POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN CENTRAL ASIA: INSIGHTS FROM KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, AND UZBEKISTAN

The objective of this paper is to explore the political implications Covid-19 pandemic in Central Asian countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Studies displayed that although these governments varied their initial response pandemic, all three underwent a uniform experience as its broader effect amplified authoritarianism. public health crisis was utilized pretext consolidate autocratic power, suppress regime criticism, restrict rights freedoms citizens. Of particular concern were on media civil society organizational efforts, statuses detainees, ethnic minority rights, assembly speech. This an in-depth case analysis uses policy process tracing examine countries’ effects human named countries. It concludes despite changes leadership relative progress towards democratization, authoritarian patterns ensued changed form during period