Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2008
Russia: Prince Harry and Local “Elite's Offspring”
Window on Eurasia writes about the Russians’ reaction to the news of Prince Harry's military service in Afghanistan.
Armenia: Political Turncoat
Unzipped is dismayed by the acceptance of a position from Orinats Yerkir party leader and presidential candidate, Artur Baghdasarian, from the prime minister and president-elect, Serge Sargsyan. The move, ostensibly made in order to defuse tension in the country, gives credence to claims from the opposition that Baghdasarian was working...
Armenia: Politically Motivated Arrests
Unzipped provides its readers with a list of what it considers politically motivated arrests of people associated with former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, following last week's disputed presidential election in Armenia.
Armenia: LGBT Blog
Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts details of a new blog established by the Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York. The blog, AGLA NY, is at http://aglany.wordpress.com.
Armenia: Political Prisoners
Unzipped comments on local news reports examining the unsavory past of some former officials detained by police after switching to the opposition since last week's election. Regardless, the blog says, as they have been arrested now only because of their new allegiances, they can therefore be considered political prisoners.
Armenia: Absurd Revolution
Notes from Hairenik weighs in on continuing discussion of the daily protests staged by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian in Yerevan’s Liberty Square. While agreeing that electoral violations did take place, the blog says that too few people are interested in staging any revolution in Armenia. Besides, the blog argues, such...
Armenia: Dubious Election
A Fistful of Euros posts an entry on what it calls Armenia's dubious election. However, the blog says that the outcome of last week's presidential election was pretty much known well in advance, and while corruption and poverty are still facts of life, that's not to say the incumbent authorities...
Armenia: Post-Election Revolution Scenario?
That there would be mass demonstrations immediately after the presidential election held last week in Armenia was known long ago. Many observers also figured on yet another attempt by the radical opposition to stage a colored revolution of the type seen in Georgia and Ukraine. However, few expected it to succeed, but a week after the 19 February vote, the situation is now gearing up for what might be serious confrontation between opposition supporters and the authorities.
Kosovo, Serbia: A Roundup
Update on Kosovo/Serbia: Belgrade 2.0 sums things up; East Ethnia discusses the possibility of partition; Csíkszereda Musings writes on the meaning of Kosovo for Romania's Székelyföld autonomy; Greater Surbiton re-posts his article on what's “at stake in the struggle for Serbia”; Steady State writes on the implications of Kosovo for...
Turkmenistan: Either Gas or Human Rights
Maciula writes about the European Parliament’s rejection of the trade agreement with Turkmenistan, concluding that if the West wants to buy Turkmen gas then it cannot exert pressure on Ashgabat for improved human rights.
Turkmenistan: TV Appearance with Consequences
CXW reports that a cockroach’s five minutes of fame led to the sacking of 30 people from Turkmen State Television and raises questions about the future of TV in the country.
Uzbekistan: Controversy over Prime Minister
Libertad writes about the divergence of information in online media concerning the status of prime minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirzieyev.
Kazakhstan: The State Will Continue to Rise
KZBlog reports that Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Massimov assured the cabinet of ministers that work to renegotiate contracts with foreign investors will continue and that abrogations will be made on new contracts.
Tajikistan: Unrest in Garm, Authorities vs. Opposition
Ian follow-ups on the story of the firefight between ex-opposition members and the Tajik special forces. The government’s version claims the riot police was visiting the town of Garm for a conference and was attacked by the criminals, while another side of the conflict, insists that police attacked an opposition...
Afghanistan: Refugees Urge BBC to Take Action
Mohammad posts an open letter of independent writers, journalists, student associations, human rights activists and Afghanistani Diaspora living in the UK to the head of BBC, raising concerns about the recent restrictions introduced by the Afghani Minister of Culture on the use of Farsi language terminology by media in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Imagine art after
Sanjar tells about “Imagine art after” project, uniting artists who originate from the same country but who are now geographically and politically separated. At the exhibition, shown earlier this year at the Tate Gallery in London, two Aghanistani artists were paired together – Rahraw Amarzad (living in Kabul) and Shapur...
Tajikistan: Energy Crisis Is Not Enough to Lose Patience
The continuing energy crisis is, probably, the worst problem that Tajikistan ever faced since the end of civil war. Neweurasia reports that most of the population is barely surviving this winter – the harshest in several decades – against the background of constant blackouts. The situation is even more desperate...
Armenia: Life Continues
Shooosh at Life in Armenia admits that she is still confused as to what really happened during last week's presidential election in Armenia and says that reliable information is hard to come by. Nevertheless, the Diaspora blogger concludes, life in the country continues on regardless.
Armenia: Election Disgrace
The Armenian Observer details his displeasure with the final pronouncement from Armenia's Central Elections Commission (CEC) that the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, won last week's presidential election amid opposition allegations of vote buying, ballot box stuffing and other voting irregularities and falsification.
Armenia: Women March for Ter-Petrossian
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs of yesterday's march by female supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian following last week's disputed presidential election in Armenia. Meanwhile, reporting on the same rally, my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 revisits the Babe Theory of Democratic Movements.
Armenia: Post-Election Confusion
Blogian comments on the latest post-election developments in Armenia after receiving an sms from an American friend asking what is going on in the country. In response, Simon says that he can see both positive and negative aspects to what still remains an unpredictable and confusing situation.
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