📷 'Life in Central Asia: Photographs from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.' Twenty-five of my best photographs are available to buy as high-quality wall prints – or as digital files for businesses and agencies to use: jonathancampion.com/2025/01/07/l...

Want to learn more about #Uzbekistan? #SilkMirage by @joannalillis.bsky.social is out on 13th November - pre-order now! 📘 bit.ly/49sAAFA

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...

Beyond Karimov + Mirziyoyev there’s another political giant who transformed #Uzbekistan: read about the life and times of Sharof Rashidov on my Substack - and buy my new book Silk Mirage, out next week w @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, for more Uzbek politics + history substack.com/inbox/post/1...

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

Incredible resource for Central Asianists, just as you'd expect from Sergei Abashin: abashin.org

Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in #Uzbekistan - out one week today with @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social! Pre-order here www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira... and sign up for launch events here joannalillis.substack.com/p/silk-mirag...

Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in #Uzbekistan - out one week today! Pre-order here www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira... and sign up for launch events here joannalillis.substack.com/p/silk-mirag...

I talk to Strategy Aaron podcast about my book Silk Mirage (out next week w @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social), #Uzbekistan's political trajectory + pivotal regional role + if Trump emboldens Central Asia's authoritarian leaders www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wxY... strategyaaron.ghost.io/new-old-uzbe...

We are pleased to invite you to this Politics and Sociology event with author @joannalillis.bsky.social. Please join us to hear about her new book 'Silk Mirage' @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social. 🗓️ 27 November at 5pm 📍 UCL SSEES ➡️ www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanit... @dianakudaibergen.bsky.social

Tune into Pieces of History podcast where I'm talking about my new book Silk Mirage: "we dive into the forces shaping #Uzbekistan’s identity, challenge common assumptions, and shed light on a nation navigating a complex path between tradition and modernity" podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

"Silk Mirage is a valuable historical document that will still be read decades from now for its deep research, unique testimonies and on-the-ground reporting on a country that has had so little of all that" - first review from Caravanistan. Out on 13 Nov with @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social

Last chance! Only 4 in-person tickets left to join me + BBC journalist Ibrat Safo to talk about my book Silk Mirage - out next week - + more about #Uzbekistan, 18 November 1900 London or join us online www.gbrussia.org/silk-mirage-... www.pushkinhouse.org/whats-on/eve...

UN experts express "serious concerns about forced evictions" + demolitions in Samarkand, noting recent destruction of an entire neighbourhood. Read more on forced demolitions in my book on #Uzbekistan, Silk Mirage, out on 13 Nov with @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

"Silk Mirage is a valuable historical document that will still be read decades from now for its deep research, unique testimonies and on-the-ground reporting on a country that has had so little of all that" - Caravanistan. Out 13 Nov w @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social caravanistan.com/uzbekistan/b...

"Silk Mirage is a valuable historical document that will still be read decades from now for its deep research, unique testimonies and on-the-ground reporting on a country that has had so little of all that" - first review from Caravanistan. Out on 13 Nov with @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social

Rewilding the wild horse in #Mongolia - my report for Eurasianet on the amazing but precarious success in returning the takhi, or Przewalski's horse, to its natural habitat eurasianet.org/mongolia-end...

Countdown to Clifton LitFest, starting 2 weeks today! I'll be in conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social about my forthcoming book Silk Mirage + all things #Uzbekistan. Between us we have 4 decades of experience covering Central Asia - come and join us! Tickets here foccal.com/litfest-even...

Silk has ancient roots in #Uzbekistan, but the industry is still thriving in the modern day - check out my latest on Substack open.substack.com/pub/joannali...

Silk Mirage will be published two weeks today! www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira... Pre-order here and sign up for launch events in London or online in November here joannalillis.substack.com/publish/post...

Oct. 30 is the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions, a holiday dedicated to victims of Soviet repressions. Today, we share some of our coverage of Russia's present-day political prisoners:

Silk Mirage IRL! Excited to hold a copy in my hands. Out on 13 November - pre-order here www.bloomsbury.com/uk/silk-mira...

Guardians of the nation's moral values, aka MPs, again put the idea of legislating against so-called "propaganda" of same-sex relations on the agenda in #Kazakhstan tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_n...

Those interested in Central Asia here is your Chance.

Starting three weeks today - join us at @Clifton LitFest where I'll be in conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social about my forthcoming book Silk Mirage and all things #Uzbekistan. Tickets here foccal.com/litfest-even... Plenty more great events going on too.

Only a handful of in-person tickets left - join us 18 Nov for a discussion with Ibrat Safo about my new book Silk Mirage and #Uzbekistan - tune in online if you can't make it in person! Tickets www.gbrussia.org/silk-mirage-... www.pushkinhouse.org/whats-on/eve...

Only a handful of in-person tickets left - join us 18 Nov for a discussion with Ibrat Safo about my new book Silk Mirage and #Uzbekistan - tune in online if you can't make it in person! Tickets www.gbrussia.org/silk-mirage-... www.pushkinhouse.org/whats-on/eve...

Starting three weeks today - join us at @Clifton LitFest where I'll be in conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social about my forthcoming book Silk Mirage and all things #Uzbekistan. Tickets here foccal.com/litfest-even... Plenty more great events going on too.

What's it like being a grandchild of one of #CentralAsia's dictators? From drug addiction + psychological trauma to Instagram influencer, this report by Airan focuses on the Karimovs in #Uzbekistan + Nazarbayevs in #Kazakhstan, with an interview with me www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV1-...

#Kazakhstan facing "certain economic impact" from #Ukraine drone attack on #Russia's Orenburg gas processing plant, energy ministery says tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_n...

UN Human Rights Chief urges #Kyrgyzstan to drop plans to reintroduce the death penalty, says no evidence it acts as deterrent and could lead to killing of innocent people www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Countdown to Clifton LitFest in one month! I'll be in conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social on 15 Nov about my book Silk Mirage + all things #Uzbekistan - join us! Loads more great events eg @edentravels.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social Tickets here foccal.com/litfest-even...

Countdown to Clifton LitFest in one month! I'll be in conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social on 15 Nov about my book Silk Mirage + all things #Uzbekistan - join us! Loads more great events eg @edentravels.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social Tickets here foccal.com/litfest-even...

Kyrgyzstan has undergone a massive change in the past decade in terms of net migration. From negative net migration (due to labor migration to Russia) to positive net migration since 2022 (due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and return of labor migrants + Russian citizens).

"Classic autocratic genderwashing" - excellent read by @Vlastkz on patriarchal politics in #Kazakhstan, after President Tokayev complains about women's behaviour in public vlast.kz/english/6674...

A reminder to sign up for Silk Mirage launch events in November in London or online, starting a month today at Clifton LitFest in Bristol!

What does #Uzbekistan’s official “opposition” look like - and what happens to aspiring opposition leaders who dare to criticise the powers-that-be? Check out my new Substack post - and pre-order Silk Mirage, my forthcoming book, out on 13 November open.substack.com/pub/joannali...

What does #Uzbekistan’s official “opposition” look like - and what happens to aspiring opposition leaders who dare to criticise the powers-that-be? Check out my new Substack post - and pre-order Silk Mirage, my forthcoming book, out on 13 November open.substack.com/pub/joannali...

Silk Mirage, my book on #Uzbekistan, will be on the shelves a month today! Join launch events in November in London/online, inc Clifton LitFest w @peterleonard1.bsky.social, Pushkin House with Ibrat Safo, Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson + more open.substack.com/pub/joannali...

Edda Schlager presenting her brilliant #book about the #architecture of #Almaty at the Tselinny arts centre - a very appropriate venue given the recent relaunch of this historic building in a beautiful revamped form

Join Silk Mirage on tour! Just over a month to publication of my book on #Uzbekistan by @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, and some great events are coming up: Clifton LitFest w @peterleonard1.bsky.social, Pushkin House with Ibrat Safo, Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson + much more!

Grab a bargain - 50% off the audiobook of Dark Shadows, my book on #Kazakhstan! www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...

Join Silk Mirage on tour! Just over a month to publication of my book on #Uzbekistan by @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, and some great events are coming up: Clifton LitFest w @peterleonard1.bsky.social, Pushkin House with Ibrat Safo, Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson + much more!

Please join us at Clifton LitFest in Bristol, UK on 15 November, where I'll be in conversation with @peterleonard1.bsky.social Leonard about my forthcoming book Silk Mirage - and there are lots of other great events going on at the festival too! Tickets to our event here foccal.com/litfest-even...

New event on the Silk Mirage tour: please join me at University College London on 27 Nov www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanit... Full list of events here joannalillis.substack.com/p/silk-mirag... - from Clifton LitFest with @peterleonard1.bsky.social + RSAA Reading Room to Pushkin House + Oxford University

Central Asians fall under new regulations in #Russia limiting those who enter visa-free to only 90 days in the country per year - even Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, who are meant to enjoy free movement under the Eurasian Economic Union tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_n...

The sleek lines of the new Tselinny arts centre in the old Tselinny cinema. I used to live on this street when I first moved to Kazakhstan in 2005 and often used to go to the cinema here. Great to see it revamped and back in action with a new remit! #almaty #Kazakhstan #arts #culture

Props to @tumarov.bsky.social for very skillfully describing the cult of raw power being created by Tashiev, the Sopranos-esque head of Kyrgyzstan’s rapidly expanding security services youtu.be/cQeb5cdHs1I?...

More about Silk Mirage and full list of book tour events - from Clifton LitFest with @peterleonard1.bsky.social and Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson to Oxford University and UCL on my Substack here substack.com/home/post/p-...

Roll up, roll up: Pushkin House GB Society Russia event with me + Ibrat Safo talking about my new book Silk Mirage + all things #Uzbekistan has moved to larger venue due to popular demand, tickets selling fast. Register to attend in person/online on 18 Nov pushkinhouse.org/whats-on/event…