Digital vigilantism not only threatens the safety of individual citizens but also undermines legal certainty in society, contributing to a decrease in trust in state institutions.

When I started approaching regional actors about cybersecurity, I was often met with something along the lines of: "We don't have stable electricity yet, and you want to talk about cybersecurity?". But I believed that the absence of reliable electricity did not mean the absence of digital threats. The cost of inaction would be far greater than the cost of early preparation.

All masks have slipped (and maybe Musk too). The U.S. withdrawal from civil society support in Central Asia is deeply regrettable, yet it also forces a necessary paradigm shift and creative thinking. If independent media are to survive and even thrive in increasingly hostile environments, a shift from dependency to solidarity is a must. South-to-South collaboration offers a path not just for survival, but for renewal.

A thematic analysis of a Facebook group revealed several recurring motifs that collectively shape a shared sense of nostalgia. The most dominant theme centers on a yearning for the "lost paradise" of the Soviet Union. Many posts express deep admiration for the USSR, often emphasizing how remarkable it was for the 15 republics to coexist harmoniously. In contrast, current geopolitical realities are conspicuously absent: Russia’s war against Ukraine is never mentioned. The sile