Report on Central Asia’s Mediasphere

Our latest report examines the rapidly evolving media landscape of Central Asia, focusing on digital media growth, external influence, and the opportunities and challenges shaping political discourse in the region.

Authors: Alevtina Solovyeva, Betti Marie Peterson, Carl Frederick Liles, Yerkebulan Sairambay, Jonathan Darvish-Kojori, Rodion Krupin, Vladimir Sazonov

Title: Struggling Across Screens: Production and Consumption, Threats and Opportunities in Central Asia’s Mediasphere

Full report in PDF

In recent years, Central Asia has undergone major geopolitical changes driven by China’s growing influence, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and improving relations among Central Asian states. As the region seeks new partnerships in trade, security, education, and technology, interest from Western actors has also increased. These developments are reflected in the changing media landscape, where digital media and independent online journalism have created new opportunities for political discussion and alternative voices.

While traditional media remain largely state-controlled, social media platforms have become important spaces for opposition groups and public debate. At the same time, governments continue to limit these spaces through censorship, surveillance, and disinformation. Russia and the United States remain the most influential external actors in Central Asia’s media environment, while China’s role is visible mainly through pressure on governments to censor sensitive topics.

The report also highlights that political discourse in Central Asian media is primarily focused on domestic security threats such as extremism and separatism. Although Russia and China remain key regional partners, Russia has faced growing criticism online since 2022, while concerns about China’s ambitions persist. The report concludes that the rise of digital media increases the importance of media literacy and digital resilience for supporting democratic development in Central Asia.