iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

As Saida Mirziyoyeva, the president's chief of staff and also his daughter, uses the UN to burnish #Uzbekistan's international image, prominent prisoner Dauletmurat Tajimuratov smuggles an impassioned cry for help out of prison - read my latest on Substack joannalillis.substack.com/p/rights-rhe...

joannalillis.substack.com

Rights, rhetoric and realpolitik – does Uzbekistan practise what it preaches?

As Uzbekistan uses the stage at the United Nations to burnish its international image, a prominent prisoner issues an impassioned cry for help

003

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If you missed it last week, the @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social panel with @tumarov.bsky.social and me talking about #Uzbekistan's decade under Mirziyoyev is now available to watch at this link - tune in! www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

043

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

joannalillis.substack.com

Rights, rhetoric and realpolitik – does Uzbekistan practise what it preaches?

As Uzbekistan uses the stage at the United Nations to burnish its international image, a prominent prisoner issues an impassioned cry for help

003

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Coming up today: @tumarov.bsky.social and I will talk online at @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social about #Uzbekistan's decade under Shavkat Mirziyoyev - register here to tune in at 1800 Tashkent time/1400 UK/0900 ET. There's a lot to unpack, so don't miss it! www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

022

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Uzbekistan 10 years after Mirzioyev came to power, and 35 years after independence - a lot to unpack, so join Temur Umarov and me on Wednesday online with Chatham House. Register here www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

011

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

Chatham House Russia and Eurasia Programme @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

📢 Event Reminder | #Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev | 23 Sept, 14:00 BST | online Panelists: @joannalillis.bsky.social, @tumarov.bsky.social & Annette Bohr @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social. Register to join this discussion online: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

023

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

011

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Coming up soon: Temur Umarov and I will be talking online at Chatham House about #Uzbekistan and how it has - or hasn’t - changed a decade after Islam Karimov died and Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power. Register here www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

000

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A pleasure to present Silk Mirage at ASIAC in Almaty yesterday

000

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Join us today in Almaty or online to talk about Silk Mirage and #Uzbekistan - note the time change, now at 1800 Kazakhstan time/1400 UK/0900 ET - register here www.eventbrite.it/e/silk-mirag...

000

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A great discussion about journalism and freedom of the press in Kazakhstan at the ASIAC conference in Almaty

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Coming up: #Uzbekistan 10 years on: Temur Umarov (马铁木) and I will be talking online at Chatham House Russia and Eurasia Programme on 23 September. Register here www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

021

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Join us in Almaty Tues 8 Sept for first ever presentation of Silk Mirage in person in Central Asia! Register here. NOTE TIME CHANGE - now at 1800 KZ/1400 UK/0900 ET www.eventbrite.it/e/hybrid-sil...

eventbrite.it

(Hybrid) Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan with author

Book presentation: Silk Mirage, a compelling portrait of Uzbekistan at the heart of the Silk Road and struggle for change.

020

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I'm looking forward to talking about my book Silk Mirage and #Uzbekistan next week - please join us in person in Almaty or online on Tuesday 8 September at 1700 #Kazakhstan time/1300 UK. Register at this link www.eventbrite.it/e/hybrid-sil...

eventbrite.it

(Hybrid) Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan with author

Book presentation: Silk Mirage, a compelling portrait of Uzbekistan at the heart of the Silk Road and struggle for change.

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

It’s been a rollercoaster of a decade for #Uzbekistan since the death of its long-ruling dictator Islam Karimov ten years ago today - read my latest post to find out why, and read my book Silk Mirage to find out more joannalillis.substack.com/p/uzbekistan...

021

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I'll be talking about Silk Mirage and Mirziyoyev's decade in power in #Uzbekistan next week in Almaty - please join us on Tuesday September 8 at 1700, register at the link for more details www.eventbrite.it/e/silk-mirag...

eventbrite.it

Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan with Joanna Lillis

Book presentation: Silk Mirage, a compelling portrait of Uzbekistan at the heart of the Silk Road and struggle for change.

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Tokayev says he will make to nominate vice-president and new PM until chair of parliament voted in (his nomination is Aibek Dadebay, head of new ruling Adilet party and his former chief of staff) #Kazakhstan - so most likely next week

000

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Tokayev proposes Aibek Dadebayev as chair of new parliament in #Kazakhstan - his former chief of staff who left his office to set up the new, now ruling, Adilet party. Sure to be approved by a parliament loyal to Tokayev

000

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Please join us online on 23 September with Chatham House and Temur Umarov to discuss how Uzbekistan has changed under a decade of Mirziyoyev's rule. A lot to unpack, so it will be an interesting discussion. Please register your interest at the link below. www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...

Uzbekistan: assessing 10 years of rule under Mirziyoyev

Hear from experts on the successes, shortcomings and future direction of Uzbekistan’s economic and reform agenda under President Mirziyoyev.

Thomas Juneau @thomasjuneau.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

Book of the week - Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan, by @joannalillis.bsky.social. In 2002, I travelled across Central Asia, including Uzbekistan (& it was the focus of my MA thesis), so it was great to dive back into an absolutely fascinating country with this great book.

141

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

l0mbroso.bsky.social @l0mbroso.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

@joannalillis.bsky.social with @pannierb.bsky.social !? What a winning combination. Excellent 👏👏👏

022

Reposted by Joanna Lillis

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I'll be on BBC World Service talking about the parliamentary election in #Kazakhstan at around 1010-1030 Kazakh time/0610-0630 London time on Sunday - tune in! www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p0...

bbc.co.uk

BBC World Service Online - Schedules

This is the daily broadcast schedule for BBC World Service Online

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I'll be on BBC World Service talking about the parliamentary election in #Kazakhstan at around 1010-1030 Kazakh time/0610-0630 London time on Sunday - tune in! www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p0...

bbc.co.uk

BBC World Service Online - Schedules

This is the daily broadcast schedule for BBC World Service Online

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Out online and on the shelves today, my piece for TheEconomist. As #Kazakhstan gears up to vote for a new parliament on Sunday, is this really a political reset, as the president promises, or more of a rebrand of Tokayev's regime to distance it from Nazarbayev? www.economist.com/asia/2026/08...

economist.com

021

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Voting for renewal, or more of the same? #Kazakhstan holds election featuring no opposition parties, which a pro-presidential party formed only in May will win, against a backdrop of arrests. My piece for The Economist www.economist.com/asia/2026/08...

economist.com

Kazakhstan prepares to vote in a cosmetic election

Despite promises of renewal, it is still an authoritarian state

011

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Gulnara Bazhkenova is the latest journalist convicted in a string of cases against reporters/social media users ahead of Sunday's electino - 8-year prison term on 3 charges, deferred as she is mother of a minor, plus the now familiar ban on journalism #Kazakhstan informburo.kz/novosti/guln...

informburo.kz

Гульнаре Бажкеновой вынесли приговор

Исполнение наказания отсрочили на два года.

Joanna Lillis @joannalillis.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Has Mirziyoyev’s decade in power delivered on its reform promises? I'll be taking part in an online panel hosted by Chatham House on 23 September - register here www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/s...