Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from March, 2011
Azerbaijan: BBC Azeri & the potential of social media in the South Caucasus
whatwaswritten, Stealing news from Azerbaijan since 2011, translates and summarizes part of what was the last traditional radio broadcast from the Azerbaijani service of the BBC. As a result of cutbacks, BBC Azeri will now only be available online and its final program solicited various opinions on the potential of...
Afghanistan: Leaked Photos Unveil “Repugnancies” Committed by US Army
On March 21, 2011, the German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel released three horrific photos of Afghan civilians killed by a group of United States soldiers. Bloggers have reacted to the photos with shock and indignation.
Georgia: Men in Black
Scary Azeri comments on photographs taken by Global Voices’ Caucasus editor at last week's Novruz celebrations held by the local ethnic Azeri community in Marneuli, Georgia. The blog is particularly alarmed by the large number of men dressed in black, a common style in the three South Caucasus countries, at...
Armenia: Opposition rivalry
With the opposition in Armenia divided between parties in parliament and those outside, Unzipped comments on the rivalry between two specific political forces in the country and the populist rhetoric used to attack and discredit each other following popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia as well as prior to the...
Tajikistan: President’s Son Will Tackle Customs Crime
TajikVoice reports that the Tajik President’s son Rustam Emomali, 23, was appointed to a newly created government post within the Customs Agency to tackle contraband and customs violations.
Uzbekistan: Authorities intensify control over mobile operators
Abdulfazal informs his readers that Uzbekistan – in clear response to events in the Middle East and Northern Africa – is seizing control over cellular companies in the country. Mobile operators were instructed to report on any suspicious actions by their customers, including any kind of massive SMS distributions.
Uzbekistan: Govt Shuts Down Human Rights Watch
The Uzbekistan's Justice Ministry shut down Human Rights Watch office in Tashkent after the organization's 15 year presence in the country, reports Christya Riedel.
Turkmenistan: Crackdown on youth
As revolutionary tremors continue to be felt throughout the Middle East, Turkmenistan is rolling out its usual assortment of repressive tactics, but with new robustness and an extra anti-youth edge, reports neweurasia’s Annasoltan.
Kyrgyzstan: Political Games and Investment Climate
Murzaki provides a detailed coverage of the controversy around one of the largest cellular operators in Kyrgyzstan, which had undergone nationalization last year. However, nationalization without led to the situation when all interested parties are trying to get a piece of the pie, he says.
Georgia: Journalists Dismissed Because of Facebook Hate Speech
On 18 March 2011, the Georgian Public Broadcaster dismissed two of its journalists, Giorgi Tukhareli and Giorgi Gabrichidze, because of offensive comments they made on Facebook against homosexuals as and the Vatican as well as the Catholic Church.
Armenia: Opposition rallies again
Ianyan presents its readers with a curated comments on last week's protest demonstration held by the extra-parliamentary opposition in Yerevan, Armenia. Unzipped also comments on the rally attended by 12-15,000 people. Meanwhile, however, The Armenian Observer is more skeptical with regards to opposition claims to have ‘liberated’ the city's central...
Azerbaijan: “Great People's Day” Protest Criticism Answered
Following a youth protest held in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, on 11th March, some bloggers have been critical of those responsible for organizing the action via Facebook. As a result, one of those organizers answers such criticism on a new blog.
Afghanistan: Civilian deaths rise, most attributed to Taliban
Civilian deaths in Afghanistan rose by 15 per cent in 2010 to 2,777 killed, of which 2,080 (75 per cent) were attributed to insurgents, reports Nick Fielding.
Afghanistan: Stinging critique of development aid
Nick Fielding reviews a former World Bank and French development agency director's stinging critique of international donors’ mistakes in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2010, emphasizing the lack of a coherent strategy and clear goals.
Azerbaijan: Great People's Day a pointless adventure?
In a critical post Analoqu olmayan bloq :) [AZ] comments on the 11 March pro-democracy protests staged by youth in Baku, capital of of Azerbaijan. The blog says that the event failed to achieve its goals and might actually have pushed the government to tighten its grip even more. It concludes that...
Uzbekistan: The Enemies of the Internet are Known
12 March was the World Day Against Cyber-Censorship. Launched by Reporters Without Borders in 2008, the initiative is intended to promote the idea of Internet without restrictions and accessible to everyone.
Azerbaijan: More Protests, More Arrests…
Following yesterday's protest by youth activists in Azerbaijan, opposition supporters today staged their own. Also inspired by pro-democracy protests in Egypt and Tunisia, the demonstration might not have been as large as those, but it was certainly intense.
Azerbaijan: Youth Protest in Baku
Inspired by pro-democracy protests in Egypt and Tunisia, youth activists in Azerbaijan took to the streets in actions encouraged and coordinated by social media in what was their largest action staged in two years.
Azerbaijan: Online activism under fire
Writing on East of Center, Transition Online editor in chief Jeremy Druker comments on official attempts to discredit Azerbaijani youth activists using social media to prepare for pro-democracy protests on 11-12 March.
Mexico and Afghanistan Border Conflicts Juxtaposed
Netizens are responding to several reports that juxtapose the violence in the Mexico/US border with the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and its border with Pakistan. Though uncoordinated and apparently disparate, the reports have served to crystalize problematic aspects of American policy.
Azerbaijan: Another youth activist identified by social media?
A new blog, whatwaswritten, says that another youth activist has been reportedly visited by police after trying to publicize pro-democracy protests planned for 11 March in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. The blog notes that police deny the claims although Tangled Web says that the alleged visit occured on the same...
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