Author: Mathieu Lemoine 
Mathieu Lemoine
Written articles:
“A Person of Conscience Is Almost a Fairytale Character”: Chingiz Narynov on His Kyrgyz Thriller Mergen
Blending Kyrgyz mythology with crime drama and psychological suspense, Mergen explores corruption, environmental exploitation and the struggle for justice. Director Chingiz Narynov speaks to Novastan about the legends that inspired… [...]
Can design help reimagine the future of the Aral Sea? Joseph Grima on a different kind of school
Can design help address the Aral Sea region’s environmental challenges? Aral School director Joseph Grima discusses climate change, local knowledge and a new approach to design education in Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan. [...]
From Madrid to Kabul: An Afghan Diplomat on Spain, the Taliban and the Republic’s Collapse
Five years after the Taliban's return to power, former Afghan diplomat Hamed Wahdat Ahmadzada reflects on the collapse of the Afghan Republic, Spain's two decades of engagement, the Afghan diaspora… [...]
Uzbekistan’s Disability Rights Reforms: Progress on Paper, Barriers in Practice
Uzbekistan has introduced significant disability rights reforms, but barriers to accessibility, employment and social protection remain. Oybek Isakov, Chairman of the Association of Disabled People of Uzbekistan, explains why legislation… [...]
The Middle Corridor is growing, but can it deliver? A logistics operator’s perspective
The Middle Corridor is attracting growing freight volumes, but can its infrastructure keep pace? Christian Hirschmann of Azurite Logistics discusses the Caspian bottleneck, commercial competitiveness and Kazakhstan's growing role in… [...]
Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir: “Housing is the Mongolian dream – and nightmare”
Mongolian filmmaker Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir discusses Ulaanbaatar, the country’s apartment obsession, masculinity, spirituality and her determination to show a modern Mongolia beyond stereotypes of nomads, horses and the steppe. [...]
On a disappearing Kyrgyz glacier, seven women learn to read the ice
Seven women joined glaciologist Gulbara Omorova on Kyrgyzstan’s rapidly retreating Adygene glacier. Their expedition is now becoming part of a documentary about science, climate change and the women working to… [...]
‘I am a German from Kazakhstan’: Lena Wolf on deportation, memory and finding home
Lena Wolf, a German from Kazakhstan, reflects on her family’s deportation, Soviet-era Russification, migration to Germany and the search for identity across generations. [...]
Dotor Khuree: “We want to make Mongolian music with contemporary instruments”
Dotor Khuree blends Mongolian musical traditions with contemporary instrumentation. The Ulaanbaatar band discusses its latest EP, musical identity and Mongolia’s independent scene. [...]
Janina Arsenjeva: “Finding a problem doesn’t mean reform has failed”
Disability rights are gaining ground across Central Asia, but progress remains uneven. Janina Arsenjeva discusses what is changing, who is still being left behind, and why finding problems can itself… [...]
Share Happiness, build an industry: Lola Animation’s Uzbek animation story
Producer Azimjon Rahimjonov speaks to Novastan about Lola Animation, the making of Share Happiness, the rapid growth of Uzbekistan’s animation sector and the ambition to bring Uzbek-created films to international… [...]
From Tashkent to the international stage: Diana Skobina brings Uzbek music to new audiences
From Tashkent to international concert halls, pianist Diana Skobina reflects on her Uzbek musical roots, classical training, life in the United States and her ambition to bring Central Asian repertoire… [...]
Translated articles:
Kazakhstan’s AI Ambitions Face an Energy and Water Test in Ekibastuz
Kazakhstan wants to turn Ekibastuz into a major hub for AI computing. But as its Data Center Valley could eventually reach 1 GW, questions are mounting over electricity, water and… [...]
In Uzbekistan, one family wants to support the revival of wine production
Once known for its grapes, Uzbekistan saw many vineyards destroyed after the fall of the USSR. The Akhunov family is now helping revive the country’s wine culture. [...]
How Central Asia is trying to protect the snow leopard
From Kyrgyz volunteer rangers to strict penalties in Uzbekistan, Central Asia is stepping up efforts to protect the rare and emblematic snow leopard. [...]
Edited articles:
Kazakhstan’s AI Ambitions Face an Energy and Water Test in Ekibastuz
Kazakhstan wants to turn Ekibastuz into a major hub for AI computing. But as its Data Center Valley could eventually reach 1 GW, questions are mounting over electricity, water and… [...]
Nothing to Waste: Dildora’s Science of Peanuts
In Uzbekistan’s Andijan region, researcher and entrepreneur Dildora Nurmatova is building a family peanut business around a simple principle: waste nothing. From snacks and milled kernels to animal feed made… [...]
Far from home, behind the wheel: A Kyrgyz truck driver on Europe’s roads
A truck driver from Kyrgyzstan describes life on Europe’s roads, from recruitment costs and salary deductions to sleeping in his cab, supporting his family and saving for a future back… [...]
From the Aral Sea to eco start-ups: Uzbekistan’s young climate generation
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
From Development Partner to Strategic Supplier: What Seoul’s First Central Asia Summit Really Signals?
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
“A Fourth Political Reset?”: An Interview with Kyrgyz Political Scientist Emil Dzhuraev
An assessment of President Sadyr Japarov’s tenure, the political realignment following the dismissal of the head of the security services, and growing economic dependence on China… For Novastan, prominent… [...]
In the Country of Özbeg: Photographing Uzbekistan 136 Years After Paul Nadar
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
Who Made the Nations of Central Asia?
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
How Uzbek Composers Made the Violin Their Own
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
From Q-pop to Hip-Hop: Kazakhstan’s Multilingual Sound
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway: Who wins from Central Asia’s new trade route?
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your… [...]
The Hidden Weight of Divorce in Kyrgyzstan: Why Its Social Consequences Remain Gendered
This article is published as part of a partnership between AUCA and Novastan, which brings graduate students’ academic work to a wider readership. Through this collaboration, Novastan aims to… [...]
“I only needed a passport” : In Ukraine, Central Asian prisoners of wars caught between loyalty and regret
Citizens from Central Asia now represent the largest group of foreign nationals fighting in the Russian army. Novastan spoke with several of them after their capture by Ukrainian forces. [...]
In Tajikistan, daughters-in-law face a hidden system of control
This article is published as part of a partnership between AUCA and Novastan, which brings graduate students’ academic work to a wider readership. Through this collaboration, Novastan aims to… [...]