Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from November, 2008
Uzbekistan: Alleged HIV Infections in Namangan
Nick writes that a number of international media outlets are reporting that at least 40 young children, mostly babies, have been infected with HIV at a regional hospital in Namangan, east of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan: Khiva, the ancient town
Akmal writes a story about ancient Uzbek city Khiva, “a fascinating place – one of the world’s largest open air museums.”
Kazakhstan: Nur Otan TV Ltd
KZBlog reports that in another move to expand the ruling Nur Otan Party's control over Kazakhstan’s politics and society, it is considering creating a media holding company.
Kazakhstan: Fighting Financial Crisis
Patrick Frost analyzes how Central Asia’s greatest economic power, Kazakhstan, is handling economic crisis and how is the economic downturn effecting the stability, security, and development.
Uzbekistan: Tashkent Is Quitting the EEC
Michael Hancock writes that Uzbekistan has decided to withdraw from the Eurasian Economic Community, an inter-state union of post-Soviet countries, patronaged by Russia.
Afghanistan: Schoolhildren Attacked by Acid Terrorists
Patrick Frost tells about a shocking incident in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where some unidentified perpetrators used water guns to shoot acid at a group of girls headed to school.
Kyrgyzstan: A nasty winter ahead
Michael Hancock reports that the situation in Kyrgyzstan is getting worse, with hundreds of thousands of people classed as food insecure and at risk because of electricity and water shortages.
Afghanistan: Evaluating Counterinsurgency Practices
Strategist reviews the paper, written by “counterinsurgency guru” David Kilcullen about the West's strategy in Afghanistan – what's right and what's wrong. The latter prevails.
Afghanistan: What Obama Should Know About Afghanistan
Azar Balkhi opines that President Elect Obama will be able to do a good job in Afghanistan if he does not use President Bush strategies.
Armenia: Investigative Journalist Assaulted
Although the precise circumstance are still unclear, Unzipped comments on news that Edik Baghdasarian, an investigative journalist and editor of an online publication, was attacked today. The blog posts a video of Baghdasarian receiving medical treatment in a local hospital and writes that the attack was most likely connected to...
Caucasus: Public Media Potential
The American University’s School of Communication Center for Social Media posts an entry on the potential to counter a constrained and often politicized or controlled media in the South Caucasus and especially to promote peace-building in the war torn region. Blogs are included as one of five key areas that...
Armenia: Violence against Women
The world’s oldest Christian nation may have many things to be proud about, but when it comes to women’s rights the ex-Soviet Armenia is possibly in denial. With widespread human trafficking as its worst manifestation, violence against women in Armenia is alarming the world. Will a recent Amnesty International report detailing domestic abuse and government inaction bring about change? Bloggers react.
Nagorno Karabakh: Insular View
Security in the Caucasus comments on the recent declaration signed by the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian presidents in Moscow regarding the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. The blog finds it ironic that opposition and nationalist groups have reacted to it in the way they have and wonders what they propose instead.
The Egyptian Hospital in Bagram
Egypt operates a small military hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan. The Press has just got wind of it - and a blogger wonders why such inspirational stories take a while for mainstream media to report on.
Nagorno Karabakh: Peacebuilding Goes Online
With stereotypes and alternate and usually contradictory as well as inaccurate perceptions of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh still prevalent in both societies, a new online youth media project has been set up by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State to be implemented by Project Harmony.
Armenia: Zucchero, Planet X Concert Reviews
As part of her continuing updates on life in the Armenian capital, local blogger La Vida – los WatcheRos includes accounts of two concerts by foreign musicians she saw perform in Yerevan this week. Although both started an hour later than scheduled, the blog says that Italian musician Zucchero was...
Nagorno Karabakh: Selective Memory Loss
Artashes98 comments on the response to a question he asked a former military commander who considers the regions seized outside the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh as “liberated territories.” The blog reminds its readers that the territories now occupied by Armenian forces were always meant to be a temporary buffer...
Armenia: Casinos
Han's Space comments on the appearance of casinos in Armenia following the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The blog says that there other easier places to go for anyone wanting to gamble, but adds that they might at least be interesting from an anthropological point of view rather than...
Georgia: Fox News and the War
The Tbilisi Blues comments on video footage of Fox News reporters fleeing what they describe as “Georgian forces firing at journalists” during the recent war with Russia. Tbilisi-based journalist Paul Rimple says that the news channel got it wrong.
Nagorno Karabakh: No Return of Territory
With the Azerbaijani Constitution prohibiting referendums unless held nationally, Kornelij Glas [RU] argues that the regions surrounding the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh should not be negotiated away by the Armenian side in peace talks. The blog looks at the issue from a military point of view.
Caucasus: Gender Gap Index
Social Science in the Caucasus takes exception to the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index and, comparing data on economic participation, explains why.
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