Stories about Armenia from January, 2008
Armenia: Early Release
Nazarian points his readers in the direction of a post in Russian alleging that the notorious son of Gyumri's Mayor has been released from prison in the weeks preceding the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog also says that perhaps his release following a mass shootout in Armenia's...
Armenia: Pondering Scenarios
Unzipped says he believes one scenerio ahead of the 19 February presidential election is that Orinats Yerkir's Artur Baghdasarian will pull out of the race and support another opposition candidate instead. However, the blogger believes, the chances of an opposition victory would be possible only in a first round of...
Armenia: Russian Masters
After a visiting Russian official effectively endorsed the candidacy of the prime minister ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia, Nazarian asks if it isn't time Armenians started to think for themselves.
Armenia: Indigenous Language Blogs
While most blogging from or about Armenia has been in English or Russian, The Armenian Observer is pleased to discover that the number of Armenian language blogs is slowly but surely increasing. Observer commends the blogs for their quality and recommends his readers encourage their development by visiting and commenting...
Armenia: Tattoos
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs documenting a tattoo artist in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Although the country can be quite conservative, interest in tattoos has grown over the years and the blog says that both artist and client takes the matter seriously.
Armenia: Opposition Rally Beating
Following the beating of a heckler at a pre-election campaign meeting by Levon Ter-Petrossian, one of the former president's supporters, Nazarian, instead attacks Armenian Public TV H1 for covering the unfortunate incident.
Russia: Kasyanov and Invalid Signatures
Mark MacKinnon writes about Mikhail Kasyanov's failed attempt to run for president and provides “an incomplete list of the invalid signatures phenomenon in post-Soviet elections.”
Armenia: On The Campaign Trail
In another post on my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 there is coverage and photographs of the campaign of another presidential candidate, Vahan Hovannisian, ahead of next month's vote.
Armenia: Army Day
January 28 is a national holiday in Armenia and marks the foundation of the Armenian Army. Nazarian posts his thanks for the creation of the country's post-independence non-Soviet army.
UK: Disgrace
Blogrel comments on yesterday's desecration of a stone cross erected in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Welsh city of Cardiff. The blogger says that as the vandalism was a disgrace and marked a new low coming as it did on Holocaust Memorial Day he hopes...
UK: Genocide Memorial Vandalism Update
Blogian posts a photograph of the monument erected in the Welsh city of Cardiff that was vandalized yesterday. The desecration of the Armenian stone cross came on the eve of a special event to mark Holocaust Day as well as to pay respects to the memory of Turkish-Armenian editor and...
Caucasus: Polarized Politics
This being the year of elections in the South Caucasus, Marilisa Lorusso's Blog says that reasoned political debate has given way to aggression and a polarized environment that will be difficult to reconcile later. The post also rounds up the latest election-related news from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
UK: Armenian Genocide Memorial Vandalized
Blogian and Unzipped report on the desecration of a monument erected to honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the Welsh city of Cardiff. The vandalism occurred on the eve of an event to remember slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Seta's Armenian blog posts a press release stating...
Armenia: Pensioners’ Election Opinions
My Armenia Election Monitor 2008 continues to cover next month's presidential election in Armenia with a post on the concerns and voting preferences of the country's 530,000 pensioners. Citing special coverage in the local media, it looks like senior citizens in Armenia are as divided, confused and cynical towards the...
Armenia: World Bank Corruption Fallout
Expat worker Bruce Tasker continues to update his readers on the latest developments on his blog, Blowing The World Bank Whistle. In particular, he details how coverage in the local media is finally beginning to pay dividends in his attempt to reveal alleged World Bank corruption in Armenia.
Armenia: Black Propaganda Blogs
The Armenian Observer says he is noticing a large number of blogs that have suddenly spring up ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia. The blog laments the way in which supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian and prime minister Serge Sargsyan are using the Internet to disseminate black...
Armenia: Language Problem
Armenia continues its reports on life as a volunteer from the Armenian Diaspora living and working in the country. In particular, the blogger says, knowing Russian can be a disadvantage for ethnic Armenians hoping to learn or improve their local language skills.
Armenia: Dictator of the Month
The Armenia Blog comments on the discovery of a website, Dictator of the Month, that includes the former Armenian president and candidate for next month's election, Levon Ter-Petrossian, in its notorious list of undemocratic leaders.
Armenia: Gays in the Diaspora
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on how being homosexual or lesbian is still considered a taboo subject to talk about in the Armenian Diaspora. The blogger also links to and discusses an academic paper on the LGBT Armenians at UCLA.
Armenia: Election Time
A Flying Kiwi in Armenia reports that campaigning for next month's presidential election has begun and the atmosphere is getting “a little frantic.” The blogger says that while former president Levon Ter-Petrossian has some support in society, the favorite remains the prime minister who has the “entire public service throwing...
Armenia: On The Campaign Trail
My Armenia Election Monitor 2008 has accounts and photographs of meetings with voters now that the official pre-election campaign period in Armenia is finally underway. In the first three, rallies by former president Levon Ter Petrosian and prime minister Serge Sargsyan are covered while there is also a brief look...
