Stories about Azerbaijan from January, 2010
Azerbaijan: Democracy is…
Önər Blog [AZ] posts a video [EN] made by the OL! Azerbaijani Youth Movement for the Democracy Video Challenge. OL! has been exemplary in its use of new media in the region and was co-founded by now imprisoned video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade.
Azerbaijan: Birthday Cream Cheese-Swirled Brownies
AZ Cookbook, Food from Azerbaijan & Beyond, turns two and marks the occasion with a recipe for cream cheese-swirled brownies.
Azerbaijan: Demonstrations in London and Paris for imprisoned video blogging youth activists
On the same day that an appeal court hearing for imprisoned blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli was adjourned, supporters of the two men protested outside the Embassies of Azerbaijan in London and Paris.
Armenia/Azerbaijan: From Home to Home
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.
Azerbaijan: 20th anniversary of Baku pogrom and Black January
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Black January, the day when the fledgling independence movement in Azerbaijan was brutally suppressed by Soviet troops ostensibly to curtail inter-ethnic tensions in the capital, Baku. Bloggers in Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, remember the date differently.
Azerbaijan: Demonstrations for imprisoned video blogging youth activists
Two demonstrations are scheduled to take place outside the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Paris, France, and London, England, on 22 January in support of imprisoned video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli.
Azerbaijan: Selective Law
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the selective application of the law in Azerbaijan and uses the example of imprisoned video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli to illustrate its point.
Azerbaijan: Baku pogroms
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...
Azerbaijan: Reflections
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines experiences Baku at morning and night, reflecting on the Azerbaijani capital and the social, economic and political situation in the country.
Caucasus: Society, sex and the dating game
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.
Azerbaijan: Year of the child?
Emotions on Air, Mind Mute visits an orphanage in Azerbaijan and compares the officially stated aim of making 2009 the Year of Children with the reality faced by those seemingly forgotten and destined to remain in residential care.
Azerbaijan: Interview with Scary Azeri
Women's Forum interviews blogger Scary Azeri, now also a contributor to the online gender-specific site based in Azerbaijan. The blogger, born and raised in the oil-rich former Soviet republic, speaks about her blog and reaction to it. Crossing many cultural divides, the blog has already become popular with foreigners as...
Azerbaijan: A bad start to a new year
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines says that the start of a new year has not been kind to Azerbaijan with several stories breaking that the blog describes as gloomy. In particular, it mentions new charges against an imprisoned journalist, threats to cut electricity supplies to households that have not paid...
Caucasus: New media bringing people together
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
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
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.
Azerbaijan: Winter blues
Linda in Azerbaijan details the downside of being a Peace Corps Volunteer in the South Caucasus. Based in Azerbaijan, she says that winters can be particularly depressing and fitting in with the local culture sometimes frustrating.
Azerbaijan: Justice for Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli
As its first post for 2010, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines remembers the two blogging youth activists sentenced last year to 2 and 2.5 years in prison. Commenting on a new video in support of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, the blog hopes that there will soon be justice.
