Edward Lemon
@edwardlemon.bsky.social
Central Asia, authoritarianism, security and books
Our book (with Bradley Jardine), Backlash, is now available in the United States. It examines China's rising role in Central Asia, how this has generated local backlash and how China is responding.
Use discount ADISTA5 for 30% off!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Use discount ADISTA5 for 30% off!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Our book (with Bradley Jardine), Backlash, is now available in the United States. It examines China's rising role in Central Asia, how this has generated local backlash and how China is responding.
Use discount ADISTA5 for 30% off!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Use discount ADISTA5 for 30% off!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
July 17, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The Times They Are A-Changin
Central Asia's tallest Lenin statue taken down
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Central Asia's tallest Lenin statue taken down
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Kyrgyzstan takes down Central Asia's tallest Lenin statue
The monument to the Soviet patriarch will be replaced with a flagpole, authorities in Kyrgyzstan say.
www.bbc.com
June 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Times They Are A-Changin
Central Asia's tallest Lenin statue taken down
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Central Asia's tallest Lenin statue taken down
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump partially restricts entry for Turkmen citizens due to high overstay rates.
June 5, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Trump partially restricts entry for Turkmen citizens due to high overstay rates.
Turkmen travels. May 2024.
April 1, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Turkmen travels. May 2024.
My latest with Ruslan Norov on how Tajikistan shapes China's security assistance for China Local/Global @carnegieendowment.org carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/0...
How China is Adapting to Tajikistan’s Demand for Security Cooperation
Tajikistan is at the forefront of China’s evolving role in global security. But China is not simply imposing its will on Tajikistan’s authoritarian government; the Tajik side is shaping the relationsh...
carnegieendowment.org
March 20, 2025 at 4:08 PM
My latest with Ruslan Norov on how Tajikistan shapes China's security assistance for China Local/Global @carnegieendowment.org carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/0...
Reposted by Edward Lemon
A thread on Trump’s latest unlawful executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (which oversees Voice of America and RFERL) and the Wilson Center, where I was a fellow across two programs for four years. 🧵
(Gift link 🎁)
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/u...
(Gift link 🎁)
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/u...
Trump Orders Gutting of 7 Agencies, Including Voice of America’s Parent (Gift Article)
The order targeting the agencies, largely obscure entities that address issues like labor mediation and homelessness prevention, appeared to test the bounds of the president’s power.
www.nytimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 11:51 AM
A thread on Trump’s latest unlawful executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (which oversees Voice of America and RFERL) and the Wilson Center, where I was a fellow across two programs for four years. 🧵
(Gift link 🎁)
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/u...
(Gift link 🎁)
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/u...
I was a fellow at the Wilson Center for over five years. They were partially responsible for bringing me to DC. It is a uniquely non-partisan space for research, networking and policy engagement. I hope it can find a way to survive.
Trump is eliminating Wilson Center, a stellar US foreign policy study establishment. Along with it goes the Kennan Institute - one of the best Russia study institutions.
I was fortunate to be a Kennan Fellow in 2017.
Such a loss
I was fortunate to be a Kennan Fellow in 2017.
Such a loss
Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
March 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I was a fellow at the Wilson Center for over five years. They were partially responsible for bringing me to DC. It is a uniquely non-partisan space for research, networking and policy engagement. I hope it can find a way to survive.
Reposted by Edward Lemon
The Act of Congress establishing the Wilson Center doesn’t have a provision saying the president can abolish it by EO: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
www.govinfo.gov
March 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The Act of Congress establishing the Wilson Center doesn’t have a provision saying the president can abolish it by EO: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
In Central Asia, as governments have cracked down on media freedoms, RFERL has been at the forefront of independent reporting on the region. In my forthcoming book Backlash, we draw on 92 RFE reports. The book benefited massively from their critical work.
New statement by RFE/RL President:
“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies. The Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years
“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies. The Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years
March 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
In Central Asia, as governments have cracked down on media freedoms, RFERL has been at the forefront of independent reporting on the region. In my forthcoming book Backlash, we draw on 92 RFE reports. The book benefited massively from their critical work.
Parliamentary elections are being held in Tajikistan – without opposition, OSCE observers and independent media
rus.ozodi.org/a/v-tadzhiki...
rus.ozodi.org/a/v-tadzhiki...
В Таджикистане проходят парламентские выборы – без оппозиции, наблюдателей ОБСЕ и независимых СМИ
По данным Центральной комиссии по выборам и референдумам (ЦИК), в выборах участвуют шесть из семи зарегистрированных партий, за исключением Социал-демократической партии Таджикистана (СДПТ).
rus.ozodi.org
March 2, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Parliamentary elections are being held in Tajikistan – without opposition, OSCE observers and independent media
rus.ozodi.org/a/v-tadzhiki...
rus.ozodi.org/a/v-tadzhiki...
Bradley Jardine and I submitted the revised manuscript to the publisher today. Backlash will be out in July. You can pre-order here:https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
February 27, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Bradley Jardine and I submitted the revised manuscript to the publisher today. Backlash will be out in July. You can pre-order here:https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
Reposted by Edward Lemon
Tajikistan remains the most remittance dependent country in the world. Kyrgyzstan’s dependency has gradually lessened, but still high
February 22, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Tajikistan remains the most remittance dependent country in the world. Kyrgyzstan’s dependency has gradually lessened, but still high
Apt to be reading this on the same day that John Wood arrived at Lake Zorkul, claiming it to be the source of the Amu Darya (Oxus) in 1838
February 20, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Apt to be reading this on the same day that John Wood arrived at Lake Zorkul, claiming it to be the source of the Amu Darya (Oxus) in 1838
Reviewer 2 for Backlash came back today with a constructive and positive review. The perfect birthday present!
Pre-order it here!
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
Pre-order it here!
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
Backlash | Hurst Publishers
How have Central Asians responded to China’s growing role in their countries? Can Beijing maintain its dominant position in an increasingly hostile region?
www.hurstpublishers.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reviewer 2 for Backlash came back today with a constructive and positive review. The perfect birthday present!
Pre-order it here!
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
Pre-order it here!
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
It was a great discussion!
I am delighted to announce that @drgiuliocalcara.bsky.social and @edwardlemon.bsky.social will join me tomorrow for the ninth of the webinar series Open Conversations About INTERPOL Abuse! Join us tomorrow: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAh-... #INTERPOL #RedNotice #HumanRights #TransnationalRepression
Open Conversations About INTERPOL Abuse - Scholars' Perspective
YouTube video by NEMETS Law
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2024 at 7:27 AM
It was a great discussion!
Whether this person ends up being linked to the attack or not, this will likely fuel more xenophobia in Russia
December 18, 2024 at 7:27 AM
Whether this person ends up being linked to the attack or not, this will likely fuel more xenophobia in Russia
@Jardine_bradley and I have a chapter in this new volume on BRI: "Securing the Belt and Road and Establishing Hierarchy in Central Asia." It's an important volume. Check it out: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
December 11, 2024 at 2:40 PM
@Jardine_bradley and I have a chapter in this new volume on BRI: "Securing the Belt and Road and Establishing Hierarchy in Central Asia." It's an important volume. Check it out: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
See you on Monday...
November 28, 2024 at 7:39 PM
See you on Monday...
Reposted by Edward Lemon
The changes, however, do not significantly improve the situation for the accused.
In this week’s Threat Monitor, I’ll detail the latest developments and the wider context of the investigation.
In this week’s Threat Monitor, I’ll detail the latest developments and the wider context of the investigation.
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 PM
The changes, however, do not significantly improve the situation for the accused.
In this week’s Threat Monitor, I’ll detail the latest developments and the wider context of the investigation.
In this week’s Threat Monitor, I’ll detail the latest developments and the wider context of the investigation.
Reposted by Edward Lemon
🚨 Crocus City Hall attack: Charges amended 🚨
Four suspects in one of Russia’s largest terrorist attacks in recent years — the March 2024 bombing of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall — now face charges of assisting terrorism, rather than direct participation.
#Russia #Terrorism
Four suspects in one of Russia’s largest terrorist attacks in recent years — the March 2024 bombing of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall — now face charges of assisting terrorism, rather than direct participation.
#Russia #Terrorism
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 PM
🚨 Crocus City Hall attack: Charges amended 🚨
Four suspects in one of Russia’s largest terrorist attacks in recent years — the March 2024 bombing of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall — now face charges of assisting terrorism, rather than direct participation.
#Russia #Terrorism
Four suspects in one of Russia’s largest terrorist attacks in recent years — the March 2024 bombing of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall — now face charges of assisting terrorism, rather than direct participation.
#Russia #Terrorism
A “working group” dispatched by China’s embassy in Dushanbe has arrived at the area of the attack to “express sympathy to the injured and coordinate the handling of subsequent matters”, the ministry added.
asiaplustj.info/en/news/taji...
asiaplustj.info/en/news/taji...
One Chinese citizen killed, four others injured in attack near Tajik-Afghan border | Tajikistan News ASIA-Plus
asiaplustj.info
November 21, 2024 at 2:37 PM
A “working group” dispatched by China’s embassy in Dushanbe has arrived at the area of the attack to “express sympathy to the injured and coordinate the handling of subsequent matters”, the ministry added.
asiaplustj.info/en/news/taji...
asiaplustj.info/en/news/taji...
Reposted by Edward Lemon
Tomorrow is the 1,000th day of war in Ukraine, if you only count from 24 February 2022.
Its more than a decade long if you count from February 2014.
Its consequences will take generations to overcome.
Its more than a decade long if you count from February 2014.
Its consequences will take generations to overcome.
November 18, 2024 at 8:31 PM
Tomorrow is the 1,000th day of war in Ukraine, if you only count from 24 February 2022.
Its more than a decade long if you count from February 2014.
Its consequences will take generations to overcome.
Its more than a decade long if you count from February 2014.
Its consequences will take generations to overcome.
The incident, which occurred in the southeastern Shamsiddin Shohin district, bordering Afghanistan, has not yet been officially addressed by the Tajik authorities.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.rf...
www.google.com/amp/s/www.rf...
Attack From Afghanistan Kills Chinese National In Tajikistan, Sources Say
One Chinese national was killed and five others, four of them Chinese, were injured in a cross-border attack in Tajikistan's Zarbuzi Gorge, two sources close to a Tajik investigation told RFE/RL's Taj...
www.google.com
November 18, 2024 at 8:34 PM
The incident, which occurred in the southeastern Shamsiddin Shohin district, bordering Afghanistan, has not yet been officially addressed by the Tajik authorities.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.rf...
www.google.com/amp/s/www.rf...
Reposted by Edward Lemon
Dear #CentralAsia crowd. Here is a first "starter pack". Please reach out if you want me to add you !
go.bsky.app/LXZM1qx
go.bsky.app/LXZM1qx
November 12, 2024 at 11:50 AM
Dear #CentralAsia crowd. Here is a first "starter pack". Please reach out if you want me to add you !
go.bsky.app/LXZM1qx
go.bsky.app/LXZM1qx