Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from August, 2011
Syria: World Cities Rally Against and For Bashar
Events in Syria are being echoed around the world. Syrians in the diaspora rallied in the majority of the cities in the world, either asking to overthrow Bashar Al Assad and his regime or chanting their love to their leader. Check out this video round up for footage from demonstrations worldwide.
Poland-Russia: Haunting Memories of Afghanistan
Leoš Tomíček of Austere Insomniac reports that Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, is asking whether Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, killed soviet soldiers in Afghanistan during the 1980s, when working as a journalist there with Afghan guerilla fighters.
World: Share Your Life With the World on 11-11-11
What will you be doing on November 11, 2011? Share it with the rest of the world through 11Eleven Project and help achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals!
Azerbaijan: Hopes and expectations for Eurovision
As Azerbaijan takes the spotlight ahead of hosting Eurovision next year, some have high expectations that the international song contest will bring about positive changes in the country. Aaron in Azerbaijan, however, takes a more reserved approach and expresses skepticism about the power of Eurovision to transform Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan: Refugee problem
Ilkin Huseynov posts photographs of refugees in Azerbaijan on Invisible Photographer Asia and says that even 17 years after the 1994 ceasefire agreement with Armenia the problem remains urgent and demands special attention from society.
Armenia: Pagan tradition and Soviet entertainment
Ianyan features two special reports accompanied by photographs on the traditional annual water fight at the pagan temple of Garni and an old Soviet-era games arcade that remains intact and in use in the country's second largest city of Gyumri.
Azerbaijan: Facebook hate campaign for ‘consorting’ with the ‘enemy?’
Angered by a photograph of Aynishan Guliyeva, a contestant in this year's national selection for Eurovision, standing next to an Armenian competitor during a recent regional music festival, some youth in Azerbaijan have launched a hate campaign against the singer on the popular social networking site. Created on Monday, the...
Ramadan Recipes: Feasting After Fasting
As the month of Ramadan begins, Maria Grabowski has started a list of blog links to some wonderful Iftar recipes. Please do share your favorites, too!
Azerbaijan: Eurovision in a non-free country?
A campaign to raise awareness of the plight of political prisoners and restrictions on freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan has been launched by four non-governmental organizations ahead of next year's Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the country's capital, Baku. A video in English detailing the campaign has been...
Uzbekistan: Business will pay for “exemplary mahallas”
Abulfazal writes that the Uzbek government project on creation of so-called “exemplary mahallas” (communities) is turning into a campaign of forcing the local businessmen to finance infrastructure upgrades and renovations.
Afghanistan: Suicide bomber murders Kandahar mayor
Una Moore reports that a suicide bomber killed Ghulam Haider Hamidi, mayor of Kandahar town in Afghanistan, as the Taliban have reportedly claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Afghanistan: Remembering the fallen strivers
Una Moore reminds the readers that Javaid Zeerak, brilliant Afghan aid worker, blogger and photographer, died in July last year. Very little is known about the accident, while grief and questions still linger.
About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage
