Global Voices » Onnik Krikorian

Azerbaijan: Youth Activist Believed Arrested

Onnik Krikorian — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 22:46:15 +0000

Emin Milli's Blog comments on the apparent disappearance of a youth activist in Azerbaijan. The blog says it believes Zaur Gurbanly's believed arrest was because of anti-presidential leaflets that were also confiscated.

Armenia: Government Pressure on NGO

Onnik Krikorian — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:34:54 +0000

The Washington Post blog features an entry by David Ignatius detailing pressure on an Armenian NGO particularly active online. Founded by former Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, government pressure on Civilitas is believed linked to his involvement with a former party of power now actively challenging the incumbent president and his ruling Republican Party.

Armenia: A New Response to Hate Crime?

Onnik Krikorian — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:16:43 +0000

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on news of an attack on transsexual sex workers in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. The blog notes that not only did the victims report the crime, but that the police formerly accepted it as such while also using ‘acceptable non-discriminatory wording.’ The blog implies that if the culprits are arrested, charged and prosecuted, this would represent significant change in the country.

Georgia: A Caucasian Abu Ghraib

Onnik Krikorian — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:17:23 +0000

Eva Anderson, a Senior Analyst with Transparency International, examines the recent prison abuse video scandal in Georgia as the country prepares for crucial 1 October Parliamentary Elections. The blog post in particular looks at the penitentiary system and the urgent need for reform.

Armenia: Reflections on Homosexuality and Fascism

Onnik Krikorian — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:04:25 +0000

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reflects on Brotherhood, a 2009 Danish film about homosexuality and fascism, in the context of the neo-Nazi firebombing of D.I.Y., a gay friendly bar in Yerevan, earlier this year.

Georgia: ‘Broom Revolution’ as Elections Approach

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 20:18:32 +0000

Thousands have protested in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, after videos showing physical abuse in the country's prison system aired on some television stations and were shared on YouTube. Although widely detailed in various human rights reports, the footage surfacing on 18 September, 2012, was the first that many Georgians had actually seen.

This video showing the physical abuse of a prisoner was uploaded to YouTube by vfor georgia on September 18 [WARNING: Graphic content]:

Social media reactions

According to media reports, Georgia has the sixth-highest prison population per capita in the world along with a high mortality rate. Commentary on Facebook reflected the widespread anger at the videos while others such as Eka Rostomashvili ‏updated followers on Twitter as to developments during the first evening of protests.

@ERostomashvili: Horrific, inhuman things happening in Georgian penitentiary. Ppl gather outside Philharmonics to protest against violence in prison #Tbilisi

@ERostomashvili: Protestors have blocked Melikishvili. Drivers don't seem to object terribly and turn around. #Tbilisi #gldaniprison

@ERostomashvili: Journalists estimate 500 ppl are protesting against violence in prison outside Philharmonics. #Tbilisi #gldaniprison

@ERostomashvili: Protestors request resignation of ministers of interior #Akhalaia + penitentiary #Kalmakhelidze. #Tbilisi #gldaniprison

@ERostomashvili: Protestors ask drivers to join them. Estimated turnout at the moment: 1000 people. #Tbilisi #gldaniprison

@ERostomashvili: Protestors take turn to make speeches. Emotional speech was made by a mother of two prisoners. #Tbilisi #gldaniprison

@lingelien: Famous Theater director Sturua comments on prison abuses: “We, the Georgian people, are deeply shocked by the events. ” (1) #gldaniprison

‘Broom Revolution’

The following day, with momentum building behind calls for the resignation of high profile ministers, the protests increased in size and were also reported in other urban centers in Georgia. Referring to scenes of a prisoner being raped with a broom handle, Georgian Photographers, as well as others, dubbed the protests a “Broom Revolution.”

It was the video broadcast On TV about prison torture in Georgia.

Footage shows prisoners being beaten, kicked and abused by a group of staff members.

Additional footage allegedly shows prisoners being sexually assaulted.

Hundreds gathered in central Tbilisi today after two pro-opposition channels broadcast the video.

In case you are wondering why BROOM revolution. One of the videos shows half-naked man, crying and begging for mercy as he is beaten and after raped with a broom.

Protesters burn brooms in Tbilisi, Georgia © Georgian Photographers

With the Minister of Corrections, Probation, and Legal Assistance resigning a day after the videos aired, The Young Georgians updated its readers to new demands from protesters:

Thousands of students marched in streets of Tbilisi on Wednesday to protest abuse and rape in Georgian prisons. Disturbing videos of prisoners being tortured by guards leaked on TV and immediately sparkled Georgians to come out and stand against violence. A protest was organized by the Tbilisi State University students, however they were joined by all major universities. At 3:30 pm students moved to the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) where they demanded the later to air abuse videos. After negotiating with the General Director of GPB students marched towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs where they were joined by drivers and local neighbors. Students demanded the Minister of Internal Affairs Bacho Akhalia and several other officials to step down. Protests were held in all major Georgian cities and across Europe.

Gldani Prison Abuse Protest, Tbilisi, Georgia © Onnik Krikorian

Tamada Tales reported that their demands were met:

In a move signalling the seriousness of the political crisis facing the Georgian government over videos documenting the sexual and physical abuse of Georgian prisoners, Georgian Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaia late on September 20 submitted his resignation to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Rustavi2 television reported.

[...]

The news of his resignation was greeted by raucous cheers and car-horn-honking from outside Tbilisi's Philharmonia, where a late-night protest was underway.

As did Twitter:

@ZoeReyners: Resignation of the minister of interior Akhalaia

@SabineICG: Significant: MIA Akhalaia who is resigning was head of prisons during last prison scandal in 2006 when 7 died. End of impunity? #Georgia

Global Voices’ outgoing Caucasus Editor, Onnik Krikorian, also documented the protests, especially those involving students. Meanwhile, at time of writing and despite visibly reducing in size in the evenings, protests continue.

Gldani Prison Abuse Protest, Tbilisi, Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2012

Gldani Prison Abuse Protest, Tbilisi, Georgia © Onnik Krikorian

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Hatred in the Caucasus

Onnik Krikorian — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 07:01:27 +0000

Murad Gassanly, an activist in exile, comments on the case of Ramil Safarov, a soldier convicted of murder in Hungary and recently pardoned in Azerbaijan, by examining how and why ethnic hatred has come to define society in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: Political Forces United on Pardoned Axe Murderer

Onnik Krikorian — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 06:53:52 +0000

In Mutatione Fortitudo says that the two main opposition parties in Azerbaijan have united behind the government in its criticism of a European Parliament ruling condemning the 31 August pardon, release, and promotion of an Azerbaijani soldier who axed to death a sleeping Armenian counterpart on a NATO Partnership for Peace program in Budapest, Hungary, in 2004.

Armenia: Homophobic Editor On Air

Onnik Krikorian — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:27:49 +0000

Unzipped: Gay Armenia says that it is glad the pro-opposition A1+ TV, a station deprived of its broadcasting frequency in 2002, now has a program aired on another channel. However, the blog also notes that it is disappointed to see that a homophobic newspaper editor is involved in its production.

Georgia: Brutality Behind Bars

Onnik Krikorian — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:18:53 +0000

A video showing prisoners being beaten up in one of Georgia's modernized prisons has been uploaded onto YouTube. Other videos appears to show more graphic incidents with one comment on Facebook hoping that they ‘provide impetus to serious structural reforms’ and that ‘prison personnel are held responsible.’

Armenia: Chess Olympiad Triumph

Onnik Krikorian — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:33:07 +0000

The Armenian Observer posts photographs of celebrations following Armenia's victory in the 2012 Chess Olympiad held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Armenia: A New Transit Route?

Onnik Krikorian — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:30:49 +0000

The Armenian Observer reports that construction has started on upgrading Armenia's highways. Effectively connecting Iran with Georgia via Armenia more efficiently, the blog notes the Armenian government's hopes that the road will make the landlocked country an important transit route between Europe and Asia.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: International Day of Peace

Onnik Krikorian — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:23:56 +0000

Following an increase in tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, locked as they are in a bitter stalemate over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, Mountains of Peace looks ahead to the International Day of Peace.

[...] enough is enough. It is time to make a stance, time to speak out, time to stop the war, before it stops you! 21 September [...] is a good day to see the birth of a new peace movement in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan: Nationalism, Extradition, and an Axe Murderer

Onnik Krikorian — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 21:10:10 +0000

Scary Azeri comments on the extradition to Azerbaijan of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani soldier who murdered an Armenian counterpart on a NATO training course in Budapest, Hungary, with an axe. The blogger criticizes the presidential pardon and honoring of the killer in her native Azerbaijan while also abhorring the celebration of Safarov's freedom by many of her compatriots.

Georgia: War Photography

Onnik Krikorian — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:29:06 +0000

Just before today's fourth anniversary of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia War, Georgian Photographers features a post accompanied by photos from George Tsagareli on documenting conflict in the Caucasus.