Peter Leonard

Me applying salt to the water in which my pasta is to be cooked

Призраки Журналисты шести стран объединились, чтобы выяснить, как погибла украинская журналистка Виктория Рощина. Летом 2023 года она поехала на оккупированные территории, чтобы найти места, где держат похищен...

When the body of abducted Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna was returned by Russia, it bore signs of torture, severe emaciation. Examiners noted the absence of her brain and eyes, while her hyoid bone was broken, an indicator of strangulation istories.media/stories/2025...

All this while Telegram channel linked to Russia's foreign ministry suggests Central Asia migrants should be replaced with more compliant workers from North Korea (4/4)

BES.media Казахстанцев зовут воевать в Украину: Аида Балаева рассказала, как с этим борется министерство В соцсетях казахстанцам предлагают заключить военные контракты. 🗣Что произошло Министр культуры и инфо...

Minister in Kazakhstan says the government is taking measures to stem slew of social media posts trying to recruit Kazakh nationals for Ukraine invasion (3/4) t.me/bessimptomno...

Дело о вербовке: ГКНБ задержал в Оше еще одного подозреваемого Государственный комитет национальной безопасности задержал еще одного человека в рамках дела о наемничестве. Сообщается, что это Наталья Секерина, сотрудница Русского дома в Оше, отделения российской ...

Also, Kyrgyzstan's security services arrested employee of Russian culture house for recruiting mercenaries for Ukraine invasion rus.azattyk.org/a/33392444.h... (2/4)

Лавров удивился отсутствию надписи на русском языке у мемориала «Скорбящая мать» в Самарканде Во время визита в Самарканд министр иностранных дел России Сергей Лавров обратил внимание на оформление мемориала «Скорбящая мать». Об этом сообщают РИА Новости.

Russia keeps up its charm campaign in Central Asia: Visiting foreign minister complains that war memorial does not have signage in Russia repost.uz/kak-anglicha... (1/4)

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.

Update: from @peterleonard1.bsky.social
I learn Tajikistan has banned idgardak, 'a cheerful end-of-Ramadan tradition where children wander door-to-door collecting sweets from neighbours.' substack.com/home/post/p-...

EU's Samarkand charm offensive lacks wow factor Central Asia wants firm deals on critical minerals, and soon. The Europeans believe they have a tempting proposition.

My admittedly rather grumpy dispatch from the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand (hashtag, i haz jokes)

havli.substack.com/p/eus-samark...

The Nigmatulin saga: Old Kazakhstan suffers fresh blows But government critics worry that major corruption cases are more about enforcing loyalty than cultivating elite accountability.

Prominent figures of the old elite in Kazakhstan are under pressure. But this is more about enforcing loyalty than cultivating accountability

havli.substack.com/p/the-nigmat...

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan bury Soviet-era border legacy with landmark treaty This agreement has set the stage for a major surge in trade and the promise of a new era of Central Asian unity. The treaty is not without its critics, however.

A colourful summary of the day’s excitement as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sign a border deal that should put an end to decades of disputes and a couple of deady conflicts on their border, from @peterleonard1.bsky.social reporting from the ground on Havli Substack havli.substack.com/p/kyrgyzstan...