· March, 2008

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from March, 2008

Armenia: Independent Media Concerns

  23 March 2008

The Armenian Observer reports on an arson attack on a car belonging to the president of a media association in the second largest city of Gyumri. The attack is seen as being linked to the Asbarez Club's attempts to defend a pro-opposition local TV station which is currently under pressure...

Georgia: Independent Media Concerns

  23 March 2008

TOL Georgia details the continuing saga of Imedi TV, a station critical of the authorities which was closed down during the recent state of emergency in the country. The blog says that the station remains closed and ownership has been transferred to a U.S. citizen of Georgian descent. The opposition...

Georgia: Hunger Strike Continues

  23 March 2008

TOL Georgia reports that a hunger strike by the opposition in Georgia continues with several people now in a critical condition. The blog examines the background to the current standoff between the authorities and the opposition in the immediate aftermath of the January presidential election and just before the May...

Armenia: Police Violence

  23 March 2008

Blogian comments on concerns raised in some quarters that a video allegedly showing soldiers firing directly at protesters during a post-election riot on 1 March has been edited inappropriately giving grounds to question its authenticity. However, the blog says, the fact that seven protesters and one policeman died during the...

Kazakhstan: Oddities of the Digital Present

  20 March 2008

In the most recent counple of weeks the Kazakhstani blogosphere – usually heavily politicized – was focused more on the developments in telecoms sector and Internet-related novelties in Kazakhstan. The country's authorities are still aiming to enter top 50 of the most competitive countries, although the Economist's index of “e-readiness”...

Kazakhstan: Allco Avoided Kazakhstan

  20 March 2008

KZBlog reports that Allco, an Australian bank that had planned to invest in Kazakhstan, shortly after the Parliament elections pulled out saying it was “too risky”.

Afghanistan: NATO Launches Psychological Operation Unit

  20 March 2008

Sanjar says that amidst increasing public criticism that NATO and its member states have faced lately in Afghanistan, a credible source within NATO contingent has confirmed creation of the Psychological Operation Unit, which is the military version of Public Relations.

Azerbaijan: The Nicer Side of Baku

  19 March 2008

Lindsay Fincher says that contrary to popular opinion of the Azerbaijani capital as one of the dirtiest cities in the world, it isn't just oil workers interested in visiting. The blogger says that she actually found her own stay somewhat interesting.

Armenia: Volunteerism

  19 March 2008

My Stay in Armenia recounts a recent visit to a school where the International Red Cross educated children on humanitarian work and volunteerism. The blog says that the latter in particular remains something “foreign” for most people in the country.

Armenia: The Epic Land

  19 March 2008

Deep Roasted Blend posts a guide for tourists interested in visiting Armenia. The guide, accompanied by many photographs, was written by Rhyne from The Armenia Blog.

Armenia: Shameful Diaspora

  19 March 2008

Unzipped expresses its concern with statements issued by ethnic Armenian groups and organizations in the United States calling for political forces to find a peaceful solution to the post-election standoff in Armenia and to refrain from violence. Noticeable by its absence, the blog explains, are calls for an independent inquiry...

Armenia: Right to Know

  19 March 2008

Armenia Now reports on the current state of emergency which restricts the media in covering the post-election situation in the country following the 1 March clashes between opposition supporters and the authorities. The blog says that while the print media has become more independent under the outgoing president, the tendency...

Kyrgyzstan: Fed up with protests?

  19 March 2008

Kyrgyz bloggers have been actively elaborating on the Kyrgyz government's initiative to make March 24 – the day of popular uprising in 2005 – a national holiday. The amendment was made to the Kyrgyz Labor Code, according to which from now on March 24 will be officially celebrated as a...

Kyrgyzstan: Youth Is Flashmobbing in Protest

  19 March 2008

Azamat offers a photo-report on the flash-mob organized by youth activists against the Kyrgyz government. They put on masks of sheep and one of them put a mask of a bull and wore boxing gloves, representing the ruling party and the president of Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan: Turkish Saga Continued

  19 March 2008

Zhanna Zhukova reports on unexpected continuation of the story around the attack on Turkish construction company’s workers in Almaty, as Turkish side accuses the Kazakh president’s relatives of raider attack and illegal pressure.

Armenia: Cultural Protest

  18 March 2008

Unzipped comments on an open letter signed by a five individuals prominent in their cultural fields including expressing their concern with the political situation in Armenia. The signatories suggest holding new parliamentary elections in Armenia to defuse tensions following the 19 February presidential election and the current state of emergency.

Afghanistan: Women's Day in the Unrest Country

  18 March 2008

March the Eighth was the International Women's Day, a global celebration of the unsung heroes who make society function. Afghan bloggers noted it was happening, but placed the long struggle for women's rights in a rather historical context. Mohammed Khairy laments, In my country, Afghanistan, women are always marching and...

Kyrgyzstan: Alternative Trials Indicate General Disappointment

  18 March 2008

The Azamat Report writes that the people of Aksy (southern Kyrgyzstan) are holding alternative court trials in relation to the killing of 6 people during the demonstration on March 17, 2002, when the police opened fire at unarmed demonstrators. This worrying tendency shows that people are losing trust in everything...

About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage

Nurbek Bekmurzaev
Nurbek Bekmurzaev is the Central Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Arzu Geybullayeva
Arzu Geybullayeva is the South Caucasus editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.