Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from January, 2015
Language Politics Back in the Spotlight in Afghanistan
Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan's two most widely-spoken languages, are also the country's two official languages. In parliament, the two tongues vie for power.
Tajikistan's President Talks About Problems, Parliament Applauds?
Tajikistan's outgoing parliament is good at cheering the president and rubber-stamping his decisions. Don't expect any changes when a new one arrives in March.
A Tajik Bazaar Director Accused of Beating an Orphan to Death Faces Public Fury
People in Tajikistan are questioning human life's worth after a 17-year-old orphan was seemingly beaten to death for stealing just over $70 and some food.
Georgians Show Solidarity after Family is Massacred in Armenia
Joseph Smith documented a Facebook-organized event held in Georgia in support of Armenia, currently suffering following the massacre of a family by a Russian soldier near a Kremlin military installation.
Eight Years After His Death, Turkish-Armenian Hrant Dink Still Cannot Rest in Peace
Eight years ago today ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered by a nationalist teenager in broad daylight. The rest of the story remains untold.
Five Issues that Matter to Kyrgyzstan's Girl-Activists
Kyrgyzstan's 'Devochki-Activistki' are young girls fighting for gender equality in schools and within families. Meet them ahead of their appearance at the Global Voices 2015 Summit in Cebu.
‘I Am Shuhrat': Tajiks Come to Jailed Lawyer's Defence on Facebook
Shuhrat Qudratov, a Tajik lawyer with a reputation for defending politically endangered clients, has been sentenced to nine years in prison on charges many citizens feel are bogus.
ISIS Claim Their Kazakh Children Are Murdering Russian Spies [UPDATED]
Radical group ISIS released footage today of what it says is a Kazakh child assassinating two agents of Russia's Federal Security Service. Should we believe it?
Welcome to #TheWildEast and Vocativ.com's Kyrg Republic: A Land That Does Not Exist
Vocativ, "a new type of media company" has released an orientalist documentary about "a part of the world that you didn't know you needed to know about.": Krygyzstan (sic).
Nationalist Vigilante Group in Kyrgyzstan Targets Chinese Expatriates and Suspected Sex Workers
A vigilante group with apparent ties to Kyrgyzstan's weak government is unrepentant after its members physically intimidated and lectured girls they believed were selling themselves to Chinese businessmen.
Countdown to Asian Cup 2015 Heats Up in Australia
The temperatures in Australia are soaring a week before hosting the Asian Cup 2015 starting 9 January.