Yan Matusevich
@ymatusik.bsky.social
Journalist writing about politics, culture, migration and society in Central Asia and Eurasia more broadly | PhD candidate in Anthropology at CUNY GC | en-ru-fr-de | кыргызча сүйлөйм
Words in @economist.com, @foreignpolicy.com, @eurasianet.bsky.social
Words in @economist.com, @foreignpolicy.com, @eurasianet.bsky.social
Restaurant in Bishkek are finding creative ways to get around the new curfew. “We’re just a Halal restaurant where patrons only eat”—an attempt to distance themselves from the rowdy and “sinful” night clubs and bars of the capital
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Restaurant in Bishkek are finding creative ways to get around the new curfew. “We’re just a Halal restaurant where patrons only eat”—an attempt to distance themselves from the rowdy and “sinful” night clubs and bars of the capital
“Me at 22:00” in reference to the new shutdown of entertainment and dining after 10pm
November 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
“Me at 22:00” in reference to the new shutdown of entertainment and dining after 10pm
As always, the ongoing curfew crisis in Kyrgyzstan is generating some stellar memes
November 14, 2025 at 2:10 PM
As always, the ongoing curfew crisis in Kyrgyzstan is generating some stellar memes
The first memes about the draconian shutdown have already landed: "A wedding hall after 22:00"
November 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The first memes about the draconian shutdown have already landed: "A wedding hall after 22:00"
Altyn Kazan, an amazing Dungan restaurant in Bishkek, just posted on Instagram that it will be adjusting its hours according to the new "presidential decree" (Tashiev isn't actually the president, but might as well be). They expect the ban to be lifted next year (the typical Bishkek rumor mill)
November 13, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Altyn Kazan, an amazing Dungan restaurant in Bishkek, just posted on Instagram that it will be adjusting its hours according to the new "presidential decree" (Tashiev isn't actually the president, but might as well be). They expect the ban to be lifted next year (the typical Bishkek rumor mill)
For any followers in NYC: Zere, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most talented musicians, will be performing at Ibeam Brooklyn on November 19 at 09:30pm
Don’t miss out on a chance to see her live!
www.instagram.com/p/DQ8ztCvCFt...
Don’t miss out on a chance to see her live!
www.instagram.com/p/DQ8ztCvCFt...
November 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
For any followers in NYC: Zere, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most talented musicians, will be performing at Ibeam Brooklyn on November 19 at 09:30pm
Don’t miss out on a chance to see her live!
www.instagram.com/p/DQ8ztCvCFt...
Don’t miss out on a chance to see her live!
www.instagram.com/p/DQ8ztCvCFt...
Kudos to the Erfurter Bahn for having information in the most commonly spoken languages in the area, including Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, Dari and Ukrainian
November 2, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Kudos to the Erfurter Bahn for having information in the most commonly spoken languages in the area, including Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, Dari and Ukrainian
I’m back in Germany alright
October 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I’m back in Germany alright
Arthur Koestler travelled to the USSR in 1931 as a journalist and ended spending some time in Central Asia (he shared a hotel room with Langston Hughes in Turkmenistan).
The results of his observations did not please the Soviet censors & a heavily redacted version was published in Kharkiv in '34
The results of his observations did not please the Soviet censors & a heavily redacted version was published in Kharkiv in '34
October 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Arthur Koestler travelled to the USSR in 1931 as a journalist and ended spending some time in Central Asia (he shared a hotel room with Langston Hughes in Turkmenistan).
The results of his observations did not please the Soviet censors & a heavily redacted version was published in Kharkiv in '34
The results of his observations did not please the Soviet censors & a heavily redacted version was published in Kharkiv in '34
Kyrgyzstan has undergone a massive change in the past decade in terms of net migration. From negative net migration (due to labor migration to Russia) to positive net migration since 2022 (due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and return of labor migrants + Russian citizens).
October 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Kyrgyzstan has undergone a massive change in the past decade in terms of net migration. From negative net migration (due to labor migration to Russia) to positive net migration since 2022 (due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and return of labor migrants + Russian citizens).
Still shocked at the level of incompetence I experienced. First, they wouldn't accept my French carte d'identité (nur Reisepass), then they told me there was a new Leipzig policy to check everyone's marriage status. They switched mine from "ledig" to "unbekannt". All during a simple Anmeldungstermin
October 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Still shocked at the level of incompetence I experienced. First, they wouldn't accept my French carte d'identité (nur Reisepass), then they told me there was a new Leipzig policy to check everyone's marriage status. They switched mine from "ledig" to "unbekannt". All during a simple Anmeldungstermin
New evidence of police in Kyrgyzstan harassing and beating a Kyrgyz migrant in early 2025 for having a Ukrainian flag patch on his backpack. With criminal charges hanging over his, the man fled the country for Europe.
September 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM
New evidence of police in Kyrgyzstan harassing and beating a Kyrgyz migrant in early 2025 for having a Ukrainian flag patch on his backpack. With criminal charges hanging over his, the man fled the country for Europe.
In the city center: desolate, empty and kinda creepy vibe. This felt more economically depressed than places like Chemnitz and Zwickau in neighboring Saxony.
September 3, 2025 at 10:32 PM
In the city center: desolate, empty and kinda creepy vibe. This felt more economically depressed than places like Chemnitz and Zwickau in neighboring Saxony.
Reading my first ever Turkmen novel by Tirkiş Jumageldiýev “Energy of Fear or the Yellow Cat’s Head” a banned novel on life under the brutal dictatorship of Niyazov
Wikipedia says he was born in 1938, but does anybody know if he’s still alive? He’s been banned from leaving the country for decades
Wikipedia says he was born in 1938, but does anybody know if he’s still alive? He’s been banned from leaving the country for decades
August 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reading my first ever Turkmen novel by Tirkiş Jumageldiýev “Energy of Fear or the Yellow Cat’s Head” a banned novel on life under the brutal dictatorship of Niyazov
Wikipedia says he was born in 1938, but does anybody know if he’s still alive? He’s been banned from leaving the country for decades
Wikipedia says he was born in 1938, but does anybody know if he’s still alive? He’s been banned from leaving the country for decades
Huge night for Kairat Almaty, arguably the biggest in the football club’s history, as they face Celtic Glasgow in the second leg of Champions League playoffs
Could they pull off a sensation tonight?
Could they pull off a sensation tonight?
August 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Huge night for Kairat Almaty, arguably the biggest in the football club’s history, as they face Celtic Glasgow in the second leg of Champions League playoffs
Could they pull off a sensation tonight?
Could they pull off a sensation tonight?
Found this cool envelope at a stamp shop in Leipzig.
Loving the Hotel Intercontinental Kabul stationary featuring Buzkashi
Loving the Hotel Intercontinental Kabul stationary featuring Buzkashi
August 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Found this cool envelope at a stamp shop in Leipzig.
Loving the Hotel Intercontinental Kabul stationary featuring Buzkashi
Loving the Hotel Intercontinental Kabul stationary featuring Buzkashi
Kazakh Armed Forces announce the gradual transition to Aitu, a national messaging app, to replace WhatsApp/Telegram use in the army.
The app is partly owned by Kazakhtelekom and provides zero confidentiality
The app is partly owned by Kazakhtelekom and provides zero confidentiality
August 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Kazakh Armed Forces announce the gradual transition to Aitu, a national messaging app, to replace WhatsApp/Telegram use in the army.
The app is partly owned by Kazakhtelekom and provides zero confidentiality
The app is partly owned by Kazakhtelekom and provides zero confidentiality
went on a deep dive into Chechen music from the 1990s and put it all together into this Noxchi Nights mix
on.soundcloud.com/oxkPltXyFYia...
on.soundcloud.com/oxkPltXyFYia...
August 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
went on a deep dive into Chechen music from the 1990s and put it all together into this Noxchi Nights mix
on.soundcloud.com/oxkPltXyFYia...
on.soundcloud.com/oxkPltXyFYia...
when the urban environment around you starts spitting truth: “For Your Safety”
August 16, 2025 at 1:53 PM
when the urban environment around you starts spitting truth: “For Your Safety”
The greenery of Bishkek is a huge part of its appeal and so important given the insane summer heat that will only get worse. The overgrown botanical gardens are being demolished as we speak.
This was my 1st day in Bishkek in Sept. 2022––and I immediately fell in love with the city's green spaces.
This was my 1st day in Bishkek in Sept. 2022––and I immediately fell in love with the city's green spaces.
August 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The greenery of Bishkek is a huge part of its appeal and so important given the insane summer heat that will only get worse. The overgrown botanical gardens are being demolished as we speak.
This was my 1st day in Bishkek in Sept. 2022––and I immediately fell in love with the city's green spaces.
This was my 1st day in Bishkek in Sept. 2022––and I immediately fell in love with the city's green spaces.
Alğa, Qairat ! 💛🖤
Watching Kairat Almaty’s third qualification round match against Slovan Bratislava. Would be great to see them in the group stage, but Celtic Glasgow is waiting for them in the next round.
Watching Kairat Almaty’s third qualification round match against Slovan Bratislava. Would be great to see them in the group stage, but Celtic Glasgow is waiting for them in the next round.
August 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Alğa, Qairat ! 💛🖤
Watching Kairat Almaty’s third qualification round match against Slovan Bratislava. Would be great to see them in the group stage, but Celtic Glasgow is waiting for them in the next round.
Watching Kairat Almaty’s third qualification round match against Slovan Bratislava. Would be great to see them in the group stage, but Celtic Glasgow is waiting for them in the next round.
of course my generic late capitalist soulless gym in Leipzig has a bust of Lenin on the main floor
July 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM
of course my generic late capitalist soulless gym in Leipzig has a bust of Lenin on the main floor
Have gone down a rabbit hole of Chechen music from the early 90s and it's a gold mine. Only a few poor quality recordings available, but there was an interesting music scene while Dzhokhar Dudayev was still in office.
Here is Tamara Dadasheva performing a song in Arabic in 1990 on NYE in Grozny
Here is Tamara Dadasheva performing a song in Arabic in 1990 on NYE in Grozny
July 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Have gone down a rabbit hole of Chechen music from the early 90s and it's a gold mine. Only a few poor quality recordings available, but there was an interesting music scene while Dzhokhar Dudayev was still in office.
Here is Tamara Dadasheva performing a song in Arabic in 1990 on NYE in Grozny
Here is Tamara Dadasheva performing a song in Arabic in 1990 on NYE in Grozny
Gaipov passed away in 2022, but left behind an incredible legacy as a beloved Uzbek musician who was in many ways way ahead of his time
June 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Gaipov passed away in 2022, but left behind an incredible legacy as a beloved Uzbek musician who was in many ways way ahead of his time
What a fun and wacky music video to Davron Gaipov’s Makol from 1980s
Uzbekistan’s greatest rockstar in action
Uzbekistan’s greatest rockstar in action
June 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
What a fun and wacky music video to Davron Gaipov’s Makol from 1980s
Uzbekistan’s greatest rockstar in action
Uzbekistan’s greatest rockstar in action