Almaty-based journalist reporting on Central Asia, author of Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan (2019) and Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan (out in November 2025)https://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3muyjpncyxk2cJoin 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 https://www.eventbrite.it/e/silk-mirage-through-the-looking-glass-in-uzbekistan-with-joanna-lillis-tickets-1999246037717?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAT01DUAUCRJVwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABpzu3A7MhELcnwr8YA_cfk_uj4l3xI4NiKNpa5rtVonUipKeVVo5g-k8qb7DK_aem_-D5FclcmgVr0tCwBSEhK9A08 Sep 2026 07:45 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muyjpncyxk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3muyivu7tls2cA great discussion about journalism and freedom of the press in Kazakhstan at the ASIAC conference in Almaty08 Sep 2026 07:31 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muyivu7tls2chttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3muowoehmyk2kComing 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 https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/standard-event/uzbekistan-assessing-10-years-rule-under-mirziyoyev?utm_source=Chatham%20House&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15610457_Invitation%3A%20Uzbekistan%3A%20assessing%2010%20years%20of%20rule%20under%20Mirziyoyev&dm_i=1S3M,9AL3T,WZBCRU,131ZWV,1,0,0,004 Sep 2026 12:10 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muowoehmyk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3muovf3pnq22kJoin 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 https://www.eventbrite.it/e/hybrid-silk-mirage-through-the-looking-glass-in-uzbekistan-with-author-tickets-1999246037717?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAdGRzdgUCOMNwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABp2-tXpbQNnKIs54rf9ke7PVcKeM_mikU_3TKxyFK5je35jwce3V6ZdXQgv0P_aem_AAoGx3KpzIGPFXf4LmkFBA04 Sep 2026 11:47 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muovf3pnq22khttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mum6frzec22kI'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 https://www.eventbrite.it/e/hybrid-silk-mirage-through-the-looking-glass-in-uzbekistan-with-author-tickets-1999246037717?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAdGRzdgUCOMNwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABp2-tXpbQNnKIs54rf9ke7PVcKeM_mikU_3TKxyFK5je35jwce3V6ZdXQgv0P_aem_AAoGx3KpzIGPFXf4LmkFBA03 Sep 2026 09:51 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mum6frzec22khttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mum5vwcoqc2k#Uzbekistan ten years into Mirziyoyev's rule - what's changed and what hasn't? Check out my taster on Substack - and read my book Silk Mirage! https://joannalillis.substack.com/p/uzbekistans-rollercoaster-decade03 Sep 2026 09:42 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mum5vwcoqc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mujvi2wqfs2mIt’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 https://joannalillis.substack.com/p/uzbekistans-rollercoaster-decade02 Sep 2026 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mujvi2wqfs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3muj2rq6gr22d#Uzbekistan marks 10 years since Islam Karimov died, bringing Shavkat Mirziyoyev to power - a great time to read my book Silk Mirage - and join me in Almaty next Tuesday 8 Sep to talk about it - register here https://capsunlock.org/events/book-presentation-silk-mirage-through-the-looking-glass-in-uzbekistan-by-joanna-lillis-bloomsbury/02 Sep 2026 04:08 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muj2rq6gr22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3muerjhsro22oI'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 https://www.eventbrite.it/e/silk-mirage-through-the-looking-glass-in-uzbekistan-with-joanna-lillis-tickets-1999246037717?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAdGRzdgUCOMNwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABp2-tXpbQNnKIs54rf9ke7PVcKeM_mikU_3TKxyFK5je35jwce3V6ZdXQgv0P_aem_AAoGx3KpzIGPFXf4LmkFBA31 Aug 2026 11:11 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muerjhsro22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mu4rj4tmck24Tokayev 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 week28 Aug 2026 06:50 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu4rj4tmck24https://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mu4ramvx6k24Tokayev 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 Tokayev28 Aug 2026 06:45 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu4ramvx6k24https://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mu4oydivik2tTokayev addressing first session of the new parliament - all eyes on annoucement of who will be the new vice-president, and possible successor in #Kazakhstan. Watch live here qazaqstan.tv/live https://qazaqstan.tv/live28 Aug 2026 06:05 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu4oydivik2thttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mu23kg27ic25Please 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. https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/standard-event/uzbekistan-assessing-10-years-rule-under-mirziyoyev27 Aug 2026 05:12 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu23kg27ic25https://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtoxqlfvf22lI'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! https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9p22 Aug 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtoxqlfvf22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtoxqlfvf22lI'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! https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9p22 Aug 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtoxqlfvf22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtlqgmmfyk26Out 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? https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/08/20/kazakhstan-prepares-to-vote-in-a-cosmetic-election21 Aug 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlqgmmfyk26https://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtjjertxok2lVoting 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 https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/08/20/kazakhstan-prepares-to-vote-in-a-cosmetic-election20 Aug 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjjertxok2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtfv3zidi22sGulnara 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 https://informburo.kz/novosti/gulnare-bazkenovoi-vynesli-prigovor19 Aug 2026 04:23 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfv3zidi22shttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtde5whvgc2vHas 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 https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/standard-event/uzbekistan-assessing-10-years-rule-under-mirziyoyev18 Aug 2026 04:15 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtde5whvgc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mtb2zrg4kc2c"If all of the parties entering parliament will inevitably vote yes to every government initiative, why should people pick one over the other?" - important read on #Kazakhstan election from Vlast https://vlast.kz/english/70443-schroedingers-list.html17 Aug 2026 06:26 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtb2zrg4kc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mszl22jw7c25Japarov says he was planning to designate Tashiyev as his successor in 2027 if only things had been different. True or not, who knows... #Kyrgyzstan https://kaktus.media/doc/551452_tashiev_mog_stat_prezidentom_v_2027_gody._japarov_raskryl_svoy_plan.html14 Aug 2026 06:51 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mszl22jw7c25https://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3msv65m74z22eTokayev's excitement about the forthcoming parliamentary election is not matched on the streets of Almaty, where most people I interviewed yesterday said they would not vote. One noted the lack of real choice, since all parties are basically pro-government. https://tengrinews.kz/news/stanut-vajneyshim-sobyitiem-jizni-stranyi-tokaev-vyiborah-606042/12 Aug 2026 12:50 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msv65m74z22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mrzg4xn6222fGems of Tashkent Modernism become world's youngest buildings to get UNESCO World Heritage status. Read all about this architechtural style in my book Silk Mirage, through an interview with an octogenarian architect who took part in the architectonic revolution https://www.e-architect.com/uzbekistan/tashkent-modernist-architecture-unesco-world-heritage-list01 Aug 2026 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrzg4xn6222fhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mq2gfx5kdc2hNew constitution means Tokayev - who introduced a single presidential term to prevent power grabs and is currently serving his 2nd term - can run for president again, constitutional court rules. That's a tried and tested tactic for Central Asian leaders https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/tokaev-vprave-ballotirovatsya-vyiborah-konstitutsionnyiy-603373/07 Jul 2026 10:45 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2gfx5kdc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mplf6bb4ms2eDate for snap parliamentary election in #Kazakhstan set for 23 August - no opposition parties will be able to stand as none are registered, and recent reforms bar independents from standing. Another rubberstamp parliament is guaranteed https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/obyyavlena-data-vyiborov-kurultay-novyiy-parlament-602938/01 Jul 2026 11:13 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplf6bb4ms2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/joannalillis.bsky.social/post/3mpkym6ggwk2fNew constitution comes into force in #Kazakhstan today, shoring up presidential powers as Tokayev - who has promised to leave power by 2029 - eyes succession scenarios. Parliamentary election date about to be set for August https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/nachinaetsya-novaya-era-istorii-kazahstana-prezident-602914/01 Jul 2026 07:28 +0000at://did:plc:ftc6vavurj3aaqsj76umtnt7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpkym6ggwk2f