Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from May, 2010
Tajikistan: President moves to ban cell-phones
Tajikistan’s President Rahmon is seeking to ban mobile phones from the country. The government claims it’s for reasons of health and taxes, but neweurasia’s Dushanbe is suspicious.
Kyrgyzstan: Phone-tapping scandal reveals counter-revolution plans
Nurel informs readers on audio-recording of telephone conversations of allegedly Maksim and Janybek Bakievs, the son and brother of Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the second Kyrgyz president in exile. The two men discussed a plan on a new “Bakiyev’s back” revolution in the country.
Kyrgyzstan: Contemplating a shift to parliamentary republic
Mirajidin Arynov critically analyzes the prospects of creation of a parliamentary republic in Kyrgyzstan, an idea initiated by country's Interim Government.
Mongolia: New ethnic music band
Bilguun links to the music videos and blog of Jonon, a new Mongolian band to watch out for.
Kazakhstan: First Local Computer Game
KZBlog reviews Astana Racer, the first Kazakhstani virtual racing game.
Kazakhstan: OSCE Visits Jailed Rights Activist
KZBlog reports that an OSCE representative went to see Yevgeniy Zhovtis, a human rights leader in Kazakhstan who was imprisoned for vehicular manslaughter. The chair of the OSCE ordered the press office not to publish the report on the visit on the OSCE website.
Kyrgyzstan: Bloggers seek stability amidst a frenzy of rallies
“People of Kyrgyzstan, regain consciousness!” – such was the cry issued by Kyrgyzstani Kloop blogger Kadam [kyrg/eng] on May 15. His country descended into a cataclysmic cycle of rallies and counter-rallies last week, beginning with a rally in support of the former Mayor of Bishkek [capital of Kyrgyzstan], Nariman Tyuleev,...
Bulgaria: Update on Arevik Shmavonyan's Case
Maya's Corner posts a detailed update on the case of Arevik Shmavonyan, a pregnant Armenian citizen who is still being kept at the Special Centre for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners in Busmantsi, and on the legal status of David Arutyunyan, Arevik's boyfriend.
Russia: Crisis and demography in Eurasia
Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion discusses the relationship between economic and demographic crisis in Russia and Eurasia.
Middle East: “Blood Borders”
Martin W. Lewis from GeoCurrent Event blog reviews Ralph Lewis’ “Blood Borders” article on the idea of a complete reshape of Middle East borders in order to fit more appropriately the ethnic and religious affiliations of the region.
Caucasus: Armenian-Azerbaijani coexistence
Georgian “Maybe” Time, a new blog from the Caucasus, comments on the experience of a friend from Azerbaijan who was recently chastised for her cooperation and communication with Armenians. Meanwhile, despite the still unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, Scary Azeri recounts meeting...
Belarus: Lukashenko grants Bakiyev sanctuary
Yaraslau Kryvoi of Belarus Digest comments on the sanctuary given to ex Kyrgyz president Bakiyev by Belarus president Lukashenko, and the implications this might have in relations between Minsk and Moscow.
Azerbaijan: Revisiting Flower Day
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines marks Flower Day in Baku, Azerbaijan, by looking back at the event last year when dozens of youth activists were detained. This year the blog follows the event online via Facebook and Twitter.
Armenia: Banned TV station online
Following its removal from the airwaves by the authorities in April 2002 despite international outcry, and after already experimenting with short broadcasts via mobile, The Armenian Observer reports that A1 Plus has begun testing broadcasting online via Livestream.
Caucasus: Google Translate in Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian
The Google Translate Blog announces the addition of five new alpha languages for its online translation service, including Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian. Likely to be considered in the same way in Azerbaijan and Georgia, The Armenian Observer applauds the move even at such an early stage and says the service...
Uzbekistan: Andijan Massacre, 5 years after
Yesterday, May 13, marked five years since Uzbek security troops killed hundreds of anti-government protesters in the city of Andijan. People were protesting against harsh socio-economic environment and repressive politics in the region. The government decided to take strong measures at the very early stage of the protests. That day...
Kyrgyzstan: 17/05/10 – Come what May….
A ‘slow news’ week in Kyrgyzstan last week was disturbed only by increasingly loudly-whispered rumours of a possible ‘counter-revolution’ on May 17th. Edil Baisalov, Chief of Staff for provisional government Chairwoman Rosa Otunbaeva, has dismissed [eng/ru] the reports of planned gatherings as merely that – rumours. However, whilst Baisalov's statement...
Afghanistan: Increase in enemy-initiated attacks
Nick Fielding reviews a new report on the security situation in Afghanistan, which shows that the level of “enemy-initiated attacks” has risen every year since 2005, with the increase in the last year being exceptionally high.
Afghanistan: Strange morale
Nasim Fekrat tells a shocking story how a dozen farmers raped two young men as a punishment in revenge for engaging in sexual relations with two young women in the Jawzjan province of Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan: The Sting Saga
Sarah Kendzior writes about the recent scandal in press around Sting's concert in Tashkent in honor of Uzbek president's daughter – and about how this fact atracted a new wave of interest of the Western media to human rights record in Uzbekistan.
Tajikistan: The wilting tulips
Tajikistan’s president's annual address to the parliament featured both the challenges faced by the nation, and the potential threats of Kyrgyz uprising. Dushanbe monitors rumors and voices around him to ponder on the possibility of popular protest in Tajikistan.
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