Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from July, 2012
Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Compared
Katie Going Global visits the South Caucasus and compares Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Assessing the three countries on many levels, the travel blog considers that Georgia is the most tourist-friendly.
Kyrgyzstan: Patriarchal Society as Seen by Artists
The Kyrgyzstani art group ‘705′ describes itself as a 'nomadic theater'. It is best known for hand-drawn animation films that criticize the conventions and norms of a patriarchal society, particularly its treatment of women. The group's head talks to Global Voices Online.
Social Media and Armenia’s 2012 Parliamentary Elections
Following a bitterly disputed presidential election in 2008, parliamentary elections held on 6 May 2012 were a crucial test for Armenia’s democratic system. What role did social media play?
Afghanistan: Adultery Execution Video Sparks Outrage
A 22-year-old Afghan woman was recently executed publicly for alleged adultery in a small village not far from the capital Kabul. Her killing has sparked outrage both in the country and abroad. In Kabul, women took to the streets to condemn the murder and demand protection for their rights.
Tajikistan: Blogger Urges Young People to Be Politically Active
Ahead of the 2013 presidential elections in Tajikistan, Post Scriptum suggests [ru] that the country's young people should be more active in articulating their political preferences. “We should not silently nod in...
Tajikistan: Big Brother to Watch Internet Activity in the Country
Authorities in Tajikistan plan to "track down and identify" individuals who publish materials and leave comments deemed insulting to the country's leadership. Netizens respond with a flurry of angry comments.
Afghanistan: American-Handpicked President a “Terrible Idea”
In a recent op-ed piece in the Washington Post, American scholar Michael O’Hanlon (who also advises the CIA) argued that the US should pick the next president of Afghanistan. Ahmad Shuja, an...
Kyrgyzstan: Blogger Suggests “Ethnicity Should Die”
Ilya Karimdjanov, a prominent Kyrgyzstani blogger, argues [ru] that ethnicity as a criterion for dividing people up into groups “should simply die”. “I really don't understand why people tend to...
Turkmenistan: Silent Anniversary of Deadly Blasts in Abadan
One year after the explosions at an arms depot in Abadan, officials in Turkmenistan hardly mention the deadly incident. Instead of commemorating the victims of the blasts, they prefer to suppress information, hoping that the Turkmen will forget about what had happened. Netizens are silent as well after the authorities detained several bloggers and put one of them in jail for covering the explosions.
Uzbekistan: ‘National’ Social Network Not Quite a Facebook Clone
Youface, the "national" social networking service launched in Uzbekistan, has been criticized by some netizens as a "bad copy" of Facebook. Yet, the service which reportedly aims to "boost patriotism" is different from both Facebook and Russian-language social networks popular with Uzbek users. Some netizens and experts fear that the real aim of the "national" platform is to control Internet users in the country.
Kyrgyzstan: Caught Between Nationalists, Court Fines Journalist
In a controversial case, a court in Kyrgyzstan has fined Vladimir Farafonov, an ethnic Russian journalist, for publishing articles that allegedly incite national hatred. Netizens are divided in their assessment of the court ruling. While some believe that the journalist deserved a harsher punishment, others argue that the verdict sets a dangerous precedent.
Russia: Caucasus Stereotypes in Film
Global Chaos comments on a recent video report by Radio Free Europe examining changing stereotypes of the Caucasus in Russian cinema. The blog asks whether the caricatures often adopted for...
Kazakhstan: A Bird Eye's View of Almaty
Photographer Maxim Zolotukhin believes that Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, best reveals itself at a certain height. On Vox Populi, the photographer presents an...
Afghanistan: High School Student Discovers Math Formula
A high-school student in Afghanistan has discovered a mathematical formula for solving quadratic equations. Twitter users have welcomed the news as an indication of improvements in the country's education sector.
Armenia: Public Outcry Over Killing Tests Oligarch's Power
The controversial reign of Armenia's oligarchs might be challenged following the death of an army doctor at the hands of security guards at a restaurant owned by businessman, politician, and Armenian Football Federation President, Ruben Hayrapetyan.
Tajikistan: Global Voices Puts Spotlight on Dushanbe Zoo
Our recent update on an American student's impression of the Dushanbe Zoo has generated a passionate discussion on ‘Platforma’, a 5,400-odd-member Tajik community on Facebook. A Dushanbe-based newspaper has now...
Tajikistan: Facebook Users Discuss Presidential Elections
In about a year from now, voters in Tajikistan will go to the polls to elect a president for the next seven years. The Kimiyoi Saodat blog summarizes [tj] a...
Start Your Day the Mongolian Way
Natalya, a Kazakh blogger, believes that every day should start with a different breakfast. In her latest post, Natalya explains [ru] how to prepare a traditional Mongolian-style breakfast.
Tajikistan as Seen by an Ex-pat Blogger
On Nancystan, an ex-pat blogger writes about her adventures in Tajikistan and posts photos from the country. In some recent posts, the blogger shared images of a Tajik town lying...
Kyrgyzstan: Breathtaking Scenery Caught on Camera
Fans of Vladimir Vysotsky, an iconic Soviet actor and singer, know that, ‘only mountains can be better than mountains’. If you disagree with the verses, have a look at this...
Kyrgyzstan: Public Divided Over Politician's Arrest
Nariman Tuleev, a popular Kyrgyz opposition politician, has been detained on corruption charges. Some welcome the politician's arrest as an indication of the government's resolve to fight corruption, others view it as politically motivated.
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