Stories from 24 August 2009
Kazakhstan: Journalist sentenced to jail
Sorge reports that Ramazan Yessergepov, chief editor of the independent newspaper, has been sentenced to three years in jail on charges of divulging state secrets.
Kazakhstan: Diplomat Accused of Being a Spy
As Adam reports, the British media alleged that a high-profile Kazakh diplomat may be expelled from Britain after it was revealed that top secret intelligence files suggest he is a...
Kazakhstan: The resurrection of Vino
Dina reports that Kazakh sports fans celebrated the end of two-year suspension of famous cyclist Alexandre Vinokourov.
Uzbekistan: Women banned from mosques
Noah Tucker informs that after pressuring women for several months to stop attending mosque on Fridays, Bukhara authorities have officially prohibited them to go to mosques.
Turkmenistan: Students prevented from study abroad
Orazdurdy reports that Turkmen students studying at the American University in Central Asia (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) were rejected at airport en route to USA through U.S. State Dept. undergraduate program.
Afghanistan: Elections with better security, worse violations
Joshua Foust reviews the reports about presidential elections in Afghanistan, noting that security was much better than expected, though there are widespread indications of fraud.
Kazakhstan: Astana Cycling Team Survives Difficulties
KZBlog reports that after a period of financial difficulties, Team Astana released a statement that Alberto Contador, the two-time Tour de France winner, will stay in the team for one...
Afghanistan: Reportages on Children
Onne Parl offers a series of posts about children living in the provinces of Afghanistan, featuring a post about the place of religion in high school education, about regular school...
Afghanistan: Televised Presidential Debates
Safrang reviews the Afghanistan's presidential TV debates, organized by the the national TV (RTA) and radio RFE/RL. For the first time in history, the incumbent president together with two contenders...
Afghanistan: Independence Day & Elections Eve
Safrang writes about celebration of Afghanistan's national holiday (that marks the occasion of its 90th independence anniversary from Great Britain after the 3rd Anglo-Afghan war) the day before the presidential...
World: Reactions to the Release of the “Lockerbie bomber”
A huge debate is brewing in both the mainstream media and the blogosphere regarding the release of the only man ever convicted over the bombing of Pam Am flight 103, Libyan Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi. Katharine Ganly sums up reactions here.
South Korea: Why Does Korea Not Accept Refugees?
Korea Beat translated a newspapers opinion piece on “Why does Korea not accept refugees?”. According to the article, from 1994 to last June a total of 2,336 people have applied...
Armenia: Homophobia turns deadly
Even if homosexuality was decriminalized in Armenia in 2002, society remains largely intolerant and traditional in its values. With blogs providing LGBT activists with a medium through which to voice their concerns, such fears can now be highlighted more openly than before.
