· February, 2012

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2012

Armenia: Sumgait Pogrom Anniversary

  29 February 2012

The Armenian Observer posts the harrowing details of at least 26 ethnic Armenian victims of the Sumgait pogrom which took place on 27 February 1988 and which seriously escalated the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Six Azerbaijanis were also killed in the inter-ethnic...

Azerbaijan: Khojaly Massacre Anniversary

  29 February 2012

As Azerbaijanis worldwide, as well as Turks in Istanbul, commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the Khojaly massacre, the most serious during the fighting with Armenia in Nagorno Karabakh during the early 1990s which left 613 civilians dead, Tamada Tales comments on the release of the full transcript of an interview...

Azerbaijan: The Caspian Sea in ice

  28 February 2012

Sheki, Azerbaijan posts photographs showing the Caspian Sea, generally considered the largest lake in the world, encrusted with ice. An earlier post also depicts Baku, the capital, covered in snow.

Afghanistan: Do not kill each other

  23 February 2012

Goftman Roshnayi says[fa] “burning Quran has become another pretext to kill each other in Afghanistan…When Talibans explode bombs, kill people and burn Qurans, nobody cares.” Five killed as protests over Quran burning rage in Afghanistan.

Armenia: Activists #Occupy Yerevan Park

  22 February 2012

Green spaces in Armenia continue to dwindle at an alarming rate, but a small yet dedicated group of environmental activists has also grown. Now, in order to prevent further damage, they are attempting to occupy a Yerevan park.

Georgia: Assassination attempt on Abkhazia leader

  22 February 2012

ЖЖ Сухуми სოხუმი cyxymu [RU] updates its readers on another assassination attempt made today on the defacto President of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, Alexander Ankvab. The blog reports one bodyguard was killed, with another two wounded, in the fifth attempt on Ankvab's life since 2005.

Azerbaijan: Sari Gelin

  20 February 2012

Əli Novruzovun bloqu [AZ] writes a review on a new novel penned by Ali Akbar, author of “Artush and Zaur,” the controversial tale of a homosexual love affair between an Armenian and Azerbaijani. In his new book, “Sari Gelin, Akbar takes his readers on the complicated journey of a young girl...

Armenia: Homophobia as PR for the Yerevan Municipality

  18 February 2012

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on homophobic comments left on the Facebook page of the new Mayor of Yerevan, Taron Margaryan, in response to recent environmental protests in the city. Noting that the discriminatory remarks were made by municipal employees, including the person responsible for public relations, the blog says that...

Egypt: Contemplating religion after sectarian clashes

  18 February 2012

Writing on the Magnum Foundation Emergency Fund's Tumblr, Rena Effendi comments on her conversations with Christians in Egypt who suffered from recent sectarian violence. The acclaimed photojournalist from Azerbaijan, a secular Muslim country, says faith is a personal issue and more about “relief from suffering than a path to forgiveness.”

Tajikistan: Tajik Voices Muted in Putin Video Debate

  17 February 2012

A song apparently dedicated to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has surpassed 1,000,000 hits on YouTube, becoming one of several politicized clips to gain 'viral' status on the RuNet ahead of the country's presidential vote in March.

Armenia: Former foreign minister returns to politics

  16 February 2012

As Armenians prepare to go to the polls in May to elect a new parliament, Unzipped comments on the return of former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to active politics. The blog especially criticizes the ex-official for his position on bitterly disputed elections in the past.

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.