RFE/RL CAUCASUS REPORT
25.01.2013
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia's North Caucasus region.CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S QUIZ ON PRINCE HARRY WHO HAS JUST RETURNED FROM A TOUR OF DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN For more stories on the Caucasus, please visit and bookmark our Caucasus page . |
Thousands of people protested overnight in the Azerbaijani town of Ismayilli, setting fire to cars and buildings, including a motel and the residence of a local governor. RFE/RL correspondents say local authorities have ignored repeated calls by residents to shut down the motel, which is said to be a brothel. The unrest erupted after the owner of the motel was reportedly involved in a car accident on January 23. (RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service) More On January 23, thousands of residents of the Azerbaijani town of Ismayilli demanded the resignation of the district's governor, then set fire to his home, to cars, and to a local motel. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators. More  Cars, Buildings Burn In Azerbaijani Unrest Thousands of people have protested in a town in Azerbaijan, setting fire to cars and buildings, including a hotel and the residence of a local governor. Protesters were demanding the resignation of the local governor, Nizami Alekberov. The unrest reportedly was triggered by a car accident involving the owner of the Chirag Hotel. More Police in the central Azerbaijani town of Ismayilli have broken up renewed protests that raged through the streets there. More  Ingushetia's Leader Calls Kremlin's Bluff Over 'Discriminatory' Election Law Amendment Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has openly criticized the proposed legislative amendment that could deprive the population of those federation subjects considered unstable of the right to elect their republic head or governor. In doing so, Yevkurov has almost certainly jeopardized his chances of a second term as Republic of Ingushetia head. More  Report On Azerbaijani Prisoners Voted Down In Council Of Europe A controversial report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan has been voted down at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. More  Explainer: What Defines A Political Prisoner? There is no single standard for what makes a political prisoner, however, and international bodies and state governments are not always in agreement. RFE/RL looks at efforts to build a standard definition. More  Explainer: How Would Possible British Exit Affect EU Foreign Policy? RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent, Rikard Jozwiak, looks at how a possible "Brexit" -- or even a looser relationship between Britain and the EU -- might affect the bloc's enlargement and foreign policy. More  Amnesty International Cuts Ties With Former Azerbaijani Prisoner Of Conscience It once named him a prisoner of conscience after he was jailed in Azerbaijan on charges related to his journalism work. But now Amnesty International says it is cutting ties with Eynulla Fatullayev. More  Criticism Of President Provokes E-Mail Avalanche From Azerbaijan A recent report by a Sarajevo-based investigative journalism NGO that criticized Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has generated thousands of e-mails purporting to come from outraged Azerbaijanis. There is evidence the campaign may be part of a larger effort by pro-government forces in Azerbaijan to control the way their country is portrayed on the Internet. More  Saakashvili Slams Russia, Ivanishvili Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili has heavily criticized both Russia and the current Georgian government of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili during an address to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. More  Is Armenian Presidential Election An Exercise In Futility? Armenia's upcoming presidential election differs from earlier ballots in two key respects. First, none of the seven opposition candidates is perceived as posing a serious challenge to incumbent President Serzh Sarkisian. And second, the tactics of some lesser-known candidates have been condemned by some as devaluing the entire concept of democratic political struggle. More  Baku Protest Fines Raised In Small Coins Azerbaijani activists say they have raised 11,600 manats ($14,770) to pay fines for protesters who have been fined hundreds of dollars under a new law on mass gatherings. More Ahead of Armenia's February 18 election, President Serzh Sarkisian spoke with Harry Tamrazian, the director of RFE/RL's Armenian Service, about his competition in the presidential race, in which Sarkisian is seeking a second term. Sarkisian also spoke about the prospects for a settlement on Nagorno-Karabakh and the state of Armenian-Turkish relations. More  Armenian Election Campaign Kicks Off The race to become Armenia's next president has officially started. More In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian discusses his competition in the upcoming vote, the state of Armenian-Turkish relations, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the outflow of Armenian citizens to Russia and the West. More  Sarkisian Expects 'Competitive' Armenian Presidential Vote President Serzh Sarkisian has dismissed suggestions that he won't be facing any true competition in Armenia's presidential election next month, adding that "nurturing" rivals is not the government's job. More  Protesting Shopkeepers, Police Clash In Baku Police in the Azerbaijani capital have clashed with shopkeepers blocking a road to protest rent increases by the managers of the country's largest shopping center, Bina. More Police clash with shopkeepers protesting against rent increases by the managers of Azerbaijan's largest shopping center, Bina, in Baku on January 19. Police fired tear gas and used truncheons against the roughly 1,000 demonstrators, who blocked the highway between Baku and Alat. (Video by RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service correspondent Nushaba Fatullayeva) More  Former Georgian Government Hit By Sex-Tape Scandal It has all the elements of a resounding scandal: corrupt cops, gay-sex videos, blackmail, and celebrities. More During a visit to Armenia, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili spoke to RFE/RL's Armenian Service about his country's commitment to the EU and NATO. He also discussed the prospects for reconciliation with Russia. More |
