· February, 2007

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2007

Uzbekistan: Perils of Assisting Homosexuals

Registan.net covers the latest crackdown on foreign health NGOs in Uzbekistan, which includes action against an organization running an HIV/AIDS prevention program for not just paperwork problems but also because...

1 March 2007

Armenia: Self-immolation

In Armenia yesterday, a man died after setting himself on fire in the capital's Republic Square. It is not known exactly why the man set himself alight, but he reportedly...

1 March 2007

Armenia: Protesting the Land Grab

The CRD/TI Armenia Election Monitor reports on a protest against Armenia's president that took place today outside of the presidential palace. The protesters are former residents of homes that the...

28 February 2007

Turkmenistan: What If There Was Internet?

neweurasia posts a comment from a reader who was discussing whether or not access to the internet is important for people in Turkmenistan. The commenter points out there are plenty...

28 February 2007

Afghanistan: Heroes and Warlords

Afghanistanica, a new blog covering Afghanistan, looks at the role of public relations strategies in Ahmed Shah Masood being remembered as a hero and Rashid Dostum being considered a warlord....

28 February 2007

Uzbekistan: Plight of the Merchants

Registan.net discusses the plight of Uzbekistan's merchants. Despite recent changes that should make trade easier and more profitable, cross-border traders still face numerous difficulties as a result of police harassment...

28 February 2007

Tajikistan: Food for the Neigbhors

Elizabeth posts on the Tajik tradition of bringing a plate of food to one's neighbors whenever a large meal is made. The only catch is that one cannot return the...

28 February 2007

Tajikistan: Islam & Identity

Lola discusses what being Muslim means to Tajik identity and what cultural and religious practices make one sufficiently Muslim without being considered what many in Tajikistan consider a “fanatic.”

26 February 2007

Kyrgyzstan: Paying for Grades

Tolkun Umaraliev explains the situations in which Kyrgyz students pay bribes to receive good grades. He says that it is horrible to think about what this widespread practice means for...

26 February 2007

Armenia: Parliamentary Election Monitor

The CRD/TI Armenia Election Blog surveys the latest news about the upcoming Armenian parliamentary election and urges Armenian readers to get involved by serving as election observers.

26 February 2007

Uzbekistan: Mathematical Expression

Claire Wilkinson discusses a report showing that medieval Islamic art shows an understanding of complex geometry that did not find mathematical expression until fairly recently. The researcher first became interested...

24 February 2007

Turkmenistan: Flurry of Activity

neweurasia reports on the flurry of personnel shuffling, diplomatic calls, and presidential edicts since Turkmenistan elected its new president, who, the post says, must shake things up in order to...

24 February 2007

Kazakhstan: Environmental Buyout

Ben Paarmann says that ChevronTexaco has long had problems with accumulating sulfur deposits at its Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan. So why is the government suddenly threatening to punish the...

24 February 2007

Armenia: Dual Citizenship

At Life in Armenia, Raffi K. notes that dual citizenship is closer to becoming a reality and hopes that sticking points holding it up can be sorted out soon.

24 February 2007

Turkmenistan: Turkic Reunion?

At neweurasia Peter reports on how relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan are changing in the wake of the death of the country's former President Saparmurad Niazov.

24 February 2007

About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage

Nurbek Bekmurzaev
Nurbek Bekmurzaev is the Central Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Arzu Geybullayeva
Arzu Geybullayeva is the South Caucasus editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.