Uzbekistan
After protests in Nur-Sultan, Uzbek security services tighten grip

United States, Uzbekistan
Joseph Quinn Martin, former Tashkent PR who became a champion of Washington business relations

The man who once regularly delivered strategic communications operations to the Uzbek government is venturing into new territory, taking an active role in the privatisation of state assets as well as in American prospecting in Uzbekistan.

The Agencies' Gazette
Cofrex, Viginum, Uzbek SGB, US Captagon crackdown

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Paris via Washington.

FranceCOFREX picks representative for its Expo 2025 Osaka presence.

FranceStéphane Bouillon discloses Viginum's annual report.

UzbekistanInternal Security Service adds another layer to border control.

WashingtonDNI to sniff out Assad-linked Captagon.

Central Asia, Turkey
Turkish armoured vehicle producers target Central Asian market

As Turkish defence industrialists continue to pursue their commercial ambitions in Central Asian states, the armoured vehicle manufacturer Otokar is expanding its efforts in both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan
With new monopoly, National Guard eats further into SGB's powers

A veritable incubator of trusted men for Uzbek President Mirziyoyev, the National Guard continues to gain power over the historic intelligence service inherited from the KGB, the SGB. Its latest prerogative is to become the sole provider of security services to the private sector.

Kazakhstan
Fall of Nazarbayev's sons-in-law prompts restructuring of Kazakhstan's oil sector

The protests in Kazakhstan have had an impact on the energy sector, which has seen heads roll among those close to ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Russia's SVR is keeping a close watch on proceedings.

France, Kazakhstan
Avisa Partners watches over Kazakhstan's interests in France

Parisian consultancy Avisa Partners followed the Kazakh protests with concern until Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on 10 January that order had been restored. The news was a relief to the firm that works for the new Kazakh consulate in Strasbourg.

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE, Kazakhstan's KGB

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Paris via Nur-Sultan.

Paris the DGSE adopts a TREX

Nur-Sultan the new KNB master's rise signals victory for the Tokayev camp

Paris DGSE more careful on the internet than DGSI

Kazakhstan, Switzerland, UAE
Kazakh oligarchs fly off on holiday to escape the protests

The unrest in Kazakhstan has led former President Nursultan Nazarbayev's inner circle and the country's oligarchs to fly out of the country in the hope that calm will soon be restored.

Kazakhstan
Ex-president Nazarbayev's grandson Aliyev Junior forges stature as future magnate

Modelling himself on both ex-Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev and his father, the former spymaster turned opponent Rakhat Aliyev, rising business mogul Nurali Aliyev has spun an impressive network over the course of his political and financial career, ranging from Nursultan to London, and from Elon Musk to the Al-Nahyans.

Uzbekistan
How Tashkent spymaster was sacked

Rustam Ionyatov, the feared head of the SNB, Uzbekistan's answer to the KGB, has paid for the vast purge that [...]