Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from January, 2010
Armenia: Prominent opposition figure sentenced
The Armenian Observer comments on yesterday's sentencing to 7 years in prison of Nikol Pashinyan, an outspoken opposition figure and newspaper editor. The blog condemns the judgement by the court, but also says that the action against him was as a result of his political activities and not for his...
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.
Afghanistan: Youth Find Outlets Amid Ongoing Violence
Last year was the deadliest one for Afghanistan's civilians, including children, since the American-led war began in 2001. Despite the circumstances, efforts are being made nationwide by and for youth to maintain their health and education and to empower them.
Georgia: Plans for the largest airport in the Caucasus
The Georgian International Media Center says that the largest airport in the South Caucasus might be built near the Black Sea port city of Poti. However, it notes, the idea is not without its controversies, and not least the fact that any development would take place near an environmental reserve...
Armenia: Opposition editor jailed
Unzipped comments on the sentencing to seven years in prison of outspoken newspaper editor and opposition figure Nikol Pashinyan. The blog says that the judgement against Pashinyan is evidence of ongoing human rights violations in Armenia and notes that the sentence was passed down on the third anniversary of the...
Turkey: Third anniversary of Hrant Dink assassination
Three years ago today, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was gunned down outside the office of the Argos newspaper he edited in Istanbul, Turkey. Often ignored, loathed or detested when he was alive by nationalists on both sides for his message of tolerance and peace, one blogger compares Dink to Martin Luther King Jr.
Armenia: Blogging prime minister
Unzippedblog tweets that the Armenian prime minister, Tigran Sargsyan, has set up his own blog [AM].
Georgia: Patriotic military classes
In the latest edition of Caucasus Watch, a bi-monthly feature of the blog-based Evolutsia, Inge Snip takes exception to a proposal from the Georgian president to introduce patriotic-military classes in schools. Although the blog recognizes the importance of a country such as Georgia being able to defend itself, it says...
Afghanistan: Slow progress on power supply
Nick Fielding says that providing electricity for the residents of Afghanistan is one of the best ways of undermining the Taliban insurgency. However, although reports indicate increase of energy supply in the country, that modest increase hides many problems.
Georgia: Penisman, an alternative superhero
Social Blurbs comments on two teenage bloggers in Tbilisi, Georgia, and their alternative style of blogging. In a guest video post on the social media blog, the two young bloggers speak about Penisman, a Georgian superhero who “doesn't give a crap.” The blog says that 15-year-old Giorgi Chilaia and 14-year-old...
Turkmenistan: New way out for the natural gas
Elina Galperin writes that Turkmenistan lainched a new Central Asia-China gas pipeline, and wonders if there is going to be enough gas for Nabucco and how will China affect Central Asian politics.
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.
Uzbekistan: War of the monuments
14th January is celebrated as the Day of Defender of the Motherland in Uzbekistan. On the eve of this day, a grand opening ceremony of the monument “Oath to the Homeland” took place in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The monument depicting an oath-taking soldier and a benedictory woman behind...
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...
Armenia: Reflecting on the Haiti earthquake
With Armenia having experienced its own devastating earthquake 21 years ago, Ianyan comments on the tragedy in Haiti. In particular, the blog notes the similarities between the two countries, summarizes an account in Armenian by one blogger who spent time there, and also tells its readers how they can help...
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.
Uzbekistan: Calculations of the parliamentary elections
As expected by different experts parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan were recognized valid. Chairman of the Central Election Commission Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov released that information later the same day (December 27), and added that 15,108,950 voters or 87.8% of all registered voters participated in the elections and, according to the article 44...
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...
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