· August, 2010

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from August, 2010

Armenia-Azerbaijan: More dialogue through film

  30 August 2010

With national television in Armenia and Azerbaijan controlled by the authorities or government-linked individuals, there is little opportunity for independent reporting. Now more objective and human interest stories can be found on the Internet.

Turkmenistan: WikiLeaks-like service in demand

  29 August 2010

Turkmenistan is a society so veiled in shadows that one wonders whether its own leaders believe in the government’s propaganda. For this reason, the country desperately needs a service like WikiLeaks to help expose the truth, argues neweurasia’s Annasoltan.

Kazakhstan: Does Astana Need Central Asia?

  29 August 2010

Megakhuimyak analyzes statistics and comes to a conclusion that Kazakhstan does not have strategic trade or investment interests in Central Asia, while the region itself turns out to be a source of risk and problems for Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan: Prison Riots

  29 August 2010

KZBlog writes about the disturbing news from Kazakhstan’s prisons, where – more and more frequently – inmates mutilate themselves or stage riots, claiming that they are routinely beaten and tortured.

Afghanistan: Parliamentary Election Update

  29 August 2010

Joshua Foust provides an update on the upcoming parliamentary election in Afghanistan, specifying numerous worrying instances of violations and abuses of state resource by candidates, campaign staff, and government employees.

Afghanistan: The Helmand Food Zone Fiasco

  29 August 2010

Joel Hafvenstein writes about the British “Food Zone” program, which was considered to be a better effort comparing to other counternarcotics activties in Afghanistan. But “when examined closely, there’s no reason to think the Food Zone program was effective’, he says.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Unbiased e-media coverage call for projects

  26 August 2010

There are just three days left until the deadline passes for the Eurasia Partnership Foundation's unbiased e-media coverage project for Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists and bloggers. Global Voices Online will be presenting its experience to date in this area at workshops held as part of the initiative.

Azerbaijan: Lilit

  26 August 2010

Gulara Azimzadeh's blog [AZ/EN/RU] reflects on a meeting between Armenia and Azerbaijani youth at an event in Georgia. In particular, she writes, although nationalists and a rhetoric of hatred exists on both sides, there are so many similarities between the two nations still locked in bitter conflict over the disputed...

Azerbaijan: Bloqosfer 2010

  24 August 2010

A site for Bloqosfer 2010 [AZ] to be held in Nabron, Azerbaijan, on 10-12 September has been launched at http://www.bloqosfer.com/2010. The hashtag #bloqosfer10 is used on Twitter.

Armenia: LGBT blogger responds to radio station

  23 August 2010

Unzipped: Gay Armenia responds to an open letter published by a local radio station considered by many to be guilty of homophobia despite funding from international donors to spread European values in the country.

Armenia: Suicide soldier

  23 August 2010

Following the recent suicide of an officer in the Armenian army who is believed to have suffered from victimization and intimidation from fellow soldiers, Unzipped posts a photograph of graffiti that has since appeared in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.

Azerbaijan: An impossible dream?

  23 August 2010

The Önər Blog [AZ] ponders the state of the economy and society in oil-rich Azerbaijan, considering that the government doesn't offer any real hope for the future. While many are quick to advise others, and often criticize the opposition without offering any alternatives, it says, nothing is actually done to...

Azerbaijan: Reflections on Ramadan

  19 August 2010

Aaron in Azerbaijan, a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) blog, reflects on how Ramadan is observed in Azerbaijan. Although a secular republic, with many people not observing fasting, the blog says it is nonetheless impressed by the dedication of those that do. Meanwhile, another PCV blog, From the Land of...

Armenia: Homophobic radio station rewarded?

  19 August 2010

Having already warned against increasing levels of homophobia in society, including that recently shown by a local radio station in a project ostensibly meant to promote European integration and values, Unzipped: Gay Armenia is shocked to discover that international bodies continue to work with those it feels should be blacklisted...

Caucasus: Observations on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

  16 August 2010

Fearcuairt contrasts the three South Caucasus countries and says that Georgians consider themselves part of Europe, Azerbaijanis feel part of Asia, and Armenians view themselves as a mixture of both. Moreover, the blog notes, the rivalries between both Armenia and Georgia despite a shared religion is unfortunate given that both...

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Dialogue through film

  16 August 2010

The free flow of information between Armenia and Azerbaijan since independence is obviously problematic given the still unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, but can new media move in to fill the gap?

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.