Central Asia in August 2026: the most important developments in politics
In August 2026 Central Asian politics centred on Kazakhstan's election for the new Kurultai. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on 21 August that the vote would open a new chapter in the country's history. Voting took place on 23 August with a turnout of 72.15 percent, and the ruling party won; opposition groups were reported to be banned in Kazakhstan. The new Kurultai held its first session in Astana on 28 August, where Tokayev stressed its historic responsibility.
The second major development was the rapprochement between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. On 21 August Ilham Aliyev thanked Shavkat Mirziyoyev for supporting reconstruction in the territories Azerbaijan regained. During Aliyev's visit to Tashkent on 23 August the two presidents signed a Treaty on Eternal Friendship, set a trade target of $1 billion and agreed to strengthen Trans-Caspian transport links. Mirziyoyev said the two countries speak with one voice on the international stage. Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan also announced closer relations on 12 August, and Azerbaijan signed new agreements with Turkmenistan.
At the end of the month attention turned to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek. Chinese President Xi Jinping said China-Kyrgyzstan relations had made a historic leap, and the leaders of Russia, Iran and India were expected. Putin and Armenia's Nikol Pashinyan were scheduled to meet on the sidelines, and Aliyev met Pashinyan in Bishkek on 31 August. Earlier, on 6 August, Iran and Kyrgyzstan agreed to expand trade and mining cooperation, and Kyrgyzstan hosted a Eurasian Economic Union summit attended by Pashinyan.
Elsewhere, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan sought new export markets in Syria and Iraq, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan signed a foreign ministry cooperation program through 2028, and Uzbekistan enacted a constitutional law on the Presidential Administration.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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