Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from March, 2024
Georgian Dream's fight against LGBTQ+ people
Georgian Dream's anti-LGBTQ+ narrative is nothing new. Homophobia has been part of the party's toolkit in the years since the party took over the country's leadership in 2012.
Creating digital collage in Uzbekistan: Interview with artist Oyjon Khayrullaeva
Uzbekistan is known for its Silk Road architectural gems often presented in a traditional way. But young Uzbek artists are claiming this heritage in a new way to create striking art.
Under threat: The life of Karakalpak activists in Kazakhstan
The latest activist arrested in Kazakhstan at the request of Uzbekistan is human rights activist and informal leader of the Karakalpak diaspora Akylbek Muratov.
In Azerbaijan authorities remain silent over the murder of a trans woman
In general, for many LGBTQ+ individuals who face discrimination and violence, there is little recourse through the police or any official judicial channels in Azerbaijan.
A recycled narrative of peace amid ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan impasse
Two wars, a military operation and a deadly flare-up later, the two countries are still negotiating. At the heart of the negotiations is a bilateral agreement proposed by Azerbaijan in 2022.
Kyrgyzstan’s blockbuster film is a moving tale of the bond between a mother and son
According to the film’s director Ruslan Akun, its main goal is encouraging people to be merciful towards each other and do good deeds.
Independent media wage losing battle against censorship in Azerbaijan
Since 2017, independent and opposition online news outlets have faced censorship via blocking on spurious grounds.
Azerbaijan speaks of peace while cracking down on Islam
Just last month, scores of religious believers were rounded up across the country. According to rights defenders, over 500 believers have been arrested just in the past year and a half.
In Georgia, a new political alliance looks to the future
The new political alliance was announced at a turbulent time. Since the previous parliamentary election in 2020, Georgian domestic politics have been engulfed in a political crisis.
Kazakhstan’s oil fund is one of the most opaque in the world
It was supposed to become a full-fledged fund for future generations and serve as a macroeconomic stabilizer.
In Azerbaijan another case of bullying brings old problems to the fore
The most recent case of bullying speaks volumes about the challenges that lie ahead for Azerbaijani society, and how much work is yet to be done.
Little Suad received a letter from her father detained in Azerbaijan
Hasanli was sentenced on November 21, 2023, to four months’ pre-trial detention on a charge of “smuggling foreign currency.” If convicted he is facing a possible eight-year prison sentence.
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