Author: Mathieu Lemoine 
Mathieu Lemoine
Written articles:
Zainab Entezar: “Vulnerability is not the opposite of resistance”
Afghan filmmaker Zainab Entezar discusses Shot the Voice of Freedom, documenting women's resistance to Taliban rule, the ethical challenges of filmmaking, and telling stories from exile. [...]
ZARAYA: The Tajik electronic artist turning sound into stories
Tajik DJ and producer ZARAYA discusses her debut track Hvareya, her musical influences, the poetry of her grandfather and her ambitions to bring Tajikistan's cultural heritage into the world of… [...]
Gilgit-Baltistan: Who Benefits from Development in Pakistan’s Mountain North?
Tourism, infrastructure and investment are transforming Gilgit-Baltistan, but who benefits from the region's growing economic importance? Nadia Ali, researcher at BICC-Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, discusses political representation, contested… [...]
Olga Korotko: “The film is a comedy in its construction and a tragedy in its outcome”
In Crickets, It's Your Turn, Kazakh filmmaker Olga Korotko explores gender-based violence, complicity and the structures of power that sustain them. Ahead of the film's Spanish premiere in Barcelona, she… [...]
World Bank’s Najy Benhassine on Economic Growth and Transformation in Central Asia
Central Asia is attracting growing international investment, but strong economic growth has yet to deliver deeper structural transformation. World Bank director Najy Benhassine explains what needs to change. [...]
Tajik tradition meets punk: Shahina Olimzade is rewriting the rules of fashion
Tajik fashion designer Shahina Olimzade is challenging traditional dress codes with punk-inspired silhouettes, dark colours and cultural motifs. In an interview with Novastan, she discusses her debut collection QASHANG, her… [...]
Trapped in a time loop: How Zero Point Action is pushing Mongolian cinema into science fiction
What happens when a man is forced to relive his own murder? Mongolian filmmaker Aldar Enkhbayar discusses the ideas behind Zero Point Action, the influence of video games, the social… [...]
“When Appearance Replaces Faith”: Sarvar Karimov on His Uzbek Film Farz
Set in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley, Farz (Duty) explores the tension between sincere faith, personal integrity and social expectations. Director Sarvar Karimov speaks to Novastan about his film's minimalist visual style,… [...]
Beyond Karakorum: How Italian and Mongolian archaeologists are uncovering the past
Archaeologist Roberta Menegazzi discusses new discoveries in Mongolia's Bayangolyn Valley, Italian-Mongolian research cooperation, and the importance of involving local communities in preserving archaeological heritage. [...]
Beyond the postcard: An exhibition in Kyrgyzstan puts everyday life in the frame
An unusual photography exhibition at Karakol Bus Station challenges conventional images of Kyrgyzstan. Featuring works by more than 50 amateur photographers, Kyrgyzstan Beyond the Postcard explores everyday urban life and… [...]
“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. [...]
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… [...]