Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from February, 2008
Tajikistan: Five Star Hotels, No Electricity
Ian reflects whether or not the general population of Tajikistan loses its patience with the leadership amid continuing energy shortages, water purification problems, bread-price inflation, and more.
Uzbekistan: Deputy General Prosecutor Suddenly Arrested
Nathan reports that for reasons not being reported, Anvar Nabiev, the Uzbekistan's Deputy Prosecutor General, has been arrested. He opines that the arrest is part of the Uzbek government’s campaign to impress the West with its sudden interest in observation of human rights.
Afghanistan: Local Charity Aids Needy People
Mohammad reports that Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation distributes winter aid for hundreds returning refugee families in the north and south of the Afghanistani capital, Kabul. Ahmad Shah Massoud had been a Defense Minister before he was killed in a suicide attack in 2001.
Kazakhstan: State of the Nation
The main event in the country’s politics never passes by the bloggers’ attention. This week it was the time of presidential State of the Nation address. All TV stations and state-controlled newspapers provided its aggressively propagandistic coverage, that bloggers were unhappy with [ru]. As megakhuimyak jokes, “our president does not...
Kosovo: Views from the Russophone Blogosphere
According to the Yandex Blogs portal, over 3,700 posts on Kosovo independence have appeared in the Russian-language blogosphere in the past three days. Some of these posts have received dozens, if not hundreds, of comments. Below are a few snippets of this lively discussion, all translated from Russian.
Kyrgyzstan: Leading University at the Center of Parliamentary Debates
During the last week, one of the most discussed topics among Kyrgyz bloggers was the situation around the American University in Central Asia. As its website says, AUCA has an established reputation for “dedication to democratic values, individual freedoms and the spirit of innovation”, and, indeed, it has played an...
Turkmenistan: UN Awards Turkmen President
Maciula criticizes the United Nations Organization for awarding President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov the order “For Outstanding Achievements in Information Science”.
Afghanistan: The two Kandahar bombings
Peter Marton analyzes the two recent bloody bombings in Kandahar, an uneasy province of Afghanistan, both of them with a lot of random killing.
Armenia: Presidential Election Today
Polls have been open for today's presidential election in Armenia for eight hours now in a crucial vote which will determine the successor to the incumbent but outgoing president, Robert Kocharian. Until a more comprehensive post after polling stations close, my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 and The Armenian Observer are...
Tajikistan: Waiting for International Aid
Vadim reports that the Tajikistan's authorities officially admitted inability to cope with the energy crisis by appealing to international community for aid, and wonders why should the foreign governments correct the mistakes of the Tajik officials.
Kazakhstan: Repeated Inter-Ethnic Violence?
Lena B-va reports on the strange incident of an alleged inter-ethnic fight in Kazakhstan between Turks and Kazakhs – the case had been covered by the Turkish press, but omitted in the Kazakhstani media.
Kyrgyzstan: Church Wants to Sue LGBT Organization
GenderStan informs the readers that Russian Ortodox Church of Kyrgyzstan allegedly plans to sue “Labrys”, an NGO dedicated to LGBT rights, following the organization's press conference, where an LGBT-friendly priest Maksim from Apostolic Orthodox Church spoke about his church’s views on homosexuality.
Turkmenistan: American priorities with Ashgabat
Maciula opines on American policy towards Turkmenistan and compares the significance of this country for the US with that of other Eurasian states.
Uzbekistan: Tracing Uzbek cotton
Libertad writes about Tesco’s initiative to boycott Uzbek cotton on the international market, because of the use of organized and forced child labor in producing the cotton.
Kyrgyztsan: Kyrgyz Authorities Cut Off Tajikistan
Ayan Dane writes that the Kyrgyz authorities have decided to stop supplying electricity to Tajikistan, which, according to the Kyrgyz officials, refused to comply with its commitments. Tajikistan is in grave humanitarian condition now because of the harsh energy deficit.
Kyrgyztsan: Hate Crimes in Russia Target Kyrgyzs
Asel writes that Kyrgyz society is highly concerned about recent hate crimes in Russia – only during the last month five Kyrgyzstani were murdered in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.
Kazakhstan: More State Control in Economy
KZBlog reports that one week after the president's Address to the Nation, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan announced that this year the government will investigate all existing contracts with foreigners in extractive sector to void contracts with companies that have violated the terms.
Uzbekistan: Rights Activists Comment on Release of Colleagues
Nathan posts a statement by the human rights watchdog for prevention of torture in Uzbekistan concerning recent release of imprisoned human rights activists and the increased lip service the Uzbek government is paying to human rights as it tries to recultivate ties with Europe and the United States.
Uzbekistan: Education Officials Underrates Students
David Walther reports that the universities in Uzbekistan have been ordered by the Ministry of Education to purposely lower the quantity of students receiving A’s in order to economize on stipends.
Afghanistan: London's Afghans Rally for Freedom of Expression
Mohammad says that Afghanistanis, the citizens of U.K., have demonstrated to condemn reprisals against those who are speaking Persian language. The protesters marched in front of the Afghan Embassy in London last Friday.
Afghanistan: Journalists fined for language debate
Sanjar reports that three Afghanistani journalists working for government-owned media have been fined for using Persian words that are not approved by cultural policy.
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