Contested memory: How Central Asia is rethinking World War II

This week’s episode opens with reflections on Victory Day, observed annually on May. This year marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, and once again the leaders of all five Central Asian republics attended Moscow’s parade. Yet beneath the rituals of state ceremony lie increasingly contested memories and shifting sentiments. The discussion draws on historian Vicky Davis’ book Central Asia and World War Two, which documents not only the human cost of the war in the region, but the systemic discrimination faced by Central Asian soldiers within the Red Army. In Kazakhstan and elsewhere, the official narrative is under pressure. While many continue to view the day as one of solemn remembrance, the war’s politicization, especially in light of Russia’s current conflict in Ukraine, is sparking discomfort, quiet resistance, and attempts to nationalise the commemorative agenda.The episode also turns to a notable development in regional fintech. Kyrgyzstan has announced a partnership with Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, to jointly develop a national digital currency system. The centrepiece of this collaboration is the “Gold Dollar” (USDKG), a new stablecoin backed by both US dollar reserves and physical gold held by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Finance. The project positions Kyrgyzstan as a nimble actor in the evolving digital economy and raises important questions about remittances, regulation, and sovereignty in financial infrastructure.In this week’s interview, we speak with Sophie Ibbotson, the author of a newly released Bradt guidebook to Uzbekistan. The conversation covers her long-standing relationship with the country, the risks of overtourism and “disneyfication,” and why lesser-known regions like Termez and the Fergana Valley deserve more attention from travellers.Useful links* Central Asia and World War Two by Vicky Davis: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/central-asia-in-world-war-two-9781350372306/* Economist article on stablecoins: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/02/23/stablecoins-the-real-crypto-craze* Bradt Travel Guide to Uzbekistan: https://www.bradtguides.com/product/uzbekistan Get full access to Havli - A Central Asia Substack at havli.substack.com/subscribe