Global Voices Online

Pink Armenia, a local NGO campaigning for LGBT rights as well as the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases and infections, posts details of events to be staged in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in cooperation with other NGOs to mark World AIDS Day. The schedule includes a public march, the distribution of free condoms, radio broadcasts and a concert by three punk bands accompanied by video presentations.

Recent Links also in Central Asia & Caucasus

Musafirbek says that the president of Uzbekistan officially thanked the cotton-growers for gathering the harvest of this strategic product for Uzbekistan. However, those who sweat away, collecting this cotton (including children) were not mentioned in the president’s address.

Alexander Visotzky writes about the opening of a monument in Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan, where the authorities uncovered a 15-foot high bronze statue of incumbent president Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Dafydd reports that the EU has lifted the arms embargo on Uzbekistan. Reasons given are abolishment of the death penalty and release of political prisoners.