I’m a journalist and researcher from Italy, now living in Kazakhstan. I’m the Regional Editor for Greater Central Asia at Global Voices and a freelance journalist and editor for various other publications. I hold a PhD from the University of Glasgow, where I studied labor relations in Kazakhstan’s oil sector.
Latest posts by Paolo Sorbello
Another top-down concession is unlikely to satisfy the need for redistribution in Kazakhstan
Without a serious restructuring of the country's economy, Kazakhstan's leadership has picked another top-down measure to timidly combat inequality — the main reason for the popular protests in January
‘Our activism won't stop': The Oyan movement recounts the January protests in Kazakhstan
Accused of stirring up the protest by the president and political analysts, activists from Oyan, Qazaqstan! tell their version of the story of the protests and violence that shook Kazakhstan.
The long-lasting conundrum in Tajikistan's Pamir region
A violent clash between the police and local protesters in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region have deep roots in tense center–periphery relations in Tajikistan
Fuel protests spill over into political demands across Kazakhstan
A regional dispute over higher fuel prices turned into a mass protest across Kazakhstan, where people demand more freedom, while the government sent special forces to disperse the crowds.
Push to stop it: Anti-harassment buttons appear in Uzbekistan's buses
NGO Sarpa and Israeli aid agency Mashav teamed up with Tashkent's bus company to install an anti-harassment button on board.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan tighten the screws on media freedom
The Uzbek government banned entry to a foreign journalist, while in Kazakhstan journalists and activists were targeted by state security services.
Activists strive to preserve urban heritage in the old part of Kazakhstan's capital
Having undergone several renaming and transformation processes, Nur-Sultan has a unique and mixed identity, which in turn reflects Kazakhstan's. Architect Temirtas Iskakov explored the nuances in an interview.
The Pandora Papers unveil offshore companies linked to the family of Turkmenistan's President
In Turkmenistan, two brothers have used offshore companies to earn from state contracts of import-export. The problem is that they are relatives of the president.
News site founders, editor resign under pressure from Kazakhstan's authorities
A sophisticated attack on Hola News's website kept it down for 10 days. The core team then abandoned the project, citing pressure from the authorities.
Deputy from Kazakhstan says ‘Squid Game’ mirrors everyday life in the country
A parliament member in Kazakhstan said that real life in the country is comparable to the extreme poverty and struggle to survive portrayed in Netflix's Squid Game.
A disappearing cross-border river becomes the subject of a Central Asian documentary
With River of Nomads, the Adamdar/CA team narrates the environmental problems of the river Chu, which crosses Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This is the first interview about their documentary.
Kazakhstan considers new legislation to hinder social media
New legislative amendments are poised to curtail the activity of social media companies in Kazakhstan. Ostensibly to protect children's rights, the restrictions could enhance government snooping.
Shooting in Kazakhstan leaves five dead after financial dispute over real estate
A court ordered the eviction of a Kazakhstan family that had defaulted on its bank loan. The head of the household opened fire against the authorities enforcing the eviction.
Artists join activists in protest to save a water reservoir in Kazakhstan's capital
A group of contemporary artists and activists joined forces to protest the urban developments at the Malyi Taldykol water reservoir in Kazakhstan's capital city.
Kazakhstan news site receives threats after reigniting a child abuse story
Journalists in Kazakhstan are often under pressure for their work. A harrowing about child abuse is now the target of fresh threats against a news outlet.
New homophobic attacks in Kazakhstan rally support behind activists
Over the course of three months, LGBTQ+ activists were targeted three times by conservative mobs in various cities across Kazakhstan. An artist was bullied online for drawing same-sex kisses.
Small but complex: the unexpected political ramifications of enclaves
Often a source of overlapping spatial and human conflicts, enclaves are a peculiar geographic configuration that put into question sovereignty and identity in several regions of the world.
Devices of journalists, government officials in Kazakhstan hacked and spied on
Journalist Serikzhan Mauletbai found himself on a list of people targeted by Israeli-made spyware the government of Kazakhstan bought. The current president and prime minister are also on the list.
Street art protest in Kazakhstan becomes routine
Since Nazarbayev’s resignation in 2019, new protest movements in Kazakhstan have chosen street art as their preferred tactic. In this case, the target is a public utility hut in Almaty.
Kazakhstan celebrates its leader with two more statues
Nazarbayev's cult of personality in Kazakhstan continues two years after his resignation. For his birthday, the government built two statues, one in Turkistan and one in the capital Nur-Sultan.
Cheap materials raise questions over Kazakhstan's expensive new urban development
A crumbling wall in Turkistan's new flagship construction project reveals the faults of fast-paced development in Kazakhstan's holiest city.
