Jeff
@jeffbell.bsky.social
Into Central Asia, democracy, (anti-)kleptocracy, bikes, urbanism, and a touch of tech.
He/Him/Он/El
English/Russian/working on Spanish
Not here to take myself too seriously. Opinions are my own.
He/Him/Он/El
English/Russian/working on Spanish
Not here to take myself too seriously. Opinions are my own.
Amazing reporting on forced demolitions in Samarkand from Katie Putz in the Diplomat. I hope someone picks up the corruption angle, but I understand how dangerous that is, particularly for the sources inside. The tie between construction and corruption is frequent. thediplomat.com/2025/11/destr...
Destruction in the Heart of Old Samarkand
Forced evictions began in the spring in the neighborhood adjacent to the modest al-Maturidi mausoleum. Then the demolition began.
thediplomat.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Amazing reporting on forced demolitions in Samarkand from Katie Putz in the Diplomat. I hope someone picks up the corruption angle, but I understand how dangerous that is, particularly for the sources inside. The tie between construction and corruption is frequent. thediplomat.com/2025/11/destr...
Reposted by Jeff
With the passing of new anti-LGBTQ propaganda law in Kazakhstan (I think it’s a done deal and will be signed off on by the senate and President), we’re in a strange situation where Tajikistan has the least homophobic legislation in Central Asia.
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
With the passing of new anti-LGBTQ propaganda law in Kazakhstan (I think it’s a done deal and will be signed off on by the senate and President), we’re in a strange situation where Tajikistan has the least homophobic legislation in Central Asia.
Reposted by Jeff
Central Asia is adapting its entire ideological agenda to impress one man: Donald Trump.
The recent C5+1 summit was a new high point in US-Central Asian ties. But is this rapprochement real, or just risk? 🧵🧵🧵
The recent C5+1 summit was a new high point in US-Central Asian ties. But is this rapprochement real, or just risk? 🧵🧵🧵
November 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Central Asia is adapting its entire ideological agenda to impress one man: Donald Trump.
The recent C5+1 summit was a new high point in US-Central Asian ties. But is this rapprochement real, or just risk? 🧵🧵🧵
The recent C5+1 summit was a new high point in US-Central Asian ties. But is this rapprochement real, or just risk? 🧵🧵🧵
Reposted by Jeff
A couple of good write-ups of Trump’s summit with Central Asian leaders by longtime journalists in this beat
www.rferl.org/a/central-as...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/when...
www.rferl.org/a/central-as...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/when...
November 7, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A couple of good write-ups of Trump’s summit with Central Asian leaders by longtime journalists in this beat
www.rferl.org/a/central-as...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/when...
www.rferl.org/a/central-as...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/when...
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I wonder if there's any reason why this administration in particular would be interested in developing new business relationships in an extractive industry in a region known for very flexible business practices 🤔
www.rferl.org/a/trump-rare-ea...
www.rferl.org/a/trump-rare-ea...
Trump Hosts Central Asian Leaders For More Mineral Diplomacy At High-Profile Summit
US President Donald Trump will host Central Asian leaders in Washington on November 6 for a high-profile summit where the region’s vast deposits of critical and rare earth minerals are set to take center stage.
www.rferl.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I wonder if there's any reason why this administration in particular would be interested in developing new business relationships in an extractive industry in a region known for very flexible business practices 🤔
www.rferl.org/a/trump-rare-ea...
www.rferl.org/a/trump-rare-ea...
Reposted by Jeff
THE YAED APPLE
November 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM
THE YAED APPLE
While we're asking for recommendations, can anyone recommend literature on the interplay between post-colonial conditions and kleptocracy? I'm thinking about finally going to grad school and want to follow some hunches. Central Asia-specific would be great, but I'm interested in anywhere.
there was a big spike in discussions of decolonial approaches to russia/central asia/the caucasus in 2022/2023 that seems to have entirely subsided - is this really the case or have i just been too busy to keep up with the reading
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
While we're asking for recommendations, can anyone recommend literature on the interplay between post-colonial conditions and kleptocracy? I'm thinking about finally going to grad school and want to follow some hunches. Central Asia-specific would be great, but I'm interested in anywhere.
I can't decide if politics get a lot better or a lot worse when the bubble pops. Regardless, it will continue to be a wild ride.
www.theatlantic.com/technolog...
www.theatlantic.com/technolog...
Here’s How the AI Crash Happens
The U.S. is becoming an Nvidia-state.
www.theatlantic.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I can't decide if politics get a lot better or a lot worse when the bubble pops. Regardless, it will continue to be a wild ride.
www.theatlantic.com/technolog...
www.theatlantic.com/technolog...
Reposted by Jeff
Anyway: it’s an American tradition. www.startribune.com/trump-admini...
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Anyway: it’s an American tradition. www.startribune.com/trump-admini...
Reposted by Jeff
In mid-August, 71% of D.C. residents said local police should not be assisting in federal immigration enforcement, as part of a @washingtonpost.com poll.
"People are feeling gaslit right now," @robertwhitedc.bsky.social says, when the extent to which MPD is cooperating is unclear to the public.
"People are feeling gaslit right now," @robertwhitedc.bsky.social says, when the extent to which MPD is cooperating is unclear to the public.
Questions remain about MPD’s work with ICE. Activists want lawmakers to step in
They say the D.C. Council should publicly question MPD about cooperation on immigration enforcement.
51st.news
October 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
In mid-August, 71% of D.C. residents said local police should not be assisting in federal immigration enforcement, as part of a @washingtonpost.com poll.
"People are feeling gaslit right now," @robertwhitedc.bsky.social says, when the extent to which MPD is cooperating is unclear to the public.
"People are feeling gaslit right now," @robertwhitedc.bsky.social says, when the extent to which MPD is cooperating is unclear to the public.
@leilaseiitbek.bsky.social is such a hero, and it's so tragic to see the way the world is treating its refugees. The world needs many more people like her.
freedomforeurasia.org/leila-s...
freedomforeurasia.org/leila-s...
Leila Seiitbek, human rights activist: “Refugees from Central Asia have no support networks in Europe” - Freedom For Eurasia
A discussion on human rights, European migration policy, and Central Asian dissidents Translation from Russian to English by Freedom For Eurasia. Original can be found pn Vlast.kz Almas Kaisar, Vlast Leila Seiitbek, photo from knews.kg Leila Seiitbek, a human rights defender and activist, fled Kyrgyzstan with her family in 2016, fleeing political persecution by the authorities. […]
freedomforeurasia.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:55 PM
@leilaseiitbek.bsky.social is such a hero, and it's so tragic to see the way the world is treating its refugees. The world needs many more people like her.
freedomforeurasia.org/leila-s...
freedomforeurasia.org/leila-s...
Reposted by Jeff
a reminder that this banger political rap about protests and dictatorship in Kazakhstan exist:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILU...
Daiynball - Qazaq eline +1 (Music Video)
YouTube video by Daiynball
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
a reminder that this banger political rap about protests and dictatorship in Kazakhstan exist:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILU...
Reposted by Jeff
When Canada’s public broadcaster asks: “is America becoming a police state?”
ICE raids and fear tactics: Is America becoming a police state?
YouTube video by CBC News: The National
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 2:36 AM
When Canada’s public broadcaster asks: “is America becoming a police state?”
How can I get this bike? I must have it.
“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle & go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”
-Arthur Conan Doyle
-Arthur Conan Doyle
'Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife on an early tandem bike, 1892'
October 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
How can I get this bike? I must have it.
In which I realized for the first time that the Russian word for nightmare, кошмар, comes from French. mostlysignssomeportents.tumbl...
Mostly signs (some portents)
French poster for The Horror of Dracula, 1958. Artwork by Guy Noel.
mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In which I realized for the first time that the Russian word for nightmare, кошмар, comes from French. mostlysignssomeportents.tumbl...
Reposted by Jeff
Central Asia is now an unbroken series of dictatorships
A Bishkek court has just ruled that two of the countries most influential independent news sites Kloop and Temirov Live (both in exile abroad) are extremist organizations. This means that liking or reposting their content may be deemed a criminal act in Kyrgyzstan
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
Суд признал материалы «Клооп» и «Темиров лайв» экстремистскими
Суд признал материалы «Клооп» и «Темиров лайв» экстремистскими – в изданиях не знали об этом деле и намерены обжаловать приговор
kloop.kg
October 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Central Asia is now an unbroken series of dictatorships
Devastating to see. Kyrgyzstan, and everyone at both of these media, deserves better.
A Bishkek court has just ruled that two of the countries most influential independent news sites Kloop and Temirov Live (both in exile abroad) are extremist organizations. This means that liking or reposting their content may be deemed a criminal act in Kyrgyzstan
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
Суд признал материалы «Клооп» и «Темиров лайв» экстремистскими
Суд признал материалы «Клооп» и «Темиров лайв» экстремистскими – в изданиях не знали об этом деле и намерены обжаловать приговор
kloop.kg
October 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Devastating to see. Kyrgyzstan, and everyone at both of these media, deserves better.
Reposted by Jeff
Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are having a ripple effect on prices in Centeal Asia substack.com/@havli/note/...
Central Asia's week that was #76
Fuel rationing in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakh price freeze, and Berdymukhamedov’s Afghan roadshow. Also, influencer pranks, Tajik botox edict, and satellite internet footprint growing.
substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are having a ripple effect on prices in Centeal Asia substack.com/@havli/note/...
Reposted by Jeff
This interview by @vlastkz.bsky.social with Karakalpak activist Akylbek Muratbai goes into great detail about what being a Central Asian activist is like at a time when democratic states are turning away from the concept of refugee protection vlast.kz/english/6671...
Karakalpak Activist Decries Repression in Uzbekistan and Bureaucratic Barriers in Kazakhstan - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть
Читайте этот материал на русском.
vlast.kz
October 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This interview by @vlastkz.bsky.social with Karakalpak activist Akylbek Muratbai goes into great detail about what being a Central Asian activist is like at a time when democratic states are turning away from the concept of refugee protection vlast.kz/english/6671...
Reposted by Jeff
Tucked away in the North London neighborhood of Palmers Green is a former church that was recently turned into a mosque and Uyghur cultural center.
It’s got an unusual owner.
It’s got an unusual owner.
October 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Tucked away in the North London neighborhood of Palmers Green is a former church that was recently turned into a mosque and Uyghur cultural center.
It’s got an unusual owner.
It’s got an unusual owner.