· January, 2008

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from January, 2008

Georgia: Political Alternatives

  31 January 2008

TOL Georgia reports that while there are many things wrong in the country, the situation just can't be compared to that which it found itself in before the November 2003 “Rose Revolution.” However, the blog says, the upcoming parliamentary elections are of vital importance and not least in checking the...

Afghanistan: Journalist in Danger

  31 January 2008

Nasim Fekratْ urges action on the death threats that are addressed to Basir Ahang, 27, an independent journalist who was directly involved in the release of Gabriele Torsello, the Italian journalist, who was kidnapped by Taliban in Helmand province.

Armenia: Early Release

  31 January 2008

Nazarian points his readers in the direction of a post in Russian alleging that the notorious son of Gyumri's Mayor has been released from prison in the weeks preceding the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog also says that perhaps his release following a mass shootout in Armenia's...

Armenia: Pondering Scenarios

  31 January 2008

Unzipped says he believes one scenerio ahead of the 19 February presidential election is that Orinats Yerkir's Artur Baghdasarian will pull out of the race and support another opposition candidate instead. However, the blogger believes, the chances of an opposition victory would be possible only in a first round of...

Georgia: Post-Election Distractions

  30 January 2008

TOL Georgia reports that now Mikhail Saakashvili has officially started his second term in office a new report from international election observers note further irregularities with the conduct of the vote. However, the blog notes, the country and even the opposition have since moved on.

Armenia: Russian Masters

  30 January 2008

After a visiting Russian official effectively endorsed the candidacy of the prime minister ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia, Nazarian asks if it isn't time Armenians started to think for themselves.

Azerbaijan: Something Fishy

  30 January 2008

After posting about fish swimming up water pipes and clogging up faucets, Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog now posts a photograph of the culprits.

Armenia: Indigenous Language Blogs

  30 January 2008

While most blogging from or about Armenia has been in English or Russian, The Armenian Observer is pleased to discover that the number of Armenian language blogs is slowly but surely increasing. Observer commends the blogs for their quality and recommends his readers encourage their development by visiting and commenting...

Kazakhstan: A Hidden Billionaire

  30 January 2008

Lena B-Va quotes the newly released Forbes’ report on the non-public billionaires “you never heard of” – and a Kazakh citizen mentioned in the report.

Afghanistan: Ongoing Culture Wars

  30 January 2008

Safrang reports on the continuing disturbing developments in the case of Perwiz Kambakhsh, the young Afghan student of journalism who has been sentenced to death by a primary court for propagating “blasphemous” literature.

Armenia: Tattoos

  29 January 2008

The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs documenting a tattoo artist in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Although the country can be quite conservative, interest in tattoos has grown over the years and the blog says that both artist and client takes the matter seriously.

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.