Nur-Sultan City (Astana): A Young and Futuristic City

Nur-Sultan City (Astana): A Young and Futuristic City

Continuing my travels through the ex-Soviet states, I reached Astana (now, Nur-Sultan City) from Tashkent. This post has been long due, but things kept getting in the way. Nonetheless, since I am not really a “tourist” in Astana, it makes sense to divide the write-ups by the topic, and publish them at regular intervals. Long… Read more Nur-Sultan City (Astana): A Young and Futuristic City

Tbilisi, Georgia — The City Where (Almost) Everyone Owns a Hotel

Tbilisi, Georgia -- The City Where (Almost) Everyone Owns a Hotel

Recently, I visited Tbilisi, Georgia for a short business trip. This post enlists some of my major observations about Tbilisi during the course of my brief visit. A lot has been spoken about the natural landscape and stunning regions of Georgia, so I will bypass that. Plus, I will stick only to Tbilisi and no… Read more Tbilisi, Georgia — The City Where (Almost) Everyone Owns a Hotel

Russia’s War Against Crimean Tatars

Rally in Taras Shevchenko Park in Kiev (Ukraine), remembering the deportation of Crimean Tatars.

Last year, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and it made international news. Pro-Ukrainian factions considered Russian actions to be unfair regional despotism, whereas pro-Russian groups considered the annexation to be justified. Amidst all of this, one particular voice remained unheard, and it is unheard even to this day: the Tatars of Crimea are currently being… Read more Russia’s War Against Crimean Tatars

Tajikistan: Stability Means More Than Prosperity

Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon With Russian President Vladimir Putin

Out of all the poor countries that emerged from the ashes of the erstwhile Soviet Union, Tajikistan stands alone as the poorest. While the papers surely talk about the rapid macroeconomic growth of the country, most of the ordinary Tajiks are yet to witness the brighter side of the economic progress. Amidst such dismal scenario,… Read more Tajikistan: Stability Means More Than Prosperity