Central Asia and Caucasus regional updates

Various developments are reported across the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the 4th International Conference on Missing Persons in the Baku Dialogue format, emphasizing the humanitarian necessity of establishing the fate of missing persons following armed conflicts and noting recent peace steps between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Tatiana Savelyeva as Deputy Minister of Defense. Savelyeva, who has an extensive background in public finance, replaces Asker Beisenov. This leadership change follows the dismissal of former Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov after 14 servicemen died during military exercises in the Mangystau region.

Economic data shows mixed trends in the region. Georgia's medium-sized businesses reported an average monthly salary of 2,755.6 lari ($1,062.24) in 2025, outperforming both large and small enterprises. Kyrgyzstan saw a 7.7% year-on-year decrease in investment income from abroad, totaling $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan reported a 9.1% increase in automobile exports from January to August 2026, reaching $195.3 million.