Clare Nuttall in Almaty
Mon, 20th Feb -- The five Central Asian republics have entered their third decade of independence, confounding predictions they would be unable to survive after the break-up of the Soviet Union. But they are under new pressures from outside as China and Russia seek to extend their spheres of influence, while tensions between the states remain as strong as ever.

Molly Corso in Tbilisi
Mon, 20th Feb -- Recent changes to Georgia's campaign finance laws are underscoring fears that the country's upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections promise to be no-holds-barred dirty affairs.

Oliver Belfitt-Nash in Ulaanbaatar
Wed, 15th Feb -- In June, Mongolians will go to the polls. And while issues such as family, clan and religion are still important, the mining boom, business and nationalism have taken on a much greater significance in people's voting intentions.

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Tue, 14th Feb -- Turkmenistan's incumbent President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been re-elected with 97.14% of the vote in the February 12 elections, according to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission (CEC). The extent of the victory confirms the Turkmen have a second "president for life," and reform remains a distant hope.

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Mon, 13th Feb -- A senior Azeri oil official claims that Turkey and Azerbaijan are set to agree to go forwards with a gas pipeline that aims to lessen European reliance on Russian gas. It also risks raising tension in the Caucasus.

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Mon, 13th Feb -- A possible free-trade agreement between the US and Georgia is buoying hopes that the tiny South Caucasus nation can tie trade to greater political support from the US and the EU, which it deems vital to extricating itself from Russia's sphere of influence.

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Fri, 10th Feb -- Turkmenistan's authoritarian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is set for a second term in office after the February 12 elections. The result is a foregone conclusion and will change little or nothing in the country, which is one of the most tightly controlled and secretive in the world.

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Thu, 9th Feb -- Raiffeisen Bank International confirmed reports that it's looking at a possible rights issue once more as part of its efforts to meet the 9% Tier 1 capital ratio that the EU has called for by the end of June. That may be be good news for borrowers, and the economies, in the region.

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Thu, 9th Feb -- Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov challenged the opposition on February 8 to prove allegations that he is responsible for allowing deliveries of radioactive coal to schools and orphanages, saying he will resign if it does. The scandal now threatens to derail the new ruling coalition and put the brakes on planned economic reform.

Nicholas Watson in Prague
Mon, 6th Feb -- Czech software maker AVG Technologies may not have had what could be described as a sparkling debut on the New York Stock Exchange on February 2, but the IPO is part of wider positive trend for technology and media companies either from or focused on Central and Eastern Europe. Next up is EPAM Systems, expected to price on February 7.

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Fri, 3rd Feb -- To help investors gain exposure to the under-invested agricultural sector, GAIA Capital Advisors has devised a new index that offers investors exposure to global food producing companies, many in emerging markets, which will be the basis for the launch of an exchange-traded fund.

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Wed, 1st Feb -- Georgia's success in fighting corruption illustrates that it is not an "inevitable" product of particular environments, and shows other countries that it is possible to deal with, a new report from the World Bank says.