, and raise prospects for improved trade and business.  

Source: Eurasian Development Bank 

Uzbekistan National Investment Fund Listed at the London Stock Exchange 

The Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF) joined the London Stock Exchange Main Market through the admission of Global Depositary Receipts (GDR). The original offer price was set at $25 per GDR with one GDR representing 64,700 ordinary shares. The Fund holds strategic stakes between 25 and 40 percent in 13 state-owned enterprises, including sectors like telecommunications, energy, transportation, financial services, and utilities.  

Source: London Stock Exchange 

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Bulgaria Hold Green Energy Corridor Meeting 

Officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Bulgaria participated in the third ministerial meeting on the Green Energy Corridor initiative in Istanbul on May 22. The discussions focused on expanding regional electricity connectivity and renewable energy transmission between the Caspian region and Europe, with the goal of strengthening regional energy security and cross-border infrastructure cooperation.  

Source: Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency 

New Transit Documentation Agreement Strengthens the Middle Corridor 

In a development expected to strengthen trade along the Middle Corridor, officials in Astana signed an agreement on May 15 establishing a unified transit document for cargo transport across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. The new system will allow long-haul truck operators to travel across multiple borders using a single permit recognized by participating customs authorities, reducing delays and simplifying logistics procedures. 

Source: Eurasianet, Open.kg 

Baku-Tbilisi-Baku Passenger Rail Service Resumes After Six-Year Suspension  

Daily passenger rail service between Baku and Tbilisi resumed on May 26 after a six-year suspension following agreements signed during Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's visit to Azerbaijan. The sides also signed a protocol placing the upgraded Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway section into full operation, which is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and cross-border transportation in the South Caucasus. The service will be operated by Stadler passenger trains, which Azerbaijan Railways purchased several years ago. According to the company, the entire route will initially be served by Azerbaijani rolling stock and locomotives.  

Source: Business Media Georgia, Interpressnews  

Politics and Security 

Kyrgyzstan Suspends Activities for 50 Companies Suspected of Aiding Russia in Sanctions Evasion 

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce announced that 50 legal entities in the country will cease operations after investigations by the government. Bishkek’s decision comes after the European Union (EU) released its 20th sanctions packages, which listed several Kyrgyz entities as potential participants in sanctions circumvention for Russia. Throughout the Russia-Ukraine War, Kyrgyzstan has been accused of aiding Russia through the import and re-export of machinery and dual-use technologies. 

Source: 24kg, Radio Free Liberty 

Starlink Launches Internet Service in Kyrgyzstan 

Starlink satellite internet is now available in Kyrgyzstan. The company has launched a dedicated webpage in both Kyrgyz and Russian, providing users with information about the network and available services. In terms of internet speed global rankings, Kyrgyzstan is ranked 79th for mobile broadband and 87th for fixed broadband.  

Source: Qazinform 

Russian Concerns Over U.S. and EU Rare Earth Activity in Central Asia 

Recent comments from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin signal Russia’s concern over recent American and European efforts to secure access to rare-earth and critical minerals in Central Asia. "We are concerned by the intensity with which ‌Washington ⁠is pushing agreements on critical minerals and rare earth metals…. This is not merely about economic competition, but about an attempt to ⁠push Russia out and create a Western-controlled infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of our borders." 

Source: Reuters 

Armenia Subjected to Pro-Kremlin Disinformation Attacks Ahead of Parliamentary Elections 

Reports of Russian disinformation campaigns have ramped up in the past several months ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections in June 2026. Hundreds of fake videos have been published on social media promoting fabricated views and scenarios, such as false conversations between Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron. They also include narratives that a victory for Pashinyan would lead to war with Russia and that NATO instructors are already in Armenia. Additionally, the Social Design Agency (SDA), a Russian IT firm, reportedly planned to utilize media outlets targeting the Armenian diaspora in Russia to sway opinion against Pashinyan and the EU.  

Source: Euronews, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project 

CIS Meeting in Ashgabat on May 22 

Representatives from nine CIS member-states convened in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on May 22 to discuss economic cooperation and multilateral programs to foster cooperation in land surveying, geospatial data, and revegetation efforts. The representatives also signed a document, written under the direction of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on the further integration of major transport roads that pass through the territory of CIS member-states. The next CIS meeting will take place in Moscow in December 2026.  

Source: eccis.org 

World Nomad Games Launches 2026 Campaign 

The Secretariat of the World Nomad Games, the organizing body behind the international cultural sporting event, has launched this year’s campaign, titled “Seven Images — One Story.” Rolling out across digital platforms, the campaign will feature seven distinct visual narratives highlighting key elements of nomadic culture, including movement, traditional sports, ancestral customs, and the relationship between people and the natural world. The 6th World Nomad Games will take place from August 31 to September 6 in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. 

Source: 24.kg 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Visits Armenia  

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Yerevan on Tuesday, where he and Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan signed a strategic partnership charter and agreements on critical minerals and regional transit. The visit comes ahead of Armenia’s June 7 elections and promotes U.S. support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s west-forward foreign policy shift, even as Russian pressure grows over Yerevan’s distance from Moscow.  

Source: France24  

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Visits United States for UN Security Council Meeting  

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov departed for a working visit to New York on May 25 to participate in a United Nations Security Council meeting on strengthening the UN-centered international system. During the visit, Bayramov is expected to hold meetings with senior international officials, which may further expand Azerbaijan’s diplomatic engagement on regional security and multilateral cooperation issues.  

Source: Report.az