Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2012
Afghanistan: Civilian conflict deaths continue to rise
Nick Fielding reports that, according to figures from the United Nations – in contrast to the figures issued by the US military – the number of Afghan civilians killed and injured rose for the fifth consecutive year in a row.
Uzbekistan: Security Service Threatens Jizzakh Youth Activists
Nathan Hamm reports that two young natives of Uzbekistan residing in the United States and working as officers at Awareness Projects International (a non-profit engaging in human rights education work in Uzbekistan and elsewhere) were summoned to the police for interrogation, when they returned to their hometown of Jizzakh in...
Kazakhstan: Uzbek labor migrants survival
Camilla tells the story of Uzbek labor migrants in Kazakhstan, who were illegally trafficked – apparently, via channels, supervised by the officials – to work as slaves.
Kyrgyzstan: Street art in Bishkek
Schwartz takes a walk around Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, offering photographs of graffiti, taken in March 2011.
Georgia: Allegations made online against billionaire opposition politician
As parliamentary elections approach this year in Georgia, to be followed by a presidential vote in 2013, allegations against Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire opposition politician, have appeared on the Internet. The alleged exposé of life in the Ivanishvili household by American teacher Patrick Downey, formerly employed by the businessman turned...
Armenia: Eurovision Hopefuls
Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts the video and lyrics of a song by Armenian rock band Dorians. One of the three most likely contenders to enter this year's Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the blog says that the group is also his favorite to represent Armenia in...
Georgia: Independent Media Gone Mobile
Following the removal of traditional newspaper booths in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, and out of concern that the independent media will suffer as a result, Democracy and Freedom Watch reports that newspapers are now being sold via mobile newsstands including those attached to bicycles. A video report [GE] is also...
Kyrgyzstan: World Bank Country Director Storms Out of Round Table
For Kyrgyzstan-based netizens the story of last week was undoubtedly the sudden and violent meltdown of Alexander Kramer, head of the World Bank's Bishkek office, at a high level government-donor round table. Chris Rickleton reports.
Azerbaijan: Qubanin Ag Almasi and Eurovision
Gultekin Garadaghly posts a rendition of Qubanin Ag Almasi, an Azerbaijani folk song. The YouTube channel of the young musical video blogger from Baku also features a cover of Drip Drop, her country's 2010 entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as last year's winning Running Scared. Azerbaijan host...
Armenia: Questioning pre-election developments
As the May parliamentary elections approach, Unzipped questions the arrest of an opposition journalist for an alleged motoring offense and the suspected political ambitions of a former foreign minister believed to be close to political forces within the ruling regime.
Kyrgyzstan: “Putin Is a Complex Bio-Robot”
Ex-presidential candidate Arstanbek Abdylaev, scourge of the Kyrgyz Internet, has struck again. In a recent press conference he disclosed his world conspiracy theories, including a claim that Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, is a “complex bio-robot.”
Kazakhstan: Stability of the nation vital for the whole region
Nathan Hamm reviews testimonies at the U.S. Congressional hearing, staged by the US Helsinki Commission about Kazakhstan’s stability, questioning whether or not Kazakhstan is as stable as its government claims.
Kyrgyzstan: Tengrism on Trial
Nathan Hamm reports on a bizzare story of prosecution of Mr. Tezekbaev, an advocate of Tengrism (pagan belief of Central Asian nomads), who is on trial for inciting religious and ethnic hatred for obnoxious sayings about mullahs in Kyrgyzstan. Tezekbaev, who could be sentenced to five years in prison if...
Uzbekistan: U.S. military support not to include weapons
Joshua Foust tells his readers about the details of the “military aid” the U.S. will provide Uzbekistan, which is part of a vital supply line to Afghanistan. The supplies wouldn’t include weapons and ammunition, and would be limited to items meant to bolster the country’s border and transportation security.
Kazakhstan: Astana, urbanist haven of state corporatism
Molapse provides his analysis of the Kazakhstan's capital city, a newly built Left Bank of Astana, with a mix of artistic culturology and anthropology.
Turkmenistan: Sham NGOs’ role in fake presidential elections
Turkmenistan’s upcoming presidential poll is truly a strange creature. neweurasia’s Annasoltan reviews how it has evolved in the last few months, including the role of government-organized NGOs (GONGOs).
Mongolia: The Mining Projects Leaving Herders Without Livelihoods
Mining projects in Mongolia promise development of social and economic infrastructure and a way to alleviate poverty, but on the wayside, local communities near the mines are feeling the negative impact as their environment and traditional livelihoods are affected.