· January, 2010

Stories about Armenia from January, 2010

Haiti: Un Geste Pour Haiti Cherie

  23 January 2010

The Armenian Observer comments on the recording of a song by French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour and other French singers. The blog notes that Aznavour also recorded a song in the aftermath of the devastating 1988 Armenian earthquake.

Armenia/Azerbaijan: From Home to Home

  23 January 2010

Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor interviews journalist Seda Muradyan on her documentary film, From Home to Home, for the Frontline Club blog. The film tells of how Armenians and Azerbaijanis in two villages made an extraordinary deal as the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh flared up.

Turkey: Solve the Hrant Dink case…

  20 January 2010

Erkan's Field Diary comments on the case of Hrant Dink, an ethnic Armenian journalist who was assassinated in broad daylight in Istanbul, Turkey, three years ago this week. The blog says that if the authorities actually solved the case completely they would also solve that of another — the controversial...

Armenia: Prominent opposition figure sentenced

  20 January 2010

The Armenian Observer comments on yesterday's sentencing to 7 years in prison of Nikol Pashinyan, an outspoken opposition figure and newspaper editor. The blog condemns the judgement by the court, but also says that the action against him was as a result of his political activities and not for his...

Armenia: Opposition editor jailed

  19 January 2010

Unzipped comments on the sentencing to seven years in prison of outspoken newspaper editor and opposition figure Nikol Pashinyan. The blog says that the judgement against Pashinyan is evidence of ongoing human rights violations in Armenia and notes that the sentence was passed down on the third anniversary of the...

Turkey: Third anniversary of Hrant Dink assassination

  19 January 2010

Three years ago today, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was gunned down outside the office of the Argos newspaper he edited in Istanbul, Turkey. Often ignored, loathed or detested when he was alive by nationalists on both sides for his message of tolerance and peace, one blogger compares Dink to Martin Luther King Jr.

Azerbaijan: Baku pogroms

  14 January 2010

The Armenian Observer comments on the twentieth anniversary of the pogrom of Armenians in Baku at the beginning of the conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Between 48 and 66 people were killed as a result of the bloody ethnic tensions which would later erupt into...

Armenia: Reflecting on the Haiti earthquake

  13 January 2010

With Armenia having experienced its own devastating earthquake 21 years ago, Ianyan comments on the tragedy in Haiti. In particular, the blog notes the similarities between the two countries, summarizes an account in Armenian by one blogger who spent time there, and also tells its readers how they can help...

Caucasus: Society, sex and the dating game

  12 January 2010

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, hopes that new freedoms would quickly replace the old have often been dashed by the re-emergence of traditional practices. Largely kept suppressed by the communist system, gender and issues of sexuality were particularly affected. Slowly, however, discussion is starting to take place online.

Caucasus: New media bringing people together

  7 January 2010

Julien Frisch Watching Europe comments on a recent attempt to use new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus. The blog details how online services such as Twitter meant he discovered the project, but also asks when will the traditional media also cover such stories.

Azerbaijan: Chess victory

  6 January 2010

Thoughts on the Road says that while there might be a military stalemate between Armenia and Azerbaijan still locked into a state of war over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, chess teams from the two countries this week met to compete against each other in the World Chess Championship...

Caucasus: Unity in Diversity

  6 January 2010

With three unresolved conflicts and a local media that often self-censors, blogs comment on an online project hoping to break stereotypes by reporting on examples of ethnic groups otherwise in conflict in the South Caucasus co-existing peacefully together.