Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from April, 2010
Azerbaijan: Dozens reported detained at anniversary commemoration
Twitter and Facebook users, as well as local news agencies, report that dozens of youth activists were today detained in Azerbaijan as they attempted to mark the first anniversary of shootings in Baku's Oil Academy which left 12 dead. Although not related to their online activity, among those detained were...
Kyrgyzstan: Keeping the Calm
The role played by online independent media organizations such as Kloop.kg is crucial to separating fact from disinformation in Kyrgyzstan.
Afghanistan: Taliban reintegration plans
Nick Fielding reflects on the plans to reintegrate Taliban fighters back into society of Aghanistan, reviewing a new report by the Afghan Analysts Network.
Afghanistan: Kabul’s Restaurant Raids
Kabul expat writes that last week four of most popular alcohol-serving restaurants in the capital of Afghanistan were raided in quick succession, sending chills through the expat community.
Kyrgyzstan: Ousted president denies resignation
Akmal writes that Kyrgyzstan’s former president, who left the country and found haven in Belarus, now declares that he does not recognize his resignation.
Turkmenistan: Same neighborhood, worlds apart
Although they are neighbors, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are worlds apart economically and politically. Annasoltan examines some of the big differences with some potentially controversial arguments.
Bulgaria: Appeals for Help in Arevik Shmavonyan's Deportation Case
Svetla Encheva (BUL), Maya Markova of Maya's Corner and Legal Clinic for Refugees and Immigrants, a Bulgarian NGO, appeal for help in the case of Arevik Shmavonyan, a pregnant Armenian citizen who is awaiting deportation from Bulgaria at the Special Centre for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners in Busmantsi (described by...
Azerbaijan: Nationalist propaganda
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines recounts being verbally abused by a fellow countryman after co-presenting with Global Voices Online's Caucasus regional editor at a recent conference. The blogger notes that the reason for being cornered and harassed was her belief in tolerance and democracy in Azerbaijan as well as peace...
Azerbaijan: Act of revenge against bloggers
Following news that imprisoned video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli have been moved to separate prisons, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines says that one media outlet reports that the two prisons are among the worst in the country and alleges the move is nothing more than an...
Caucasus: Social Innovation Camp
Although Internet penetration remains low in the South Caucasus, all indications are that new and social media has an increasingly important role to play in the area of democratization and activism. With that in mind, the first Social Innovation Camp in the region took place in Tbilisi, Georgia on 8-10 April.
Kyrgyzstan: The aftermath of public uprising
In the past week, the attention of Kyrgyzstani bloggers has been very firmly centred on political events in this small, mountainous Central Asian country. All over the country, memorials have been held for those people who died in clashes between government and opposition on April 7 and April 8. Sergei...
Georgia, Russia, Poland: Imedi-TV's Kaczynski Controversy
Giorgi Kvelashvili of Jamestown Foundation Blog writes that the fake news broadcast aired by a Georgian TV channel on March 15 did not contain mentions of Lech Kaczynski's death in a plane crash – even though some recent Russian media reports claim otherwise.
Tajikistan: The scandalous lawsuit backpedaled
Alpharabius keeps an eye on the developments around a multimillion lawsuit that had been launched by the three judges against 3 leading independent newspapers in Tajikistan. The judges have offered the defendants talks to finish what they describe as “the unprecedented and widespread media campaign against the whole justice system”.
Kyrgyzstan: Resignation faxed
Kyrgyz blogger writes about the details of the resignation of ousted Kyrgyz president Bakiev. The author also attaches scans of the resignation fax from the former head of the state, as well as its translation.
Turkmenistan: Healthcare system in shadow of secrecy
Turkmenistan’s healthcare system is decrepit but veiled in totalitarian secrecy, says a report by humanitarian organization MSF. “Trying to scare off criticism by baring its teeth will not save our government from decline,” writes neweurasia’s Annasoltan.
Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev on a visit to Washington, D.C.
KZBlog analyzes the visit of Kazakhstan president Nazarbayev to the United States, his high-level meetings and topics discussed.
Kazakhstan: Internet Users Love Opera
KZBlog informs that Opera 10 is the most popular browser in Kazakhstan. As journalists allege, this might be due to the feature which compresses web pages on a remote server. While this feature is meant to speed up browsing, it also means that the it allows to access banned websites.
Afghanistan: Forgotten Hindus and Sikhs
Afghanistan is home to many ethnicities and religions, including small communities of Hindus and Sikhs, Nick Fielding says and tells some facts about the history and culture of these groups.
Afghanistan: The insurgency leader speaks up
Nick Fielding reviews the rare interview with Sirajuddin Haqqani, commander of Taliban forces in Paktia, Khost and Paktika (Afghanistan).
Mongolia: Earthquake in Ulaanbaatar
Radigan Neuhalfen writes a story about the most recent earthquake in Ulaan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia, and also provides a background of seismic research in this country.
Kyrgyzstan: Social Media Matters
Sarah Kendzior analyzes the role of new media in the popular uprising in Kyrgyzstan.
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