Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from November, 2007
Azerbaijan: Sheki
Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog posts photographs and an account of a visit to the Azerbaijani mountain town of Sheki.
Georgia: Former Defense Minister Arrested
TOL Georgia comments on the arrest of former Georgian defense minister turned government critic, Irakli Okruashvili, in Germany on an Interpol warrant. In response, the blog says that Okruashvili is seeking political asylum.
Azerbaijan: Djulfa
Blogian reports that a documentary highlighting the destruction of an Armenian cemetery in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan is being distributed to members of the U.S. Congress. However, the Armenian blogger is concerned by the [nationalist] content as well as the professionalism of the film.
Armenia: Rock ‘n Roll Rebels
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs from the last gig by Armenia's most popular rock band, Bambir. Now with a new drummer, Anush quotes the band's guitarist as saying their new set contains songs which are a reaction against society and nationalism.
Armenia: Renovated Toilets
Kyle's Journey in Armenia updates its readers on a current Peace Corps project to renovate the bathroom and sewer system in a local school. With substandard facilities at present, the Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) hopes that the renovation will be complete by April.
Uzbekistan: Stop Deportation of Asylum Seeker!
“Until this day I believed in freedom of media and its role in civil liberties in this country [Great Britain]. But information I have read today slightly changed my mind”, Craig Murray says. Such was a reaction of bloggers all over the world to the decision of the British court...
Georgia: Campaign Begins
Following on from a state of emergency declared earlier in the month, Resistance Georgia reports that the campaign for a snap presidential election in earlier January has already started. However, the anti-Saakashvili blog says that the signs are not good for a free and fair election.
Armenia: Labor Dynamics
Social Science in the Caucasus comments on a World Bank report on labor dynamics in Armenia. The blog of the Caucasus Resource Research Center says that its findings revealing that up to a third of Armenian youth neither work nor study are in line with its own.
Armenia: “Voting” Underway
With the presidential election in Armenia less than three months away, the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 blog reports that voting is already underway. However, rather than casting votes for a presidential candidate, the vote taking place is being conducted by one political party interested in learning which of two possible...
Turkmenistan: A warm-up in relations with Baku
Maciula analyzes further warming-up of the Turkmenistan's foreign policy – now with another Caspian state, Azerbaijan, after the Azerbaijani governmental delegation visited Ashgabat for the talks on cooperation in the field of oil and gas industry.
Kyrgyzstan: Feminism and women’s movement
Genderstan observes the activity of women’s organizations in Kyrgyzstan, listing the ideological goals of women’s movement and saying that they usually have clearly defined clients and goals.
Uzbekistan: Compulsory Cotton-Picking
Bordersca reviews two articles on the topic of still existing practice of compulsory cotton-picking in Uzbekistan, in which practically all population is involved by the state.
Uzbekistan: Harrassing Journalists
Joshua Foust calls not to forget the journalists who have given their lives in the pursuit of truth, taking Uzbekistan as an example, although he notes that journalists are not being killed there as often as in, say, Russia.
Afghanistan: Baghlan Massacre
Barnett R. Rubin analyzes the aftermaths of the Baghlan bombing in Afghanistan early this month, reviewing the Senlis Council report, which, as he says, presents a misleading map of Afghanistan showing a clear frontline between a Taliban-controlled south and a government-controlled north.
Afghanistan: Baghlan bombing update
Peter Marton continues to keep a close eye on the developments in Afganistan that have followed the terror attack and blast in the Baghlan town. Now he reviews the report on the matter, prepared by the NPS Program on Culture and Conflict Studies.
Afghanistan: Another American Movie on Afhan Topic
Afghanistanica takes a look at another B-category movie about U.S. military in Aghanistan and offers a trailer.
Croatia: Football News
Illyrian Gazette writes about the Croatian football team, music – and Borat.
Russia: Election “Without a Choice”
Mark MacKinnon writes about one of the creators of Russia's “managed democracy” system and the lessons drawn by Putin from the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia: “Who cares what the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe election monitors have to say? They're all tools...
Armenia: Election Campaign Site
Nazarian reports that the first official campaign site has now been established for former president Levon Ter Petrosian. Unzipped goes on to note that the site also features a blog.
Azerbaijan: Armenian Cemetary Deaths
Quoting various news sources, Blogian reports that three Azerbaijanis have died while trying to remove the wall surrounding an Armenian cemetery to make room for a new road.
Georgia: Darba
Kaukasus posts photographs of the God's Mother Church in Darba, Kakheti, Georgia.
About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage
