· December, 2009

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from December, 2009

Caucasus: 2009 Blog Review

  31 December 2009

If the Armenian and Georgian blogospheres attracted most interest during 2008 after one disputed presidential election in the former and an albeit short war with Russia in the latter, Azerbaijan was the undoubted focus in 2009. In particular, youth activists quickly embraced both new and social media to spread their message online.

Armenia: Culture vulture

  31 December 2009

Ianyan interviews Anush Babajanyan, an Armenian photographer who particularly focuses on issues such as gender in Armenia and the homeless in the country's second largest city, Gyumri.

Azerbaijan: Business as usual

  31 December 2009

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on new charges made against imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, 2009 recipient of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) International Press Freedom award. The blog says that some things don't change, but nonetheless encourages its readers to speak out in 2010.

Overcoming negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus

  30 December 2009

An online project using new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus entered a second stage last week when two blogging Azerbaijani journalism students and a Georgian blogger joined in the initiative.

Azerbaijan: Standing in line

  29 December 2009

Newly returned to Baku, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines posts its observations on queuing in Azerbaijan. The blogger is not impressed and in a previous post also laments the state of the medical system in the country.

Kazakhstan: Journalist murdered, professional motives excluded

  29 December 2009

Sayat Shulembayev, 28, journalist of the news video-portal “Stan” was brutally murdered in Almaty. As “Stan” producer Michael Pak says, Sayat rented a room in the house near bus station. The murderers killed the landlord and the journalist, apparently, to eliminate the possible witness [ru]. The news portal does not...

Afghanistan: Opium not so profitable

  24 December 2009

Nick Fielding reports that according to the newly released United Nations's survey, opium cultivation in Afghanistan decreased by 22 per cent, while production fell by 10 per cent to 6,900 tons.

Tajikistan: The price tag of truth

  24 December 2009

The Tajik government has recently instituted fees for information requests from journalists and the general public. Botur examines how putting a price tag on information will hurt freedom.

Turkmenistan: TB is a serious problem

  24 December 2009

Annasoltan writes that drug resistant tuberculosis is a serious problem in Turkmenistan. Yet, the government is doing little to find the solution – even more so, its actions often aggravate the situation.

Kazakhstan: War on Corruption and Political Interests

  24 December 2009

Alexander_Visotzky reviews the developments in Kazakhstan's uranium industry after arrest of the head of the national nuclear company on charges of embezzlement, and concludes that fight against corruption in Kazakhstan, is more of a political game than it is an attempt to root out corruption.

Uzbekistan: Bloggers stand for Umida Akhmedova

  24 December 2009

GV has already covered a story of the Uzbek documentary photographer Umida Akhmedova, accused of insult and slander against Uzbek people and traditions. This fact caused indignation among local and foreign journalists, photographers and Internet users. At the moment, more than 600 people from various countries signed the online petition...

Afghanistan: Taliban Offer

  24 December 2009

Daffyd ponders on the speculations about an alleged Taliban proposal that it would sever ties with al Qaeda in return for withdrawal of foreign troops, and says it's seems like a very clever strategic move.

Kyrgyzstan: Critics attacked

  24 December 2009

Nathan reports that former head of Kyrgyzstan’s National Security Council Bolot Djanuzakov and Russian political scientist Aleksandr Knyazev were attacked near their homes on December 9. Both have been critical of the Kyrgyz government.

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.