· May, 2008

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from May, 2008

Georgia: Opposition Protests

  30 May 2008

Following the recent parliamentary election in the country, Resistance Georgia has posted photographs of the protest demonstrations which followed the landslide win for the ruling government party. The pro-opposition blog also posts some updates on the situation.

Armenia: Last Bell

  30 May 2008

Kyle's Journey in Armenia, a Peace Corps Blog, reports on the end of the school year in Armenia. The Last Bell is quite an occasion for graduates of 11th form students and the blog posts photographs and an account from the north-east of the country.

Armenia: Diaspora Fatigue

  30 May 2008

Life in Armenia, a blog run by ethnic Armenians from the Diaspora resident in the country, says that the number of tourists and volunteers visiting Armenia might be dropping following the recent post-election unrest as well as for other reasons. However, the blog says that Armenia is still worth visiting...

Kazakhstan: Politics and Tractors

  30 May 2008

These weeks the bloggers have been chewing upon traditionally prominent topics on the Kazakhstani blogosphere — politics and economy. Megakhuimyak says [ru] – “without aspiration to make a global-scale conclusion” – that 80 percent of the political public officials at the age older than 50 have obtained their current position...

Armenia: Bigoted Journalism

Blogian comments on the misrepresentation of the words of a journalist partly of Turkish descent speaking in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, by the local pro-opposition A1 Plus news agency. The blog says that a combination of factors such as anti-Turkish sentiment and sexism might have something to do with what...

Uzbekistan: Tashkent blogged

  29 May 2008

It is very interesting to notice that during the recent days the Uzbek blogosphere was mainly discussing Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Today, Tashkent is at a stand of its beauty, as it is too early for summer heat and it is green and clean also. For a long...

Kyrgyzstan: Posner in Bishkek

  29 May 2008

The Azamat Report says that famous Russian TV host Vladimir Posner was in Bishkek, capital of Kazakhstan, to deliver lectures and master-classes for the Kyrgyz journalists.

Azerbaijan: Baku Metro

  29 May 2008

Baku Fragments pays homage to the city's metro system. Unfortunately known for the worst subway disaster in the world when hundreds died, the blog says Baku's metro stations house some of the best if blatantly propagandist public art in the city. The blog is also impressed by the cheerful melodies...

Armenia: Youth Activist Beaten

  29 May 2008

The Armenian Observer reports that a pro-opposition youth activist was yesterday beaten in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Arsen Kharatyan was called for an interview, but when he arrived at the location for the meeting he was instead attacked from behind. Unzipped comments on speculationthat the beating was probably connected to...

Georgia: Election Dissent

  28 May 2008

Steady State is critical of the outcome of last week’s parliamentary election in Georgia. The blog also criticizes the Western media and international observers for being more concerned with foreign rather than domestic policy issues.

Armenia: Historic Football Match

Unzipped says that a football match staged in Armenia between the country's Under-19 football team and one from Turkey was a historic occasion. Although neighbors, Armenia and Turkey have not established diplomatic relations.

Georgia: Iraq Deployment

Social Science in the Caucasus comments on a recent survey of Georgian troops in Iraq which indicated overwhelming support of the deployment. However, the blog notes, the results of the poll are not reflected in society itself.

Armenia: Public Chamber

  28 May 2008

The Armenian Observer reports on plans to create a public chamber of NGOs, businessmen and public figures to help facilitate dialogue between the authorities and society. However, with most of Armenia's many thousands of NGOs inactive and interested only in hunting grants, the blog has its doubts about the effectiveness...

Kyrgyzstan: Police Fighting Crime

  28 May 2008

The Azamat Report analyzes a recent news story about Kyrgyzstan's police effort to fight crime and particularly on its alleged “operation to expel” a notorious criminal leader, and says that it has plummeted his respect to police way below the imaginable level.

Armenia: Nasty Politics

  26 May 2008

The first president of the Republic of Armenia depicted as a Jew, supporters of the newly elected president labelled as “Turks” while he is depicted in visual propaganda as a Nazi or female genitalia? Blogian says it's all run of the mill in what is fast becoming a mutually hostile...

About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage

Nurbek Bekmurzaev
Nurbek Bekmurzaev is the Central Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Arzu Geybullayeva
Arzu Geybullayeva is the South Caucasus editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.