Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2010
Armenia: Chance meeting
Unzipped: Gay Armenia visits the Yuri Mechitov photo exhibit at the National Theatre in London as part of an festival of events honoring Armenian film director Sergei Parajanov and runs into the photographer. The blog posts photographs from the visit and encounter.
Global: The Tiger's Year And Tiger Farming
Wildlife activists and organizations around the world are determined to make sure that this is really “The year of the Tiger”. They have seized this opportunity to step up their activities and bring global attention to this majestic, yet severely endangered species in the ever diminishing animal kingdom.
Georgia: Eurovision National Competition
With Armenia having already chosen its entry for this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, now comes the turn of Georgia. The Oikotimes reviews the six songs presented to the Georgian public by Sopho Nizharadze. Crazyescfan's blog describes the winning entry, Shine, as a strong and emotional song by...
Armenia: Diplomatic Academy
Armenia: Higher Education & Sciences reports that a Diplomatic Academy supported by the EU, OSCE and UN has been opened in Yerevan with the purpose of creating future career diplomats. The blog notes that several among the first intake were women.
Azerbaijan: Water Tuesday
As was the case last year, Sheki, Azerbaijan introduces its readers to the start of events leading to the holiday of Novruz with Water Tuesday. The blog also says that February is considered the toughest month of Winter, but says that it also marks the beginning of Spring.
Azerbaijan: Khojali anniversary
Sheki, Azerbaijan marks the anniversary of a massacre taking place during the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The blog laments the loss of life during war and hopes that the victims rest in peace.
Azerbaijan: Oil Academy corruption allegations
ANTV, a citizen journalism site recently awarded for its contribution to freedom of the press in Azerbaijan, posts a YouTube video [AZ/EN] interview with Elmin Badalaov, a fourth year student at Baku's Oil Academy expelled allegedly because of his investigation into corruption at the prestigious institute.
Azerbaijan: Scary Azeri turns 1
To mark its first birthday, Scary Azeri in Suburbs posts an illustration to celebrate the occasion.
Azerbaijan: ANTV receives freedom of the press award
ANTV [AZ/EN/RU], an online citizen journalism site co-founded by now imprisoned video blogging youth activist Emin Milli, has received an award from ZEIT-Stiftung for its work in promoting independent voices and alternative news and views in Azerbaijan [RU]. The Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) also carries the news...
Armenia: Beauty talk
Ashley Corinne Killough visits the hairdresser and details the experience. The blog also comments on her encounters and observations while doing so.
Caucasus: Lezginka dance
Orxanbey posts a video on YouTube of what is described as an Azeri guy and and an Armenian girl dancing to the Lezginka (national dance popular in the North Caucasus), location unknown. Wearing the national flags of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Because of the still unresolved conflict between the two countries...
Armenia: Working conditions
Adrineh Macaan details the trials and tribulations of working in Armenia. The blog says that conditions are inconvenient and lacking, hours are long, and salaries sometimes take months to be paid.
Armenia: Safe Sex
Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts photos of what could be the first ever publicly available condom dispensing machine in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. The blog says that more are needed.
Azerbaijan: Healthcare
Emotions on Air, Mind Mute comments on healthcare in the oil-rich republic. Despite legislation guaranteeing access for all, the blog says, the situation is far from perfect and especially when it comes to bone marrow donors.
Azerbaijan: Almost a year old…
Scary Azeri in Suburbs approaches it's first birthday, but wonders why most search engine referrals come from queries on sex and prostitution.
Azerbaijan: In this part of the world
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the lack of democracy in the Caucasus in general. However, the blog says, some progressive youth are struggling to effect change and are the key to the future as they are the future.
Azerbaijan: Breaking down stereotypes
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines blogger Arzu Geybullayeva comments on her audio interview conducted over Skype with Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor for Transitions Online. The blog says that communication is possible, living together is possible, breaking down existing barriers is possible and [that] this a message [it] would give...
Armenia: Homophobia Hall of Shame
Following even more examples of homophobia in the media in Armenia, Unzipped: Gay Armenia has started a Homophobia Hall of Shame. In the first new posting for the list, the blog details the homophobia of the head of one major local radio station and advises international donors to choose wisely...
Armenia: Eurovision blog
Despite the controversy following Sunday's national song contest to determine Armenia's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, still lingering, the successful entrant, Eva Rivas, has launched a blog to accompany her bid at http://eva-rivas.livejournal.com/.
Azerbaijan: Urban development
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the continuing construction boom in Baku, Azerbaijan. The blog says that new urban development in the city is haphazard and is starting to adversely affect the old part of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Georgia: Friends of Freedom for Peace
MrAshn [AZ] posts a video of members of the Azerbaijani Dalga Youth Movement with Armenian support holding a small flash mob in Tbilisi, Georgia, to mark their fifth anniversary and call for peace in the South Caucasus. The region has been riven by ethnic conflict, especially between Armenia and Azerbaijan....
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