Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from August, 2012
Tajikistan: New Oil and Gas Find is Good and Bad
Canada-listed Tethys Petroleum has recently announced that they found a large gas and oil field in Tajikistan. On Registan.net, Joshua Foust explains why the discovery is both good and bad for Tajikistan.
Kyrgyzstan: Does Torpedo Testing Pollute Unique Lake?
Blogger Ilya Lukash writes [ru] about a Soviet-built facility on the shore of Kyrgyzstan's unique mountainous lake Issyk-Kul. The facility is apparently used by the Russian navy to test torpedoes in the lake. Angered by the pollution that the facility might have caused to Kyrgyzstan's prime tourist area and natural reserve,...
Kazakhstan: Olympic Veterans and New Champions
Team Kazakhstan's 13 medals, including seven golds, taken at the London Olympics were nothing short of triumph. Vox Populi posts [ru] photos of Kazakhstani athletes who triumphed in London and adds [ru] images of the country's celebrated Olympic champions from decades past.
Tajikistan: Can Olympic Medalist Become a ‘National Symbol'?
Fans in Tajikistan continue celebrating Olympic bronze won by female boxer Mavzuna Chorieva. Blogger Harsavor suggests [ru] that the fighter might become the country's new “national symbol”.
Tajikistan: Female Boxer Fights Odds, Wins Olympic Bronze
"I hope Chorieva will become a motivation for other Tajik girls and women, and we will have more female champions in future. It doesn't matter whether she wins or loses, she has already broken a social stereotype."
Kazakhstan: ‘Imported’ Olympic Champions Cause Controversy
Two of the six gold medals bagged by Kazakhstan at the London Olympics were claimed by Chinese-born female weightlifters. The success of the "imported" athletes has caused a lot of controversy, with Chinese officials accusing Kazakhstan of misinforming the public about the athletes' country of origin.
Georgia: War Photography
Just before today's fourth anniversary of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia War, Georgian Photographers features a post accompanied by photos from George Tsagareli on documenting conflict in the Caucasus.
Tajikistan: Female Boxer Breaks Stereotypes
Mavzuna Chorieva, a female boxer representing Tajikistan at the London Olympics, has moved to the semifinals of the lightweight tournament after eliminating China's Dong Cheng. She is now guaranteed a medal. Jasur Ashurov writes on Twitter: “Go Mavzuna! You have already broken major stereotypes about Tajik women, particularly female athletes.”
Afghanistan: Girl's Murder Sparks Anger and Protests
Shakila, a 16-year-old girl, was reportedly raped and murdered by a powerful politician in Afghanistan's Bamyan province some six months ago. Although the politician's supporters claim that Shakila took her own life, activists and netizens believe that the strongman is misleading the investigation and urge the authorities to ensure that he does not go unpunished.
Armenia: Conan O'Brien's Yerevan T-Shirt
Ianyan curates responses to the appearance on air of U.S. TV host Conan O'Brien wearing a T-Shirt sporting the name of Armenia's capital, Yerevan. The Storify post also details how the garment came into the television celebrity's possession.
Georgia: Civil Society Mobilizes After Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes
With tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the rise, civil society activists and journalists from both countries last month convened in a small ethnic Azeri village in neighboring Georgia.
Global: BRICS vs. NATO – Battlefield of Ideas on Interventions
China’s and Russia’s recent decision to veto the United Nations Security Council resolution against Syria -has reignited the debate over the relationship between 'new' powers Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - the BRICS - with 'old' powers - NATO - in international interventions.
Create UNAOC 2012: Apps and Games for Intercultural Dialogue
The recently launched Create UNAOC 2012 competition is an opportunity for developers across the world to produce innovative apps and mobile games to promote intercultural dialogue, in a bid to avoid global conflicts and tension. Find out how to submit your idea.
UK: Empty Seats at London 2012?
As the games enter their 5th day, Olympic fans are struggling to find tickets to the various venues in London. Many were shocked to see empty seats during the early days; forcing the London Organising Committee of the Olympics & Paralympics (LOCOG) to defend themselves.
Armenia: Activism or Slacktivism?
Contributing a guest post to The Armenian Observer, local blogger Uzogh criticizes Facebook activism in Armenia, considering it more akin to slacktivism engaged in by a minority and not backed up by concrete actions in the offline world. A small discussion follows in the comments section.
Georgia: Philanthropic Blogging
Net Prophet interviews Givi Avaliani, a Georgian blogger [GE] focusing on online campaigning and charitable activities, and who says that human rights protection and highlighting the poverty around him are his main inspirations. The Transitions Online blog says that more than 120,000 people have visited Avaliani's blog in the past...
Tajikistan: Legality of Government Military Operation Questioned
On his blog, Tajik journalist Salim Ayubzod questions [tj] the legality of the recent military operation launched by the government in Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan's easternmost province. Ayubzod also argues that the government had failed to think through possible outcomes of the violent intervention.
Kazakhstan: Images from “Post-Apocalyptic” Village
Despite Kazakhstan's oil-fueled economic growth, some parts of the country are doing a lot worse than others. Blogger Iskander Salikhojaev has recently traveled to Akchatau, a small poverty-stricken village in central Kazakhstan where some 1,000 people live without jobs, drinking water, and hope. Vox Populi posts [ru] photos from the blogger's trip....
Chinese-born Weightlifters Win Gold for Kazakhstan
Two female weightlifters have won gold medals for Kazakhstan at the London Olympics. On Registan.net, Matthew Kupfer writes that the two athletes “are actually from China and … this isn't a big secret in Kazakhstan.” The blogger adds: “But it doesn't change what they have accomplished. [The athletes] were not champions in...
Kyrgyz Female Wrestler – Hooligan or Olympic Heroine?
Aisuluu Tynybekova, a young female wrestler from Kyrgyzstan, has been named as the country's "best hope to bring home a medal” from the London Olympics. But back home, she faces a criminal charge of “hooliganism”.
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