· August, 2009

Stories about Armenia from August, 2009

Caucasus: Peace Corps blogs on Twitter

  31 August 2009

With most bloggers located in the capitals of the three South Caucasus republics, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have been indispensible in posting entries from the regions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. However, with old PCVs being replaced by new ones when their service ends, it's often been difficult to...

Armenia: Homophobia turns deadly

  24 August 2009

Even if homosexuality was decriminalized in Armenia in 2002, society remains largely intolerant and traditional in its values. With blogs providing LGBT activists with a medium through which to voice their concerns, such fears can now be highlighted more openly than before.

Armenia: Ultra-nationalist homophobic death threat

  23 August 2009

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on a death threat made against a prominent LGBT writer by an ultra-nationalist group in Armenia. The blog says that this latest development in what still remains a traditionally homophobic society marks a new move to create internal enemies and hopes that law enforcement agencies will...

Azerbaijan: Eurovision scandal continues

  22 August 2009

Despite attempts by the authorities to downplay the incident, news that the names and addresses of 43 citizens who voted for the Armenian entry in this year's Eurovision Song Contest had been obtained by police in Azerbaijan continues to send out shock waves through the Internet.

Azerbaijan: Nationalism

  19 August 2009

The Poor Mouth comments on the latest scandal surrounding Armenia and Azerbaijan in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The blog says that the interrogation of at least one Azeri who voted for the Armenian entry reminds it why nationalism should be loathed.

Azerbaijan: Eurovision voting scandal

  18 August 2009

Although held in May, some media outlets in Azerbaijan last week reported that 43 people who voted for the Armenian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest have been identified by police and one has even been called in for questioning. Bloggers react.

Armenia: Environmental activist charged with libel

  17 August 2009

Unzipped comments on the case of Mariam Sukhudyan, an environmentalist who recently put her name to an open letter posted on a blog alleging sexual abuse at a Yerevan educational facility for children with special needs. The blog says that the charges of libel against her are yet another example...

Azerbaijan: Another Eurovision controversy

  15 August 2009

A Fistful of Euros comments on news that the telephone numbers of Azeris who voted for the Armenian entry during this year's Eurovision Song Contest have been obtained by police and one person has already been called in for questioning. The blog compares the situation in both Armenia and Azerbaijan...

Armenia: Journalist assaulted

  11 August 2009

Unzipped comments on reports that a prominent opposition representative is accused of assaulting a local journalist. The blog notes that the alleged victim is usually attacked by government supporters and says that actions such as this only results in many considering both sides of the political divide to be the...

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Peace

  10 August 2009

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the prospects for peace in the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and says that the same approach needs to be applied to the long-running dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway territory of Nagorno Karabakh. However, the blog notes, a genuine desire to find...

Greece: Armenian singer passes away

Unknown to most Armenians, but loved by many Kurds for his songs sung in the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish, Aram Tigran has passed away in Athens, Greece. Born in 1934 in Syria, Tigran's death has affected many, and not least those recognizing the important contribution he made as a cultural bridge between Armenians and Kurds.

Caucasus: An interview with Bart Woord

  3 August 2009

International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) Secretary General Bart Woord took time out to speak to Global Voices Online about the role new media can play in the region and the case of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, two video bloggers recently detained in Baku on what many consider to be politically motivated charges.

Armenia: HIV-AIDS education and awareness

  3 August 2009

Unzipped: Gay Armenia commends the general manager of a local mobile telephone operator for his philanthropic work in Armenia. The blog says that despite the sometimes shady business environment in the country, Ralph Yirikian impresses many people and not least with his latest initiative to raise awareness of HIV-AIDS.

Lebanon: Armenian quarter

The Los Angeles Times blog posts an entry on Beirut's Armenia quarter of Bourj Hammoud and a photo exhibition currently underway which explores the community. The entry includes a video report.

Armenia: Demographic crisis

  1 August 2009

Thoughts on the Road comments on news that Armenia faces a demographic crisis to such an extent that it might have to remove exemption from military service for students. The blog wonders what this means for attempts to resolve the conflict the country has with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh.

Caucasus: An interview with Micael Bogar

  1 August 2009

With three frozen conflicts and many ethnic fault lines, peace and stability in the South Caucasus often seems unreachable. After living and working in the the region for many years, Micael Bogar is now Projects Manager at the American University's Center for Social Media and speaks to Global Voices Online on the potential for new media tools to circumvent divisions and bring estranged neighbors together.