Help A Writer Targeted by Transnational Repression

Hello, my name is Alexander Thatcher, and I'm an American writer and graduate student based in Tbilisi, Georgia. I focus primarily on the Caucasus and Turkey. In October, I published a piece called Baku QAnon, on conspiracy theory and Armenophobia in Azerbaijan. The piece was a much greater success than I anticipated, and probably resulted in my apartment being broken into a month later, which included the theft of my passport and coincided with coordinated attempts to hack my social media. This break in was the inspiration for a piece in Voice of America, linked here, and I wrote about my experience being the subject of targeted harassment here.

The success of Baku Q and the break-in have only confirmed my dedication to this profession, although my time as a graduate student has not prepared me financially for a series of challenges I now find myself with. I have NVLD, a neurodevelopmental disorder related to Autism and ADHD that negatively impacts my productivity and results in anxiety and depression, compounded by the fact that ADHD medication is not sold in Georgia or Armenia. I have spent the money I have on improving my personal and digital security, but I need new electronics to protect against future hacking attempts.

At this point in my life, my only priority is my career: writing on the Caucasus and Turkey, with a particular focus on Turkish and Azerbaijani Ultranationalism. I have several articles planned at the moment, including one on the decline of western influence in Istanbul, Turkey's role in the South Caucasus, and more work on Azerbaijani irrdentism and pseudoscholarship. I am trying to support myself through my writing, but figuring out my own idiosyncratic path towards this goal is an ongoing process.

Your donation will go towards the following:

A new passport. ($130, with about $30 in extra fees)

Security for my apartment and my work. ($200, with around $30-$60 in monthly fees)

Medication for my ADHD, anxiety and depression, as well as therapy. (Around $300, with around $300-400 in therapy a month)

A trip to Turkey and Europe to secure the medication and to do research for my writing and my thesis (At least $400)

New electronics. ($400-$500 for a new phone, $600 for a new laptop)

Language instruction lessons to help with my work. ($300 a month for 4 weekly lessons)

Rent and bills. (Around $350 a month)

I thank you for taking the time to read this, and any donation is appreciated.