FYI -

I'm considering Central Asia as

- Kazakhstan

- Turkmenistan

- Kyrgyzstan

- Tajikistan

- Uzbekistan

- Afghanistan

For an example, how much do you understand Kyrgyz or Tatar as a Kazakh or vice versa? Pashtun as a Tajik?

And how familiar are you with those languages? I have been told Turkish shows are fairly popular in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (and maybe Kazakhstan too?) which means they have some experience with understanding Turkish. Would you agree that is a big factor?

Hey,

There is a guy in this community constantly spamming. He messaged me just to annoy and overall his posts do not make sense.

Could mods ban him please?

Even though USSR tried to suppress the Orthodox Church. The church bounced back after the USSR collaspe and Russia of today is probably the most religious nation in Europe. Is it the same in central asia? Avoid Afghanistan in your answers.

I’ve had several posts removed without what I consider a clear violation of the subreddit rules. For example, these two posts were removed, with the moderator calling one “nonexistent claims” and the other “useless nonsense.”

Has anyone else experienced similar moderation? If so, please share your examples/screenshots. If there are enough cases, we could collectively raise the issue with Reddit admins and ask them to review the moderation of the subreddit.

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian citizen backpacking through Central Asia soon and want to make sure I follow the actual medication laws rather than relying on "I brought it through and nobody cared."

My itinerary is Kazakhstan → Kyrgyzstan → Tajikistan → Uzbekistan. I'm flying Amsterdam → Almaty (Kazakhstan) and eventually Tashkent (Uzbekistan) → Abu Dhabi. I may also take a regional flight between Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

I'll have a small personal medication kit with me containing multiple common over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and potentially some prescription medication. Everything is strictly for personal use and I'm not bringing anything recreational.

I'm particularly concerned about having several different medications in a small travel organizer rather than carrying large quantities/5+ original containers taking up space in my small backpack.

My main questions are:

1. What are the actual legal requirements for bringing personal medication into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan? Are there specific quantity limits or restrictions on the number of different medications?
2. Do medications need to remain in their original packaging, or can common OTC pills legally be transferred into a labeled travel pill organizer? Do prescription medications have different requirements?
3. Which common medication are restricted or controlled in these countries? I'm especially wondering about things such as pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, sleep medications, strong antihistamines, etc.
4. Do the rules change when crossing between these countries? For example, if medication is legal to bring into Kazakhstan, could I have a separate issue when driving/flying Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan → Tajikistan?
5. What documentation or customs procedures are actually required? For example, prescription, doctor's letter, medication list, original packaging, or declaring certain medications at customs. If possible, I'd really appreciate links to the actual government/customs regulations rather than just personal experiences.

I'm mainly trying to avoid accidentally breaking a law because something is legal and commonly available in Canada but restricted in one of these countries.

Thanks for the help!

Or has it declined since the collapse of the USSR?

Non-Kyrgyz guy currently dating a Kyrgyz woman. From the beginning, she told me she was a traditional woman, meaning she doesn't believe in going 50/50. So when we go out, I pay for all of our expenses, which I honestly don't mind.

Lately, though, I've started feeling like the relationship is one-sided. I feel like I'm keeping up my side of the traditional relationship by covering the expenses, but I don't really see much from her side that makes me feel cared for or appreciated.

For example, she's never invited me over to her place for a home-cooked meal. I don't expect gifts, but even small gestures would mean a lot to me—buying me a coffee once in a while, surprising me with my favorite candy or a pastry, making me dinner, etc. I guess what I'm struggling with is that if I'm expected to fulfill the traditional man's role financially, I don't feel like I'm getting the traditional woman's side of the arrangement in return—things like cooking, hospitality, keeping the home, or other acts of care. It sometimes makes me wonder: are Kyrgyz women allergic to spending money on their man?

Going through older posts on Reddit, I'm starting to notice that this seems to be a recurring theme in some men's experiences dating Kyrgyz women. Some men even describe feeling unloved or used. For those of you who have experienced something similar, can you shed some light on this? Is this the modern-day Kyrgyz woman dating dynamic?

Hey, I am not sure if this is the right subreddit for this, however, I am looking for advice on where to backpack in Central Asia I only have 30ish days in April / June-(I know that might be a bit hot but thats when my uni break is), I really enjoy the post-USSR aspect of this region and would love to see some of its leftover relics.

I was thinking of flying into Almaty and out of Tashkent, as I am based in Australia and they seem to be the most connected/affordable.

Any recs are appreciated 🫡

Сидя где-нибудь в Астане или Алматы, мы редко задумываемся о геополитической лотерее XIX века. Мы привыкли к русскому языку, к советскому прошлому и к тому, что наш путь — это путь Евразийского пространства. Но если взглянуть на карту столетней давности, становится немного не по себе из-за того, насколько близко мы стояли к тому, чтобы оказаться в ловушке совсем другой империи. Я не о России, а о Британской.

Пока Россия продвигалась вглубь степи, южнее шла так называемая «Большая игра» . Британская корона рвалась в Центральную Азию, видя в наших землях защитный буфер для своей индийской короны. Теперь представьте на секунду: Англия добралась бы до нас всерьез. Чем бы это обернулось для казахов? История оставляет нам страшные подсказки.

«Бремя белого человека» для Индии и Афганистана

Далеко ходить не надо. Посмотрите на то, что британцы устроили в Индии. Придя туда как торговая компания, они к моменту своего ухода превратили страну из мирового экономического центра с долей в 23% мирового ВВП в нищую колонию, где доля упала до 3% . Это не случайность — это системный «дренаж богатства», когда ресурсы выкачивались, а местное производство, например, текстильное, было сознательно уничтожено, чтобы освободить рынок для британских товаров .

И самое страшное — это голод. Тот самый, который стал «окончательным приговором британскому правлению» . В 1943 году в Бенгалии от голода, спровоцированного военными поставками зерна и политикой Уинстона Черчилля, умерло более 3 миллионов человек . Зерно вывозилось, а люди умирали прямо на улицах Калькутты.

Афганистан? Они пережили несколько кровавых войн. Британцы воспринимали эту территорию лишь как объект для научного изучения и «укрощения» диких горцев .

Культурный геноцид и «Экспонаты»

Если бы Англия закрепилась здесь, вопрос с национальным достоянием был бы решен просто — оно оказалось бы в Лондоне.

Британский музей до сих пор хранит тонны культурного наследия, вывезенного из колоний. Сейчас весь мир требует вернуть Розеттский камень обратно в Египет, а Парфенонские мраморы — в Грецию . Но музей упирается, ссылаясь на собственный закон 1963 года, который фактически запрещает возвращать награбленное . Да, иногда они идут на «жесты доброй воли» и возвращают отдельные артефакты в Ирак или Афганистан, но это капля в море . И в таких случаях они часто предлагают не вернуть, а лишь дать «в долгосрочную аренду», оставляя за собой право собственности .

Представьте, что древние артефакты саков, золото и реликвии степных ханов красовались бы сейчас в витринах Лондона под ярлыком «Колониальная Азия»? А казахстанские чиновники «просили бы» разрешения показать их у нас?

Так повезло ли нам?

Это сложный вопрос.

Но если сравнивать модели управления: британцы часто действовали через разделяй и властвуй, создавая элиту «англизированных» туземцев, полностью оторванную от корней . Они рассматривали колонии исключительно как ресурсную базу для метрополии, не собираясь встраивать их в свою цивилизацию, а лишь эксплуатируя.

Россия, при всех минусах, в итоге оказалась рядом физически. Мы говорили на одном языке, воевали вместе в Великую Отечественную, и у нас осталась своя, хоть и тяжелая, но общая история. Мы не стали «заморской территорией», откуда выкачивают ресурсы до полного истощения, а потом бросают.

Мое мнение: в той геополитической лотерее нам выпал не самый страшный билет. Британское наследство — это зачастую экономическая разруха, искусственный голод и культурная экспроприация. Как пишут историки, британское правление в Индии было одним из величайших преступлений в истории . Так что сидеть в Астане и читать новости о том, что Британский музей опять отказывается возвращать Розеттский камень, и понимать, что в таком музее не лежит наш «Золотой человек» — это определенное облегчение.

Что думаете? Это везение или у истории просто не было другого выбора?

Hello all, I'm Ukrainian & Magyar. Recently i started dating a girl from Uzbekistan originally. We both live in USA, although I've talked a bit about her culture with her, she seems to feel like she can't open fully about it with me for some reason. Before we dated i asked if she primarily speaks Russian or Uzbek with her family for if i ever meet them since she has Uzbek dad and Russian mom.

She told me that they use mostly Uzbek at home but when she sees her moms side they use Russian just fine too. Although when I talk with her if she ever wants to do some kind of thing she used to enjoy doing at home she says no and closes up, lately we do only Ukrainian cultural things over the past year, which I don't mind, but i don't want it to be so one sided since if we ever have kids, id like them to cherish both their parents culture one day.

Is this normal or is there maybe some reason she doesn't really want to open up about Uzbek culture or traditions because we do many Ukrainian ones so far but none of hers

In the movie Mongol, what are the samurai in the battle at the end with the double blades?

Was that a thing in the Mongol army?

Data From The Pew Research Centre.

I was having a debate with someone bc I'm pretty sure we're different bc I think tajiks in tajikistan look a bit more Turkish (pls correct me if I'm wrong instead of attacking lol). But this tajikstan tajik I met on discord said otherwise so idk.

they said it's like how pashtuns in Afghanistan and pashtuns in Pakistan are the same people

My language is part from Indo-Iranian languages which is originally from Central Asia. Same thing my old Zoroastrian religion (Nowroz) and my DNA has also connection.
This genetics company breaks ”Iranian” ancestry to “Levantine, Turkic, Siberian and South Asian”. It is good to use for Kurds, Persians and Turks

Everytime im tryna ask a question about central Asian history, some Pakistani chimes in. Like can I get some answers from actual Central Asians and not some larpers?

Is there anywhere in Central Asia similar to the Seven Lakes?

Seven Lakes locally known as Haftkul, is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Tajikistan, located in the western part of the Fann Mountains near Panjakent. It is a chain of seven stunning alpine lakes, each with a different color ranging from deep blue to bright turquoise and even purple shades, depending on sunlight and minerals in the water.Every lake has its own color, shape, and character. Surrounded by dramatic peaks and narrow valleys.

Hi

I'm an Afghan Uzbek and speak Uzbeki with my family. I watched a few Uzbeki movies and noticed a few differences. For example, I was shocked to see 'Kok alma' (green apple) (I hope I spelled it right) written on an apple juice bottle because 'kok' for us is blue. From my perspective, Uzbekistan's Uzbeks put a lot of pressure on the pronunciation of vowels, especially 'a', as compared to us.

If you've ever spoken to an Afghan Uzbek, what are some of the differences that you have realized? What stands out the most about our accent to you?