Latest posts by Onnik Krikorian from February, 2009
Georgia: Homphobic TV
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that a LGBT organization in the Republic of Georgia has filed a complaint against the deputy head of Public TV for homophobic remarks.
Azerbaijan: Plouffe donates speaker's fee
Following the recent controversy surrounding a visit by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe to Azerbaijan, Blogger Interrupted says that his $50,000 speaking fee has been donated to the National Democratic Institute.
Azerbaijan: General's Assassination
Thoughts on the Road comments on yesterday's assassination of Lieutenant-General Rail Rzayev, commander of Azerbaijan's air force, in Baku and speculates on possible motives for the killing.
Azerbaijan: Plouffe's Puff Visit
Jemal Public Affairs casts doubts over comments made by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe that he had no idea about the political allegiances of the organization that hosted him on his paid visit to Azerbaijan early this week. The blog says that it is hard to believe that “one of...
Azerbaijan: Plouffe visit not on Obama's Behalf
Following the recent fallout from this week's visit to Azerbaijan by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe as well as news that his $50,000 speaker's fee will be donated to civil society groups in the region, the New York Times’ The Caucus blog says that the White House denies the controversial...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: LGBT roundup
With the traditional media in the South Caucasus rarely reporting on sexual or religious minority rights maturely, blogs have stepped in to fill the gap and Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to post LGBT news from the region. Following recent homophobic remarks from local politicians and civil society activists as well as in articles in the local press, the blog says there is actually some good news for a change.
Armenia: Eurovision Hopefuls
Although considered by most viewers in Europe as somewhat of a joke, there is no doubt that the Eurovision international song contest is taken very seriously indeed in the South Caucasus. Seen as a perfect opportunity to showcase national culture and identity, many in Armenia are already impatient to discover who will represent them at the contest to be held in Moscow in May.
Georgia: Royal Wedding
Yesterday's wedding between two descendants of the Bagrationi dynasty which ruled Georgia for at least 10 centuries has captured the imagination of royal watchers worldwide. However, for those pondering the state of democracy in the post-Soviet country since the November 2007 unrest, the marriage has also reinvigorated talk of reestablishing the monarchy.
Azerbaijan: Obama campaign manager in Baku
Just weeks before a controversial referendum will likely remove a constitutional two-term restriction on the presidency, Barack Obama's campaign manager yesterday visited Baku, capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan. With foreign broadcasts recently banned in the oil-rich former Soviet republic, the trip has not been well-received by most online political commentators.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Common Ground?
The Common Ground News Blog comments on a Global Voices Online post detailing a new cross-border online project between American, Armenian and Azerbaijani youth. The blog of the Search for Common Ground international NGO notes that the number one concern of youth in the two estranged South Caucasus neighbors is...
Armenia: Environmental Destruction
Vladimir Azriyan, an Armenian participant in DOTCOM, comments on visiting a photo exhibition in Yerevan on environmental destruction. The teenage blogger particularly decries the destruction of Armenia's forests while another DOTCOM blogger, 15-year-old Nare, says that all of the Armenian participants attended.
Azerbaijan: Tea Houses
Thoughts on the Road makes a stop at a roadside tea house in Azerbaijan and says that contrary to the upmarket stereotype of such establishments in the West, they are very much the preserve of men in the country. The blog also posts a video of a tea house in...
Azerbaijan: Prisoners of Conscience
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines says that Azerbaijan has the highest number of imprisoned journalists for any member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The blog details some of those serving jail sentences and says anyone who is deprived of the right to speak their mind...
Azerbaijan: Confusing Messages
Writing on Voodoo Knickers, Kimpossible says that the outcome of the upcoming referendum in Azerbaijan already looks a foregone conclusion and discusses some of the confusion surrounding posters alerting voters to the plebiscite.
Azerbaijan: Breaking Taboos
Nigar [RU] announces the publication of a controversial new book in Azerbaijan. Artush and Zaur: A Legend of Love tells the story of an Armenian and Azerbaijani against the backdrop of the emerging conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. Ромовый дневник [RU] links to a comment made on an Azerbaijani forum, now...
Turkey: The Online Conversion of David Ignatius
Following the recent spat between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Istanbul Calling comments on the furore surrounding the ethnic origins of the panel's moderator, David Ignatius. In particular, the blog notes how a battle unfolded on Wikipedia...
Azerbaijan: Constitutional Obfuscation
As Azerbaijan's March referendum to amend the Constitution approaches, Thoughts on the Road says that many of the changes are being made so unclear as to create confusion in the minds of the electorate. However, the blog notes, amendments which would allow the president to stay in power indefinitely as...
Caucasus: Creative Commons
The Creative Commons blog reports that significant progress has been made in adapting and translating the licensing system for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Supported by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, an online discussion on the three drafts is now open for all to join.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Environment a Mutual Concern for Young Bloggers
With most of the blogs created as part of a new online project to “create socially conscious media that will impact communities across the U.S. and the Caucasus” now up and running, participants from Armenia and Azerbaijan were asked to highlight an issue of concern in their own communities. While other problems were mentioned, the environment topped the list.
Armenia: More Homophobic Traditional Values
Following homophobic remarks from leading representatives of the country's civil society and media outlets, Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to highlight the continuing prejudices against the LGBT community from the most unexpected quarters. In its latest post, the blog comments on the words of an MP, doctor and member of the...
Azerbaijan: Ol! Marks Rasul-zadeh Anniversary
Marking the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mammed Amin Rasul-zadeh, one of the founders of the short-lived Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan in the early 20th Century, the Ol! Youth Movement staged a small event in Baku and posts the video on its channel on YouTube.
