Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
@emilycouchuk.bsky.social
Human rights & democracy in Europe & Eurasia | Anti-racism, decolonisation | 🖊️ in Foreign Policy, The Moscow Times, Index on Censorship &c | Views mine
Due to life upheavals, a *very* belated plug for my latest @indexoncensorship.org article
Inspired by a powerful exhibition entitled “Women’s Labour” that I had the good fortune of seeing in Almaty, it takes stock of 🇰🇿‘s feminist movements 1+ year on from the Bishimbayev case
1/
Inspired by a powerful exhibition entitled “Women’s Labour” that I had the good fortune of seeing in Almaty, it takes stock of 🇰🇿‘s feminist movements 1+ year on from the Bishimbayev case
1/
November 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Due to life upheavals, a *very* belated plug for my latest @indexoncensorship.org article
Inspired by a powerful exhibition entitled “Women’s Labour” that I had the good fortune of seeing in Almaty, it takes stock of 🇰🇿‘s feminist movements 1+ year on from the Bishimbayev case
1/
Inspired by a powerful exhibition entitled “Women’s Labour” that I had the good fortune of seeing in Almaty, it takes stock of 🇰🇿‘s feminist movements 1+ year on from the Bishimbayev case
1/
Love to see the Ukrainian flag flying proudly over Whitehall 💙💛
(This was just one of several)
(This was just one of several)
September 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Love to see the Ukrainian flag flying proudly over Whitehall 💙💛
(This was just one of several)
(This was just one of several)
In the latest edition of the @indexoncensorship.org magazine, I cover the impact of the US foreign aid freeze (specifically on 🇺🇦) & why this is the moment for the U.K. to step up - not cut - its own foreign aid budget. For obvious reasons, this topic is close to my heart personally & professionally
July 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
In the latest edition of the @indexoncensorship.org magazine, I cover the impact of the US foreign aid freeze (specifically on 🇺🇦) & why this is the moment for the U.K. to step up - not cut - its own foreign aid budget. For obvious reasons, this topic is close to my heart personally & professionally
Very excited to have finally made it to Kazakhstan after Va all these years 🇰🇿
Better late than never!
Better late than never!
July 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Very excited to have finally made it to Kazakhstan after Va all these years 🇰🇿
Better late than never!
Better late than never!
If there is a new Ukrainian restaurant, trust you will find me there 🇺🇦🍽️
This time: Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch, London
This time: Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch, London
July 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
If there is a new Ukrainian restaurant, trust you will find me there 🇺🇦🍽️
This time: Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch, London
This time: Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch, London
Devon supremacy
July 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Devon supremacy
Today was my last day with Freedom House after 3 years of working on the Ukraine team. While I knew this was coming the moment that the Trump administration cut our funding, hard not to feel pretty profound sadness.
None of it had to be this way.
None of it had to be this way.
May 1, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Today was my last day with Freedom House after 3 years of working on the Ukraine team. While I knew this was coming the moment that the Trump administration cut our funding, hard not to feel pretty profound sadness.
None of it had to be this way.
None of it had to be this way.
In my latest for @indexoncensorship.org, I highlight the tragic yet inspiring renaissance of 🇺🇦 literature in wartime. With deep gratitude to Nedopysani’s @lyr.bsky.social , @chytomo.bsky.social ‘s Iryna Baturevych, & INDEX Ukraine’s @dovzhyk.bsky.social for sharing their important work & insights
April 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
In my latest for @indexoncensorship.org, I highlight the tragic yet inspiring renaissance of 🇺🇦 literature in wartime. With deep gratitude to Nedopysani’s @lyr.bsky.social , @chytomo.bsky.social ‘s Iryna Baturevych, & INDEX Ukraine’s @dovzhyk.bsky.social for sharing their important work & insights
A moment of nerdy pride upon receiving a physical copy of the multiauthor volume I recently contributed to. I’ve been lucky enough to have several things published online but seeing one’s name in print just hits different 📚
April 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A moment of nerdy pride upon receiving a physical copy of the multiauthor volume I recently contributed to. I’ve been lucky enough to have several things published online but seeing one’s name in print just hits different 📚
This evening
March 5, 2025 at 12:10 AM
This evening
Today at the Lincoln Memorial.
Ми тут 🇺🇦
Ми тут 🇺🇦
February 23, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Today at the Lincoln Memorial.
Ми тут 🇺🇦
Ми тут 🇺🇦
Attended a screening of the film “Intercepted” by Oksana Karpovych today. It overlays scenes of destruction in 🇺🇦 w intercepted calls between ru soldiers & their families. A very difficult & often nauseating watch.
A powerful reminder (as if we still needed one) that this isn’t just “Putin’s war”
A powerful reminder (as if we still needed one) that this isn’t just “Putin’s war”
February 1, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Attended a screening of the film “Intercepted” by Oksana Karpovych today. It overlays scenes of destruction in 🇺🇦 w intercepted calls between ru soldiers & their families. A very difficult & often nauseating watch.
A powerful reminder (as if we still needed one) that this isn’t just “Putin’s war”
A powerful reminder (as if we still needed one) that this isn’t just “Putin’s war”
A fitting end to a day of thinking about the Silk Roads: dinner at a tiny Uzbek restaurant in Queensway. Hit the spot 👌
December 29, 2024 at 1:11 AM
A fitting end to a day of thinking about the Silk Roads: dinner at a tiny Uzbek restaurant in Queensway. Hit the spot 👌
With all the usual caveats re the British Museum, the Silk Roads exhibition is quite wonderful. The bronze Buddha was made in what is now Pakistan c. AD 500-600 but was excavated in Sweden. If it could talk, what stories it could tell…
December 29, 2024 at 12:32 AM
With all the usual caveats re the British Museum, the Silk Roads exhibition is quite wonderful. The bronze Buddha was made in what is now Pakistan c. AD 500-600 but was excavated in Sweden. If it could talk, what stories it could tell…
It was a pleasure to review ‘Cold Kitchen’ by @edentravels.bsky.social - which vividly captures the connections between food, place, and memory, for @themoscowtimes.com 📚
t.co/eciJn5Ug7C
t.co/eciJn5Ug7C
December 2, 2024 at 12:25 AM
It was a pleasure to review ‘Cold Kitchen’ by @edentravels.bsky.social - which vividly captures the connections between food, place, and memory, for @themoscowtimes.com 📚
t.co/eciJn5Ug7C
t.co/eciJn5Ug7C
So glad to have finally made it to Georgia 🇬🇪
It was wonderful to see not only the beauty of the country but also the clear support for Ukraine, particularly in Tbilisi 🇺🇦
It was wonderful to see not only the beauty of the country but also the clear support for Ukraine, particularly in Tbilisi 🇺🇦
November 12, 2024 at 5:01 PM
So glad to have finally made it to Georgia 🇬🇪
It was wonderful to see not only the beauty of the country but also the clear support for Ukraine, particularly in Tbilisi 🇺🇦
It was wonderful to see not only the beauty of the country but also the clear support for Ukraine, particularly in Tbilisi 🇺🇦
It was a great honour to meet 🇺🇦 Nobel Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk yesterday after her powerful remarks at the Atlantic Council.
Her response to those who say that Ukraine should surrender for the sake of “peace”:
“Peace is not when the invaded county stops fighting. That’s occupation.”
Her response to those who say that Ukraine should surrender for the sake of “peace”:
“Peace is not when the invaded county stops fighting. That’s occupation.”
October 17, 2024 at 12:10 AM
It was a great honour to meet 🇺🇦 Nobel Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk yesterday after her powerful remarks at the Atlantic Council.
Her response to those who say that Ukraine should surrender for the sake of “peace”:
“Peace is not when the invaded county stops fighting. That’s occupation.”
Her response to those who say that Ukraine should surrender for the sake of “peace”:
“Peace is not when the invaded county stops fighting. That’s occupation.”
Incisive remarks from Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk this afternoon at the Atlantic Council. Just hope that his message (+ those of other 🇺🇦 delegation members) can cut through the navel gazing fog that is descending over here in the run up to next year’s election
December 6, 2023 at 10:13 PM
Incisive remarks from Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk this afternoon at the Atlantic Council. Just hope that his message (+ those of other 🇺🇦 delegation members) can cut through the navel gazing fog that is descending over here in the run up to next year’s election
Attended a wonderful concert of Qazaq and Turkic music this evening at the Lisner Auditorium here in DC 🇰🇿🎶
Made me want to gallop across the steppe (with my nonexistent horse riding skills)
Made me want to gallop across the steppe (with my nonexistent horse riding skills)
December 6, 2023 at 2:40 AM
Attended a wonderful concert of Qazaq and Turkic music this evening at the Lisner Auditorium here in DC 🇰🇿🎶
Made me want to gallop across the steppe (with my nonexistent horse riding skills)
Made me want to gallop across the steppe (with my nonexistent horse riding skills)
Compared to the powerful recollections shared by others today, my own memories of the day the Revolution of Dignity began are not important. The one thing I will say though is that it was that remarkable display of courage that inspired me to 1/
November 22, 2023 at 4:27 AM
Compared to the powerful recollections shared by others today, my own memories of the day the Revolution of Dignity began are not important. The one thing I will say though is that it was that remarkable display of courage that inspired me to 1/
A short reminiscence apropos of yesterday’s EU Commission announcement: On my first trip to Ukraine, I remember being so struck by how many EU flags there were, on government buildings, in the streets, even the 12 stars painted onto walls, even benches 1/
November 9, 2023 at 6:36 PM
A short reminiscence apropos of yesterday’s EU Commission announcement: On my first trip to Ukraine, I remember being so struck by how many EU flags there were, on government buildings, in the streets, even the 12 stars painted onto walls, even benches 1/
Back at USIP today for “Faith under Fire: Perspectives from Ukrainian Faith Leaders” - a powerful demonstration of religious diversity and cooperation in Ukraine. Kudos also to @razomforukraine.bsky.social and Atlantic Council for organising 🇺🇦
October 30, 2023 at 4:59 PM
Back at USIP today for “Faith under Fire: Perspectives from Ukrainian Faith Leaders” - a powerful demonstration of religious diversity and cooperation in Ukraine. Kudos also to @razomforukraine.bsky.social and Atlantic Council for organising 🇺🇦
Tis the season 🥣
October 27, 2023 at 8:16 PM
Tis the season 🥣
Really interesting & substantive USIP event this morning: OPORA & IFES reps made a powerful case for why it would harm the legitimacy of 🇺🇦’s democratic institutions to hold elections during full-scale war.
Bottom line: Focus should be on electoral reform so future 🗳️ are as free & fair as possible
Bottom line: Focus should be on electoral reform so future 🗳️ are as free & fair as possible
October 26, 2023 at 4:06 PM
Really interesting & substantive USIP event this morning: OPORA & IFES reps made a powerful case for why it would harm the legitimacy of 🇺🇦’s democratic institutions to hold elections during full-scale war.
Bottom line: Focus should be on electoral reform so future 🗳️ are as free & fair as possible
Bottom line: Focus should be on electoral reform so future 🗳️ are as free & fair as possible
Back from a whistle stop trip to Poland - I was there attending the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, but managed to squeeze in some sightseeing too 🇵🇱
October 15, 2023 at 7:11 PM
Back from a whistle stop trip to Poland - I was there attending the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, but managed to squeeze in some sightseeing too 🇵🇱