Onnik Krikorian · May, 2008

Latest posts by Onnik Krikorian from May, 2008

Georgia: Opposition Protests

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

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

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...

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...

Azerbaijan: Baku Metro

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

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

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

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...

Armenia: Nasty Politics

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...

Caucasus: Eurovision Results

The Armenian Observer says it is satisfied with fourth place in last night's Eurovision Song Contest going to Armenia's Sirusho. However, it also raises the question of political voting in the international song contest, something which my The Caucasus Knot examines in more detail. Regardless, Unzipped: Gay Armenia says it...

Azerbaijan: Eurovision Debut Reaction

In Mutatione Fortitud, the blog of a political scientist from Azerbaijan, comments on his country's first ever debut in this year's Eurovision Song Contest and says that it appears as if the song, Day After Day, was “pretty successful.” The Revolving Madventist Church of the Golden Worm of Mu agrees...

Armenia/Georgia: Online Diasporan Communities

Social Science in the Caucasus examines the Internet presence of Armenian and Georgian communities in Switzerland. The blog of the Caucasus Research Resource Centers says that examining the extent of activity in online communities is one way of tracking how organized migrant communities abroad are.

Armenia/Azerbaijan: Eurovision Success

After yesterday's success enjoyed by the Armenian and Azerbaijani entries in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Unzipped posts a photograph of Armenia's Sirusho celebrating. In the comments section of the post both myself and the blogger agree that the reason we like the photograph is that “she looks lovely” and...

Azerbaijan: Eurovision Debut

The Long Aye-lander in Glasgow comments on the first semi-final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. The blog pays special attention to Azerbaijan's debut entry and says that with “a guy in huge angel wings, gyrating girls in leather dresses and ear-splitting falsetto” there's no point in...

Georgia: Election Observation

  21 May 2008

On the occasion of today's parliamentary election in Georgia, Social Science in the Caucasus calls for an overhaul of how international election observation missions work in the country. While new technologies have emerged in the election process, the blog says that international observers are often poorly trained and need external...

Armenia: Human Rights Activist Attacked

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that a local human rights activist was verbally and physically assaulted in Yerevan today as well as shot at with a gas pistol. The assault was reportedly carried out by the former leader of a pro-establishment party who accused the activist of being a “CIA agent...

Armenia/Azerbaijan: Eurovision Semi-Final Results

Life Gets In The Way reports that as predicted by many blogs, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have made it through to the 24 May final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. The blog says that the vocal range of the Azerbaijani act was amazing and their performance show-stopping....

Armenia: Out of Change

Dominic in Armenia comments on how frustrating buying goods with bills in the local currency can be. In particular he recounts how even if a shop has change it will often say it doesn't to avoid having to take bills over 5,000 drams (about $16). Small change is also a...

Georgia: Right to Return

Steady State comments on the passing by the UN National Assembly of a resolution recognizing the right of Georgian refugees to return to the breakaway region of Abkhazia. However, the blog says that despite its passage there was little interest shown by UN member states, most of which either abstained...

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