Latest posts by Onnik Krikorian from January, 2008
Georgia: Political Alternatives
TOL Georgia reports that while there are many things wrong in the country, the situation just can't be compared to that which it found itself in before the November 2003 “Rose Revolution.” However, the blog says, the upcoming parliamentary elections are of vital importance and not least in checking the...
Armenia: Early Release
Nazarian points his readers in the direction of a post in Russian alleging that the notorious son of Gyumri's Mayor has been released from prison in the weeks preceding the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog also says that perhaps his release following a mass shootout in Armenia's...
Armenia: Pondering Scenarios
Unzipped says he believes one scenerio ahead of the 19 February presidential election is that Orinats Yerkir's Artur Baghdasarian will pull out of the race and support another opposition candidate instead. However, the blogger believes, the chances of an opposition victory would be possible only in a first round of...
Georgia: Post-Election Distractions
TOL Georgia reports that now Mikhail Saakashvili has officially started his second term in office a new report from international election observers note further irregularities with the conduct of the vote. However, the blog notes, the country and even the opposition have since moved on.
Armenia: Russian Masters
After a visiting Russian official effectively endorsed the candidacy of the prime minister ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia, Nazarian asks if it isn't time Armenians started to think for themselves.
Azerbaijan: Something Fishy
After posting about fish swimming up water pipes and clogging up faucets, Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog now posts a photograph of the culprits.
Armenia: Indigenous Language Blogs
While most blogging from or about Armenia has been in English or Russian, The Armenian Observer is pleased to discover that the number of Armenian language blogs is slowly but surely increasing. Observer commends the blogs for their quality and recommends his readers encourage their development by visiting and commenting...
Armenia: Tattoos
The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs documenting a tattoo artist in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Although the country can be quite conservative, interest in tattoos has grown over the years and the blog says that both artist and client takes the matter seriously.
Armenia: Opposition Rally Beating
Following the beating of a heckler at a pre-election campaign meeting by Levon Ter-Petrossian, one of the former president's supporters, Nazarian, instead attacks Armenian Public TV H1 for covering the unfortunate incident.
Armenia: On The Campaign Trail
In another post on my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 there is coverage and photographs of the campaign of another presidential candidate, Vahan Hovannisian, ahead of next month's vote.
Armenia: Army Day
January 28 is a national holiday in Armenia and marks the foundation of the Armenian Army. Nazarian posts his thanks for the creation of the country's post-independence non-Soviet army.
UK: Disgrace
Blogrel comments on yesterday's desecration of a stone cross erected in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Welsh city of Cardiff. The blogger says that as the vandalism was a disgrace and marked a new low coming as it did on Holocaust Memorial Day he hopes...
UK: Genocide Memorial Vandalism Update
Blogian posts a photograph of the monument erected in the Welsh city of Cardiff that was vandalized yesterday. The desecration of the Armenian stone cross came on the eve of a special event to mark Holocaust Day as well as to pay respects to the memory of Turkish-Armenian editor and...
Caucasus: Polarized Politics
This being the year of elections in the South Caucasus, Marilisa Lorusso's Blog says that reasoned political debate has given way to aggression and a polarized environment that will be difficult to reconcile later. The post also rounds up the latest election-related news from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
UK: Armenian Genocide Memorial Vandalized
Blogian and Unzipped report on the desecration of a monument erected to honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the Welsh city of Cardiff. The vandalism occurred on the eve of an event to remember slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Seta's Armenian blog posts a press release stating...
Armenia: Pensioners’ Election Opinions
My Armenia Election Monitor 2008 continues to cover next month's presidential election in Armenia with a post on the concerns and voting preferences of the country's 530,000 pensioners. Citing special coverage in the local media, it looks like senior citizens in Armenia are as divided, confused and cynical towards the...
Armenia: World Bank Corruption Fallout
Expat worker Bruce Tasker continues to update his readers on the latest developments on his blog, Blowing The World Bank Whistle. In particular, he details how coverage in the local media is finally beginning to pay dividends in his attempt to reveal alleged World Bank corruption in Armenia.
Azerbaijan: Children's Show
An American in Azerbaijan says that he is becoming increasingly frustrated by working with a local television station on a show for children. Exasperated by a tight deadline, the blogger says that his work is frustrated by a “lack of vision” from ANS TV.
Armenia: Black Propaganda Blogs
The Armenian Observer says he is noticing a large number of blogs that have suddenly spring up ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia. The blog laments the way in which supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian and prime minister Serge Sargsyan are using the Internet to disseminate black...
Azerbaijan: Ethnic Novelist
Window on Eurasia says that a book by ethnic Azerbaijani author Eduard Bagirov is causing a stir as a best seller throughout the Russian Federation. In particular, notes the blog, Bagirov's books generally examines the “extraordinary difficulties Azerbaijanis and other non-Russians living in the Russian capital now face in trying...
Azerbaijan: Fashion Trends
Leigh’s new adventure in Azerbaijan takes a look at trends in fashion in the former Soviet republic. In particular, the blog notes, women are significantly more stylish and less conservative than men.