New countries but old traditions. Emma Browne investigates the world of the 'Stans

In the last few weeks a popular revolt took place in Kyrgyzstan overthrowing President Akayev. The people were protesting against a widespread belief that there was government interference in the country's recent presidential elections. Although the president there has been overthrown, all of the other 'Stans, formerly part of the Soviet Union, still have one-party, totalitarian government systems that suppresses media and parliamentary opposition.

A majority of the 'Stans – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- were once part of the Soviet Union's empire. When this collapsed in 1991 they gained independence. None of the countries have developed into democratic states and the Russian government still has influence through economic and political support. All of current presidents (apart from in Tajikistan) were Communist party members or leaders in the pre-independence era and some were elected as president before independence. They all maintain totalitarian rule and tight control on the media.

Elections are undemocratic and the few Western observers that have been able to oversee elections have been critical of them.

The other 'Stans are Pakistan and Afghanistan -- Afghanistan suffered from years under the authoritarian rule of the Taliban and it was only in 2004 that the first democratic elections took place. The country is now trying to establish a new constitution and parliamentary elections are due soon. Pakistan's leader, President Musharraf came to power in a military coup in 1999. At first the West condemned his coup, but once he promised to help fight terrorism the West's objections diminished.