Latest posts by Onnik Krikorian from December, 2009
Caucasus: 2009 Blog Review
If the Armenian and Georgian blogospheres attracted most interest during 2008 after one disputed presidential election in the former and an albeit short war with Russia in the latter, Azerbaijan was the undoubted focus in 2009. In particular, youth activists quickly embraced both new and social media to spread their message online.
Armenia: Culture vulture
Ianyan interviews Anush Babajanyan, an Armenian photographer who particularly focuses on issues such as gender in Armenia and the homeless in the country's second largest city, Gyumri.
Caucasus: The color of pomegranates
Ianyan waxes lyrically about its love of pomegranates, a fruit synonymous with many countries in and around the South Caucasus such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey.
Azerbaijan: Business as usual
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on new charges made against imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, 2009 recipient of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) International Press Freedom award. The blog says that some things don't change, but nonetheless encourages its readers to speak out in 2010.
Overcoming negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus
An online project using new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus entered a second stage last week when two blogging Azerbaijani journalism students and a Georgian blogger joined in the initiative.
Azerbaijan: Standing in line
Newly returned to Baku, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines posts its observations on queuing in Azerbaijan. The blogger is not impressed and in a previous post also laments the state of the medical system in the country.
Azerbaijan: Education, free thought and development
Following a previous post from Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines on European concerns with the situation of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, and especially following the imprisonment of video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, the blog comments on remarks made by the country's Minister of Education. The...
Armenia: Embracing multiculturalism
Ianyan hosts a guest post responding to nationalist perceptions of identity, culture and language. The entry concludes that all nations and ethnic groups absorb other influences, benefiting from such a reality greatly while also evolving into something with their own unique peculiarities.
Armenia: Music Awards
Ianyan covers the 10th annual Armenian Music Awards in Los Angeles. The blog also live tweeted the event on her Twitter account.
Armenia: 21st Anniversary of the 1988 Earthquake
Monday marked the 21st anniversary of the 1988 earthquake which devastated many areas in northern Armenia leaving around 25,000 dead and many more homeless. Bloggers examine conditions in the region more than two decades later.
Armenia: Human Rights Irony?
The Armenian Observer comments on a human rights conference to be held this week in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, and questions the participation of one of the invited speakers. Before falling from grace with the current authorities, former Military Prosecutor Gagik Jahangirian was accused of violating the human rights of...
Azerbaijan: Culinary Blogging
Leyla's Room interviews Farida Sadikhova Buyuran, the blogger behind AZ Cookbook. Posting recipes, backgrounds and photographs of traditional Azeri cuisine, as well as other dishes, the interview details Farida's passion for food and cooking and says a book is on the horizon.
