As the Managing Editor for Global Voices, I explore new ways, formats and technologies to tell stories grounded in local knowledge aimed at a global audience. I first started in GV in 2015 as a writer and translator, and now enjoy editing, training, and launching new projects.
Having grown up in Tashkent and Odesa, and worked and lived mostly in Central and Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, the Himalayan region and East Asia, I write about those regions with a particular focus on identity and historical memory, minority groups, arts and culture, language, and less known cross-regional cultural influences. I often teach on-line about media and culture-related issues, and have a passion for literary translation, also acting as Editor at Large for Central Asia at Asymptote Journal.
Latest posts by Filip Noubel
Transposing satire: Two literary translators of Slovak share how they find inspiration
Two literary translators take on a book of Slovak satire, Daniel Majling's collection of short stories "Roosyan Klassiks," and reinterpret their work in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
“Roosyan Klassiks”: An interview with Slovak writer Daniel Majling on Russia's cult authors and the current cancel culture
Slovakian writer Daniel Majling unpacks the notion of cancel culture in regard to Russian literature, and shares his views on the danger of ethnocentrism in this debate in this interview.
The poet's mindset as a tool against transphobia: An interview with US veteran and trans activist Drew Pham
Global Voices talked to Drew Pham, a former US Afghan War veteran, who shares her experience as a trans woman, but also a poet, sex artist and educator.
Why gender dissent and queer sci-fi can challenge surveillance: An interview with artist Shu Lea Cheang
Cyberpunk artist Shu Lea Cheang explores the issues of surveillance through the prism of queer activism, sexual dissident history and data art installation to challenge the public's acceptance of control.
Amanat anthology: Women writers from Kazakhstan make their voices heard in English
Women writers from Kazakhstan seldom get their voices heard in English, but a new anthology in translation, called Amanat, opens the door for anglophone readers to an often ignored literature.
Equality for transgender Ukrainians: A long way to go, now complicated by the war
Russia's invasion has affected the life of the Ukrainian transgender community: many have lost jobs, access to safe medical care. They are also exposed to humiliating gender questioning.
Do Russian classics need a new interpretation after Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Interview with scholar Ani Kokobobo
Should Tolstoy and Dostoevsky be approached and read differently in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine? While some weaponize them, other would like to see them cancelled.
For Russians living abroad and denouncing Ukraine's invasion, a new flag symbolizes opposition to Putin
Russians living abroad and opposing Putin's policies and the invasion of Ukraine are coming together under a redesigned Russian flag that embodies the refusal of imperialism and violence.
Public opinion in Central Asia: A pioneering Kyrgyz NGO ventures into uncharted territory
While the five Central Asian nations share borders and history, they rarely view themselves as part of the same region. A Kyrgyz NGO tries to survey them as one group.
‘The world’s perception of Ukraine has changed’ says singer from cult band Okean Elzy
Singer Svyatoslav Vakarchuk from the Ukrainian cult band Okean Elzy spoke to Global Voices about Russian celebrities, his urge to perform during the crisis and why writing music is impossible.
Drone warfare: Can international humanitarian law catch up with the technology?
Drone warfare is becoming increasingly common in US-led military operations in the global south. Current international law is ill equipped make governments and companies accountable for such actions.
Music in times of war: Song as a form of Ukrainian resistance
In Russia's invasion of Ukraine, culture and identity are at the center of the conflict. In this context, Ukrainian band "Okean Elzy" has stepped up to inspire the Ukrainian resistance.
Bringing diversity to Chinese narratives on Ukraine: A Chinese blogger in Odessa
A Chinese businessman based in Odessa in Ukraine has turned into a blogger with his own anti-Russian invasion views, only to be censored and attacked on Chinese social media
What lies behind Moscow's claim of the need for ‘denazification’ of Ukraine?
The great losses the Soviet Union endured in WWII have cultivated Nazism into an emotional trigger that deems it "moral" to take up arms to “protect the motherland”.
The battle of identities: Why the Kremlin claims to speak for ‘Russian-speakers’ in Ukraine
Moscow has promoted itself as the protector of Russian-speakers across the post-Soviet space yet many do not identify with Russia. Today it is instrumentalizing a diverse community to attack Ukraine.
Taiwan watches Ukraine closely wondering how the West would react in case of Chinese invasion
The island nation will need external support to retain its sovereignty against the might of the People's Republic of China
What does “Russian World” stand for in Putin’s statements about Ukraine?
The statements of Vladimir Putin about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine frequently include a key expression: “Русский Мир” (Russkiy mir). This phrase literally means the “Russian world”.
Unexpected reaction in Prague after Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Quite unexpectedly, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shifted the position of Moscow's most influential supporter in the Czech Republic: President Zeman, who has just described Moscow's actions as a "crime".
Russian discourse about the war in Ukraine is not monolithic
While Putin’s voice might seem to represent the Russian discourse, he only speaks for himself. Russian people’s views on the situation in Ukraine and about Russia’s military attack vary widely.
Ukrainian refugees gather at the borders with Moldova, Slovakia, Poland
"At five in the morning, friends called us to tell us this is war. We packed what we had and took to the road."
Global Voices seeks an editor to lead our Eastern Europe coverage
Are you a writer and editor with a deep understanding of and curiosity about all facets of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine? Are you excited about shaping ideas into stories, social media posts, and other editorial outputs in collaboration with a diverse community?If you answered “yes” to the questions above,...
