Stories about Armenia from January, 2008
Armenia: Political Blogging Intensifies
The past week was eventful, and while the traditional media in Armenia were pondering their adequate response so as to avoid “unnecessary complications”, the Armenian Internet community were discussing the comings and goings of the current political scene at full speed. The start of the week was marked by yet...
Armenia: Predictable Presidential Election
Halfway Down the Danube takes a look at the start of the pre-election campaign ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia. The blog says that all signs are that the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, will win and not least because of the administrative resources at his disposal. However, the...
Caucasus: High Speed Internet
Social Science in the Caucasus says that 3 percent of Georgians have Internet access at home, but that it's quality leaves something to be desired. While Azerbaijan has the fastest download speed in the region, the Caucasus still lags behind the developed world.
Armenia: Presidential Election Day 2
The Armenian Patchwork reports on day two of the official pre-election campaign for next month's presidential election in Armenia. She posts photographs of a rally held by presidential hopeful and former head of state Levon Ter-Petrosian in the Armenian capital, Yerevan. Despite the cold weather, thousands of supporters from the...
Turkey: Crocodile Tears?
Erkan's Field Diary posts an account of attending Saturday's memorial to slain Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink in Istanbul on the first anniversary of his murder by an ultra-nationalist youth. The blogger says that while he is pleased to see some consensus in Turkish society about the tragedy of Dink's...
Armenia: Presidential Election Monitor
My Armenia Election Monitor 2008 blog is now fully up and running and in cooperation with GV Author The Armenian Observer, it is anticipated that a weekly round up of discussion and debate in the Armenian, Russian and English language blogospheres will be made available through Global Voices Online. The...
Armenia: Pay-Per-Sachet
Kyle’s Journey in Armenia reports that Peace Corps Volunteers and other expat workers in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, are delighted by the opening of the country's first ever Kenty Fried Chicken franchise. However, the blogger remarks, not everybody is happy that ketchup is sold by the sachet.
Turkey: Dink on LGBT Issues
On the first anniversary of the murder of Hrant Dink in Istanbul, Turkey, Unzipped: Gay Armenia remembers the slain newspaper editor and journalist speaking on Turkey-Armenia relations as well as family and gay issues.
Turkey: Remembering Hrant Dink
Yesterday marked the first anniversary of the murder of ethnic Armenian newspaper editor and journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul, Turkey. Dink was shot outside the office of the Agos newspaper on 19 January 2007. A prolific advocate for civil, human and minority rights in Turkey, Dink was killed by 17-year-old Ogun Samast.
Armenia/Turkey: Remembering Hrant Dink
Today marks the first anniversary of the murder of ethnic Armenian newspaper editor and journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul, Turkey. Marilisa Lorusso's blog remembers Dink by dedicating an albeit short post to him.
Armenia: Election Symbolism & Slogans
Bekaisa posts an image of what looks like a badge designed and created for the pre-election campaign of former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian. The image of a clenched fists at an opposition rally has provoked an interesting discussion in English and Russian on the use of symbols and slogans for the...
Armenia: Vote Bribes
Bekaisa posts an appeal to the Armenian government as well as the electorate demanding that the former not offer bribes in exchange for votes, and urging the latter not to accept financial incentives for their support. Instead she appeals to voters to protect their votes.
Armenia: Copyright Infringement?
As a photojournalist as well as blogger, I have made low resolution images shot for next month's presidential election in Armenia available for free use by other bloggers in the hope that presentation in the local blogosphere improves. However, when licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works license I...
Armenia: Discredited Opinion Polls
Unzipped comments on news that the U.S. Embassy and the International Republican Institute (IRI) have scrapped plans to hold an exit poll during next month's presidential election. Although the blogger was initially in favor of the idea, he now says that while the decision can be considered bad news, it...
Armenia: Online Election Manifestos
The Armenian Observer examines the online presence of Armenia's nine candidates for next month's presidential election. In particular, the blogger points his readers in the direction of which sites include election manifestos.
Armenia: Azerbaijani Response
Blogian says that the Azerbaijani media as well as parliamentarians have responded to the blogger establishing a website and blog detailing the destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetery in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan.
Armenia: Politics — The Driving Force Behind Blogs?
Last week, the main topics discussed in the Armenian blogosphere were the election manifesto of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian and the presidential election in neighboring Georgia. It's no wonder that many are now wondering, including bloggers themselves, if politics isn't the driving force behind blogs in Armenia. “Before the last...
Armenia: Reparatations
The Armenian Observer posts a video of an Armenian official arguing that Turkey must return territory once inhabited Armenians before the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. While the blogger says that territorial reparations are unlikely, he says that Armenians should demand maximum compensation from Turkey before gradually compromising from a...
Armenia: Secret Surveys
The Armenian Economist argues that various surveys funded and/or conducted by international organizations are very important sources of information which can be monitored and analyzed over time. However, the blog says, there is an urgent need for the full results of such surveys to be made accessible to everyone.
Armenia: Ethnic Hatred
The Armenian Observer posts a digest of translated excerpts from blog posts examining ethnic hatred between Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Turks.
Armenia: Tourism Ads
Unzipped says that for many people, new tourism ads promoting Armenia are the first glimpse they have had of the country. However, the blogger concludes, while the adverts are promising, there is the need for Yerevan, the capital, to become more “tourist-friendly.”
