Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from November, 2010
Caucasus: Revelations & Confusion over Cablegate
As the media worldwide reveals revelation after revelation with the gradual release of over 251,000 leaked U.S. Embassy cables over the coming weeks, there were also some items of specific interest in the South Caucasus.
Georgia: Gypsies from Azerbaijan
Ulviya's Blog reports on the plight of gypsies begging on the streets of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. The blog notes that most of them come from Azerbaijan and offers a brief glimpse into their lives.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Does culture unite or divide?
With a recent survey indicating that the majority of Armenians and Azerbaijanis are against mutual friendship, hopes for peace between the two neighboring countries appear very bleak indeed. Recent developments, including in the sphere of culture, appear to support that notion, but is there any hope?
Azerbaijan: Turkish memoir allegations
The Önər Blog [AZ] summarizes and comments on some of the allegations made against Azerbaijan's former president and Soviet-era boss in a new book of memoirs by a Turkish Embassy Press Attaché in the oil-rich country. The blog also posts an English translation.
Turkmenistan: Musical culture heritage online
Turkmen entrepreneurs have launched Turkmenistan’s first online social music service, TolkunFM, but this is not just a rip-off of Western-style sites, writes Annasoltan.
Armenia: Police crackdown on ‘Emos’
Unzipped comments on news reports that the Armenian police are targeting teenagers who look different than what is expected in the still somewhat conservative and traditional former Soviet republic. The blog describes the methods employed by the police as “Stalinist,” but takes solace in the fact that some local bloggers...
Azerbaijan: Emin Milli released, but another activist detained
Following yesterday's news that video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade had been conditionally released in Azerbaijan, Facebook was today awash with news that his friend and fellow activist, Emin Milli, had also been freed.
Azerbaijan: Second video blogging youth activist released
Following yesterday's surprise news that video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade had been conditionally released from prison in Azerbaijan, Emin Milli, a friend and associate of Hajizada arrested and imprisoned at the same time last year, was also freed today. Threatened Voices has updated its status page accordingly.
Azerbaijan: Video blogger Adnan Hajizade released
In a surprise decision, an Appeal Court in Azerbaijan today ordered the conditional release of video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade. The news, as well as reaction, quickly spread on Facebook and Twitter.
Azerbaijan: Video blogging youth activist released
Threatened Voices has changed the status and updated the profile page of video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade following news that an Appeal Court in Azerbaijan ordered his conditional release earlier today after 16 months in detention. Despite significant international outcry, however, Emin Milli, an associate of Hajizade arrested at...
Kazakhstan: Livejournal Unblocked After 2 Years of Filtering
Livejournal, the most popular blogging platform in the Russian-language segment of the world wide web, was blocked by the national operator – and subsequently by other Internet service providers in Kazakhstan – in fall 2008. No explanations were provided by the authorities or the ISPs, except for the highly controversial...
Kyrgyzstan: The Zhogorku Kenesh Holds its First Session
Ekaterina informs the readers on the start of work of the Kyrgyzstan's newly elected Jogorku Kenesh. Importantly, this Legislature celebrates the first parliamentary republic in Central Asia.
Mongolia: Global chains are rumored to enter the market
Bilguun writes about unconfirmed rumors of Starbucks opening a branch or five in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, along with that of McDonalds’ – the blogger notes these are often deemed as the modern barometers of globalization and international recognition of a country.
Afghanistan: Believed to go in the right direction
Nick Fielding reviews the Asia Foundation's survey of 6,000 Afghans, noting that 47 per cent of them believed that the country was moving in the right direction – up from 38 per cent in 2008 and 42 per cent in 2009.
Kazakhstan: An MP wants to ban Halloween
KZBlog reports that a member of Parliament is asking the prime minister for a ban on “a Satanic holiday” Halloween, and notes that this is not the first proposal to ban Western holidays or TV shows on the post-Soviet space.
Azerbaijan: YAPistan
Jafarova's blog [AZ] comments on the results of yesterday's parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan which saw the ruling YAP party consolidate its grip on power in the oil-rich former Soviet republic. Considering the parliament as simply a body to rubber stamp decisions from the President's Office, the blog says that...
Azerbaijan: Friends
Social Science in the Caucasus comments on its own data examining relationships in Azerbaijan. In particular, it examines results which show that 27 percent of female respondents say they have no close friends as opposed to 17 percent of men.
Georgia: Highly Enriched Uranium smugglers on trial
Gawker comments on news that two Armenians were arrested in Georgia earlier this year for smuggling highly enriched uranium into the country and attempting to sell it to undercover police posing as middlemen for Islamic terrorists.
Armenia: Digital Democracy
Writing on Ararat, Global Voices author Simon Maghakyan, sponsor of a recent online petition demanding the passage of legislation against domestic violence in his native Armenia, comments on the increasing use of new and social media by activists in the former Soviet republic.
Azerbaijan: Electoral fraud reported during Parliamentary elections
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on today's parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. Despite media reports highlighting widespread voter apathy, the general mistrust in the election process is backed up by the blog referring to multiple examples of electoral fraud and violations.
Armenia: Iranian Embassy Protest
Unzipped posts video and photographs of today's protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, in support of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, sentenced to death in Iran for infidelity. Commenting on the reaction of the Embassy, the blog opines that the Iranian Ambassador does not understand the concept of...
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