We’re so excited for #SilkMirage by @joannalillis.bsky.social! Only 1 week until publication – pre-order now! 👇 📘 bit.ly/49sAAFA #Uzbekistan

My review of Backlash for @asia.nikkei.com looking at China's growing presence in Central Asia. Good background reading as Trump courts regional leaders in Washington and competition hots up for Central Asia's resources. asia.nikkei.com/life-arts/bo...

The LRT lives! Astana, Kazakhstan

My latest for @asia.nikkei.com with Naubet Bisenov on possible pitfalls for Kazakhstan's nuclear plans asia.nikkei.com/Business/Ene...

My latest with @joannalillis.bsky.social for #eurasianet Central Asia: Bringing Afghanistan in from the cold | Eurasianet share.google/xDgtYrry5BRS...

Unpacking critical minerals at #CAMCA2025Mongolia

Great session on the state of the media in the CAMCA region (Central Asia, Mongolia, Caucasus and Afghanistan) at #CAMCA2025Mongolia

Found some topical reading matter!

Is it possible to reform a dictatorship? My interview with Azattyk on my new book on #Uzbekistan, Silk Mirage, out in November and available for pre-order now on Bloomsbury, Amazon, etc (Kazakh-language video report, with interview in English) www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaOZ...

Диктатураны реформалау мүмкін бе? Өзбекстан туралы «Жібек Мираж» атты жаңа кітабым туралы Азаттық тілшісіне берген сұхбатым (видео) www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaOZ...

What's changed in #Uzbekistan since Mirziyoyev came to power and what hasn't? My interview with Azattyk on my new book on #Uzbekistan, Silk Mirage, out in November and available for pre-order now on @BloomsburyAcad Amazon, etc (Kazakh-language text report) www.azattyq.org/a/jibek-sagy...

Nearly 40 years on, fallout from Chornobyl nuclear disaster lingers in Kazakhstan www.theguardian.com/environment/...

My forthcoming book on #Uzbekistan, Silk Mirage "captures how many who recall the promise of the early Mirziyoev years following Karimov's death in 2016 now see that promise fading" - RFE/RL has a sneak preview. Available for pre-order on Bloomsbury, Amazon, etc www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan...

Looking forward to reading Silk Mirage by @joannalillis.bsky.social her new book on #Uzbekistan Great taster here on how free speech is faring in Mirviyoyev's New Uzbekistan by Chris Rickleton for @rferl.org.web.brid.gy www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan...

More claims of ill-treatment of Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, described as a political prisoner by rights campaigners, e.g. seizing his food before he could break his Ramadan fast. Very Old #Uzbekistan. Read about his case in my forthcoming book Silk Mirage www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

An "outbreak of reasonableness" in #CentralAsia: "Resolving local squabbles will make it easier for the region to focus on the role it wants to play in the world" - my latest for The Economist on the #Kyrgyzstan #Tajikistan border deal www.economist.com/asia/2025/04...

Shock in Kazakhstan as kumyz and kurt exports to USA hit with 27% Trump tariff #Kazakhstan

Spring is sprung!

My latest for @asia.nikkei.com on three-way meeting between #Kyrgyzstan #Tajikistan #Uzbekistan with comments from @edwardlemon.bsky.social asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Int...

Make time for a Türk brekkie!

The brands are muscling in on Nauryz in Kazakhstan

Happy Nauryz from #Almaty! Check out KCC's substack for some yummy green pies paulbartlett.substack.com/p/nevruz-bay...

I believe it's called al fresco! terrace season opens in #Almaty #Kazakhstan

Ura! Congrats - looking forward to the launch party!

Opinion: What the Loss of RFE/RL Would Mean for Central Asia timesca.com/opinion-what...

Check out this new @hrw.org report: “Living in Fear and Humiliation: Rising Xenophobic Harassment and Violence towards Central Asian Migrants in #Russia” authored by @syinats.bsky.social www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

Thorough overview of the border deal signed today by #Kyrgyzstan and #Tajikistan and what it means for #CentralAsia (spoiler - this is great news!) - by @ChrisRickleton for @RFERL www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan...

Not a bad view from my home for the weekend! #Almaty #Kazakhstan #mountains #snow

Ğözleme with jammy eggs and salad - recipe on Knidos Cookery Club's substack

Spring's coming to #Almaty #Kazakhstan

Almaty mon amour!

Nature used to herald the advent of Spring in Almaty. These days, it's scooters blocking the pavements!

The curse of home disadvantage strikes again...

Can HC Almaty overcome home disadvantage in the Kazakhstan league 1/4 final play off? 2-1 up with 15 mins to go...

The Disneyfication of Uzbekistan continues bbc.com/travel/artic...

Your reminder that the #Kazakhstan government critic, Marat Zhylanbaev, is languishing in prison for nothing more than exercising peaceful political opposition activism. www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan...

A new low for #Tajikistan as OSCE/ODIHR cancels parliamentary election observation mission after government fails to fulfil conditions it needs to function. Election will take place with opposition suppressed to deliver rubberstamp parliament www.osce.org/odihr/electi...

Smashed peas - move over avocado, until the ones grown in Kazakhstan come on tap! Read more here tinyurl.com/4emrbeuz

Dissent in the "New #Uzbekistan": how a tirade over fuel shortages landed a motorist behind bars - and sparked an unusual outcry about the treatment of dissenters. My latest for The Economist www.economist.com/asia/2025/01...

Kazakhstan activists protest Temirlan Yensebek's detention. Fines and arrests follow timesca.com/activists-in... #FreedomOfSpeech #Activism #HumanRights #TemirlanYensebek #Kazakhstan #CivilLiberties #KazakhstanActivism #Eurasia #CentralAsia #Almaty

Journalists in #Kazakhstan lose appeal in case against media ministry over draconian new accreditation rules orda.kz/zhurnalisty-...

Mayor approves "National Tashkent" programme that will include encouraging officials to wear national dress #Uzbekistan - which is very beautiful, of course, but there are echoes of the didacticism of #Turkmenistan's dress code www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/01/2...

Subscribe to @peterleonard1.bsky.social's newsletter on Central Asia: havli.substack.com/p/central-as...

Uzbek Footballer Abdukodir Khusanov Signs for Manchester City – my latest for @timesca.com: timesca.com/uzbek-footba...

Ezogelin - a Turkish soup with an interesting backstory open.substack.com/pub/paulbart...

Where does the world's most successful football team come from? #Turkmenistan! My piece for The Economist on a remarkable winning streak by a team named Arkadag after the Turkmen elder statesman. Thanks to @pashab05.bsky.social for info on historical winning streaks www.economist.com/asia/2025/01...

Listen to my chat with @yoruk.bsky.social on the BBC World Service about witnessing history from the banks of Istanbul's Bosphorus. He tells me about spotting evidence of mounting Russian involvement in Syria in 2015, and now its invasion of Ukraine 🎧 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...

Almaty modernism - Satbayev University #almaty #kazahkstan #modernism

My latest for @cntraveller.bsky.social from the other worldly landscapes of Mangystau, Kazakhstan www.cntravellerme.com/story/these-...

Bulgur Biryani - İndia meets Turkey