Facing increasing confrontations with the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin looks eastward to restore his country's standing in the region at a major summit in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital.
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Central Asia has lots to attract tourists but it’s difficult getting around. Efforts to make it easier for tourists to cross borders have been proposed -- but there are substantial obstacles.
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Armenia and other countries bordering Russia took in many Russians dodging the draft in 2022-23 and now, amid growing fears of a new mobilization to boost a military depleted by the war on Ukraine, there are some indications that the numbers of Russians coming to Armenia are again rising.
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Russia is proposing an overhaul of its foreign-worker recruitment system in 2027, tying migrants to specific employers, jobs, and regions. Experts warn that tighter rules could worsen labor shortages and push more migrants into informal employment.
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Months of Ukrainian attacks on targets ranging from energy infrastructure to online retailers deep inside Russia have prompted moves to seek relief by relocating some facilities to Kazakhstan, which has tried to balance its ties to Moscow with a desire to remain neutral on the Ukraine war.
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