Video above: A two-minute walk through the central bazaar in Osh – a friendly and utterly fascinating little city in southern Kyrgyzstan. *** Jonathan Campion is a writer, journalist, editor and linguist, working in the Eurasia region. Read about his work here, and contact him here.
In July I was in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, to cover the 2024 Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for The Times of Central Asia.
The day after the Summit I gave a short interview to Mir24 TV, a prominent Russian-language television channel in Eurasia, about the SCO and Kazakhstan’s role in Central Asia. … More Interview about Kazakhstan and the Astana SCO Summit — Mir24 TV
Supporters of Uzbek sport have had a lot to celebrate this year. The national football team currently sits at the top of its qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while eight of the country’s athletes took gold at this summer’s Paris Olympics.
But next year Uzbekistan wants to enter the world stage in a more surprising sport: cricket.
The Central Asian country joined the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), in 2022. As an “Associate” ICC member there are hopes that the Uzbek squad will play its first international matches in 2025, in the Twenty20 (T20) version of the game. T20 games are much shorter than traditional five-day Test matches. … More Uzbekistan’s Cricket Team: We’re Ready For International Matches — The Times of Central Asia
The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2023 includes a piece that I wrote for its Cricket Round The World section, about the growth of the game in the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan.
Having played and followed cricket all my life, I’m very proud that my article has a place alongside writing by my favourite journalists. Following the Notes by the Editor Lawrence Booth, the 2023 Wisden features essays by writers including Mike Atherton, Gideon Haigh, Tanya Aldred, Tim de Lisle and Emma John. … More Cricket in Uzbekistan: Some writing in the 2023 Wisden Almanack
I wrote the English subtitles for a documentary film from Kyrgyzstan, Zhanyrtuu (Renewal) by the Kyrgyz filmmaker Victoria Arkhangelskaya. The 15-minute film is about Svetlana Domashova, a lady who cares for her adult daughter, Elena, who is mentally impaired. In some very emotional interviews, Svetlana tells of her struggles in coming to terms with – and fighting to understand – Elena’s condition. The documentary introduces the Zhanyrtuu Foundation in Bishkek, which Svetlana created to make a supportive community for other disabled people in Kyrgyzstan, and their families. … More Zhanyrtuu (Renewal) – subtitles for a Kyrgyz film
– And it’s me who is the most useful! – mooed the calf. I feed the humans. Everyone needs my milk!
– No, I am the most useful! – bleated the lamb. – Humans make all their clothes from my wool…
– Well, I am the most clean! And the humans love me for it. – the little goat interrupted. – And they say that goats’ milk is the best medicine!
– You mean the best medicine apart from horses’ milk! – snorted the foal. – How can you forget our fresh saumal and kumys?
– You’re both wrong! The best milk comes from camels. It’s called shubat! – said the little camel. … More Kind Askar – a translation of some fairy-tales by the Kazakh author Bayangali Alimzhanov
LIFE IN CENTRAL ASIA 