FIA dubbed #Uzbekistan "star of the east" during a recent meeting in Tashkent, but did not raise Uzbekistan's problematic rights record. Promoting and conducting business with a country without conducting a human rights impact assessment is risky, says @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

Kazakhstan joins the ranks of countries that ban so-called LGBT "propaganda." The gov claims this law doesn't violate international treaties ratified by #Kazakhstan, but - make no mistake - it does. vlast.kz/novosti/6765...

IPHR has joined @hrw.org, @amnesty.org, @nhcno.bsky.social, @hfhrpl.bsky.social and four other organisations in calling on Kazakhstan's authorities to end attacks on independent journalists and media outlets, following recent raids, detentions and pressure: iphronline.org/articles/kaz...

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org joined eight other human rights groups to jointly call on the #Kazakhstan government to stop all attacks on independent journalists and media outlets and create an enabling environment for freedom of expression. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

As the world marks Human Rights Day on December 10, activists in #Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most repressive countries, continue to pay a devastating price for defending those rights. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

ARTICLE 19 Europe urges #Kazakhstan's draft law penalizing so-called ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation' be withdrawn. Its adoption would institutionalise discrimination & heighten risks of violence & exclusion faced by LGBT people in Kazakhstan. www.article19.org/resources/ka...

In light of what's happening with the "anti-LGBT" law in Kazakhstan, I think it's important to listen to this superb podcast in Russian with the superb queer researchers/practitioners voices Salta Shoshanova and Medina Bazargali: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi4F...

#Kazakhstan: Proposed ‘LGBT Propaganda’ law risks institutionalising discrimination, warn UN experts, urging authorities to reject the proposed amendments & protect LGBT persons and human rights defenders from discrimination and reprisals. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Seven international human rights groups, including @hrw.org called on lawmakers in #Kazakhstan to reject so called #LGBT "propaganda" proposals when they came for a vote on Weds. Flouting Kazakhstan's international obligations, lawmakers adopted them anyway. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...

At a time when saving water has become a matter of vital importance in Uzbekistan, it is no less crucial to monitor how the allocated funds are used.

Central Asia-US Summit: Address Region’s Growing Repression Human Rights Should be Key to Economic, Security Ties www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...

#Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a high-level visit to Brussels on October 24, 2025, to sign a partnership deal with the EU, but the EU has missed an important opportunity to bring about positive change, says @hrw.org. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

🧵 As #EU governments prepare to meet amid a fragile #Gaza ceasefire, pressure is mounting for them to "drop the stick" they never used on #Israel Caving to that pressure would be yet another blow to their credibility, and to hopes for rights and justice: hrw.org/news/2025/10... #EUCO #FAC ⤵️ 1/7

#Kazakhstan and #Uzbekistan agree multimillion-dollar deals with US to buy locomotives and aircraft www.rferl.org/a/us-kazakhs...

HRW's Europe & Central Asia division is hiring an associate to work in Brussels or Berlin to support our work in the region. If you're a recent grad, interested in human rights, have admin skills, and looking for a job, check out the job announcement below: job-boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightsw...

Man-made starvation, bombardment & gunfire around flawed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation facilities, but also enforced disappearances of civilians - @UN_SPExperts report. Int'l community's and EU's inaction only enables #Israel army's abhorrent crimes. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Was privileged to share the waters with them over the weekend! Ukrainian war veterans, some amputees, swim Istanbul’s Bosphorus on Ukraine’s independence day www.latimes.com/world-nation...

#Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 @rsf-interfr.bsky.social condemns the refusal to renew accreditation for seven @rferl.org.web.brid.gy Kazakh journalists: "The judiciary is endorsing a cynical legal sleight of hand aimed at hindering the work of RFE/RL's local bureau". buff.ly/ONRuU4s

#Kazakhstan: Instead of penalizing Bakhytzhan Toregozhina for her human rights work, Kazakh authorities shld recognize her posts for what they are: an important public record of rights violations in Kazakhstan that the government itself should be working to address. www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

Kyrgyzstan: Rights Defender on Trial After Publishing Activist’s Letter www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

The draft media law has been in the works since 2022 and has been criticized by journalists, civil society, and human rights organizations from the outset.

European leaders should make clear to Trump that release & return of 1000s civilians, including children, protection of civilians & accountability for war-time crimes should be at center of his meeting w/ Putin. Read @HRW Rachel Denber's take 👇 www.hrw.org/news/2025/08... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu

Activists up in arms as plans to build at Bozzhyra in west #Kazakhstan resurface (company linked to Azeri ruling family, controversially given construction contract at Charvak in #Uzbekistan). Development at Kok Zhaylau near Almaty also back on agenda vlast.kz/obsshestvo/6...

Human rights defender from #Kazakhstan Bakhytzhan Toregozhina fined for social media post via Front Line Defenders www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/bakh...

#Kazakhstan's Mining Industry Sees Growing Abuse A new report highlights growing allegations of violations of labor and environmental laws vlast.kz/english/6578...

Kazakhstani Human Rights Activist Found Guilty of Spreading Disinformation Bakhytzhan Toregozhina has been outspoken in her support of political prisoners vlast.kz/english/6588...

🚨 Israeli forces have killed hundreds of starving Palestinians seeking food in Gaza. These are not isolated incidents; these are war crimes. Our latest investigation lays out the evidence. #Gaza #WarCrimes 🔗 www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

Would love to see such a victory in Central Asia too, in either (both!) Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, countries that continue to criminalize same-sex relations between men.

Our @nikolamikovic.bsky.social observes that Ukraine intensifies diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, seeking support amid war with Russia, but faces economic and logistical challenges timesca.com/ukraine-eyes... #Ukraine #CentralAsia #Diplomacy #Geopolitics

Tune in to Turan Tales, where I talked to @aga-pik.bsky.social about the long shadow Nazarbayev casts over #Kazakhstan even six years after he stepped down as president after 30 years in power substack.com/@turantales/no…

Motherfucking wind farms…

During its 102nd session in April 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued Opinion 18/2025 concerning the detention of Mr. Marat Zhylanbaev (Kazakhstan), finds Zhylanbaev's detention arbitrary & says appropriate remedy is to "release Zhylanbaev immediately." ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

#Kazakhstan is prosecuting the rights defender Bakhytzhan Toregozhina on administrative charges of "disseminating false information" in connection w/ her FB post(s) abt Marat Zhylanbaev, a political opposition activist serving an unfounded 7 yr prison term, whose health has deteriorated in prison.

I will be closely following the trial of civic activist Murat Dushemov, who has been in prison since 2021 & is now facing new criminal charges in apparent retaliation for his peaceful activism & the exercise of his freedom of expression in #Turkmenistan. I call for his immediate release.

Правозащитницу Бахытжан Торегожину вызвали в полицию по делу о «распространении ложной информации» #Kazakhstan Ранее она сообщила о тяжелом состоянии здоровья политического активиста Марата Жыланбаева vlast.kz/novosti/6584...

To tackle gender-based violence in #Uzbekistan (or anywhere for that matter): "True change demands institutional accountability, cultural transformation, and a justice system that believes women and protects them," says Gulnoz Mamarasulova in @thediplomat.com. thediplomat.com/2025/07/you-...

Relieved to see that Dina Smailova, a women's rights activist facing criminal prosecution in #Kazakhstan, was granted refugee status. rus.azattyq.org/a/glava-fond...

Hard hitting interview with lawyer Sergey Mayorov on #Uzbekistan's judiciary and its lack of independence, amongst other problems. youtu.be/GIBvJAJT1lA?...

#Kazakhstan: Sixteen journalists denied accreditation, amidst growing press freedom restrictions via @ifjglobal.bsky.social www.ifj.org/media-centre...

Gazeta.uz reports an Uzbek citizen wanted for 'insulting the president' was detained in Azerbaijan & extradited to Tashkent. www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/07/2... HRW earlier wrote abt how criminal prosecutions for 'insulting the president' violate free speech, right to liberty. www.hrw.org/news/2024/05...

CPJ calls for Kyrgyzstan probe into 2020 death of CPJ award winner Askarov cpj.org?p=500493

#Kazakhstan’s Oil Workers Face the End of TCO Expansion Labor unions expect rising unemployment as construction work at Tengizchevroil ends, reports @vlastkz.bsky.social vlast.kz/english/6579...

Senator Erkaev: Justice system backsliding in #Uzbekistan, public trust in judiciary declining “What are the results of the judicial reforms we’ve carried out in recent years? There are none. Instead of progress, we see regression.” he said. m.kun.uz/en/news/2025...

In the United States people are treated like animals. www.hrw.org/report/2025/...

Journalist Anora Sodiqova wins rare court victory (on appeal) against blogger who slandered her #Uzbekistan www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/07/2...

This possible reduction of protected area of Shahrisabz comes years after the authorities bulldozed the mediaeval old town in the name of progress. More on destruction of architectural heritage in #Uzbekistan in my new book Silk Mirage, out in November www.gazeta.uz/en/2025/07/2...

#Kazakhstan: Journalists Denied Accreditation Decision Against Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Threatens Media Freedom www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Are you a trans activist in Central Asia, the Caucasus, or Eastern Europe? Join our five-part online training to learn practical UN advocacy skills to protect trans rights. Sessions on Zoom in Russian with English interpretation. Register now: www.tgeu.org/tgeu-webinar... #TransRights