· June, 2008

Stories about Armenia from June, 2008

Caucasus: Religious Practices Update

  25 June 2008

Social Science in the Caucasus provides an update on its survey of religious practices in the South Caucasus. The blog of the Caucasus Resource Research Centers (CRRC) says that women place more significance on the importance of religion in their lives than men.

Armenia: Eurovision Metal

  25 June 2008

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on rumors that Armenian-American rock band System of a Down (SOAD) are interested in representing Armenia in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. However, there is also speculation that the band are interested in using the contest to gain exposure to campaign for Genocide recognition. The blog...

Armenia: European Media Demands

  25 June 2008

Following last week's landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, Unzipped comments on the importance of the judgment for the embattled A1 Plus TV station which was deprived of its broadcasting frequency by the authorities in 2002. The blog says that pressure on the government to allow it...

Caucasus: Religious Practices

  24 June 2008

Social Science in the Caucasus examines data on religious practices in the region. The blog of the Caucasus Resource Research Centers (CRRC) uses its own data to assess the importance of religion in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. According to the survey from last year, respondents in Georgia were more numerous...

Caucasus: European Integration

  22 June 2008

Azerbaijan – a part of Europe says that it hopes the countries of the South Caucasus will be close to integrating with Europe in 10 years. However, the blog concludes, it requires a change in the mindset of the local populations and how they think.

Armenia: Higher Education Blog

  22 June 2008

Armenian Higher Education & Sciences has been established by Aryana Petrova, an education consultant and lecturer. The blog should provide a unique insight into the education sector in Armenia and starts the ball rolling with posts on the appointment of Spartak Seyranian as the new education minister.

Armenia: Regional Supermarket

  22 June 2008

Blogrel comments on news that a Yerevan-based supermarket chain has opened a store outside of the capital. The blog wonders how such a development will affect small stores and market traders in the regions.

Armenia: FUNarchists

  22 June 2008

Seetizen, the blog of a youth activist, comments on the approach taken by a new youth initiative in the country. The blog says that by encouraging young Armenians to develop ideas about changing their situation, HENQ offers an alternative to the approach favored by those initiatives supporting the radical opposition.

Armenia: Racist Rhetoric?

  22 June 2008

Blogian raises concern over what it considers to be racist rhetoric used by Armenia's first president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, at a radical opposition demonstration staged Friday in downtown Yerevan. Meanwhile, The Armenian Observer and my The Caucasus Knot carries more coverage of the unsanctioned rally.

Armenia: New Youth Initiative Action

  19 June 2008

The Armenian Observer reports on the second action staged by the newly formed HENQ Youth Initiative while my The Caucasian Knot also covers the flash mob staged today in the Armenian capital and includes photographs.

Armenia: Children's Political Park

  19 June 2008

Unzipped comments on the latest move taken by the authorities to prevent tomorrow's planned rally by the radical opposition in the Armenian capital. In order to prevent supporters of the first president from assembling in Yerevan's Liberty Square, a children's park has been set up. The blog casts doubts on...

Armenia: Ukrainian Color Revolutionary Visit

And Nothing Else Matters [RU] comments on a recent visit by a prominent architect of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution to Armenia, highlighting the fact that the activist's own blog shows Dmirtri Potekhin in the country. In a second post, the blog says that consultations were held with the leader of...

Armenia: Internet, Telecoms Services Improve

  18 June 2008

The Armenian Observer says it is happy now that the newly rebranded Beeline company is offering ADSL Internet services at $40 a month. It also reports that 3G mobile telecommunications services have finally arrived in Armenia.

Armenia: A1 Plus European Court Ruling

  18 June 2008

Six years after it was effectively removed from the airwaves, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has finally ruled in favor of the A1 Plus TV Station. Known for its criticism of the authorities, A1 Plus failed to win a tender for its own broadcasting frequency in April 2002.

Armenia: New LGBT Blogs

  16 June 2008

Unzipped: Gay Armenia points its readers to two new LGBT blogs. The first, Hye Trent is by a Lebanese-Armenian transexual, while the second, Pink Armenia, is from a newly established LGBT NGO in the country.

Caucasus: Armenian & Georgian Blogosphere Assessed

  13 June 2008

Following last weekend's BarCamp in Tbilisi, one of the event's main organizers, Giga Paitchadze, briefly considers its success and provides a small glimpse into the Georgian blogosphere. Also known as DvOrsky, the blogger claims to be the oldest in the country. Global Voices Online interviewed Paitchadze after the Caucasus BarCamp.

Armenia: Geopolitics, Opposition Protests & War

The Armenaker Kamilion comments on the opinion of a senior radical opposition leader in Armenia that renewed fighting with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh might be one way for the authorities in Yerevan to declare martial law and end opposition protests which are set to start again on 20 June. The...

Caucasus: BarCamp

  10 June 2008

After attending the Caucasus BarCamp at the weekend, Pigh [Ru] expresses his concern with the involvement of Soros in financing part of the event as well as the presence of several people who the blogger considers “colored revolutionary” types. The blogger also expresses his disappointment with the non-political nature of...

Georgia: Armenian Church Destruction

  10 June 2008

Pigh [RU] posts photographs of a 15th Century Armenian church in downtown Tbilisi which currently faces an uncertain future. The photographs show that there have been attempts to erase Armenian inscriptions on the church in order for the Georgian Orthodox Church to claim it as their own.

Azerbaijan: Blogs, BarCamps & Social Networks

  10 June 2008

This post is part of our special coverage Caucasus Conflict Voices. On the sidelines of this weekend's Caucasus BarCamp in Tbilisi, capital of the Republic of Georgia, Global Voices Online's Caucasus Editor Onnik Krikorian had a brief opportunity to talk to BarCamp Ambassador and Regional Program Manager for Transitions Online,...