Stories from 14 December 2013
The Caucasus Network: In Blogs, Russian is the Common Language
No indigenous languages dominate any of the blogging platforms in the North Caucasus. Even the forums dedicated exclusively to local issues operate in Russian.
The Caucasus Network: On Blogging and Keeping Up Appearances
The Russian North Caucasus divided into clusters and studied for reader interactivity.
In Tajikistan Protest Occurs Online
While many people in Tajikistan are unhappy about the country's dire economic situation and political leadership, public protest is rare in the country. The fear of inevitable punishment by the state, the weakness of political opposition, and the memories of the 1992-1997 civil war make the likelihood of mass protest...
VIDEO: Young Men Are Forced to Join Army in Tajikistan
As Tajikistan's military faces a struggle to get enough volunteer conscripts, recruitment officers often rely on illegal practices in drafting military-age men into the army. One of the most common among such practices is “oblava” which involves “military press gangs making sweeps of city streets, bazaars and bus stations, rounding up...
The Caucasus Network: What They Blog About
North Caucasus bloggers appear to exist in a bubble, demonstrating little interest in the outside world. There are roughly six topics the most popular blogs focus on.
Czechoslovakia's Architectural Heritage in Kyrgyzstan
Karina Ditkovskaya writes [ru] about a unique architectural heritage left by volunteer construction workers from Czechoslovakia in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan: In the 1920s a commune of volunteers from Czechoslovakia built a whole district of Bishkek. Now, after almost one hundred years, this area of Kyrgyzstan's capital city stands out due...
Another Rural Japanese Elementary School Disappears Due to Declining Birthrate
Every year, about 500 public schools in Japan are closing due to shortage of children as the cost of education becomes unbearable for rural communities.
Bangladesh Executes Islamist Leader Abdul Quader Mollah for War Crimes
Abdul Quader Mollah was the first to die for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's struggle for independence. His execution sparked a wave of deadly violence from supporters, leaving several dead.
Uruguayan Trade Union Federation Backs Launch of Worker-run Airline
PIT-CNT, Uruguay's national trade union centre, has offered financial guarantees for the launch of the worker-run airline, Alas Uruguay.
