Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2014
28 February 2014
“A Trip He Will Not Forget”: Russian Man Flies to Tajikistan By Mistake
A young man did not check his ticket before departure and arrived in Tajikistan's Kurgan-Tyube instead of Russia's Kurgan.
25 February 2014
Tajik Court Fines Journalist for Calling Docile Intellectuals ‘Shit’
A journalist who quoted Vladimir Lenin in criticizing state-appointed, docile intellectuals in Tajikistan has been ordered by court to pay over 6,000 US dollars in "moral damage".
24 February 2014
“We Are Not an Anomaly or Disease”: Gay Bloggers Speak Up in Tajikistan
Social media is enabling Tajikistan's gay community to speak up against widespread homophobic attitudes. These attitudes, however, are quite sticky.
21 February 2014
20 February 2014
“They Fell Our Souls and Memory”: Felling of Trees Draws Anger in Tajikistan
Whenever the authorities in Dushanbe launch a redevelopment project, they start by felling trees. Over the last decade, Tajikistan's capital has lost thousands of trees.
19 February 2014
The President That Could Not Stand His “Stan”
As far as countries go, "stan" is something of a bad brand. PR-sensitive Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is suggesting it could be time for a change to his country's name.
14 February 2014
Kazakhstan Gets Its First Medal in Sochi
Kazakhstan's Denis Ten finished third in men's figure skating tonight, bringing the country its first-ever Olympic medal in this sport.
Despite Bans, Central Asians Observe Valentine's Day
Looking at how people in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan observed Valentine's Day.
“Celebrating Valentine's Day Is a Direct Way to Hell” in Tajikistan
Popular among younger people in cities, Valentine's Day struggles to gain broader acceptance in Tajikistan.
13 February 2014
Did Turkmenistan Get Cold Feet Before the Sochi Winter Olympics?
Warm-wintered Turkmenistan failed to send a singe athlete to this year's Winter Olympics. The only representative the republic sent to Sochi was its sport-loving president.
12 February 2014
VIDEOS: Argentina's Melting Pot of Culinary Traditions
A large diversity of migrants in Argentina allows us to enjoy a wide array of international dishes often shared in feasts for the various immigrant communities throughout the country.
11 February 2014
Prisoners Lists Stir Informbiro Memories in Former Yugoslav Republics
Publishing of the lists of Goli Otok prisoners, victims of 1949-56 communist purges, reignited dormant debates and opened some old wounds, throughout the former Yugoslav republics.
“Vegetarianism Equals Evil” in Tajikistan
A foreigner tweeting under @onlytajikistan tells about Tajik food and about the way the country has changed him from a vegetarian to meat eater.
About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage
Chris Rickleton is the Central Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
