Turan Tales is a long-form newsletter and podcast exploring underreported stories of people, politics, and social change in Central Asia.

It is a unique outlet which combines in-depth regional expertise and journalistic rigour with engaging storytelling. It gives space to untold and often forgotten stories that other media ignore, and allows the audience to dive deep into Central Asia’s rich past and present.

Turan Tales was born out of the belief that the region deserves greater international attention, and seeks to break away from the simplistic narratives of mainstream media, which often portray Central Asia as Russia’s or China’s backyard.

My name is Agnieszka Pikulicka, and I am a Kazakhstan-based multimedia journalist, podcast host and author with over a decade of experience covering social and political processes, migration and conflict across Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. 

In 2021, after three years of reporting from Uzbekistan, I was declared persona non grata and banned from entering the country. My book titled Nowy Uzbekistan (New Uzbekistan) about my time in the country and the changes that took place since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016 was published in 2023 by the Polish Wydawnictwo Czarne.

I’m glad you’re here. With your support, I hope to continue telling the stories that deserve to be heard and to help Central Asia reclaim its narrative.