Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from August, 2009
Azerbaijan: Nationalism
The Poor Mouth comments on the latest scandal surrounding Armenia and Azerbaijan in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The blog says that the interrogation of at least one Azeri who voted for the Armenian entry reminds it why nationalism should be loathed.
Armenia: Newspaper promotes homophobia and hate crimes
In an extended post, Unzipped: Gay Armenia reacts in horror to an article published by one local newspaper which not only displays its own homophobia, but also appears to advocate hate crimes — including murder — against gays in the country.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision voting scandal
Although held in May, some media outlets in Azerbaijan last week reported that 43 people who voted for the Armenian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest have been identified by police and one has even been called in for questioning. Bloggers react.
Georgia, Russia: More on DDOS Attacks
More on the recent DDOS attacks – by Evgeny Morozov of Foreign Policy's Net.Effect – here and here.
Armenia: Environmental activist charged with libel
Unzipped comments on the case of Mariam Sukhudyan, an environmentalist who recently put her name to an open letter posted on a blog alleging sexual abuse at a Yerevan educational facility for children with special needs. The blog says that the charges of libel against her are yet another example...
Azerbaijan: Sheki
Joe's Tripping posts photographs and reports from visiting various destinations in and around Sheki, Azerbaijan. In the first post, the blog says that the King's Palace in Sheki is the most impressive building in the country, while Kish is notable for its fresh air and friendly atmosphere. The blog also...
Turkmenistan: Ministry of Education clamps down on students
Orazdurdy reports that dozens of students at Ashgabat (capital of Turkmenistan) airport were not allowed on board a plane heading to Almaty. This is the latest incident in a broader trend: hundreds of Turkmen students still cannot leave the country in pursuit of education abroad.
Uzbekistan: Worst Daughter in the World?
Timur comments on the Foreign Policy journal's rating of the worst presidential kids, in which the daughter of the Uzbekistan president was mentioned.
Kyrgyzstan: Crackdown on Uighur Protests
Joshua Foust tells that the Kyrgyzstan’s police detained two Uighur community leaders after they accused China of “state terrorism” at a rally.
Kazakhstan: A bit on KazAtomProm
Michael Hancock reflects on the scandalous case of the Kazkahstan's national nuclear company, whose top management was accused of wrongdoing and theft.
Afghanistan: Khost Comes Under Attack Again
Joshua Foust writes about new terrorist attacks of suicide bombers in Afghanistan, a week before the country's presidential vote.
Uzbekistan: Religion-related murder in Tashkent
Noah Tucker reports on a highly controversial killing in Uzbekistan, in which an Interior Ministry's agent was shot to death in his own apartment.
Armenia: Youth rally for detained activist
The Frontline Club posts photographs of yesterday's rally by an opposition youth movement in support of a detained fellow activist. Unzipped also posts video of the demonstration.
Azerbaijan: Another Eurovision controversy
A Fistful of Euros comments on news that the telephone numbers of Azeris who voted for the Armenian entry during this year's Eurovision Song Contest have been obtained by police and one person has already been called in for questioning. The blog compares the situation in both Armenia and Azerbaijan...
Georgia: Evolutsia.net
A new blog in English on the Republic of Georgia has been launched at Evolutsia.net. The blog promises musings on Georgian politics, the Caucasus, and all things Khachapuri and says it will offer “information and analysis without bias or prejudice.”
Russia, Ukraine: Medvedev's Address
Foreign Policy's Passport links to the vlog post with president Medvedev's Ukraine address and the English-language translation of the transcript. Eternal Remont comments on some of Medvedev's statements: “[…] ‘The leadership in Kiev took an openly anti-Russian stand after the Georgia War.’ This is not allowed under Section 6 of...
Armenia: Journalist assaulted
Unzipped comments on reports that a prominent opposition representative is accused of assaulting a local journalist. The blog notes that the alleged victim is usually attacked by government supporters and says that actions such as this only results in many considering both sides of the political divide to be the...
Azerbaijan: Bloggers’ appeal rejected
Media Helping Media reports that appeals by Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, two video bloggers and youth activists currently held in pre-trial detention in Azerbaijan on what many consider to be politically motivated charges, were yesterday rejected.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Peace
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the prospects for peace in the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and says that the same approach needs to be applied to the long-running dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway territory of Nagorno Karabakh. However, the blog notes, a genuine desire to find...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: An interview with Elizabeth Métraux
DOTCOM is an online initiative using blogs and video to bring American, Armenian and Azerbaijani teenagers together to work on creating socially conscious media. Global Voices Online speaks to Program Director Elizabeth Métraux.
Greece: Armenian singer passes away
Unknown to most Armenians, but loved by many Kurds for his songs sung in the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish, Aram Tigran has passed away in Athens, Greece. Born in 1934 in Syria, Tigran's death has affected many, and not least those recognizing the important contribution he made as a cultural bridge between Armenians and Kurds.
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