Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from December, 2007
Armenia: Aeroflot
Now that airline ticket prices have increased in Armenia, one ethnic Armenian from the Diaspora finally journeyed back home for Christmas via Moscow on Aeroflot. Raffi K at Life in Armenia says that avoiding the terrible service on Aeroflot is best advised.
Armenia: Campaign Politics
With the presidential election in Armenia less than two months away, The Armenian Observer is impressed by how seriously one candidate is taking campaigning for the vote.
Armenia: Yoga
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs taken at a new Yoga center in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
Kyrgyzstan: The new parliament
GenderStan looks at the newly elected parliament of Kyrgyzstan, paying specific attention to equipment and gender representation.
Kazakhstan: Crisis Has Gone?
Arseny provides excepts from the interview to Bloomberg, given by Kazakhstan’s top banker, saying the country has got rid of the crisis.
Afghanistan: Reconstruction Under Way
Peter Marton tells about the developments in the Afghanistan's province of Uruzgan, and covers a Netherlands-funded project for the infrastructural project there.
Kazakhstan: Debates over Latinization of Kazakh Language
Kazakhstan intends to switch the state language to the Latin script. It was announced that the transition will take 12-15 years. As adam_kesher writes, the plan stirred many disputes and arguments – in particular, Russia and a part of Kazakhstan’s Russian-speaking population considers switching to Latin is an adverse move...
Armenia: Christmas Comes Early
The Armenian Observer says that while he can understand why international contacts and friends are wishing him Merry Xmas, he is irritated that Armenians are doing so as well. While the West celebrates Christmas on 25th December, Armenians will not do so until 6 January.
Kazakhstan: Almaty travelogue
The Schirm Project posts a travelogue entry on his trip to Almaty, the commercial capital of Kazakhstan, saying it can be compared to a cross between Reno, Washington DC, and Boston.
Turkmenistan: the First Year with Turkmenbashi II
Maciula sums up the results of the first year of rule of Turkmenistan's second president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.
Armenia: Burning Bridges
Archuk's blog comments on recent hearings in the Armenian National Assembly on relations with Turkey and considers that focusing on potential financial reparations does more harm than good in the quest for “historical justice.” The blogger remembers that even a famous Armenian freedom fighter killed during the Karabakh conflict concluded...
Kazakhstan: A Possible Kashagan Settlement
Steve LeVine reports that there are signs that the Italian-led partners developing the suspended supergiant Kashagan oilfield are near a settlement with Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Construction Crisis Gains Sharper Traits
Zhanna Zhukova reports on recent developments surrounding one of the major construction companies of Kazakhstan.
Tajikistan: Avalanche kills people
Vadim reports that an avalanche killed sixteen people on the road connecting Khujand and Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan.
Kazakhstan: Kazakh-Language Blogosphere's Hot Topics
Askhat reviews the most commented posts in the Kazakh-language blogosphere on the example of the Kazakh-language blog of neweurasia.
Uzbekistan: The Plight of Labor Migrants
Nathan reviews a recent report released by the Rapid Response Group (RRG) for Prevention of Torture in Uzbekistan on the topic of Uzbek labor migrants.
Georgia: Election Pressures
TOL Georgia reports on allegations that students are being coerced into publicly supporting the Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, ahead of January's vote. According to a personal source, students are allegedly being threatened with expulsion from their colleges if they do not comply.
Uzbekistan: Election Shocker
Joshua Foust says that unsurprisingly Islam Karimov won the 90% turnout vote, even though it’s not been fully counted yet.
Georgia: Analysts, Oligarchs & Russians
TOL Georgia comments on a recent analysis by analyst Vladimir Socor criticizing opposition presidential candidate and businessman, Badri Patarkatsishvili. The blog believes that Socor is incorrect in his assessment and has overlooked serious concerns that the January presidential election in Georgia will not be free and fair.
Uzbekistan: New Book of the Former BBC Reporter
Steve LeVine reviews the new book's release — Alan Johnston, the former Tashkent correspondent for the BBC, has a new book out called “Kidnapped and Other Dispatches.” His release was unharmed from four months of captivity in Gaza.
Armenia: Action Puts Bloggers In Media Spotlight
In countries such as Armenia where the mainstream broadcast media is firmly under the control of government-connected businessmen and/or officials, while the traditional print and online media largely reflects the opposition in the country, there is no doubt that blogs have an important role to play in the dissemination of...