Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from August, 2024
Azerbaijan clears out critics ahead of COP29
Azerbaijan has had one of the lowest international rankings on citizens’ rights and freedoms. Even so, Azerbaijani President Aliyev has insisted persecutions against civil society are justified.
Top officials in Kazakhstan dodge independent journalists
Their attitude toward the media shows their attitude not only towards journalism, but also towards the citizens of the country.
Central Asians display unprecedented regional solidarity at the Paris Olympics
This level of solidarity showcased that Central Asians have developed a common regional identity and view each other as more than just adjacent nations.
‘Buddha is with us!’ How the war in Ukraine has changed Russian Buddhism
While some Buddhists are making anti-war statements and emigrating abroad, others are going to the front lines, despite Buddhist values.
Expectations ahead of parliamentary election in Azerbaijan are grim: Interview with an independent candidate
The last parliamentary election took place in 2020, with reports of irregularities and electoral violations. It is hard to say this election will be any different.
Meet the US boxer who laid the foundation of boxing in Uzbekistan
Thousands of children went through his boxing school, and some of them went on to become world and Olympic champions, not to mention dozens of boxers who won national championships.
Interview with Korean-Ukrainian podcaster Oleksandr Shyn about Taiwan's linguistic landscape
Taiwan is an extremely diverse society when it comes to languages. Global Voices interviewed Oleksandr Shyn, a Korean-Ukrainian podcaster who focuses on the island's linguistic landscape.
US diplomats’ memoirs offer candid tales of Central Asian history
A recurring theme in them is Karimov’s loathsome attitude and lack of respect towards his regional colleagues.
Azerbaijan: Continued arrests and allegations of mass torture ahead of COP29
The forms of ill-treatment and torture documented by the committee — slaps, punches, kicks and truncheon or wooden stick blows to the person’s head and/or body — are widespread.
Turkey and Armenia resume talks, marking historic diplomatic breakthrough
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 during the first Karabakh war in a show of solidarity with its long-time ally Azerbaijan. Since then, ties between Turkey and Armenia have remained strained.
Erdoğan threatens to intervene in Israel, though pundits call it an empty threat
Since October 2023, Turkey went from trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas to recalling its ambassador to Tel Aviv and announcing total restrictions on all trade with Israel until the war on Gaza ends.
Azerbaijan cancels weddings during COP29
Several wedding halls confirmed that they were told to decline bookings before and during COP29 (Nov 8–22) for the comfort of the incoming international guests and to avoid traffic jams.
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