While studying in Osh and traveling in Uzbekistan, I came to wonder about the “Luli,” or Central Asian gypsies (”gypsy” being a derogatory label not used by the Luli themselves). My only contact with them had previously consisted of trying to evade children-beggars rubbing my arm persistently for Som; my only knowledge of them […]

With several references to “Canteen Frunze” by Asel (RUS) and Josh over at Registan, some of you might be wondering: “Who on earth is this ‘Frunze’ character.” Then again, you very well might not care. In any case, here is a brief description of the famous Bolshevik.
Born in Pishpek (now Bishkek), Mihkail Vasilevich […]

What do Brazil, Morocco, a TV show (allegedly) about cloning, and veiling in a Kyrgyz village have in common? Quite a lot, apparently.
Julie McBrien recently wrote a very interesting article in the ISIM Review making such a connection. She argues that a Brazilian soap opera (”El Clon”) about a love affair between […]

The elusive snow leopard is in danger of becoming even more scarce in Central Asia, with only approximately 7,000 left in the wild, and those mostly in China. While bleak, this figure is in fact an improvement from 1,000, which was the estimated number of snow leopards in the 1960s.

This increase in population […]

Unlike the United States, where wolves are considered an endangered species and protected, Kyrgyzstan faces an exploding population of wolves that are becoming a menace.
Experts suggest the wolf population has multiplied three- or fourfold in recent years [in Kyrgyzstan].

Attacks would normally be rare, restricted only to instances when a wolf is suffering from extreme […]

The Kyrygyzstan soap opera has reached a new pitch in recent weeks. President Bakiyev recently addressed the parliament to denounce their squabbling and corruption, saying that the parliament is, “turning into an arena for political squabbles, and becoming the source of an atmosphere of instability in the country.”
“Quit your vodka-selling businesses — by […]