Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from March, 2009
Azerbaijan: Farida’s mushroom appetizer
Learning to Walk in Stilettos waxes lyrically about a recipe for an appetizer available on Farida's Azerbaijani Cookbook — Mushrooms Stuffed with Eggplant, Walnuts and Fresh Herbs.
Azerbaijan: Like a virgin (reprise)
Following on from earlier posts on the matter of virginity in Armenia, Scary Azeri in Suburbs recounts the situation in Azerbaijan. The blog concludes that medical techniques to restore a bride's virginity for her wedding night are more advanced in the former Soviet Union than in the West.
Kazakhstan: Blogs serve politics
Zara writes that blogs are being more and more actively employed by political figures in Kazakhstan. This time it’s a candidate to the city council.
Kyrgyzstan: Opposition Rally in Bishkek
Sam has visited the rally of the opposition in the capital of Kyrgyzstan and published some shots from this event.
Mongolia: Life on the fringes
Bilguun writes about the serious problem of waste and rubbish near Ulaan-Batar, the capital city of Mongolia. Some photos from the rubbish dump are attached.
Kazakhstan: Census ended
KZBlog says that the 2009 Census ended in Kazakhstan, pointing out 9% growth in population, and shares some experience of being recorded by a census taker.
Afghanistan: The Social Taliban Democrats
Joshua Foust reports that outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan William Wood has stated his desire to create a political party for the Taliban.
Uzbekistan: US trying to return to base
Elina Galperin opines that the US may be allowed to return to the Uzbek base of Karshi-Khanabad soon after demonstrative eviction in 2005 after the massacre in Andijon.
Turkmenistan: Ashgabat and Moscow hold talks
Elina Galperin analyzes the ourcomes of a recent official meeting between Turkmen President Gurbankuly Berdymuhammedov and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.
Afghanistan: New Course
Safrang reviews new revised US policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan that has been made public by President Obama after long consultations and thorough analysis.
Afghanistan: Scandal with the Attorney General
Azar Balkhi writes that Abdul Jabar Sabit, Attorney General of Afghanistan and a Muslim, has been caught dancing drunk at a party in Kabul.
Water: One Take International Video Contest
“Is access to clean, safe water for drinking a basic human right? Why? or Why not?”. That is the question One Take is asking for you to answer in your own language, recording it on a video no more than 2 minutes long, uploading it on their site and on DotSub and having it subtitled in at least 1 other language. Just this month, world leaders met in Istambul, Turkey at the World Water Forum to have this discussion, and although they aren't sure what the result will be, it is our chance to show what we believe about this issue, and make our voices heard.
Armenia: Blogger Interview
The DOTCOM project which brings together Armenian, Azeri and U.S. teenage bloggers has now updated its interview with Arzu Geybullayeva with one conducted with Global Voices Online's Caucasus Regional Editor Onnik Krikorian. In particular, the potential for blogs and online social networking sites to cross geographical and geopolitical divides is...
Georgia: Holy Baby Boom!
The birth rate has increased by 20 percent in ex-Soviet Georgia and the country's Orthodox Church is taking much of the credit. The miracle responsible for the much-needed baby boom in this old Christian country has been a single promise from the head of the Georgian church to personally baptize newborns. Bloggers seem impressed.
Azerbaijan: Blogger Interview
Dotcom, an online project which has participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and the United States, has published an interview with Azerbaijani blogger Arzu Geybullayeva on blogging and citizen media. In particular, she talks about her work on gender issues and media freedom as well as about her blog, Flying Carpets and...
Azerbaijan: Barcamp Caspian
Caucasus New Media reports from this week's Barcamp Caspian held in Baku, Azerbaijan. In particular, the blog notes presentations on localizing the Opera web browser for the Caucasus and fears about possible Internet censorship in the country.
Armenia: Questions linger after post-election unrest
tzitzernak2 comments on the deaths of three opposition supporters during the 1 March post-election clashes last year. The blog says that although their deaths were caused by improperly fired gas grenades used by only four policemen, those responsible have not been identified let alone suspended from duty or prosecuted.
Azerbaijan: Corrupt Medicine
Scary Azeri in Suburbs continues to compare life in England with that in Azerbaijan. In particular, speaking from experience, she compares health-care in the UK to that available in the former Soviet Union.
Armenia-Turkey: Obama's dilemma
Blogian gives its readers its opinion on the dilemma facing U.S. president Barack Obama in terms of fulfilling his campaign pledge to recognize the massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
Jordan: Blogger Exposes a State Secret
Jordanian blogger Rami Abdelrahman has blogged about a closely guarded secret about his government's involvement in the war on Afghanistan - and is getting unwelcome attention from the intelligence service.
Caucasus: Pitiful democracy
Writing on the International Federation of Liberal Youth blog, Bart Woord sums up a month of traveling in the South Caucasus by saying that democracy and governance are in a pitifully depressing state in all three former Soviet republics.
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