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Reposted by Niginakhon Saida

Eilish Hart @eilishhart.bsky.social · Aug 8

In a dispatch from Tashkent, The Beet explores the debates about language, trust, and technology shaping Wikipedia’s development in Central Asia (and beyond) in the age of AI. meduza.io/en/feature/2... @meduza.io

‘An unusual hobby’ How Central Asian Wikipedians are closing the local-language knowledge gap in the age of AI — Meduza

In April 2025, the volunteer editors and administrators behind the Central Asian editions of Wikipedia held their first ever gathering IRL (in real life). Founded along linguistic rather than nation-s...

meduza.io

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Erica Marat 🇺🇦 @ericamarat.bsky.social · Sep 7

Latest from @niginakhon.bsky.social: The number of Uzbek nationals fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war remains significant, and the price of returning home has become little more than a grounding.

thediplomat.com/2025/09/uzbe...

Uzbek Fighters in Russia’s War Face Relatively Mild Punishments at Home

The number of Uzbek nationals fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war remains significant, and the price of returning home has become little more than a grounding.

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Jul 3

Russian Without Russians: The Politics of Language in Uzbekistan
In the latest issue of @thediplomat.com , I talk to UZB's Gen Z about the russian language in the country

thediplomat.com/2025/06/russ...

Russian Without Russians: The Politics of Language in Uzbekistan

A new generation is questioning the privileged place of the Russian language in public education and everyday life – while still grappling with its utility, legacy, and political weight.

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Jun 16

Together with Bakhrom Mirakilov, I explore the marginalization of political science (and ther related fields) in Uzbekistan’s universities and its broader consequences
thediplomat.com/2025/06/poli...

Political Science on the Sidelines in Uzbekistan

Despite some positive trends, the social sciences in Uzbekistan remain trapped in the shadow of the past.

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · May 7

my latesr:
Inside Uzbekistan’s Private University Boom
Can private universities in Uzbekistan truly solve the growing demand for higher education, or will they become profit driven diploma-mills?
thediplomat.com/2025/05/insi...

Inside Uzbekistan’s Private University Boom

Can private universities in Uzbekistan truly solve the growing demand for higher education, or will they become profit driven diploma-mills?

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Apr 25

Amid growing reports of fraud, poor service, and legal cases involving thousands of stranded pilgrims, Tashkent continues to introduce new regulatory measures.
my latest for @thediplomat.com

thediplomat.com/2025/04/uzbe...

Uzbekistan’s Struggle to Regulate Privately Organized Muslim Pilgrimage Tours Continues

Amid growing reports of fraud, poor service, and legal cases involving thousands of stranded pilgrims, Tashkent continues to introduce new regulatory measures.

thediplomat.com

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Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · Apr 23

#Uzbekistan seeks to revitalise privatisation drive, with stakes to be sold off in 29 companies, including some big names www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/04/2...

29 госпредприятий Узбекистана приватизируют. Среди них — UzAuto Motors, Mobiuz и Uzbekistan GTL

В Узбекистане госдоли в 29 крупных предприятиях будут проданы на международном и отечественном рынках. В их числе — UzAuto Motors, Mobiuz, Uzbekistan GTL, тепловые электростанции и ТЭЦ, «Технопарк», У...

www.gazeta.uz

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Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · Apr 16

Fascinating look by @Peter__Leonard on his Havli Substack at how Central Asian governments try to combine “secular authoritarianism with “conservative moral revivalism” havli.substack.com/p/riding-two...

Riding two horses: Central Asia’s struggle to control faith and morality

Governments try to suppress grassroots Islam while promoting state-approved “traditional values.” But in trying to ride both horses, they reveal the limits of their control.

havli.substack.com

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Women’s Center “Gulrukhsor” @gulrukhsor.bsky.social · Apr 16

Excited to finely share our news. We are now registered as a charity in England & Wales providing a means to confidently & effectively support us. Very proud to have 3 great trustees providing oversight; Sophie Ibbotson, Hugh Philpott OBE and Vicky Fletcher. Please consider donating

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Apr 15

My latest short for @thediplomat.com

thediplomat.com/2025/04/why-...

Why Uzbekistan Continues to Push for Engaging With Afghanistan

Tashkent sees stability in Afghanistan as essential for the security and stability of the broader Central and South Asian region.

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Apr 7

Bread. Surkhandarya style.

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Apr 6

In Uzbekistan, 1 in 10 schoolkids studies in Russian.

Only 2.1% of the population is ethnically Russian (under 800k people), but 666,443 children are educated in Russian.

There are 87 Russian-medium schools — and Russian-language classes in 885 more.

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Reposted by Niginakhon Saida

The Times of Central Asia @timesca.com · Apr 1

Forced labor involving public sector employees and children persists during Turkmenistan's 2024 cotton harvest, despite a government ban, risking international sanctions timesca.com/forced-and-c... #Turkmenistan #CottonHarvest #HumanRights #ForcedLabor #ChildLabor

Forced and Child Labor Persist in Turkmen Cotton Harvest, UN Experts Say - The Times Of Central Asia

According to the ILO’s findings, employees of state institutions, including kindergartens, schools, and hospitals, were mobilized for cotton picking alongside

timesca.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Mar 13

Will Uzbekistan’s 31-Year Effort to Join the WTO Finally Pay Off?
thediplomat.com/2025/03/will...

Will Uzbekistan’s 31-Year Effort to Join the WTO Finally Pay Off?

With one year left until the targeted WTO membership deadline, what could success bring?

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Mar 12

SamOsh

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The Times of Central Asia @timesca.com · Mar 12

Kazakhstani scientists discover protein DJ-1's role in Parkinson's disease timesca.com/kazakhstans-... #KazakhstanScience #ParkinsonsResearch #ProteinDJ1 #ScientificDiscovery #KazakhstanResearchers #ScienceMilestone

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Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · Mar 11

Is isolationist #Turkmenistan ready to engage with the world? @peterleonard1.bsky.social examines the evidence on his Havli Substack
havli.substack.com/p/is-turkmen...

Is Turkmenistan prepared to shed hermit status?

It has become common of late to claim that this pathologically self-isolating nation is looking to engage more with the world. What is the evidence?

havli.substack.com

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Reposted by Niginakhon Saida

The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · Mar 5

Russia and Central Asia have been mutually shaped by decades of labor migration, but these long-running ties have begun to fray.

To Russia With Waning Love: Changing Migration Dynamics in Central Asia

Russia and Central Asia have been mutually shaped by decades of labor migration, but these long-running ties have begun to fray.

buff.ly

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Feb 27

Central Asian Survey, the leading academic journal in the field of Central Asian Studies, is seeking a new Editor, or Editors from January 2026.
think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru...

Editors needed for Central Asian Survey

think.taylorandfrancis.com

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Reposted by Niginakhon Saida

The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · Feb 20

Kyrgyzstan has called for respect for its "historical and cultural heritage" after a Russian clothing brand used traditional Kyrgyz designs and claimed copyright over them, prompting accusations of "cultural appropriation."

Kyrgyzstan Urges Respect for Heritage Amid Row Over Russian ‘Appropriation’ - The Moscow Times

Kyrgyzstan has called for respect for its "historical and cultural heritage" after a Russian clothing brand used traditional Kyrgyz designs and claimed copyright over them, prompting accusations of "c...

www.themoscowtimes.com

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Reposted by Niginakhon Saida

The Times of Central Asia @timesca.com · Feb 20

Russia shifts energy supply focus from Europe to Central Asia timesca.com/right-place-... #Geopolitics #CentralAsia #Russia #EnergyPolicy #EnergyTrade

Right Place, Right Time: Central Asia Basks in Russia's Energy Eastern Pivot - The Times Of Central Asia

On January 1, with the closure of pipelines through Ukraine, deliveries of Russian gas to Europe came to a virtual standstill. Prices across the continent

timesca.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Feb 19

@reutersworld.bsky.social is seeking a correspondent to cover Central Asia, bringing one of the most fascinating regions to a global audience.

careers.thomsonreuters.com/us/en/job/JR...

Central Asia Correspondent - Reuters in Almaty, Kazakhstan | News & Editorial Careers at Thomson Reuters

Apply for Central Asia Correspondent - Reuters job with Thomson Reuters in Almaty, Kazakhstan. News & Editorial Careers at Thomson Reuters

careers.thomsonreuters.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Feb 17

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a woman who killed her daughter in law was sentenced to 13 years.
Giving 8-15 years every time a woman is killed sends a wrong signal to the public. This is essentially a price tag misogynists can easily pay with amnesty often being granted. They take it as honor.

Reposted by Niginakhon Saida

Temur Umarov @tumarov.bsky.social · Feb 11

The first-ever EU-Central Asia leaders’ summit is back on the schedule. @thediplomat.com

thediplomat.com/2025/02/eu-c...

EU-Central Asia Leaders’ Summit Back on the Agenda

Planned originally for 2024, the summit is now scheduled for April 2025 in Samarkand – setting it apart from earlier China- and U.S.-Central Asia leaders summits, which occurred outside the region.

thediplomat.com

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Niginakhon Saida @niginakhon.bsky.social · Feb 15

Кадыр Кулиев и Нигинахон Саида написали большую статью для авторитетного издания The Diplomat, в которой объяснили положение Узбекистана в Индексе восприятия коррупции и рассказали, почему республика впервые с 2012 года упала в этом рейтинге.
politik.uz/novosti/the-...

The Diplomat: Борьба с коррупцией в Узбекистане — прогресс или вечный кризис? - POLITIK

Международный антикоррупционный эксперт Кадыр Кулиев и исследовательница Центральной Азии Нигинахон Саида написали большую статью для...

politik.uz

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