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Armenia: Education Blogs

Onnik Krikorian · 11:34, July 6th, 2008

lingua → fr · mg

Now that post-election tensions are dying down in Armenia, there is a huge potential for blogs to cover more specific issues which are either ignored or left undiscussed by the media and society in general. One of those subjects is education, an area which is particularly tainted by corruption in the post-Soviet space. 8 comments · »»

Caucasus: Armenian & Georgian Blogosphere Assessed

Onnik Krikorian · 11:57, June 13th, 2008

Following last weekend's BarCamp in Tbilisi, one of the event's main organizers, Giga Paitchadze, briefly considers its success and provides a small glimpse into the Georgian blogosphere. Also known as DvOrsky, the blogger claims to be the oldest in the country. Global Voices Online interviewed Paitchadze after the Caucasus BarCamp. 5 comments · »»

Stories

July 8th, 2008

Armenia: LGBT Blogs

Onnik Krikorian · 10:02

While most political blogs in Armenia simply duplicate the views of an already polarized media, the voices of those stuck in between, denied access to the airwaves, or who are simply misrepresented, are often ignored. That might now all be changing with the appearance of several LGBT Blogs from Armenia and the Diaspora. 7 comments · »»

July 2nd, 2008

Kyrgyzstan: From Sorrow to Happiness

Elena Skochilo · 08:40

lingua → fr

Early in June a sorrowful groan was heard from the Kyrgyz blogosphere: the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov died. Almost all Kyrgyz bloggers wrote about the death of a famous writer in their blogs. Erne_raj wrote [ru]: Chingiz Torekulovich is no more… But he left his scent in minds, hearts and history! Baisalov ... 2 comments · »»

June 24th, 2008

Uzbekistan: Fighting internet censorship

Tolkun · 11:41

lingua → mg

Today, Uzbekistan is remaining one of the repressive countries in the region that maintains a tight grip on mass media. Despite it has all the nominal guarantees of the freedom of speech, the media is being systematically attacked by the government. The article 5 in the law of the Republic ... 0 comments · »»

June 18th, 2008

Armenia: A1 Plus European Court Ruling

Onnik Krikorian · 11:13

lingua → zhs · zht · it

Six years after it was effectively removed from the airwaves, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has finally ruled in favor of the A1 Plus TV Station. Known for its criticism of the authorities, A1 Plus failed to win a tender for its own broadcasting frequency in April 2002. 6 comments · »»

June 17th, 2008

Kazakhstan: Living Under Cult

Adil Nurmakov · 07:49

lingua → es

The main discussion this week in Kazakhstani blogosphere was caused by the suggestion that was voiced by a number of MPs to rename the capital city Astana to Nursultan, in the honor of the long-ruling president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who retains power for more than 18 years already. It is worth ... 2 comments · »»

June 15th, 2008

Kyrgyzstan: A Nation Is Grieving

Ben Paarmann · 14:38

lingua → zht · zhs

Ben Paarmann writes in honor of Kyrgyzstan author Chingiz Aitmatov who died on Tuesday this week, at the age of 79. "Thanks to Chingiz Aitmatov, Central Asian traditions, lifestyles, myths - but most importantly - a transcendental Central Asian "feeling" became part of Soviet culture, known and celebrated beyond the borders of the former empire." writes Paarmann. 0 comments · »»

Links about Central Asia & Caucasus

July 8th, 2008

Blogrel reports that the head of the notorious Passport and Visa agency (OVIR) in Armenia has been fired for corruption. However, Unzipped wonders why no legal proceedings have been launched and wonders if the government is truly fighting corruption in earnest.

Adam reports that General Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE R. Oliver Spencer has said in Astana that Kazakhstan will chair the OSCE in 2010 even if the commitments, undertaken in Madrid last year, are not going to be fulfilled.

Adam says that opposition in Kazakhstan offers its own draft legislation to be adopted in order to enhance democratization of the political system and “earn” a grounded OSCE chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OSCE.

Libertad writes about the attack of state-controlled TV channels against RFE/RL Uzbek service staff.

Elena reports that Peace Corps celebrates it’s 15th anniversary of activity in Kyrgyzstan.

Joshua Foust reflects on a letter from U.S. Congressmen Darrel Issa and Charlie Melancon in which they nominated Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan, for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Michael Hancock writes about Gulnora Karimova, daughter to Islom Karimov, president-for-life of Uzbekistan.

The Rumi tells the story about the secondary school in Mazar-i-Sharif, northern town of Afghanistan.