Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2011
Uzbekistan: Exit visa requires a no-whore plea
Beginning this year, female Uzbekistan nationals must pledge that they shall not become prostitutes outside of the country in order to receive their exit visa, reports neweurasia’s Abulfazal.
Kyrgyzstan: Interim president won't seek re-election
Incumbent president of Kyrgyzstan Rosa Otunbaeva announced that she would not be taking part in the upcoming presidential elections, Malika reports.
Tajikistan: Egyptian echo makes the government mull constitutional reform
Alpharabius reports on the plethora of new laws curtailing Islamic religious practice and the slew of house demolitions that all seem to point toward a government that’s simultaneously nervous and ambitious amidst rumored constitutional reform.
Kyrgyzstan: Central Asia's largest market affected by Customs Union
Rahat reports that “Dordoi” – the largest market of Central Asia near Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, is experiencing a fall in sales with the establishment of the Customs Union by Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.
Kyrgyzstan: Parliament names mountain after the Russia's strongman
Kyrgyzstani parliamentarians voted in support of Kyrgyz Prime Minister's proposal to name a peak in the country’s northern Tian Shan range after his counterpart Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to “cement friendly ties between Kyrgyzstan and Russia”, Christya Riedel writes.
Uzbekistan: Unauthorized use of energy
Elina Galperin reports that Uzbekistan is systematically sneaking electricity from Kazakhstan’s power grid beyond amounts agreed between the two parties, according to the claims by the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC).
Azerbaijan: Great People's Day
Activists in Azerbaijan have opened a Facebook page, 11 March – Great People's Day in Azerbaijan / 11 Mart – Böyük Xalq Günü, to attract support for their plans to protest after being inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
Azerbaijan: Join Us
Pro-opposition activists in the Armenian Diaspora are starting to use rap music to communicate their message ahead of next week's demonstration in Yerevan while youth movements in Azerbaijan have long been doing so. Uploaded to YouTube in October, one example is Shirbənd with Bizimlə ol (Join Us) as opposition groups...
Armenia: Rapping the Revolution of Reform
Even if the use of social media ahead of an opposition rally scheduled to mark the 3rd anniversary of bloody post-presidential clashes which left 10 dead remains low, some activists are at least using the new online tools at their disposal. In particular, those behind a Facebook page to increase...
Armenia: Homophobia as propaganda?
Unzipped: Gay Armenia, one of two blogs written by Mika Artyan, comments on remarks by a major opposition politician linking emigration to homosexuality ahead of this week's rally to call for regime change. The activist blogger, one of the most prominent covering the 2008 presidential election in Armenia as well...
Armenia: Social Networks for Social Revolution?
With uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world, the extra-parliamentary opposition in Armenia is now seeking to replicate events in the former Soviet republic, and not least because 1 March 2011 will mark the 3rd anniversary of post-presidential election clashes which left 10 people dead.
Armenia: Apathy or revolution?
Footprints compares the situation in Armenia with that in Egypt, but says that despite the problems it is unlikely a similar uprising will occur. In particular, the blog blames apathy among the youth and a fractured opposition.
Azerbaijan: Diaspora & Patriotism
Scary Azeri takes a look at the Azerbaijani Diaspora in the United Kingdom and notes some peculiarities as it pertains to notions of “patriotism.”
Georgia: Sex & the EU
Social Science in the Caucasus examines the results of a 2008 survey aimed at comparing Georgian social attitudes to those in the EU. The survey, for example, found that 80 percent of Georgians with no family members in EU member states were against the idea of a woman having sex...
Caucasus: Peace Village
Tamada Tales, a EurasiaNet blog, comments on plans by an Armenian peace activist to establish a peace building center in a village situated close to the intersection of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Noting that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are “implacable foes,” the blog notes that Georgia has often proven itself to...
Azerbaijan: Assimilation Disorder
Known for its caustic humor and sarcastic insight, London-based Azerbaijani blogger Scary Azeri touches upon the sensitive issue of cultural (in)compatibility noting how a traditional mindset of her countrymen may seem out of place when living in a foreign country especially as they often find it hard, or refuse, to...
Afghanistan: The price paid by children for the conflict
A UN report testifies that children in Afghanistan have been used both by anti-government elements for suicide bombings and planting explosives, and by the Afghan National Security Forces. It also covers facts of sexual violence committed by armed groups against boys and girls, Nick Fielding says.
Afghanistan: EU police training mission risks failure
Nick Fielding reviews the report from the UK House of Lords, noting that the EU's mission to train local police in Afghanistan risks failure, as only about 285 experts had been sent by member states to train the Afghan police – well short of the 400 requested.
Uzbekistan: US official visits Tashkent
Marat Sartpaev reports that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, Jr. traveled to Uzbekistan as relations between two countries started turning less tense over the last couple years.
Azerbaijan: Corruption crackdown
In the wake of popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the oil-rich former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan has unexpectedly launched a crackdown on corruption. Politics By Other Means analyses the move.
Armenia: Blind nationalist hatred
Unzipped comments on what appears to be an orchestrated black PR campaign against a local musician in Armenia. One of four finalists in the running to compose the country's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest, reports in the local media attack Vahram Petrosyan for considering that Armenian and Azerbaijani...
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