Sign in

Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)

@emilycouchuk.bsky.social
3.2K followers 180 following 80 posts

Human rights & democracy in Europe & Eurasia | Anti-racism, decolonisation | 🖊️ in Foreign Policy, The Moscow Times, Index on Censorship &c | Views mine

PostsRepliesMedia
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
First time in Armenia 🇦🇲
070
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
In my 1st blog post for the McCain Institute, I offer my 2 cents on the Energoatom corruption scandal. Framing it as representing the weakness of Ukrainian democracy misses the point & disregards 🇺🇦 society’s unshakeable commitment to democratic principles. www.mccaininstitute.org/resources/bl...
mccaininstitute.org
Don't Get Sucked into Putin's Ukraine Corruption Propaganda - McCain Institute
McCain Institute Global Democracy Program Coordinator Emily Couch addresses Russia’s attempt to weaponize Ukraine’s latest anti-corruption scandal to undermine Western support.
050
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
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/
130
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
My era of gainful unemployment is finally over: Next week I’ll be joining The McCain Institute as the Program Coordinator for their Global Democracy team 🌍 In this new role, I’ll be focusing on frontline democracies, including Ukraine 🇺🇦 1/
2162
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Nothing makes me feel safe and warm as a British woman of colour than arriving in a town that’s covered in England flags and St George’s cross graffiti (it’s on the zebra crossings ffs)
050
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Love to see the Ukrainian flag flying proudly over Whitehall 💙💛 (This was just one of several)
050
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
What’s happening in Alaska today will generate endless op-Eds, hot takes, and media comments but there’s really only so many ways to say “this is morally repugnant and a betrayal of Ukraine”
0143
Reposted by Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
Index on Censorship @indexoncensorship.org · 31/07/2025
Including features from @rebeccalroot.bsky.social, @kayagenc.bsky.social, @emilycouchuk.bsky.social, @martinbright.bsky.social, @nikwilliams.bsky.social, @katiedd.bsky.social, and many others.
012
Reposted by Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
Index on Censorship @indexoncensorship.org · 31/07/2025
For a limited time only, our new magazine issue, Land of the Free? is free to access! In it, we explore how #Trump's administration is impacting free speech in the #US & beyond. Explore: journals.sagepub.com/toc/IOC/curr...
11013
Reposted by Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
In my latest for @ForeignPolicy , I asked Ukrainians what they make of Americans’ seeming inability to effectively protest rising authoritarianism, & ask what the latter can learn from Ukraine’s impressive history of mass movements 🇺🇦 foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/28/u...
foreignpolicy.com
Ukrainians Wonder When Americans Will Hit the Streets
Mass protests have often transformed Ukraine—but rarely the United States.
1103
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
In my latest for @ForeignPolicy , I asked Ukrainians what they make of Americans’ seeming inability to effectively protest rising authoritarianism, & ask what the latter can learn from Ukraine’s impressive history of mass movements 🇺🇦 foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/28/u...
foreignpolicy.com
Ukrainians Wonder When Americans Will Hit the Streets
Mass protests have often transformed Ukraine—but rarely the United States.
1103
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
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
051
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Very excited to have finally made it to Kazakhstan after Va all these years 🇰🇿 Better late than never!
0100
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
If there is a new Ukrainian restaurant, trust you will find me there 🇺🇦🍽️ This time: Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch, London
160
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Devon supremacy
020
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Can’t help but feel that it’s possible to say “I wish that US leadership was willing to truly stand up to Russia over Ukraine” without wishing for “another Reagan”
110
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
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.
310326
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
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
160
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Guess the time has come to make it known that I’m now one of the thousands of people in the human rights and international development fields who are being laid off as a result of the Trump administration’s cruel and disastrous executive order “pausing” all US foreign aid
4142
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
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 📚
0180
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
At Dulles and there’s a group of British people laughing at the MAGA hats for sale in one of the stores saying they’re going to buy them “for the banter”. Wanted to ask them if they’d also buy something with a swastika on it “for the banter”? Embarrassing.
181
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
DC is a weird place to live in the best of times but especially now. Seeing so much unnecessary chaos and pain while knowing large contingents of US society is cheering it on bc for them the people who live here are evil swamp bureaucrats
160
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
This evening
091
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
The scales should’ve fallen from people’s eyes long ago re so called “good republicans” but we’re really about to see the final ember of the “bipartisan support for UA” myth go up in smoke. Do any of us really believe that Rs will do anything substantive to fight this evil decision?
073
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Today, Zelensky is my President. Dignity in the face of evil.
076285
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
A day that will live in infamy. Ashamed to be a citizen of this country today. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
U.S. votes against U.N. resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine war
Washington’s shift on the Ukraine war marks a major break with European allies and comes as the Trump administration aims to repair relations with Russia.
0132
Reposted by Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Honoured to be among the contributors to this multiauthor volume for Routledge, edited by Wendy Sloane and Aleksandra Raspopina. My chapter - “First Targets: the overlooked battle for freedom of expression in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories” www.routledge.com/Kremlin-Medi...
routledge.com
Kremlin Media Wars: Censorship and Control Since the Invasion of Ukraine
This unique volume brings together academics of Russian journalism and media with journalists and editors who reported or continue to report on the country, to explore and reflect on the changing land...
1173
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Today at the Lincoln Memorial. Ми тут 🇺🇦
05413
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Honoured to be among the contributors to this multiauthor volume for Routledge, edited by Wendy Sloane and Aleksandra Raspopina. My chapter - “First Targets: the overlooked battle for freedom of expression in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories” www.routledge.com/Kremlin-Medi...
routledge.com
Kremlin Media Wars: Censorship and Control Since the Invasion of Ukraine
This unique volume brings together academics of Russian journalism and media with journalists and editors who reported or continue to report on the country, to explore and reflect on the changing land...
1173
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Is anyone else having issues with their Duolingo Ukrainian course repeatedly freezing and crashing? I’ve tried deleting and re-downloading the app multiple times but this hasn’t helped
110
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Not usually inclined to share articles from the Telegraph but I’m glad to see that at least one of my countries is maintaining a robust, pro-Ukraine position www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
telegraph.co.uk
Starmer: I am ready and willing to put British troops in Ukraine
PM’s announcement puts pressure on European leaders to do the same at summit in Paris
0100
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
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”
0206
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
One thing I’m absolutely not here for today is posts to the effect of “his bark is worse than his bite, everything will be fine” from people with the privilege not to be in this administration’s direct line of fire
060
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
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…
1272
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
I’m mainly in listening mode right now so all I’ll say is this: Syria’s liberation from its brutal dictator is a reminder that what seemed impossible mere days ago can become reality in an instant. Gives hope for many other contexts.
0150
Reposted by Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
Caroline Eden @edentravels.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
A lovely way to start the week. Enormous thanks to Emily @emilycouchuk.bsky.social for being such a generous and thoughtful reviewer of COLD KITCHEN - I savoured each and every word! And thank you to @themoscowtimes.com too.
0154
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
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
061
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Grateful to the Helsinki Commission for highlighting this under-discussed topic & inviting Kateryna Rashevska, who was a crucial part of my team at Freedom House’s joint report w RCHR, ZMINA, and Viasna on BY & RU regime's indoctrination & miltiarisation of 🇺🇦 children www.csce.gov/press-releas...
csce.gov
HEARING – The Role of Belarus in Russia’s Crimes – CSCE
082
Reposted by Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️)
Olga Onuch @oonuch.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
New starter pack on Russia’s war against Ukraine, and on Russia and Ukraine experts & journalists. Send me a private message if you want to be added. go.bsky.app/23BTWVx
63451228
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
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 🇺🇦
0162
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 17/10/2024
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.”
0174
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 13/12/2023
It is deeply, deeply, twisted that we’re now in a place where Zelensky - the president of a country fighting for its survival - is having to come over here & cater to the most extreme segment of US society in the hope that it might help ensure his country’s survival
0102
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 10/12/2023
It was a privilege to review “Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States” by @popovaprof.bsky.social & @oxanashevel.bsky.social - the 1st post-Feb 2022 book I’ve read analysing the domestic dynamics of both countries in such depth. Add it to your pile, folks 📚 t.co/HLxRakmqEN
t.co
Authors Oxana Shevel and Maria Popova Write the History of Ukraine-Russia Relations
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, scholars and journalists have rushed to make their contribution to the growing number of titles seeking to shed light on ...
193
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 06/12/2023
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
010
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 06/12/2023
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)
070
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 22/11/2023
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/
130
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 09/11/2023
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/
130
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 30/10/2023
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 🇺🇦
010
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 27/10/2023
Tis the season 🥣
030
Emily Couch (Куч, не 🛋️) @emilycouchuk.bsky.social · 26/10/2023
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
010