· April, 2011

Stories about Azerbaijan from April, 2011

Serbia: Bloggers Discuss Plans to Erect Monument to Late Azeri President

  29 April 2011

One of Belgrade's nicest parks has recently got renovated - thanks, partially, to a donation of 2 million euros by the Azerbaijani government. The news that has been stirring controversy these past few weeks among Serbian bloggers is the condition for this gift: in return for the donation, a monument to Heydar Aliyev, the former president of Azerbaijan, will have to be erected in the park.

Azerbaijan: Royal Wedding Frenzy

  28 April 2011

Scary Azeri offers her own acerbic take on tomorrow's Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Despite a reported close friendship with the groom's Uncle, Prince Andrew, the blog says that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev doesn't appear to be among those invited and also comments on media coverage of...

Armenia: Pseudo-patriotism and flag burning

Unzipped comments on the creation of a Facebook page by some students in Armenia calling for the “virtual burning” of the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The blog says it considers the move one that can only lead to more hatred between Armenia and its two estranged neighbors and is...

Azerbaijan: Talysh socks

  26 April 2011

The Labors of Other Men posts photographs of Talysh socks, traditional woolen footwear that can be ordered online in order to support community development in and around the southern Azerbaijani city of Lankaran.

Azerbaijan: Protest to demand journalist's release

  20 April 2011

Mark Grigorian [RU] posts photographs of today's protest demonstration outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London in support of imprisoned journalist and Amnesty International prisoner of conscience Eynulla Fatullayev. Marking the forth anniversary since his arrest, the blog notes that when the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he was...

Azerbaijan: The ‘Terror’ of Tiny Town

  18 April 2011

Tamada Tales comments on the detention of a small child and her mother at an opposition protest in Baku on Sunday. Captured on video uploaded to YouTube and shared online, the blog wonders what ‘havoc’ could possible be wreaked upon the Azerbaijani capital by the girl.

Azerbaijan: Overbearing Landlords

  11 April 2011

Aaron in Azerbaijan recounts two upsetting experiences with renting apartments in Azerbaijan. The blog notes how irritating  it can be when landlords appear anytime they want without notice or reason and even decide to stay overnight or impose their own way of keeping things in order.

Azerbaijan: Novruz Bayramı

  5 April 2011

Novruz, a holiday celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan and other countries, was once again also observed in Azerbaijan on 21 March although festivities started weeks before. This year was no different, and Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in the former Soviet republic once again commented on the event.

Azerbaijan: Opposition leader's son sent to frontline

  4 April 2011

whatwaswritten says that the son of an opposition leader in Azerbaijan serving in the army has been sent to the front line following this weekend's protests in Baku, the capital. The post notes that some are alleging the move is part of an attempt to warn the opposition not to...

Azerbaijan: Chaos as Riot Police Intervene in 2 April Protest

  3 April 2011

Inspired by popular uprising in the Middle East and North Africa as well as continuing the wave of pro-democracy protests in Baku, the last being held on 12 March, the opposition's latest “unsanctioned” rally took place yesterday. Twitter provided coverage of the heavy-handed dispersal.