Author: Novastan 
Novastan
Written articles:
Guardian of the steppes
Many steppe marmots (Marmota baibacina) live between Akkol and Makinsk. While the young explore their surroundings, the adults keep watch in the shade of the birds… [...]
Desert fauna
A Phrynocephalus mystaceus, or toad-headed agama, basks in the sun among saxaul bushes. This small lizard (about 20 cm from head to tail), found notably in Altyn-Emel… [...]
In the heights of Tajikistan
In Tajikistan, a country where 93% of the territory is mountainous, journeys between cities are long and winding. Transport lorries, private cars and shared taxis cross paths on the… [...]
70 years of Xinjiang: Beijing celebrates and enacts new political doctrine
The 70th anniversary of Xinjiang, China’s Uyghur region, was celebrated with great fanfare in Ürümqi. The ceremony was marked by the presence of Xi Jinping, the first Chinese president to… [...]
Sunset glints
The day draws to a close in Khiva. The setting sun highlights Itchan Kala, the old city museum, and in particular the Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah. Khiva… [...]
Flaming flag
The Kyrgyz flag flaps in the wind against a stormy sky above the Tash Rabat camp. Slightly frayed, it features the old version of the national flag with wavy… [...]
Kyrgyzstan’s march to smother the free press
Kyrgyzstan is sliding down to full blown autocracy. The country has traditionally stood out for offering greater protections for free speech, political parties, and NGOs than any other Central Asian… [...]
A brand-new parliament
The city centre of Dushanbe, the Tajik capital, is notable for its modern skyscrapers, the comings and goings of its yellow and green taxis, and its wide tree-lined streets. [...]
Memories of KarLag
This wall sculpture is located at the Museum of Memory for the Victims of Repression in the Dolinka Colony, also known as the KarLag Museum. For many years, the… [...]
Distant Persia?
Tajikistan is the only Persian-speaking country in Central Asia, in a region dominated by Turkic languages and cultures. In Khorog, capital of the independent region of Gorno-Badakhshan or… [...]
Live watermelons or still life?
A few watermelons await their fate in the entrance hall of Kokil Dara Khanagha. Kokildor-Ota Khanaka in Termez, in the far south of Uzbekistan, was originally a resting… [...]
Kyrgyz luthier
One of the few komuz makers, Yrys Ava, welcomes visitors to a timeless workshop where magnificent instruments are on display. All have been handmade using traditional techniques. Credits :… [...]