My observations on the Kazakh language. A case study of my native city - Almaty. When I was growing up during the Soviet period, there were only 2 Kazakh-language schools in Almaty. Practically nobody among my peers spoke Kazakh. 1/5 Fast forward to today. Russian is still very much present in everyday life, but the change in the role of the Kazakh language in more formal settings or in situations where the choice of spoken language makes a point is palpable. 2/5

On Russia's war against Ukraine and the Russian language. I am writing this as someone who grew up in Almaty, where during the Soviet period, only a couple of schools taught in Kazakh. My peers and I were completely Russified. 1/7 In the first weeks of the war, I was giving a book talk at one of the universities in the US. After the talk, a student from Kazakhstan (ethnic Uyghur) asked if we could switch to Kazakh or English, as she didn't want to speak Russian. 2/7

Atomic Steppe in 🇰🇿 Diaries. Part 1 - Astana. On September 29, @fes_kazakhstan launched the Kazakh edition of @stanfordpress Atomic Steppe in Kazakhstan's capital. 1/8 It was a beautiful sunny day, and the venue was gorgeous and symbolic. A winter garden in a shape of a yurt with a beautiful Shanyraq (opening for light and air in yurts) at the top. Shanyraq is featured on the cover of the Kazakh edition ❤️ 2/8

A couple of nuclear vignettes of Gorbachev's rule at the cusp of the Soviet collapse:
- Gorbachev wasn't interested in the arms race with the US. He was also not keen on continued nuclear tests but wasn't powerful enough to deal with the Soviet military-industrial complex. 1/8 An interesting little-remembered story: at the height of the Kazakh anti-nuclear movement against Soviet nuclear tests, Gorbachev invited the movement's leader Olzhas Suleimenov to accompany him on a visit to London to meet with Margaret Thatcher. 2/8

Today - August 29 - is the International Day Against Nuclear Tests (IDANT), established by the UN in 2009. There is symbolism and real-life stories of courage and resilience behind this date. It all started on August 29, 1949. 1/10 The Soviet government conducted its first atomic test on the Kazakh steppe that day. A nuclear test participant described the August 29th test: "The view was striking: destruction all around, heavy dead silence, burnt soil, dead burnt birds. An eerie feeling." 2/10

Later this month, Vienna will host the first meeting of #TPNW state-parties and several events focused on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear use. I want to use this chance to put a face to "consequences." 1/6 Meet Dmitrii-a friendly driver of a local equivalent of Uber in Semipalatinsk. Dmitrii was born to a Kazakh mother from Semipalatinsk & a Russian father from Novosibirsk in '76, 13 years after the last Soviet atmospheric test at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site.. 2/6

Russia's war in Ukraine: observations from Almaty, Kazakhstan
- almost every conversation on any topic sooner or later goes to the subject of war.
- Everyone I talked to supports Ukraine. My peers in Kazakhstan say what is happening doesn't make any sense. 1/4 - I have not met them but I know there are people who support Russia (the majority of them are from the older generation and watch Russian TV). No wonder some in Kazakhstan are calling for curbing Russian TV broadcasting. 2/4

Organizing my archives today and came across this document. Courtesy of Bill Clinton presidential library. #Ukraine 1/4 2/4

A story behind the story. On Friday, @inkstickmedia published my piece on the Kazakh medical expedition to the villages near the Soviet nuclear testing site in the late 1950s. I want to provide a glimpse of the research behind it - inkstickmedia.com/a-lesson-in-co… 1/11 I first learned about the expedition several years ago from brief publications in the Kazakh media & the memoirs of the expedition's head - Dr. Bahiya Atchabarov. I wanted to read the original findings but being in the United States, for a long time I didn't have access. 2/11

With a reminder that I am not in Kazakhstan, things are very murky and confusing, and I have more questions than answers, here is my roundup. The situation on the ground in Almaty: protests started peacefully on January 4th, at some point later in the day groups of new people appeared (mobs, criminals?) and the violence and looting began.

Disclaimer: I am not in Kazakhstan and I am not an expert on Kazakhstan's domestic politics, but I do want to amplify local reporting I trust and provide some of my observations. What is happening in Kazakhstan right now is unprecedented but at the same time - almost inevitable. While gas hikes were the last drop, protests reflect long-term popular frustration. Kazakhstan is extremely rich (and chosen few are very rich because of it). At the same time, too many, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, are struggling and feel marginalized.

My ❤️ is with the people of Kazakhstan. I'm afraid of violence & hope nobody gets hurt. Massive protests. It all started with protests in the western part of the country (Zhanaozen) against price hikes for liquified petroleum gas (used in cars). Western KZ brings the country's main income (oil & gas) but economic conditions are poor. Now other major cities of KZ, including Almaty, are protesting en masse in solidarity with Zhanaozen, and protesters' demands are increasingly broad and political in nature.