· October, 2009

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from October, 2009

Azerbaijan: Blogger trial dilemma

  28 October 2009

Following yet another postponement in the trial of detained video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, In Mutatione Fortitudo offers its opinion on the case so far. The blog says the authorities in Azerbaijan face a dilemma. If the two detainees are imprisoned it will result in significant...

Azerbaijan: Hope

  26 October 2009

Writing on Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines on the eve of their next court hearing, Arzu Geybullayeva says she still hopes that detained video bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli will be released. She also says that the two online youth activists are an example to others and believes that...

Kyrgyzstan: New Prime Minister Discussed by Internet Users

  26 October 2009

One of Kyrgyzstan’s wealthiest men, the prominent government official Daniyar Usenov, was appointed the republic’s Prime Minister. President Kurmanbek Bakiev has already signed the appropriate orders. Daniyar Toktogulovich was among a list of possible candidates. Possible, but, to be honest, undesirable. At least, this is what the overwhelming majority of...

Kyrgyzstan: Administrative reform

  26 October 2009

Aravanski reports that the Kyrgyzstan President announced extensive reforms in public administration system, including a massive reduction of the number of officials.

Kazakhstan: Atomic Lake

  26 October 2009

Michael Forster Rothbart offers a photo-essay about the Semipalatinsk Polygon in Kazakhstan, where the Soviet Union was testing its nuclear bombs.

Turkmenistan: Trafficking in human beings

  26 October 2009

Annasoltan writes about the problem of human trafficking in Turkmenistan against the background of persistent economic hardship, porous borders and the regime's attempts to demur and defer the issue.

Mongolia: Luxury Brand Explosion

  26 October 2009

Bilguun reports that after this year's coming of Louis Vuitton to Ulaan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia, next year is scheduled for opening of even more luxury brand stores, although they all will be competing for “the same 300 or so customers who can afford their products”.

Kazakhstan: economic paradoxes, sexism and the decline of science

  26 October 2009

Kazakhstan’s bloggers continue to discuss topics of social relevance Last week, online discussions touched on various subjects. The blogger Lord-Fame was visited by tax authorities, who found his company to have an insufficient number of employees, below the “industry average” [ru] What moron came up with this rule? How stupid...

Armenia: Twitter counters false media report

  25 October 2009

After a news item in the local press reported that a British MP had been appointed as rapporteur on Armenia and Turkey, Unzipped says that it used Twitter to check the accuracy of the story. Tweeting a question to the MP in question, it turned out that the report was...

Azerbaijan: Musings & Poetry

  23 October 2009

With the number of English-language blogs from Azerbaijan increasing, Emotions on Air, Mind Mute sets a precedent for musings and poetry. Often dark and melancholic, the blog shows that new media can also be a medium for other forms of self-expression.

Georgia: New Media Forum assessed, bloggers interviewed

  23 October 2009

Following the recent New Media Forum, an event staged in Tbilisi, Georgia, comes coverage in the local press. Although lagging behind its neighbors in the South Caucasus, interest in the online world is increasing and there are signs that new media will develop considerably in 2010.

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.