Written by Mahina Shodizoda There are not many netizens in Tajikistan that have remained silent about a recent car crash in Dushanbe involving a relative of President Emomali Rahmon. The incident has demonstrated once again that powerful and well-connected individuals are above the law in the country. But it has also shown that simple technological […]
Russia: Monument to Chechen Women Raises Controversy
Last Saturday, September 14, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov dedicated a monument to a group of Chechen women who had died when Russia was establishing control over the North Caucasus in the 19th century. According to the story, which some say is apocryphal, in 1819 forty-six Chechen women taken prisoner by Russian General Yermolov threw themselves […]
Russia’s Illegal Immigrant Camps
Written by Nina Jobe At the end of July, Moscow oblast’s Acting Governor proposed [1] [ru] the establishment of a detention center for illegal immigrants on a former military base near Yegoryevsky. The cost of renovations to repurpose the property is estimated to be 200 million rubles (over $6 million). Not surprisingly, local residents were […]
Russian Tourists Face Getting Stranded in Egypt
Written by Andrey Tselikov Over the past several days Russian newspapers [1][ru] have [2] [ru] reported [3] [ru], with growing worry, about the 50,000 Russian tourists who run the danger of being stranded in Egypt, if violence there does not abate. Egypt, along with Turkey, is a popular budget travel destination for Russians, who especially […]
Turkmens Outraged, J Lo Performs at Their President’s Birthday
Written by Farida Yoony Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov [1] got a fine 56th birthday present at the end of last month in the form of a concert starring Jennifer Lopez held at Turkmenistan’s $2 billion state palace [2]. But many ordinary Turkmens registered disgust at the display of opulence in a country where the average […]