Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2012
Armenia: Sumgait Pogrom Anniversary
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
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
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.
Uzbekistan: Why Did Uzbekistan Ban Wikipedia?
Sarah Kendzior reports that Uzbekistan’s ban on Wikipedia, enacted late last month, blocks all articles written in Uzbek while leaving articles in other languages accessible.
Uzbekistan: Well-Known Uzbek Cleric Shot in Sweden
Nathan Hamm informs that a well-known imam from Uzbekistan who has been living as a refugee in Sweden, was shot outside his home, and that police rules out Swedish nationalists and investigates the crime internationally.
Tajikistan: Energy Loss Reduction project continued
Avicenna writes about the Energy Loss Reduction Project in Tajikistan, which has just received additional financing of $18 million from the World Bank Board.
Tajikistan: Culture and history conservation via a book
Tomyris reports that the “Book of The Historical Monuments of Tajikistan” was presented in Dushanbe, the capital of the Central Asian nation, by Tajik government and the diplomatic mission of the United States to Tajikistan.
Afghanistan: Useful database of Afghan personalities
Nick Fielding writes that the most complete database of prominent Afghans and Afghan political groupings can be found on a site called Who is Who in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Internal displacement risingInternal displacement rising in Afghanistan Internal displacement rising in Afghanistan Internal displacement rising in Afghanistan
Nick Fielding says more than 100,000 forced to leave their homes between January and June last year due to the spreading conflict in Afghanistan.
Georgia: Online Campaign Targets Russian President's Facebook Page
With Russian soldiers stations in Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, hundreds of Georgians called for their withdrawal on the Russian president's Facebook page.
Afghanistan: Do not kill each other
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
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
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.
Guatemala: Looking to Georgia for a Lesson on Fighting Corruption
Blogger Luis Figueroa [es] wonders if Guatemala could benefit from following Georgia's example in fighting corruption.
Azerbaijan: Sari Gelin
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
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
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
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.
Video Highlights: Video Advocacy and Recent Events
A selection of Global Voices' recent and interesting stories on video advocacy including indigenous rights and recent news from Latin America, East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa selected by Juliana Rincón Parra.
Armenia: Former foreign minister returns to politics
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.
Kyrgyzstan: Nationalist Politician's Statements Spark Protests
Recent pronouncements by Kyrgyz MPs of a provocative and nationalist character have brought debates about language, identity and self to the top of the Kyrnet’s ‘to blog’ list, and not for the first time, either. Chris Rickleton reports.
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